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| DAMASCUS - Turkish State Minister Cevdet Yilmaz said on Saturday that scope of Turkey-Syria Interregional Cooperation Program would be expanded in stages. Yilmaz, who attended "Syria-Turkey State Planning Organizations Cooperation Symposium" in Damascus, said trade was very important in relations between the countries. "Trade of a country with its neighbors have a direct impact on relations and have a positive contribution to political relations. Turkey establishes this relationship with its neighbours," he said. Yilmaz said Turkey started to implement 55 programs and Syria started to implement 47 projects within the scope of Turkey-Syria Interregional Cooperation Program, adding that "there is a long way to take when we consider the economic, social and cultural richness of the two countries." Yilmaz said this program could be an example to other Islamic countries, adding that Turkey and Syria could also cooperate in many other areas like transportation, customs, logistics, banking and construction. "We wish Turkish companies to be more active in Syria and take place in Syria's infrastructure projects. Turkey also wants Syrian businessmen to make investments in Turkey." He said a sustainable development could be achieved in case Turkey and Syria act together. Speaking to reporters after his speech at the symposium, Yilmaz said Syrian executives would be given information about issues like GAP project and e-state. Within the scop of his 2-day schedule in Damascus, Yilmaz will meet Syrian prime minister, deputy prime minister and various ministry executives. Dr. Sedat Laciner told the JTW that Turkey Syria relations develope in almost all areas: "More than 100 high ranked official visits have been made in couple of years and the visit traffic continues. Both sides aim to destroy all barriers before co-operation. Turkeyc and Syria can be good starting point for Middle Eastern economic co-operation area." Laciner who is head of the Ankara-based Turkish think tank International Strategic Research Organization (USAK) further added "Syria and Turkey are an important passage for Asia, Europe, and for the Arab World in the fields of transport, energy, and in other different fields. Turkey helps Syria in integration with the rest of the world. And Syria supports Turkey in all issues. Co-operation between Syria and Turkey is also important for peace in the Middle East. Turkey as the NATO member and close ally of the US plays a crucial role in creating a speakable Middle East". |