Turkey fears Syrian-Iraqi cooperation
The Turkish government is closely monitoring information about improvements in Syrian-Iraqi ties, the BBC's correspondent in Ankara on Monday quoted Turkish press and diplomatic sources as saying .
The sources said the Turks are preparing to face the results of such closeness through improving relations with Iran, noting that Turkish President Suleiman Demirel sent a message to Iranian President Muhammad Khatami underlineding the importance of coordination and cooperation between Tehran and Ankara to meet challenges in the region.
The sources noted that the current visit of the Turkish delegation to Syria is only a few days before the Turkish Foreign Minister Ismael Cim will visit Amman, Riyadh, Tel Aviv and Cairo in order to explain Ankara's new policies towards Arab states. The report said Damascus was among the capitals listed for Cim's visit, but President Demirel and the Turkish military leadership opposed his visit to Syria at the present time.
