Turkey, Syria enjoy consensus

Turkey and Syria have reached consensus on bilateral relations as well as regional matters, Syrian Ambassador Nidal Kabalan said in Ankara on Tuesday.

The ambassador added that Syria believes a lasting peace can be achieved in the Middle East.

In an exclusive interview with an Anatolia news agency correspondent, Kabalan commented on the 25th session of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation, or COMCEC, of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, or OIC, which took place in Istanbul on Monday.

“Syria’s opinion about the peace process in the Middle East was very clear,” the Syrian ambassador said, indicating the Damascus government believes in a lasting peace.

Kabalan said that the presidents of Turkey, Syria, Iran and other leaders who attended the meeting made decisions and would work to implement them. According to the ambassador, one of the most important issues discussed was the peace process in the Middle East.

The OIC unanimously adopted a closing declaration Monday urging member states to ratify the Preferential Tariff Scheme, or PRETAS, and the TPS-OIC Rules of Origin in order to foster economic and commercial ties.

The heads of state who signed the Istanbul Declaration hailed COMCEC for its role in strengthening economic and commercial cooperation among the member states, and especially for its role in enhancing intra-OIC trade.

With the declaration, member countries reaffirmed a commitment to enhance intra-OIC trade via progressive trade liberalization, financial cooperation among capital markets institutions, increased direct investment, private-sector partnerships and intensified efforts geared toward poverty alleviation.