ANKARA - Ankara Forum for Economic Cooperation between Palestine, Turkey and Israel had its seventh meeting in Ankara on November 13, 2007.

The meeting brought together business representatives from the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), the Federation of Palestinian Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture and the Israeli Manufacturers' Association. The Ankara Forum meetings started with a preparation meeting in the morning bringing together the heads of the Chamber organizations from the three countries. In this meeting, developments regarding the Ankara Forum activities were discussed and demands from the three heads of state regarding the new initiative in the West Bank were listed.

After this meeting at TOBB, the seventh Ankara Forum program continued with another high-level meeting at the Presidential Palace with the participation of the three Presidents, Turkish President H.E. Abdullah Gul, Israeli President H.E. Shimon Peres and the Palestinian President H.E. Mahmoud Abbas. At the Palace, the three Presidents made speeches that support the Government of Turkey and Turkish private sectors' role in the Palestinian Territories. After the speeches of the Presidents, TOBB president Mr. Hisarciklioglu read the final declaration of the businessmen, that came out of the morning meeting. At the last section of the Forum meeting, the three Presidents signed a joint declaration regarding the establishment of an Industrial Zone in the West Bank by a Turkish Management Company founded by TOBB.

Afterwards, a high-level delagation consisting of the three Presidents, Turkish and Palestinian Foreign Ministers, Turkish Minister of the Interior, Minister of Defense, Minister of Industry and Trade, three heads of the chamber organizations, representatives of the international and the local media, businessmen and representatives from foreign institutions and delegations made a visit to the TEPAV building, that is the executing agency of the Ankara Forum activities. After the lunch organized at TEPAV, TOBB President Hisarciklioglu and the three Presidents addressed the audience. During the press conference organized after the lunch, Ankara Forum President Hisarciklioglu and Vice Presidents, the head of the Palestinian Chambers Mr. Ahmed Hashem al-Zughair and the head of the Israeli Manufacturers' Association Mr. Shraga Brosh, explained how the Ankara Forum idea was born and what the plans are for the future.

There was a big international attention on the seventh Ankara Forum meeting. Among the observers were the Country Director of Turkey, Mr. Ulrich Zachau, as a representative of the World Bank, policy advisor of the US Chambers for Europe and Eurasia, Ms. Kristal Alley as a representative of the US Chambers and the Head of Mission of the Quartet's office in Jerusalem, Ambassador Donald Bandler as a representative of the Quartet office headed by Mr. Tony Blair.