Turkey's Deputy Culture and Tourism Minister said in Shiraz, Iran yesterday that tyeb brotherly and friendly relations between the neighboring countries of Iran and Turkey would, God willing, last forever.

Toward the end of the current year, Turkish exports have reached $111 billion, exceeding a projection of $107 billion. The volume of exports in 2010 has remained behind the record level of $130 billion reached in 2008 before the global economic crisis.

[A member of the Iraq-Turkish Committee said yesterday that the value of trade between Iraq and Turkey in 2010 has reached $10 billion, up from $8 billion in 2009. There are 400 Turkish companies operating in Iraq involved in project execution (primarily services) and project investment. The two governments are seeking to expand their bilateral trade to $20 billion in the next five years.

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The Turkish government has prepared a draft legislative for approval in parliament that will deny Israelis and Greeks the right to own property in Turkey but grant unlimited rights to do so to Iranians, Syrians and citizens of the Gulf countries.

Al-Qaeda's October 31, 2010 attack on the Our Lady of the Salvation Church in Baghdad, which left 52 worshippers dead and scores more injured, was condemned by political and religious leaders throughout the Muslim world, and also by hard-line Islamic movements such as the Muslim Brotherhood.

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Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks to Shi'ite Muslims in Istanbul on December 16, 2010, during Ashura Day ceremony.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended an Ashura Day ceremony in Istanbul, at which he emphasized that the Karbala tragedy affects all Muslims and should serve as a source of unity among Sunni and Shi'a Muslims.

This was the first time Erdogan has joined the Ashura Day since coming to power in 2002. Ashura is marked by Shi'a Muslims.

Inaugural ceremony; building is draped with Turkish and Palestinian flags and IHH banner

At an inaugural ceremony for a residential building that was damaged in the Gaza war and rebuilt with funding from the Turkish IHH organization under the oversight of the Hamas government's Ministry of Public Works and Residences, IHH director in Gaza Muhammad Kaya said that his organization represented Turkey.

The Iranian media report that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is to participate for the first time in an 'Ashura ceremony tomorrow, to be held by Shi'ites in Istanbul.

'Ashura marks the death of the Imam Hussein.

At a joint press conference in Turkey with Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud 'Abbas said that the Palestinian issue is at the top of Turkey's priorities.