TURKEY, SYRIA READY TO LOOK UP AT SAME SKY

Hurriyet Daily News
Tuesday, October 13, 2009

ALEPPO, GAZIANTEP – Hurriyet Daily News Ministers from Turkey and Syria
meet in Aleppo and then cross the border together into Gaziantep in
a symbolic move to express the direction of relations between the
two countries. ‘This partnership sets a standard and brings with
it a message to the region. We hope this understanding will spread
throughout the region,’ says Davutoglu AA photo

AA photo

>>From the brink of war 10 years ago, Turkey and Syria are now
sailing toward a strategic partnership. Ministers from both sides
met in Aleppo and then traveled visa-free to Gaziantep on Tuesday
and made an open invitation expressing that the partnership is not
an alliance against others countries and is open to all.

"Our slogan is about a common destiny, common history and common
future. And we’ll build the future together," Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu told a joint press conference with his Syrian counterpart,
Walid al-Muallem. He repeated the message in Arabic, which was
applauded by the Syrians in the room.

"Today is bayram for the peoples of Turkey and Syria. We are
celebrating a third bayram, which is the removal of visa procedures,
in addition to Ramadan and the Feast of Sacrifice," he said.

Turkey and Syria announced plans to establish a high-level strategic
cooperation council to deepen their relations in every field from
security to energy. Davutoglu and al-Muallem co-chaired the first
foreign ministerial meeting of the council to be followed at the
prime ministerial level in early December when Turkey’s Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan visits Damascus.

"This partnership sets a standard and brings with it a message to the
region. We hope this understanding will spread throughout the region,"
said Davutoglu.

For his part, al-Muallem said nothing should be sought behind his
country’s partnership with Turkey. "Our call to friendly countries
is open," he said.

Turkey m with Iraq under the government’s policy of zero problems and
maximum cooperation with neighbors, but Ankara’s steps elevated fears
among NATO members that EU aspirant Turkey was drifting farther from
European values.

"Turkey’s relations with Syria are complementary to its foreign
policy. If we join the EU, Syria will be a neighbor to the EU, and
if the EU lets Turkey in, its doors will open up to the Middle East,"
said Davutoglu.

Later in the day, Davutoglu and al-Muallem signed an agreement to
exempt mutual visas and the two ministers crossed the border in a
symbolic move to remove the barrier at the Oncupınar Border Gate,
a narrow gate and an area surrounded by minefields.

Delay of military exercise with Israel

Syria welcomed the Turkish decision to delay the international part
of a military exercise including Israel.

Turkey recently canceled a joint military exercise on its territory
with Israel, the United States and Italy. Many people consider the
decision a continuation of Turkey’s reaction to Israel’s Gaza war
last year.

"We are pleased with Turkey’s decision, reminiscent of Turkey’s
approach to the Israeli-led attacks in Gaza," said al-Muallem, adding
that Israel has continued its offensive policies and rejected Turkey’s
peace efforts and initiatives.

Davutoglu reminded the press that the exercise was a national drill
open to international participants. "Everyone should act with common
sense and in a way that does not harm peace and stability," Davutoglu
said, without naming Israel. He said the human tragedy unfolding in
Gaza should come to an end and Islamic holy places in East Jerusalem
including al-Aqsa Mosque should be respected.

"If Turkey’s sensitivities are taken into consideration an atmosphere
of peace will emerge. We are ready to do our best for peace," said
Davutoglu.

Turkey sponsored five rounds of indirect negotiations between Israel
and Syria but the talks were suspended over Israeli war in Gaza early
this year. Davutoglu said the Israeli to peace in the Middle East.

"We are always ready [to mediate peace talks] but there is need
for strong political will that must be demonstrated by the parties
concerned," he said.

Al-Muallem said, "We trust the role played by Turkey as a mediator
for peace in the region."

De-mining the common border

Clearing landmines from the Turkish-Syrian border is controversial. The
Turkish Parliament passed a controversial law last May about de-mining,
but appealed to opposition at the country’s top Constitutional Court.

Davutoglu said once the ongoing technical work is over, the fields
will open to agriculture after the mines are cleared away.

"That is important in economic terms, but it also has a symbolic
meaning. From now on, we want neither mines, walls, wires, nor border
gates. We want complete integration," he said.

PKK problem

The PKK problem was once a point of contention that brought the
two neighbors to the edge of a war in 1999. However, in the new
term Damascus extended support to Turkey’s fight against the PKK,
with Syrian President Bashar Assad saying before a visit to Istanbul
last month that his country was ready to welcome the return of Syrian
members of the PKK.

"Syria considers the PKK a terrorist organization," said
al-Muallem. "Turkey’s security is part of Syria’s security."

Armenia protocols

The Syrian minister welcomed the protocols signed between
Turkey and Armenia on Saturday to normalize their troubled
relations. Turkish-Armenian ties closely concern Damascus due to its
Armenian population.

"I have spoken with the Armenian citizens living in Syria and saw that
they are also happy. Turkish-Armenian relations are in the interest
of Syria," said al-Muallem.

Snapshots from Aleppo-Gaziantep

â~@¢ Ten Turkish ministers attended the strategic council
meeting. Diplomats said the meetings took place not in the format of
the two separate Cabinets’ convention but under one umbrella.

â~@¢ Turkish ministers accompanied members of the press, as well as
opposition de

â~@¢ In Aleppo, ministers from both sides made a joint meeting
described as "energetic and efficient beginning" by the diplomats
and in Gaziantep concrete projects were discussed.

â~@¢ The Turkish delegation was welcomed at the border by Turkish
citizens living in Syria waving flags.

â~@¢ The government aimed to transform economic cooperation with Syria
into economic integration. The objective is to attain $5 billion in
mutual trade volume, which was $1.8 billion in 2008.

â~@¢ Cyprus was among the issues on the agenda. Diplomats said Turkey’s
proposal to Syria to let northern Cyprus open an office in Damascus
was welcomed by the Syrian officials.

â~@¢ Higher Education Board, or YOK, head Ziya Ozcan suggested
joint high education license programs between Turkish and Syrian
universities.

â~@¢ Turkey offered to build a dam in Syria and name it the
"Friendship Dam."