The Foreign Ministers of Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan agreed to intensify cooperation towards a free trade zone. Observers are talking about creating of versions of the European Union in the Middle East.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmed Davutoglu, speaking after a meeting on the sidelines of the UN with Arab counterparts, said that establishing a free trade area is likely to be formally announced at a summit of leaders of four countries, which will be held in Istanbul in January. "We hope that this is good news not only for these four countries, but also for the whole region" - said Davutoglu.

For the first time 4 countries agreed to establish a Cooperation Council "to develop long-term strategic partnership" and "creation of a free movement zone of goods and people between countries" during a meeting of foreign ministers in the Turkish-Arab Forum in Istanbul in June. Since then, Turkey and Lebanon signed a bilateral agreement on free trade and abolished the visa regime, thus paving the way for further implementation of free trade. In August, the trade ministers of the four countries met to prepare the implementation of the June agreement.

Davutoglu said that the cooperation will focus in four areas: energy, trade, transport and tourism. The Foreign Minister also confirmed that an agreement to establish a free trade zone is open to all friendly countries in the region, the Turkish newspaper Today Zaman.