Syrian deputy premier to visit Ankara

A Turkish diplomatic source said on Wednesday that Syrian Deputy Premier for Economic Affairs Salim Yassin will visit Ankara on Monday, while a western diplomatic source in Damascus has asserted that Ankara is eager to strengthen its relations with Syria and Lebanon and it aspires to do so through "the economic gate."

The Turkish source explained that the current Turkish government under Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit asserts the importance of relations between Turkey and the countries of the Middle East.

Concerning the visit of Yassin to Ankara the Western source said Yassin's visit to Ankara aims at developing economic ties between the two countries. The western diplomat added that Ankara also seeks to strengthen its economic and security ties with Lebanon, noting that, "So far Beirut had no response in this respect."

Observers believe the "currently stable" ties between Turkey and Syria can be developed through the "economic gate," especially as the volume of trade exchange between the two countries is still small, adding that Turkey's exports to Syria during 1997 were estimated at US $269 million and its imports from Syria for the same year were estimated at US $456 million.