Turkish delegation arrives in Baghdad

"A Turkish economic and trade delegation headed by Turkish State minister for external trade Korshad Tozman arrived here on an official 3-day visit.In a press conference after arrival, head of the Turkish delegation said he carries a letter from Turkish prime minister Abdullah Goul to President Saddam Hussein concerning the status quo and Turkish view point towards it, pointing out the Iraqi and turkey share geographic, historical and religious ties which have great influence on developing bilateral relations," INA reported today.

The Turkish minister added that "turkey aims at expanding the cooperation scopes with Iraq in a way that enhances the trade exchange to a level similar to that prior the imposition of the embargo on Iraq," INA said adding that for his part, Iraq's trade minister Mohammed Mehdi Saleh, who received the delegation, said that "Turkey was a prime trade partner to Iraq before the imposition of the unjust embargo." INA reported.