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GCC signs deal for closer ties with Turkey

by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it  on Wednesday, 03 September 2008
SHAKE ON IT: Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani (right) shakes hands with Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan. (AFP)
SHAKE ON IT: Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani (right) shakes hands with Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan. (AFP)

Oil-rich Gulf monarchies have signed a deal with Turkey aimed at boosting ties between the pro-Western Arab bloc and Ankara.

The agreement was inked overnight by Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jabr al-Thani, his Turkish counterpart Ali Babacan and Gulf Cooperation Council secretary general Abdurrahman al-Attiyah.

The "memorandum of understanding" will pave the way for the conclusion of a free trade agreement between the GCC and Turkey that has been under negotiation since 2005.

"This memorandum is a step on the way to a strategic partnership with Turkey," Sheikh Hamad said.

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The GCC groups Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

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