On the Syrian - Turkish talks

The BBC's correspondent in Damascus said on Monday that with the arrival of Turkish Minister of State Recep Onal to Damascus leading a large economic delegation, Syrian- Turkish relations enter a new phase, signifying at least a phase of good neighborly relations.

The correspondent quoted a consultant at the Turkish embassy in Damascus as saying that Onal will deal in his talks with Syria with the possibility of providing Turkey with Syrian gas, using Turkish investments in the area of oil and gas, as well as in tourism and industry, cooperation in the area of transit towards the countries of the Middle East, the Gulf, Asia and Europe and signing an agreement in the fields of air, land and naval communications and discussing the resumption of operation of the Hijazi railway.

The Turkish delegation, the consultant added, will also discuss the issue of the electricity grid between the two countries.

Moreover, Turkish diplomatic sources said the desire to strengthen relations with Syria has no link to the peace process in the Middle East, or with Turkish- European talks (on Turkey joining the EU), but that they are an embodiment of a change in Turkish foreign policy with neighboring countries.