Al-Assad sends message to Mubarak, as Egypt convey Syrian position to Turkey

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Saturday received Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa who conveyed a message from President Hafez al-Assad relating to the efforts currently exerted to defuse the current crisis between Turkey and Syria and to find out diplomatic solutions to problems between the two countries.

In a joint press conference, he held with his Egyptian counterpart Amr Moussa, the Syrian FM stressed that Syria has asserted categorical rejection of the Turkish threats and its sincere efforts to find diplomatic solutions to all current problems, foremost being the security problem. Al-Sharaa explained "this regrettable and fabricated problem by Turkey constitutes a source of concern to all of us." He expressed hope that the current and continued efforts to contain the crisis between the two neighborly countries will be fruitful and get away from any escalation or threats.

Al-Sharaa expressed hope of eliminating all problems hindering relations between the two countries and to reach a final solution to any problems arising between the two countries. Replying to a question on the timing of this problem by Turkey and the Turkish claims addressed to Syria of supporting the Kurdistani Workers Party, al-Sharaa said "the claims that we have heard are totally out of place." He continued "internal issues in Turkey had led it to diverting attention away from its internal problems."

Al-Sharaa noted the Israeli dimension in provoking the Turkish crisis with Syria. He also noted "some Turkish officials" do not want to see a natural climate and dialogue between the two neighborly countries. He expressed thanks to President Mubarak over his continuous efforts to find out a diplomatic solution and to contain the crisis between Turkey and Syria. Al-Sharaa asserted: "Our brothers in Egypt will continue conveying the Syrian viewpoint to the Turkish side precisely and accurately."

For his part, the Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa said that President Mubarak's talks with al-Sharaa dealt with the standing problems between Turkey and Syria in order to proceed towards defusing tension between the two countries. Moussa went on that in the light of President al- Assad's message to Mubarak, and the talks with Minister al-Sharaa, President Mubarak will contact the Turkish President Suleiman Demirel to move, within the coming days, to contain the tension between the two countries. He added, he may visit Turkey within the coming few days. Moussa hoped these efforts will meet success.

Moussa confirmed that the general strategic vision is that relations between the Arabs and Turkey are important and require a move to contain the crisis between Syria and Turkey.