Tuzmen: Poverty Is Main Reason For Incidents In Middle East

GAZIANTEP - Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said on Friday that poverty was the main reason for incidents in the Middle East.
''I am sure that there would be lasting peace in the region if poverty problem is solved,'' he said.
Replying to questions of reporters during his visit to southeastern province of Gaziantep, Tuzmen said that Turkey's basic policy was to bring its trade and investment relations with its neighboring and surrounding countries to the highest level.
''As a result of this policy, we increased share of trade volume with neighboring countries in total exportation from three to fifteen percent. Turkey's target is to raise it to thirty percent. Our efforts are under way with this objective,'' he said.
Noting that lasting peace in the region depended on lasting commercial and political relations, Tuzmen said, ''we want to improve commercial relations with our neighboring countries.''
Tuzmen said that Turkey attributed great importance to relations especially with its neighbors, and they had been trying to implement this strategy and they believed they were successful.
''Some countries want to impose embargo on Syria. Together with a group of businessmen and politicians, we are going to go to Syria tomorrow to enhance our commercial relations also with Syria like all other countries. This visit is totally related to neighborly relations. Has there been an increase in two countries' national incomes after the trade they made? If so, it is important to us,'' he said.
(MS-AÖ) 28.05.2004