Syria and Turkey Discuss Transport Cooperation and Exchange of Expertise

Transport Minister Yarab Badr and the Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu today discussed ways to enhance cooperation in the fields of land and rail transport. They reviewed opportunities for establishing partnerships between Turkey and Syria in land and rail transport projects that would benefit both countries.

 

Both sides emphasized the necessity of sharing expertise in transport projects, developing capacities, and enhancing cooperation. They also discussed the contributions and technical support that Turkey can provide in these areas.

 

In his speech during the meeting, Badr highlighted the importance of the visit, as it reinforces Turkish support in the field of transportation on the ground. He expressed hope for measures that contribute to restoring the strength of transport and trade exchange between Syria and Turkey, as well as increasing the volume of trade exchange between the two countries on the one hand and between Europe and the Gulf region through Turkey and Syria.

 

Badr emphasized the importance of taking measures to facilitate the movement of people between the two countries and to work on developing an advanced internal transportation system by benefiting from Turkey’s expertise.

 

He noted the priorities for developing the emergency transportation sector, including improving land transport in Syria to enhance transportation services within cities.

 

Badr highlighted several challenges facing the advancement of the Syrian transport sector and its services, confirming that there is a future vision to address strategic issues, most importantly restoring rail and road connectivity between Syria and Turkey, as well as connections to Europe and the Gulf countries.

 

For his part, the Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced during a joint press conference with his Syrian counterpart:

 

“We have decided to activate all existing border crossings with Syria.

 

We are working on establishing a joint border crossing within the one crossing system.

 

We agreed to enhance land transport and overcome the difficulties that occurred in the past.

 

We discussed how to facilitate traffic from Syria to Turkey and vice versa.

 

We specifically focused on reactivating the railway line between Jarablus and Aleppo, which connects Syria to Turkey and then to Europe.

 

We also touched upon the Hejaz line itself and the possibility of extending it southward and working on restoring the damaged lines”.

Souha Suleiman

 

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