Egypt, Arab League welcome Syrian-Turkish agreement

Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa on Wednesday welcomed the results of Syrian-Turkish talks in alleviating tensions in the region. In statements to reporters he expressed his happiness over his country's participation in the process of defusing the crisis between Syria and Turkey.

Moussa indicated that the two foreign ministers, Turkey's Ismael Cem and Syria's Farouk al-Sharaa expressed to him "their relief towards the manner in which the negotiations were concluded."

For its part, the Arab League has welcomed the agreement reached by Syria and Turkey to settle bilateral disputes. In press statements, Arab League (AL) Secretary-General Esmat Abdul Meguid expressed, following talks with the Cypriot foreign minister in Cairo, the AL's appreciation over the efforts made by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to find a peaceful settlement for the crisis.

The AL chief also expressed hope that the agreement signed between the two countries will mark the beginning of friendly relations between the Arab and Turkish peoples.