Message from Khatami to al-Assad on containing tensions with Turkey

Syrian President Hafez al-Assad on Thursday received a message from Iranian President Muhammad Khatami dealing with the efforts exerted by Iran, as chair of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, to contain the tensions in the relations between Turkey and Syria.

The message was conveyed by the Iranian ambassador in Damascus, Hussein Sheikh al-Islam.

On Wednesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi made a telephone call to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, during which he informed the UN chief of the Iranian efforts to alleviate tensions between Syria and Turkey.

Kharazi expressed satisfaction with the new situation between the two countries realized through the Egyptian and Iranian mediation efforts.

For his part, the UN chief expressed thanks for the efforts exerted by Iranian President Muhammad Khatami as chairman of the OIC in this regard. He expressed hope that the Iranian mediation to settle the conflict between Ankara and Damascus will attain full success.

Meanwhile, The organization of the Islamic Conference has asserted the need to not resort to the use of force especially when disputes arise between two countries linked by fraternal ties and to the teachings of the same religion.

A statement issued by the OIC on Thursday in Jeddah said the OIC's secretary general received the Syrian Consul in Jeddah, Taha al-Kheirat, and listened to an analysis of the recent Turkish escalation against Syria. The statement added that the OIC's secretary general on Wednesday in Jeddah received the general first consul of Turkey, who handed him a message from Turkish Foreign Minister Ismael Cem.