Turkish State Minister: Turkey to help crisis-hit Greece

Making opening remarks of the 9th Turkish Aegean Cost-Greek Aegean Islands Economic Summit in Athens, Caglayan said, "the whole world is living through a global financial crisis. In such an environment, solidarity between our countries is of great importance. Today, Greece has faced some economic problems. 225 businessmen came to Athens from Turkey in an effort to support Greece in this difficult period."

"Turkey has some geographical and strategic advantages with Caucasus and Russia in the north, Asia in the east, the Middle East in the southeast and Africa in the south. Turkey has very significant ties in those regions. We want to call on Greek businessmen to carry out joint projects with Turkish businessmen in the third countries," he said.

Caglayan said that they needed to encourage Turkish and Greek businessmen to develop their cooperation, and resolve the difficulties stemming from visa requirements.

Greek Economy, Competitiveness & Shipping Minister Louka Katseli, on his part, said that Turkey and Greece should cooperate with each other to develop a solution for the global financial crisis.

She said that he considered the global financial crisis as an opportunity to develop cooperation between the two countries.

Katseli said that 77 Greek investors undertook projects worth of 6 billion USD in Turkey, and called on Turkish businessmen to invest in Greece.

She said that they attached great importance to the project of establishing a joint index between Turkish and Greek national stock exchanges. "It will create a new financial market and pave the way for new cooperations in our banking sectors," he said.

Katseli said that Turkey and Greece should also cooperate in tourism and maritime.

She said that Turkey and Greece should also work together to prevent illegal migration. "Let's turn the Aegean into a sea of peace and cooperation," he added.

/World Bulletin/