ANKARA - "Iraq is in a vital position regarding the stability of our region," Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said in a message he sent to the 23rd meeting of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Standing Committee for Economic & Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC) Follow-up Committee.
Sezer, who is also the COMCEC Chairman, stated in his message that, "it is our most sincere wish that Iraq leaves behind the difficult days and preserves its national unity and territorial integrity thanks to a democratic structure and stability."
"We are pleased to observe that efforts of COMCEC, founded essentially to boost economic and commercial cooperation between member countries, yielded tangible results," Sezer added.
"Preferential trade system between our countries should take effect soon," Sezer said and urged all related countries to sign and ratify the Framework Agreement and Preferential Tariffs Protocol."
-REMOVAL OF BLOCKADE ON TRNC-
"Despite the calls of the OIC for the removal of blockade imposed on Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), no tangible result could yet be obtained to ensure full integration of the Turkish Cypriot people to the international community. We expect the member countries to take necessary steps to end this unjust isolation. Opening of TRNC representations in member countries will facilitate this process," Sezer said in his message.
-ISRAEL-PALESTINIAN PROBLEM-
"A permanent peace, security and stability in the Middle East can only be made possible through settlement of Israeli-Palestinian crisis through peaceful means. Clashes between Palestinian groups should also end. We are urging the Palestinian groups to remain in unity and resolve their differences through dialogue and compromise," Sezer said in his message.