CAIRO: Egypt and Turkey agreed on 11 deals to work on cooperation in a number of sectors. The new agreements were signed during the visit of Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the country. The visit was part of the PM's tour of the Arab world in a post “Arab Spring” state-travel tour. Turkey aims at boosting its investments, both politically and economically, in Egypt and the region. Erdogan was reported by Egypt's state-run MENA news agency as saying his visit aims to promote “development and stability” between Egypt and Turkey. Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf discussed with Erdogan ways of increasing trade volume between the two nations from $3 billion annually to $5 billion and Turkish investments into Egypt from $1.5 billion to $5 billion in the coming years. Trade between the two countries has increased three times since the signing of free trade agreement in 2007 from $1 billion to $3.2 billion in 2010. The agreements included cooperation in technology, communication, petroleum and natural resources, education and media. Erdogan and Sharaf also signed a declaration over the establishment of a supreme council for strategic cooperation. Bilateral talks highlighted moves of increasing the Turkish investments especially in textile, clothes, tourism, food industries, chemicals and expanding Turkish industrial zones. The two sides also discussed a number of international and regional issues, focusing on the current developments in the Middle East region and the establishment of strategic cooperation between the two countries. Sharaf asserted the pivotal role that Egypt and Turkey play to achieve security and stability in the region, adding that there will be more coordination between the two countries. Erdogan said Egypt is capable of overcoming the difficult period and said that Turkey will support Egypt. Investments will be brought into tourism, transportation and energy sectors, according to Erdogan who will attend a business council meeting with Sharaf on Wednesday. Erdogan is accompanied by more than 200 Turkish businessmen. Concerning the Palestinian cause, Erdogan affirmed that his country will present the necessary support for the Palestinians to gain an international recognition of an independent state and a full UN membership. “It is time for the Palestinian flag to fly over the United Nations,” Erdogan said when delivering a speech at a meeting of foreign ministers of the Arab League member countries. In a joint press conference after the meeting, Erdogan said his visit to Egypt has no relation to the latest developments in Israel. Egypt, which has contributed a lot to the Palestinian cause, can cooperate with Turkey to make peace prevail in the whole region, Erdogan said, adding Egypt and Turkey agreed to fully support Palestine to get a full UN membership. BM
