Syrian official is to Ankara the day after tomorrow

Syrian Deputy Prime Minister Salim Yassin is due to visit Turkey on Monday in the first visit by a high-ranking Syrian official since they reached a diplomatic solution for the Syrian - Turkish row last October.

A Turkish official told ArabicNews.com that the Syrian delegation will discuss the increase of trade exchange between the two countries.

Syrian sources said the Syrian official is going to hold meetings with Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and Foreign Minister Ismael Cem.

The sources said the talks will tackle the implementation of economic agreements signed between the two parties, upgrading commerce between them, and the use of Syrian gas, adding that Turkey imports more than 10 million cubic meters annually valued at $500 million in 1997.