ISTANBUL, ( SANA )_ The 3rd Turkish-Arab Economic Forum deliberations started Thursday in Istanbul with the participation of Prime Minister Mohammad Naji Ottri, a number of Arab premiers and Arab and Turkish Ministers, businessmen in addition to the Arab and Turkish economic, commercial, industrial and banking activities.

In his speech at the opening, Premier Ottri emphasized importance of this Forum because " it is a response to the good relations which are moving rapidly between Turkey, from one hand, and the Arab countries, from the other hand, and the need to create a common ground for cooperation between the two sides leading to the establishment of a network of common interests that founds for building an economic space capable of matching the other regional and international economic blocs.

He said: " Areas of the joint work between the Arab countries and Turkey are many and big. All doors are opened to consolidate these relations to contribute in the civilized construction based on the ground of the common heritage and the friendly relations stemming from feelings of brotherhood and neighborhood, the spiritual, moral and material ties that link the Turkish and Arab peoples in the framework of system of common values and rich heritage.

He stressed importance of such forum to move the Arab-Turkish cooperation relations from ideas and proposals into practice. Ottri underscored importance of emerging a general follow-up board supervised by the Arab League Secretariat to follow up recommendations and proposals of this forum and to translate these recommendations according to the future objectives and work plan.

The Prime Minister noted to the importance of cooperation in sectors of energy, electricity, oil and gas, irrigation, agriculture and food industry for its fundamental role in the process of a balanced sustainable development and its necessary importance in securing the food needs, achieving food and water security, self-sufficiency, and ease the economic and social negative affects that could result from the world food crisis and rising prices of food commodities.

" There are other projects to support and boost cooperation among our countries like cooperation in financial, banking and roads fields and different forms of transport, land, sea and air and railway for being constitute the arteries of communication and play important role in developing economic and trade cooperation, cultural and social ties in addition to cooperation in the fields of regional tourism and investment in industrial and technological sectors and other sectors, " Ottri indicated.

The Premier added that the Syrian-Turkish strong and constant relation that included all political, economic, developmental and cultural areas, is considered as an example for the Arab-Turkish relations.

He pointed out that the existence of common borders between Syria and Turkey up to 800 metres which makes Syria the link point between Arab states and Turkey. At the same time, this important site makes Syria a gateway for Turkey to the Arab states as makes Turkey the gateway to Syria and the Arab states towards some Asian countries and the Western and Eastern European states.

Ottri talked about the ongoing development and reform process in Syria that included the different sectors and fields. He noted to the available elements and factors like the geographical location , availability of raw materials and workers that make Syria an ideal environment for investment and an attract point for industrial, tourist and service projects.

Earlier, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has delivered a speech in which he confirmed that neighborhood relations and the cultural and history ties pose a common incentive leads Turkey and Arab countries to go ahead towards the future to support development opportunities that benefit the two sides.

He said: " In a world of large economic blocs no one can live in an isolation from the global changes, clarifying that the nature of the challenges facing Turkey and the Arab countries necessitates development of the joint work to confront them in a way that achieves peace, prosperity and economic development to countries and peoples of the region.

For his part, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabr Al Thani affirmed importance of developing the Arab-Turkish cooperation relations in the arious fields to achieve a long-term strategic partnership to achieve common interests and economic and social development needed by States of the region.

Representative of the Arab League Mrs. Mervat Tallawy had confirmed, in her speech, that the Economic Forum is a good opportunity to discuss ways to develop the Turkish-Arab cooperation and moving to a new stage of building a partnership serving the interests of both sides and enhancing their ability to face the challenges and the world economic blocs.

Later, Ottri and Erdogan stressed the common desire and keenness to upgrade the bilateral cooperation relations to cope with the neighborhood and historic cultural ties gathering between the two friendly countries and peoples.

During their meeting this afternoon, they discussed ways to develop economic cooperation, increase the volume of trade exchange, expand the base of joint investments in the agricultural, tourist, industrial, energy and transport areas.

Ottri and Erdogan stressed importance of activating the signed agreements and treating any impediments or difficulties hindering its implementation in addition to activating and enhancing role of businessmen and the economic and trade activities in both countries.

Later, the Turkish-Arab Economic Forum, in its first session, discussed the Arab-Turkish relations and prospects of investment in housing, energy, agriculture and banking sectors with the participation of Finance Minister Dr. Mohamed al-Hussein and Ministers from Turkey, Libya, Mauritania, the United Arab Emirates and a number of businessmen.

Al- Hussein spoke about development of relations between Arab countries and Turkey the importance of promoting them, particularly the economic relations to lead to the economic integration through intensifying meetings between the two sides and developing the financial and commercial relations.

The Minister noted to doubling the commodity exchange between Syria and Turkey since the beginning of the year / 2007 / After activating the free trade zone.

Ghossoun /