Turkey - Syria Partnership Council Protocol Signed

DAMASCUS/ANKARA - Second term meeting protocol of Turkey-Syria Partnership Council was signed in Damascus on Sunday.
Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen and Syrian Economy & Trade Minister Amir Husni Lutfi signed the protocol.
Tuzmen said that it was necessary to decrease the bureaucracy in the commerce between the two countries.
Stressing the importance of Turkish-Syrian cooperation in logistics sector, Tuzmen said that if such a cooperation was settled, transit transportation between the two countries would be doubled.
Tuzmen said that trade volume between Turkey and Syria increased 70 percent in the first months of 2008.
Tuzmen said that Syrian experts would be trained in Turkey regarding commerce.
Tuzmen also held meetings with Syrian Deputy Premier Abdallah al-Dardari and Finance Minister Muhammad Al-Husayn. Problems between the two countries as well as demands of Turkish companies were discussed in the meetings.
(GC)