ÇAĞLAYAN HOLDS CONTACTS IN BAKU

Çağlayan met in the capital Baku with economy ministers of Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, discussing steps to be taken for boosting trade volume with these countries.

Çağlayan first held talks with President Ilham Aliyev on many topics including economic relations. Çağlayan said that free trade zones should be set up and asked for Aliyev's support.

Aliyev for his part drew attention to agreements signed in recent months. It was emphasized that Trans Anatolia Gas Pipeline project has turned Turkey to an energy base in the region. Çağlayan also met with his counterpart Şahin Mustafayev.

Çağlayan and Mustafayev discussed ways to boost trade volume between Turkey and Azerbaijan. A Heads of State summit of Turkish Council member countries will be held in Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek on August 23.