ANKARA - President Bashar Al-Asad of Syria will come to Ankara on Tuesday as the first Syrian president paying an official visit to Turkey after 57 years.
Diplomatic sources told the A.A correspondent on Monday that three documents on prevention of double taxation between Turkey and Syria, mutual encouragement and protection of investments and the sixth tourism protocol would be signed during President Al-Asad's visit to Turkey.
Recalling that the last presidential visit from Syria to Turkey took place in 1946, sources pointed out the importance of President Al-Asad's visit to Turkey in regard to bilateral political relations and the Iraq issue.
Together with his wife Esma Asad, President Al-Asad will come to Ankara on Tuesday as the official guest of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.
He will first visit the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern and secular Republic of Turkey.
An official welcoming ceremony will take place at the Cankaya Presidential Palace in honor of President Al-Asad.
Following their tete-a-tete meeting, President Sezer and his Syrian counterpart Al-Asad will preside the meetings between Turkish and Syrian delegations.
Later, President Al-Asad will receive Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
President Sezer will host an official dinner in honor of President Al-Asad and his wife.
On the second day of his visit, President Al-Asad will receive Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal and General Staff Chief General Hilmi Ozkok.
After concluding his visit to Ankara, President Al-Asad will proceed to Istanbul later in the day.
President Al-Asad is expected to meet with Syrian citizens living in Istanbul and Turkish businessmen.
(UK-AÖ) 05.01.2004