Essad: We Will Not Let Iraq Disintegrate !

Essad said that Turkey and Syria attained consensus on every issue that was tackled. In his speech in the Cankaya (Presidential) Kiosk, Essad said; “We attained trust out of a climate of lack of confidence. Together we should stabilize the region, which is unstable at the moment.”

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer welcomed Syrian Head of State Bessar Essad, in the Presidential Kiosk. Essad, who arrived with his wife and two children, was welcomed earlier by Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and State Minister Kursad Tuzmen. Ahead of the ceremony in the Kiosk, Essad first visited Ataturk’s Mausoleum.

Hatay Gesture
Following the ceremony in the Kiosk, the Syrian and Turkish missions met and signed three protocols on prevention of double-taxation, reciprocal encouragement of investments, and tourism. It was considered as meaningful that Syria did not object to the definition of the borders of Turkey within protocols, which included Hatay as well. Some officials said, “Therefore, Syria officially recognized the international borders of Turkey including Hatay, albeit indirectly.”

In the talks, Turkey gave the message that she could be a mediator between Syria and Israel and play the role of a “facilitator.” Ahead of his visit to Ankara, Turkey had communicated the messages of Pinhas Avivi, the Israeli Ambassador to Ankara, to Essad. Israel had stated that she desired to sit at the negotiation table together with Turkey and Syria, however, for this, Syria should stop supporting “some terrorist organizations.” Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, who was received by Essad yesterday, is expected to recount his impressions to the Israeli Ambassador, who will reportedly visit him.

Essad, who, together with his wife, joined the meal given by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and his wife in the Cankaya (Presidential) Kiosk Tuesday evening, is going to receive Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul today. Moreover, Essad will meet Deniz Baykal, the leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), Chief of Joint Staff Hilmi Ozkok, and ambassadors of Arab countries in Ankara. The Essad family is going to proceed to Istanbul this evening.