DAMASCUS - Syrian Prime Minister Muhammad Naji al-Utri said on Wednesday that Turkey and Syria were not only neighbour countries, but they were also in an integration, adding that the basis of those good relations was common interests. ``These common interests can turn into a significant brotherhood,`` said Syrian Prime Minister Utri.
Syrian Prime Minister Utri received Anadolu Agency (A.A) Director General and President of Executive Board Hilmi Bengi and A.A Deputy Director General Elvan Baransel. Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) Director General Ghazi Al-Deeb was also present in the meeting.
Utri said that relations with Turkey had an historical basis, stressing that the bilateral relations gained a new momentum with the visit of Syrian President Bashar al-Asad to Turkey.
Recalling that State Minister Kursad Tuzmen would come to Syria with a crowded businessmen delegation, Utri said that they finished preparations for the visit.
Stressing that mutual visits strengthened the existing relations, Syrian Prime Minister Utri said that economic relations would further strengthen when there was common will.
Utri said that he particularly stressed the word `brother,` adding Turkey and Syria were really brothers. Giving as example the words of Syrian President Asad who said during his visit to Turkey that he felt as if he was visiting his family although he came to Turkey for the first time, Utri said that there were many common values between the two countries. Utri said the historical buildings in the cities of Turkey and Syria were proving that.
Utri said that they didn`t feel like foreigners during their mutual visits, on the contrary they felt like they were visiting their second homeland as the two countries had many common values. Utri stated that the two countries had many similarities in cultural field.
Expressing his desire of strengthening the relations between the two countries particularly in economic field, Utri said that they opened a private office in Aleppo for Turkish businessmen as there were so many economic opportunities between the two countries. Utri stated that Turkish businessmen undertook many projects in public and private sectors in Syria like the soil rehabilitation and irrigation projects in Aleppo and Idlip. Utri said that Turkish businessmen were very interested in projects in Syria and that they would give priority to Turkish businessmen.
Utri remarked that he was very pleased as the border region was cleared off mines and turned into an agricultural field.
During Tuzmen`s visit the issue of free trade zones would be taken up, he said, adding that commercial centres would be opened in both sides, but they would not only be open to commerce, but to all kinds of cooperation and they would contribute to improvement of bilateral relations. Preparations and the infrastructure were completed and an agreement could be signed during the visit, he said.
Utri said that he talked about common interests between Turkey and Syria, noting that Syria had relations with Arab countries and Arab world and that the products to be produced as a result of common projects between the two countries could be sold to all Arab world without customs and taxes. He said that Turkish businessmen could benefit from those important facilities in Syria.
Utri said that Syria could be considered as a bridge between Turkey and the Arab world, stressing that Turkey was a door opening to Europe for Syria.
Syrian Prime Minister indicated that Syria entered a reconstruction process in public and private sector, adding that the aim was to ensure integration between public and private sectors and private sector had a great role to play in that regard.
Noting that there were three big industry zones in Damascus, Aleppo and Homs, Utri said that the places of Turkish companies there, were ready and there had already been some applications.
Utri stated that Syria was one of the few self sufficient countries in the world in field of agriculture, adding that they wanted to further improve that.
Utri stated that they had two-year wheat stocks, and that Syria was a world famous cotton producer, adding that their annual production reached 800,000 tons. If water source is enough, production can reach 1 million tons, he said. Utri stated that the agricultural activities of both countries were significant, but they both had few water sources.
Giving information about the developments in industry field, Utri said that they, as the government, were trying to prepare private sector for an appropriate milieu and they allowed some private banks to be opened and private banks would be able to compete with public banks soon. He added that they made new arrangements to develop private sector and changed many old laws and adopted new ones and made reform in taxes and decreased customs rates.
Noting that security and stability were very important, Utri said that Syria took place among the first ten secure countries in the world, adding that this encouraged domestic and foreign investors which was pleasing.
Utri said that they wanted permanent and comprehensive peace in Syria and added that those were the strategical targets and they wanted just and permanent peace in line with development.
Utri noted that the resolutions of the United Nations should be fulfilled and he reiterated that Israel should withdraw from occupied lands.
Utri stressed that friend and sister countries could make pressure by means of convincing. He described the current situation as ``neither peace, nor war...an uncertain situation`` and added that this uncertain situation caused tension and uneasiness. He said that if there was no peace, then the chance of reform and development would decrease.
Noting that Iraq issue has become a new and more important problem in the region, Utri said that common attitude of Syria and Turkey on this issue was for interest of the region.
Utri said that this attitude would develop Turkey-Syria relations from their joint point of view towards regional problems, adding that they were following Turkey`s attitude towards Iraq issue and especially the issue of motion with which the Turkish parliament did not allow U.S. troops to use Turkish territories for its military campaign against Iraq with appreciation. He said that he was hopeful for the future of relations between Turkey and Syria as a Syrian citizen and the attitudes of presidents of two countries had also an important role in development of relations.
Utri stressed that mutual activities in sports field would also have contribution to the development of relations and reinforcement of friendship between peoples of two countries. Utri said he followed sports activities in Turkey, especially the matches of Fenerbahce football team in the super league.
Bengi and Baransel then visited Syrian Information Minister Ahmad al Hasan. Al Hasan said that media had an important role in the development of relations between the two countries and stressed the significance of the revised cooperation agreement between SANA and Anadolu Agency within that scope.
Al Hasan said that there was a modern press in Turkey and they wanted to benefit from it. He added that it was not right to hear news about Turkey and Syria from a third side and thus, cooperation of two agencies was important. He said he hoped that mutual visits of journalists from two countries would continue.
(Öª-GC-AÖ) 03.03.2004