Yildirim Meets With Greek Merchant Marine Minister Kefaloyiannis

ATHENS - Turkish Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim who is currently in Greece to attend Posidonia 2004 Maritime Fair in Piraeus met on Wednesday with Greek Merchant Marine Minister Manolis Kefaloyiannis.
Speaking at the meeting, Yildirim said, ''we want to cooperate with Greece in short destination transportation. We took measures to encourage it. We decreased port fees. Passenger and cargo carrier joint ventures can be set up in both Turkey and Greece.''
Stressing that Greece was experienced in this field, Yildirim said, ''we want to spread passenger transportation in our coasts. We want to cooperate in this field.''
Noting that they would be pleased with progress in maritime transportation through cooperation with Greece after their joint steps within the EU, Yildirim said, ''private companies should be encouraged. Turkish and Greek chambers of merchant marine should hold meetings to review how they could cooperate.''
Regarding the trips between Turkey and Greek islands, Yildirim said that lifting of nearly 50 U.S. dollars of tax that all passengers paid was in question.
(MS) 09.06.2004