Turkish president meets with Syrian FM
Syria-Turkey, Politics, 1/14/2003

Turkish President, Ahmet Nacdat Sezar, yesterday in Ankara received Foreign Minister, Farouk Al-Shara who conveyed a message from President Bashar Al-Assad to the Turkish President.

Talks during the meeting dealt with current situation in the region, cooperation between Syria and Turkey, as well as ways of finding a peaceful solution which avoid Iraq and the region the war.

President Sezar renewed an invitation to President Bashar Al-Assad for visiting Turkey. Earlier in the day, Al-Shara and the accompanying delegation were received by the Turkish Justice and Development Party Head, Rajab Tayeb Erdogan.

Erdogan expressed Turkey's interest in developing cooperation relations with Syria and the necessity of exerting joint efforts for finding a peaceful solution to the Iraqi issue.

Al-Shara was also received yesterday by the Turkish Prime Minister, Abdullah Gul in the presence of Deputy Foreign Minister, Walid Al-Moualem, Foreign Ministry's Foreign Media Director, Buthaina Shaban, and the Turkish Foreign Minister, Yasar Yakis.

Talks during the meeting focused on the latest regional and international developments and the tragic conditions of the Palestinian people in the occupied Arab territories.

Talks also dealt with the Iraqi issue and the necessity of finding out a peaceful solution to avoid the dangers of a possible war on Iraq.

Minister Shara conveyed to Gul Syrian government's interest in developing relations with Turkey in all fields.

Gul, for his part, expressed appreciation over Syria's role in the region and her regional importance underlining Turkey's willingness to develop relations with Syria and other Arab states for the interest of the region's security and stability.

A round of talks was held, upon minister Shara's Monday arrival in Ankara, between the Syrian delegation headed by al-Shara and the Turkish side headed by the Foreign Minister, Yasar Yekis. The two sides reviewed the latest regional and international developments, particularly the Middle East.

Talks focused on ways of keeping the security and stability of the Middle East region and the action to avoid Iraq and the region the dangers of a possible US war which may have impact on other countries of the region.

On the current situation in the region, minister Shara had pointed upon arrival to Turkey that it is natural to have consultations on the important events underway in the region. He added that there would be no difficulty in reaching out joint outcome since what concerns us on the destiny of the region is the same.

Shara described the Turkish Prime Minister, Abdullah Gul's recent visit to Syria as a successful visit, where viewpoints were exchanged, and on the Iraqi issue they were identical, particularly on avoiding Iraq a war.

Minister Shara underlined that a war on Iraq is a war against the region and its future, "that's why we, collectively, call for doing every thing to find out a peaceful solution for the Iraqi crisis."

In response to a question if there are any certain ideas or mechanism to avoid a war on Iraq, Shara indicated that all available and practical possibilities and mechanism, which serve the interest of Syria and Turkey as well as the goals of security and stability in the region, would be discussed.

For his part, the Turkish Foreign Minister stated that talks would cover all issues of joint concern on the bilateral and regional levels and praised the development which the Syrian-Turkish relations are witnessing.

Previous Stories:
  Al-Shara grants comprehensive interview to Turkish TV outlining developments   (1/11/2003)
  Al-Shara to visit Ankara January 13, 15   (1/7/2003)
  Al- Assad discusses with Gul bilateral relations, the situation n the region, stressed international legitimacy   (1/6/2003)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search