TUNIS - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that Turkey and Tunisia could expend joint efforts about territorial integrity of Iraq and prevention of Iraqi ethic groups from being dominant over the others.
Prime Minister Erdogan, who is currently paying a state visit to Tunisia, met Tunisian Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi.
Following their tete-a-tete meeting, Erdogan and Ghannouchi presided the meeting between Turkish and Tunisian delegations.
Speaking at the meeting, Ghannouchi said that Prime Minister Erdogan's visit would make a valuable contribution to acceleration of bilateral relations.
Ghannouchi said that Tunisian and Turkish businessmen should make joint investments in order to further improve economic and commercial relations between the two countries.
Stressing that they had begun making legal arrangements with the aim of adapting Tunisia to international trade, Ghannouchi said that they were planning to develop strategic cooperation with Turkey in culture, tourism, infrastructure and technology.
Referring to recent developments in the Middle East, Ghannouchi said that a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute depended on implementation of decisions of the United Nations Security Council.
In that case, Palestinians will have their legal and legitimate rights, and the peace will also be provided in Syria and Lebanon, he said.
Ghannouchi said that both Turkey and Tunisia had the same view about territorial integrity and independence of Iraq.
Highlighting importance of international investments in rebuilding process of Iraq, Ghannouchi expressed his hope that stability and security could be provided in Iraq soon.
-''COOPERATION WILL MAKE GREAT CONTRIBUTION TO PEACE''-
Meanwhile, Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''I believe that my visit is of great importance in regard to our efforts to further develop our military, political, industrial, cultural and commercial cooperation with Tunisia. Turkey-Tunisia cooperation will make an important contribution to peace in the region.''
Referring to the commercial relations between the two countries, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''our trade volume is about 350 million U.S. dollars. Both countries have the necessary political will to increase this amount.''
''There are steps to be taken mutually by Turkey and Tunisia. We can make a significant contribution to peace in the Middle East. Turkey and Tunisia can expend joint efforts about territorial integrity of Iraq and prevention of Iraqi ethic groups from being dominant over the others,'' he said.
Prime Minister Erdogan added, ''the United Nations Secretary General released a report on June 3rd about his good-will mission in Cyprus. We call on Tunisia to take steps in line with the report.''