Damascus: Oclan did not get into Syrian territories since three months
Ankara on Wednesday expressed its hope to arrive at a peaceful settlement in its dispute with Damascus over the question of the Kurdistani Workers Party, even as the Turkish Army continued its pressure on Syria.
The Syrian government said that the leader of the Kurdish revolutionaries had not entered Syria for three months.
Syrian Information Minister Muhammad Salman told the Kuwaiti al-Qabas daily that Oclan did not enter into the Syrian territories since three months and that Oclan's party is banned in Syria.
The Syrian minister accused Israel of standing behind the escalation of tension between Turkey and Syria. He added that from the very beginning Syria has preferred to resort to a diplomatic solution to the crisis, because Syria believes that there is "no interest for Syria nor for Turkey in escalation. This position is based on principled vision of the conditions. We have given diplomacy every possible chance and we still hope the war will not break off because it will not be confined to a limited space as Turkish military men may think."
Turkish Foreign Minister Ismael Cem said he finds signals that Damascus has taken steps towards meeting the Turkish demands. An official source at the Turkish Foreign Ministry denied reports that Cem will make a tour to explain the developments in the crisis between his country and Syria.
Press reports, which were not confirmed by the Turkish Army, said that Ankara will strengthen its campaign on Syria within one month after redeploying 50,000 new troops in the southeastern part of the country.
Turkish papers gave wide coverage and front-page reports on corruption scandals.
On Wednesday, on the other hand, thousands of Palestinians in al-Yarmuk Palestinian camp in the entrance of Damascus staged a demonstration in solidarity with Syria against the Turkish threats to carry out military actions.
Meanwhile, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak spoke about steps within the coming days toward settling the crisis.