Khaddam to visit Turkey very shortly

A Turkish diplomatic source in Damascus has confirmed what was said by the Turkish dailies on the intention of the Syrian vice President Abdul Halim Khaddam to pay an official visit to Ankara within the few coming days during which he will convey a message from President Bashar al-Assad to the Turkish President Nacdet Ceasar who was one of the main non- Arab leaders who took part in the funeral of the late Syrian President Hafez al-Assad.

The source told the London- based al-Sharq al-Awsat daily that this visit will be a good opportunity in which Khaddam will discuss with the Turkish officials especially, the prime minister Polent Acawid various aspects of Syrian- Turkish relations and means of developing them.

The Turkish diplomatic source added that Khaddam's visit to Ankara might prepare for the forthcoming visit of President Bashar al-Assad, later.

The paper added that the correspondent of the Qatar's news agency in Ankara said that the Turkish side seeks to settle to the question of al-Askandaroun Sanjak ( the Syrian territories ceded by Turkey by the beginning of the century) on the ground that this will contribute to opening a new page between the two countries.