ANKARA - Iraqi Minister of Transport Bahnam Ziya Bulus said on Tuesday that Iraq's door opening to developed European countries was Turkey.
Bulus, who visited Ankara Chamber of Industry (ASO) Chairman Zafer Caglayan, expressed belief that Turkey would help Iraq.
Noting Iraq had very difficult days in 2003, Bulus stated that Iraq started to restore stability in recent days.
Bulus said that Turkish businessmen having business deals in Iraq did not stop their communication with Iraq even in the difficult days their country was facing.
Significant changes would be made in Iraq in the following few months, Bulus pointed out.
Bulus noted that they were aware of where Turkey's red line started and ended.
Hoping that they could have a more suitable ground for projects in coming few months, Bulus said that they thought of financing projects between 2004 and 2007 by three separate sources, including Iraq's own budget, finance of countries which had promised to help Iraq and the U.S. assistance.
Bulus said that Turkey was one of the most suitable countries which could undertake projects in Iraq and hoped that existing bilateral relations would be further improved in coming days.
Committing that his ministry would give priority to Turkish companies in the projects concerning itself, Bulus said that Turkey should be in contact with countries which would give loan to Iraqi projects.
Bulus stated that they were dealing with a second border gate which would reduce the burden between two countries, adding that efforts to open a second border gate continued.
(BRC-AÖ) 30.12.2003