Jordan, Turkey move on free-trade measure

ISTANBUL, Turkey, Nov. 9 (UPI) -- The prime ministers of Jordan and Turkey agreed to remove obstacles to a free-trade agreement, putting the measure on track for approval by the end of the year.

Jordanian Prime Minister Nader Dahabi met with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of an economic summit for the Organization of the Islamic Conference in Istanbul.

Both leaders agreed to cancel visa fees and other concessions in an effort to move forward with a free-trade agreement by the end of the year, Jordan's Petra news agency reports.

Negotiations on an agreement stalled in 2002 over disputes related to customs and other economic pitfalls.

Both sides also agreed to form a bilateral strategic council co-chaired by both prime ministers scheduled to meet every six months.

Dahabi is in Istanbul to deliver the address for the Jordanian delegation to the OIC. His speech is expected to focus on commercial cooperation with OIC member states, Petra reports.

The OIC kicked off a five-day summit Sunday focusing on economic and agricultural issues.