UPDATE: Turkish economy minister says Syria to lose more than $100 million

ANKARA (A.A) - December 16, 2011 - Turkish Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan has said that Syria would lose more than 100 million U.S. dollars a year in transport revenues with alternative routes to export goods to the Middle East and Gulf.   A statement by Caglayan said that talks on roll-on/roll-off (RORO) services for Turkish trucks which would go to Gulf countries via Egypt have been finalized. A regulation on Turkish RORO ships' Egypt services was completed and with this regulation, Turkish trucks would be able to go to Gulf countries via Egypt, he said. The Egyptian city of Alexandria was prepared for Turkish RORO ships, he said. Caglayan said Syrian economy would be affected negatively with start of the Mediterranean Turkish port of Mersin and Alexandria RORO services. RORO ships are vessels designed to carry wheeled cargo like cars, trucks, trailers and railroad cars that are driven on and off the ship on their own wheels.