ISTANBUL - Turkish-Iraqi Business Council Chairman Mehmet Ali Neyzi has said that they had not any hesitation about validity of U.N.-approved contracts they had signed in Iraq.
Neyzi held a press conference on Tuesday on the visit that was paid to Iraq under leadership of State Minister Kursad Tuzmen.
Stressing that Iraq had a special importance for Turkey under the Middle East frame, Neyzi said that Turkey was the second country that suffered the highest amount losses due to Gulf War, and Turkey which had been ranked 17th in imports by Iraq in the past now reached third place in imports by Iraq.
Noting that a large business potential would be created in many sectors like real estate construction, factory construction, agriculture, tourism and reconstruction of energy sector in Iraq in next decade, Neyzi said, ''Turkey has the potential to meet most of them. Why would not the Turkish contractors who have achieved great successes abroad participate in these projects? Three hundred and fifty businessmen joined the visit headed by State Minister Tuzmen. We really found a patient atmosphere in Iraq. Tenders were held in many sectors from food to construction. As Iraqis know about quality of our goods, we signed important contracts. We should get our desired share in this market.''
When asked whether or not they were worried about safety and security of investments in Iraq and feasibility of contracts they had signed in case of a military operation against Iraq, Neyzi said, ''according to the U.N. oil-for-food program that started in 1996, Iraq exports oil. The cost of this is collected in an account in the United States and some part of it is later allocated for purchase. Consequently, we don't have any concern as contracts are approved by the United Nations. In general, we don't have any hesitation about validity of U.N. contracts.''