Erdogan: We will extract milk, even from the male goat!

The Syrian-Turkish Business Council met in Damascus in April 26-27, 2008, bringing over 700 participants together at the Four Seasons. Speaking at the opening, Prime Minister Mohammad Naji Otari said that this event only adds to the already strong bilateral relations between Syria and Turkey. These relations, he noted, were based “mutual will and determination, proximity, history, and cultural morals.” Speaking at the event, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan praised all measures taken by the Syrian government, reminding of the steps taken by his government back in 2003, where national income increased from $230 billion to $659 billion. “Our exports” explained the Turkish leader, “they were at $36 billion and then reached $114 billion, over a five year period. “This easily can be done in Syria” he added, “all you need is will power, and only then will you be able to extract milk even from the male goat! We are willing to put our hand in yours in this issue.” Erdogan added that bilateral trade between Syria and Turkey, which reaches $2 billion this year, is not enough and must be increased.