Tuzmen: No Body Wants An Operation To Take Place In Iraq

ANKARA - State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said on Sunday that Arab countries are worried about the Iraqi issue and that no body wanted such an operation in Iraq.
Speaking in a news conference, Tuzmen gave information about his visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that took place between 21-22 Dec. and responded to questions.
Tuzmen said that his visit had two goals, one of them was to participate in the ninth private sector meetings of the Islamic Development Organization and the Ninth Islam Countries Fair and the other one was to have bilateral meetings with economy and trade ministers who attended those meetings.
Tuzmen said that he met with UAE Economy and Industry Minister and they reached an agreement on the Joint Economic Commission meetings to be held in the year 2003, adding that they also took up the services which the Turkish contractors could undertake. Noting that Turkish companies have contractorship activities worth of 58 million dollars in UAE for the moment, Tuzmen said that they also discussed undertaking common investments, forming a trade centre in UAE and selling Turkish products to world from UAE. Tuzmen said that UAE permits import of milk products from Turkey, but it does not permit import of meat, adding that he told UAE officials that as there is no threat of illness in milk products, there is also no threat in meat.
Tuzmen said that the aim of the government is to increase the trade of Turkey with neighbouring countries which is at 5-7 percent to 15 percent at the first stage and then to 30 percent at the second stage.
Upon a question on a possible operation against Iraq, Tuzmen said that no body wanted such an operation to be staged and noted, ''Iraq was one of the main items on the agenda in the meetings with trade ministers. All ministers have concerns about the issue. Trade and economy ministers think how they can further increase trade of their countries. A possible operation and war atmosphere in the region negatively affect all studies.''
Stating that commercial ties among Islamic countries were quite weak, Tuzmen said that taking of several measures facilitating trade among Islamic countries and several proposals related to Islamic Common Market were discussed at the meeting.
Upon another question on his visit to Russia, Tuzmen said that especially shuttle trade and trade in return to natural gas would be on the agenda in the meetings.