Al-Assad's interview on relations with Turkey
Syria-Turkey, Politics, 1/7/2004

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad has given an interview to the Turkish "CNN-Turk" TV station in which he dealt with relations between Syria and Turkey, and the current conditions in the region, especially the situation in Iraq. On Syria-Turkey relations, al-Assad said ties between the two neighbors are back to normal.

"President Ahmet Sezer's initiative to visit Syria, and to offer condolences on the death of president Hafez al-Assad in 2000 was an object of appreciation in Syria, and made the door wide open to develop bilateral relations," President al-Assad said. He added that these relations date back to more than 1100 years ago, and were based on common interests and common destiny at the time, namely during the era of the Ottoman state which was one country.

"The link between the beginning and the end continued unabated in different forms, and the relations at that time were correct," the president said pointing out that the problems between Syria and Turkey were not separate from the international situation which was brought about during and after World War One.

He made clear that the main two fields which witnessed great violations are the political and security domains. "I want to explain, after the elapse of several years on the development of bilateral relations, about the question of the Kurdistan Workers Party. For the Turkish officials, I think there has been no single incident of infiltration from Syria since 1987, especially after President Ozal's visit to Syria, which was successful at the time," President Bashar said. He went on to say that Syria never supported, as some think, carrying out any operation against the Turkish people or any other one." He pointed out that "we, during the 1980s were subject to forms worse than terrorism and many civilians were killed.

"Throughout her history, Syria never witnessed such forms, nor any other state did." The president referred to the current development in the economic area which needs some time to promote, and bring close development process in both countries. He said "you have achieved large strides in the economic domain, but Syria now undergoes a development process that needs some time. "So long as we make further steps, economic relations become better." The president said Syria and Turkey certainly need each other. "We feel such need as the Turkish officials do, and I think that both peoples feel the same need."

" I don't want to confine the relationship between Syria and Turkey within the national boundaries of both countries; we must view it regionally and, perhaps later on, internationally. There is a role that could be within the Islamic group or broader than that. Names don't matter, we could call it strategic partnership, alliance, friendship or brotherhood. These are just terms. The important issue lies in the content. Do we feel that the dangers are one? Do we feel that the popular feelings are one? Yes, we do feel such a thing."

On the mechanism that must be between Syria and Turkey in the coming period, the president said "Of course, there are the official and non-official mechanism. Perhaps the non-official ones are the most important in the long term. The official mechanisms are what we are doing now of constant consultation, they are successful because they are being done at short intervals. In this visit, we will concentrate more on the economic mechanism that includes many issues, culture, tourism and border facilities. This mechanism, in my opinion, lasts and continues much longer, and it helped turn the Syrian-Turkish relations back to their current level in record time." On the Syrian-Turkish borders and if they are borders of peace, the president said: "Now they are peace borders. But when interests are realized and interrelated on all levels, citizens will no longer pass borders, and then we can look at each other in a broader way, which we seek."

On the existence of an Israeli dissatisfaction with the Syrian - Turkish relations, the President said: "Since the relationship has not in the past and in the present come through Israel, this means nothing for us, whether (Israel) is satisfied or not.'' Had Israel wanted to affect or been capable of affecting the Turkish decision, we would not have reached this level in our relations. There are many other parties that will not feel comfortable with this development, but Turkey and Syria insisted on this, so we reached it. Therefore, nothing concerns us, if it doesn't affect this development."

On the issue of water, the president said: "it is natural and certain that each country aspires to have more water than the other. We live in an area which suffers a problem of water in general. But, I cannot regard this issue as a real problem between Syria and Turkey. The water issue governed international laws and humanitarian relations, and when we improve the relations more, we will see that the interest is one, even in the issue of water."

Regarding a question about the maps between the two countries and that which concerns Iskandaron Sanjak, the president answered: "The subject dates back to six decades. Today, it is not a point of difference. The subject of water is also one of the points which we were considering a point of difference for decades." He added: "It is natural when you want to solve points of difference between two states, to start from the positive points of agreement and not the contrary. It is impossible to solve or to develop relations from the points of difference. Now when the relations are developed in the future, the points of difference will be besieged by the points of agreement." He went on to say "We have the joint desire to avoid differences in order to reach a solution for this subject in the future, not to neglect them. We have to solve this subject in a way that realizes the interests of the two countries, and to have both satisfied. But we have to give time for any problem."

Concerning Syria's stand towards the situation in Iraq and proposals on a federation in it, the president answered "of course any state of division in Iraq will not only be reflected on Iraq and Turkey only, it will be reflected on all neighbors. It is natural to be anxious over any state of division whether it was in the north, in the center or in the south. The state is one." He added "this is a red line for all states of the region, particularly those neighboring Iraq."

On the intention to deepen and perpetuate relations of cooperation with Turkey in confronting these issues, the president said "this is happening now and it is one of the main pivots which were discussed during my meeting with president Cezer in Malaysia, and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. No doubt, this is a basic worry because we talk about the end of occupation and independence of Iraq." "Without Iraq's unity, there will be no stability neither for Iraq, nor to our countries if they remained following the division of Iraq," the president pointed out.

Regarding the US reaction to those stands and Syrian statements, al-Assad said that "what we try to explain to them is reality, then we give our opinion frankly. They may not like our opinion nor reality."

"The Syrian-US relationship has always been a state of ebb and flow since 1974. Syria has always been trying to create a state of stability in this relations, but the Israeli factor has always been affecting negatively this relations. Concerning the Syrian-US issue, generally there are no disagreement, but when we talk about the Israeli issue, disagreements emerge and you know the strength of the Israeli lobby in the US."

Concerning the US threats, President al-Assad said "The question is not in the threats, but in the new international situation, no doubt, there is concern that this superpower could have no vision of any issue. This is a worrisome question. If there is no American vision in all problems to find solutions for them, wars will continue to exist. The question is not confined to one threat by one state, the problem is bigger than that. This is the element of the main concern for Syria." On the issue of mass destruction weapons in the region, the President said "Of course, Syria has been calling for a long time for removing the mass destruction weapons from the middle East. Some eight months ago, Syria proposed an initiative to the (UN) Security Council to take a resolution on the removal of mass destruction weapons from the Middle East. But the US did not approve it." " About a week ago, it was put at the UN as a blue color document. This means it has become an official document but with no voting on. It may be regarded as a reference. What (Libya's leader) Colonel Qathafi did is not contradictory to Syria's view point. The difference is that our proposal is comprehensive and includes Israel. The greater problem concerning mass destruction weapons is Israel's nuclear arms which are the only ones existing in our region. eliminating weapons of mass destruction is sound, but it must involve all states," al-Assad said.

On Syria's stand towards Turkey's joining to the European Union, President al-Assad said Syria supports this positive step from its different aspects. Turkey will certainly benefit from it in a way that will be reflected on Syria due to the bilateral relations being developed now. "For us in Syria. The EU will be directly at our northern borders. This is something positive because we in the future will be partners of the Union," President Bashar concluded.

Previous Stories:
  Gul: al-Assad's visit is a starting point for a new stage of Turkish- Syrian relations   (1/6/2004)
  Al-Assad starts historic visit to Ankara today   (1/6/2004)
  Turkish officials and al-Assad's expected visit   (1/3/2004)

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