Tuzmen: We Aim At Signing A Free Trade Agreement With Lebanon

ANKARA - State Minister Kursad Tuzmen has said, ''we aim at signing a free trade agreement with Lebanon in order to create the necessary atmosphere required by mutual trade, investments and businessmen.''
Tuzmen met on Tuesday with Economy Minister Karwan Hamadeh of Lebanon.
Speaking at the meeting, Tuzmen said that they had been working to prepare the necessary frame for increasing the mutual trade volume between the two countries.
Noting that they targeted to make the Mediterranean a free trade zone, Tuzmen said that signing of a free trade agreement was required in order to increase mutual investments between Turkey and Lebanon.
He added that Turkish and Lebanese delegations had been carried out the necessary works at the Foreign Trade Undersecretariat.
Meanwhile, Economy Minister Hamadeh of Lebanon said in his part that an important progress was recorded in preparatory works on the free trade agreement, adding that the agreement could be signed during the scheduled visit of Lebanese prime minister to Turkey in the coming months.
Noting that Turkey and Lebanon would also sign agreements to prevent double taxation and to encourage mutual investments, Hamadeh said that all obstacles in front of mutual investments would be removed after signing of these agreements.
Recalling that Turkey had recently given priority to its relations with Arab countries, Hamadeh said that establishment of good relations would have a positive impact on the other regional countries.
(UK-AY) 20.01.2004