Syrian - Turkish security committee meets today in Damascus

Meetings of the Syrian - Turkish Security Committee chaired by chairman of the political security system in Syria, Lt. Gen. Adnan Badr Hassan, and the commander of the Turkish second army start today Tuesday in Damascus.

The meetings will deal with the implementation of the Turkish - Syrian security agreement signed in the Turkish city of Adanah in October 1998 to end the crisis between the two countries, which was accompanied by a Turkish military buildup on the Northern borders of Syria under the Turkish accusations that Damascus backed the Kurdistani Workers Party and provided haven to its leader, Abdullah Ocalan.

Diplomatic sources in Damascus quoted the Turkish ambassador to Syria as expressing his satisfaction over the strong security measures taken by the ministry of the Interior to protect the Turkish embassy against any possible Kurdish attack following the arrest of Ocalan.