Tuzmen: We First Aim To Further Develop Trade With Iraq

ANKARA - Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said on Wednesday that there were short, medium and long term projects regarding to Turkish-Iraqi relations, stating, ''we first aim to further develop trade with Iraq.''
Tuzmen told the A.A correspondent that ''we also expressed our demands on Turkish Petroleum Corp.'s (TPAO) managing oil fields in accordance with production sharing model. Turkish Prime Minister conveyed our view on the issue to Iraq's Head of State Ghazi al-Yawer.''
Tuzmen noted that their demands on development of Gharraf Oil Field under ''production sharing model'' and rehabilitation of significant production fields near Basra were conveyed to Iraqi authorities under ''strategic plan'' on oil sector which was prepared by TPAO.
Tuzmen quoted Iraqi side as saying that efforts were being exerted to put into practice projects which aimed to improve oil production capacity of Iraq, noting that Iraqi side expressed that they would be glad if Turkish companies took part in those projects. Tuzmen said Iraqi side informed them that they were ready to take up the issue during the visit of Iraqi oil minister to Turkey.
-MARKETING OIL VIA TURKEY-
Stating that Kirkuk-Yumurtalik pipeline and Basra terminals could not work regularly as there were some security problems, Tuzmen said that an offer on marketing Iraqi oil overland via Turkey was also brought onto the agenda in their meetings with al-Yawer.
-SECURITY PROBLEMS-
Turkish side noted that offers on security issue were also expressed in the meetings with Iraqi officials, stating that offers on building safe storing and unloading stations on Zakhu-Mosul route and transporting goods from this region to other provinces by Iraqi vehicles were also brought onto the agenda.
Iraqi side noted that it would take additional measures for transportation of goods from Turkey safely, adding that it was ready to cooperate on this issue with Turkey.
-VISA APPLICATION-
The Turkish side requested the Iraqi side to provide Turkish citizens with some facilities in visa application.
The Iraqi side responded this request saying that the visa application was valid for citizens of all countries due to security conditions in Iraq. They said that they would take a series of measures to diminish negative impacts of visa application on businessmen. Iraqi officials added that they had started carrying out works to complete visa proceedings in border gates in a short period of time.
-RAILWAY TRANSPORTATION-
During the meetings, the sides decided to increase number of daily Turkey-Syria-Iraq railway journeys from four to six. They also highlighted importance of using real capacity of the railway in a more influential way.
The Iraqi side expressed its readiness for beginning of works to meet requirements of Iraqi railway transportation by Turkish firms.
-SECOND BORDER GATE-
The project envisaging opening of a second border gate apart from Habur customs gate between Turkey and Iraq was also high on agenda of the meeting. The sides decided to speed up their efforts about the project. The project also includes construction of a highway leading to Baghdad via Mousul.
The Iraqi side expressed its desire that the second border gate should be opened as soon as possible.
Details of the project will be clarified at meetings between Turkish and Iraqi technical delegations.
-JEC MEETING-
Meanwhile, the sides decided to hold the Joint Economic Commission (JEC) meeting in Ankara in October or in November. The meeting is expected to focus on all methods to further improve commercial and economic relations between Turkey and Iraq.
(EÖ-UK-AÖ) 18.08.2004