BAGHDAD, March 4 (A.A) - Foreign Trade Undersecretary Kursat Tuzmen and accompanying delegation holding contacts in Iraq met with Iraqian Agriculture Minister Abd al-Ilah Hamid Mahmud al Salih and Trade Minister Muhammad Mahdi al Salih on Sunday.
Tuzmen said during the meeting with Mahdi al Salih that the commercial relations between Turkey and Iraq were good, but not sufficient.
Tuzmen said, ''our goal is not a short-term trade, but to promote Turkish products to Iraqis. Our trade is not only for these days, but for having a place in Iraqi market also after the embargo.''
Stating that Turkey and Iraq shared history, religion and geography for centuries, Tuzmen said that sharing trade with Iraq was also a natural right of Turkey.
Mahdi al Salih said that Turkey came first among the countries which Iraq had commercial relations and business connections.
Pointing out that Iraq suffered from the embargo and that Turkey also suffered great losses in this respect, Salih said, ''we would have importation more than 30 billion U.S. dollars if there was not the embargo. However, not that we can only made importation worth of six billion U.S. dollars.''
Stressing that the commercial relations between the two countries could further improve after lifting the embargo, Salih said that tenders in good amounts were given to Turkish firms.
Upon a question related to the probable U.S. operation against Iraq, Salih said that this would be an operation which will contradict with international law and Turkey would be negatively effected by this.
Meanwhile, Abd al-Ilah Hamid Mahmud al Salih said during the meeting with Tuzmen that Turkish firms supplied materials for Iraq and supported Iraq.
Touching on the tenders Agriculture Ministry would open, Salih said that their doors were open to Turkish companies which would make new offers.