Syria, Turkey sign Free-Trade-Zone Agreement

Syria's Premier Naji Otari on Wednesday announced that Syria and Turkey inked the Free-Trade-Zone Accord between Syria and Turkey and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan depicted it as a "good start for the two countries."

"Perhaps, the most important achievement for us today that poses as a qualitative soar in the field of developing trade, economic and cooperation ties; is the inking of the Association Agreement that establishes for a free-Trade-Zone between the two countries," in a joint press conference, Otari said.

He said the accord would have the biggest effect on developing economic ties and increasing the trade exchanges.

Erdogan for his part underlined the significance of the accord -- hoping that it would constitute a good beginning for both countries and pointing out that two accords had been signed during President Bashar al-Assad's visit to Turkey early this year regarding the double taxation prevention and mutual interest protection.

He hoped the signatory of the agreement would build a framework and a legal ground that organizes the trade and economic ties in a big way. Erdogan clarified that his visit to Syria has posed as an opportunity to exchange view points and suggestions from both sides over mutual investments and the private sector demands.