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Turkey, Syria to further cooperation in transportation
Today's Zaman,
Turkey, January 4, 2008
Turkey is
opening new doors and broadening paths to improve its
relations with its sometimes controversial neighbor Syria.
Syrian Transportation Minister Dr. Yarob S. Badr and
Turkey's Transportation Minister Binali Yıldırım met
Wednesday and signed multiple projects to develop routes
between the two countries for both passenger traffic and
trade relations.
As part of a
top-level delegate presided over by Syrian Deputy Prime
Minister for Economic Affairs Abdullah al-Dardari, Badr had
official talks with Turkey's Yıldırım in Ankara, where the
two ministers spoke to the press about their agenda.
Yıldırım recalled that of all Turkey's borders it shares the
longest with Syria at 800 kilometers, and said considering
this it was only natural to develop the relations between
the two countries. "The progress in our relations,
therefore, shouldn't bother the other [countries in the
area] because we see the development as a sine qua non for
peace in the entire region," he said.
The meeting was
held behind closed doors, and its agenda included a plan to
introduce standardized, reciprocal steps to facilitate visa
applications; border crossing fees were also discussed. In
comments before the meeting the minister informed the press
that the Çobanbey-Al Raee railway intersection at the
frontier, which is currently closed due to an expanse of
minefields surrounding it, will be opened by spring after
all security operations are completed. This opening will see
the number of railway border gates increasing to three. In
addition to this, the railway administrations in both
countries will cooperate to establish a manufacturing plant
in Aleppo to produce railroad cars, he noted. Upon a
question on whether the number of rail destinations would
increase, Yıldırım said there was no need for a new
railroad. "Indeed we are facing serious difficulties in
entering Iraq due to the security conditions in the country.
Therefore, border crossings via Syria to Iraq have taken on
more importance," he added.
The two
ministers are also expected to put their signatures to a
memorandum of understanding that notes Turkey and Syria's
common intention to increase the number of air destinations
between the two countries. There will be three main
destinations from İstanbul, Ankara and Antalya to Damascus,
Aleppo and Latakia (Latakiyah). The other cooperative step
will be taken Thursday as the chambers of maritime commerce
of both countries will sign a memorandum of understanding to
boost the cooperation between them.
The Syrian
minister, meanwhile, mentioned a high-speed train project
from Gaziantep to Aleppo. The feasibility studies required
for completion the project will be finishing shortly, he
said. The fast train will run up to 160 kilometers per hour
and will carry passengers after the renovation of the
current railroad tracks. Bedr further said the studies also
included making it possible for passengers to complete the
official formalities of entrance and exit inside the train.
Meanwhile,
Dardari and his delegation were hosted Wednesday by
officials from the Economic Policy Research Foundation of
Turkey (TEPAV). In his speech at TEPAV headquarters in
Ankara Dardari said Syria and Turkey must develop their
relations to be able to take a more efficient role in
international competition in the future. Within this
framework, the two countries had decided on further
cooperation in energy, natural gas, electricity, oil,
transportation, railways, maritime affairs and highway
transportation, Dardari noted. He also added that they had
struck a deal with the Turkish Union of Chambers and
Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) over the construction of an
organized industrial zone in Syria. Talking about the
investment environment in Syria, Dardari said his country's
conditions have improved significantly in recent years.
There are 10 private banks in Syria and another 10 new banks
will soon start operations, he cited as an example of
progress in the Syrian economy.
Although listed
in the program, Turkey's Minister of State for the
Coordination of Economic Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister
Nazım Ekren was unable to participate in the meeting due a
scheduling conflict with the Economic and Social Council
(ESK) meeting. |
