ANKARA - Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen and Syrian Minister of Trade Ghassan al-Rifai initialed Turkey-Syria Free Trade Agreement on Saturday.
Tuzmen said that free trade agreement which was initialed between Turkey and Syria was a historical chance for the two countries.
The agreement would be signed before the end of 2004 under the instructions of prime ministers of Turkey and Syria, he noted.
Tuzmen stressed that they aimed to further develop relations with regional countries and create the atmosphere of peace, tranquility and stability.
''We will see that putting into practice the free trade agreement which was initialed today will be a turning point for commercial and political relations between Turkey and Syria,'' Tuzmen underlined.
Syrian Minister of Trade Ghassan al-Rifai thanking organizations of private sectors of the two countries for their contributions and constructive attitude said that they believed that the free trade agreement would contribute to joint interests of Turkey and Syria.
They wanted the agreement to be signed and put into practice as soon as possible, al-Rifai noted.
Stating that the two countries would also work together in other three areas, al-Rifai listed those areas as establishing border trade centers, forming free zones and making good use of fields which would be cleared from mines for joint projects.
(EÖ-BRC) 28.08.2004