Turkish delegation to Syria on Monday

In a step which marks the beginning of a regular dialogue between Damascus and Ankara, a Turkish delegation led by the Foreign Ministry secretary, Ogore Zeyal, is expected to arrive in Damascus on Monday to discuss means of developing bilateral relations and to "define principles on the ground of which these relations will be built."

The spokesman for the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Sermant Atankli, hoped that this visit, which was approved during the meeting between the Syrian and Turkish foreign ministers in New York on the sideline of works of the UN General Assembly in autumn 1999 "will constitute a positive step to develop our relations."

The Turkish dailies highlighted news of this visit during which the two sides will discuss issues "of mutual concern including the waters," and described it as "the first governmental contacts between the Syrian and Turkish governments in order to strengthen relations."

Last Sunday, Iraqi Minister of Irrigation Mahmoud Diab al-Ahmad called on Damascus and Ankara to start negotiations in order to find a just solution for water distribution between the three countries.

Atankli said his country's stand "has not changed," rather expressed his hope that "the question of waters will be considered a means for co-operation with all our neighbors and negotiations to be made according to this understanding."

Meanwhile, Turkey announced it will not reduce the amounts of water flow through the Euphrates to Syria during al-Adha Eid vacation later this month.

A statement by the Turkish water department said, "The water flow to Syria during al-Adha Eid will continue."

In recent years, Turkey used to use al-Adha Eid vacation in making works of maintenance of the giant Ataturk dam, noting that such maintenance acts will be made each two years.