In Istanbul, Gul urges COMCEC leaders to ratify preferential trade agreements

Istanbul yesterday hosted the 25th meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference's (OIC) Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC). Delivering the opening speech of the meeting, President Abdullah Gul stressed the importance of the OIC as well as non-OIC member countries working to solve international issues. In his speech, he touched on such topics as the Palestinian issue, the Arab-Israeli dispute, Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Sudan and Somalia. He also said that a proposed preferential trade system would improve trade among OIC member states and urged their leaders to ratify rules of origin agreements as soon as possible so the system could begin.