JEDDAH - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met on Sunday with his Lebanese counterpart Rafiq Hariri. During the meeting, Erdogan and Hariri agreed that trade volume between the two countries was not in desired level and that it should be increased.
Erdogan and Hariri meeting took place in a sincere atmosphere.
Hariri said a Turkish Prime Minister had not visited his country for a long time and that he wanted to see Erdogan in Lebanon soon.
Erdogan also invited Hariri to Turkey. Hariri accepted this invitation and said he would visit Turkey soon.
Palestine-Israel problem was brought onto agenda at the meeting. Erdogan said Turkey would exert necessary efforts for solution of question through peaceful means.
Erdogan said Turkey's share in Lebanon's seven billion U.S. dollars exports volume was 130 million U.S. dollars. Hariri said trade volume between the two countries should be increased.
Hariri recalled Egypt-Jordan-Syria natural gas pipeline project and wanted Turkey to join this project. Hariri said this was important for two reasons. He said it was first important for transportation of the gas to Europe after being brought till Turkey's border, and second was use of this gas in Turkey.
Hariri said prime ministers of the two countries would meet on January 25, and that they would discuss this issue.
Erdogan said they would be interested in the project in question and that they would join the project afterwards.
The two sides also reached agreement to sign free trade zone.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan and Lebanese Finance Minister had a preliminary meeting in prevention of double taxation between the two countries.
It was reported that an agreement would later be signed on the issue.
(AY) 18.01.2004