ANKARA - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Syrian President Bashar al-Asad held a joint press conference on Tuesday after their bilateral meeting and the meetings between delegations.
Sezer said that Asad's visit was historical because it was the first visit of a Syrian President to Turkey. He added that leaving difficult days behind opened new horizons for both countries.
Al-Asad said that delegations of two countries have reached an understanding on all issues they had discussed. Noting that they agreed with Turkey completely on Iraq issue, al-Asad said that they condemned approaches that would endanger territorial integrity of Iraq.
Following the press conference, Turkey and Syria signed three agreements. Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan signed the agreement on prevention of double taxation, State Minister Kursad Tuzmen signed the agreement on mutual encouragement and protection of investments and Culture and Tourism Minister Erkan Mumcu signed the agreement on the sixth term program for carrying on tourism agreement.
Syrian Tourism Minister Sadallah Agha al-Qalaa signed the agreements for Syria.
SEZER: TURKISH-SYRIAN RELATIONS DEVELOP IN ALL FIELDS
Sezer said that they had useful, comprehensive and productive meeting with the Syrian President, adding that the visit of Asad was historical as it was the first visit of a Syrian president to Turkey.
Noting that bilateral relations were discussed in details during the meetings, Sezer said that both sides reached consensus of opinion to further improve the relations and cooperation in all fields.
Sezer stated that they also discussed political, commercial and economic issues between the two countries, and added ''we discussed how we could benefit from existing opportunities in the most productive way and we assessed new cooperation opportunities.''
Sezer said that the agreements signed the same day would prepare the basis of further improving economic and commercial relations and contribute to warm relations between the two nations.
Sezer said that the visit of Asad took place in a very sensitive period in respect of the Middle East region, adding that they also took up developments concerning Iraq and Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Sezer stressed that the two countries shared similar views and targets for supporting international efforts aiming to protect Iraqi territorial integrity and national unity, its reaching stability, its integration with the international society and its reconstruction.
Sezer added that ''we confirmed that Turkey and Syria, as the two neighbour countries of Iraq had the resolution to defend those targets effectively. We also reached consensus of opinion about the fact that reaching a fair, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East carries vital importance for stability of our region.''
AL-ASAD SAYS THEY REACHED A FULL UNDERSTANDING ON IRAQ ISSUE
Syrian President Bashar al-Asad said on Tuesday that Turkey and Syria have reached a full understanding on Iraq issue.
Noting that they expressed the pleasure for the development of existing relations and cooperation mutually during the meetings, al-Asad said that they have signed three agreements within this scope.
Al-Asad said that besides the signed agreements they have referred to drafts of some new agreements which would be beneficial, adding that those agreements were on establishment of free trade zone between two countries or arrangements about border trade and on Syria's opening a consulate in one of the southern provinces of Turkey for easing visa procedures. He said that this province would possibly be Gaziantep.
Al-Asad said that they have reached an agreement on eliminating the difficulties in highway transportation between two countries, adding that they have agreed on all discussed issues.
Noting that they condemned recent terrorist attacks in some Islamic countries and Turkey, al-Asad said that they, as Syria, appreciated Turkey's stance towards Arabian countries and Syria, and its constructive attitude about Golan heights issue and Middle East issue.
Repeating that they have reached agreement on all issues, al-Asad said that they agreed completely about Iraq issue, adding that territorial integrity of Iraq should be protected, its independence and political integrity should continue and they condemned approaches that would endanger Iraq's unity, independence and territorial integrity.
Al-Asad said that they also took up Syria's proposal to U.N. Security Council on purification of the region from mass destruction weapons and Turkey was positive to this proposal and it supported the their proposal.
SEZER HOSTS A DINNER IN HONOR OF PRESIDENT AL-ASAD
Sezer has said, ''the historical visit of President Bashar Al-Asad of Syria to Turkey is a concrete sign of further improvement of bilateral relations between Turkey and Syria in every field.''
President Sezer hosted a dinner on Tuesday in honor of President Asad.
Speaking at the dinner, President Sezer said, ''the rooted ties between Turkey and Syria based on common historical and cultural values, constitute the ground and brilliant future of our friendly relations. Recent positive developments in our bilateral relations have broadened co-operation fields, and begun making contributions to efforts of increasing prosperity of our peoples. I believe that President Asad's visit to Turkey will enable us to further improve our relations.''
President Sezer expressed satisfaction over political and economic reform process in Syria.
Stressing that they were determined to further improve bilateral relations with Syria in line with common interests of both Turkish and Syrian peoples, President Sezer said, ''we should benefit from existing co-operation opportunities between the two countries.''
''Developments in the Middle East affect Turkey deeply. Settlement of stability in the region can be achieved by increasing prosperity of all regional nations, using this prosperity for the purpose of modernization, and setting up a productive co-operation and an atmosphere of understanding among all regional countries. Turkey will continue expending efforts to this end,'' he said.
Expressing his sorrow and concerns about the recent acts of violence and terrorism in Israeli-Palestinian dispute, President Sezer noted, ''protection of legal rights of Palestinian people and Palestine's taking its desired place in the international community are among priorities of Turkish foreign policy. It is clear that no one can reach a peaceful solution through terrorism and by using extreme force in fight against terrorism. We were pleased with approval of the Road Map by the sides. However, the sides' taking necessary steps without any more delay is as important as the approval of the Road Map.''
Referring to Iraq issue, President Sezer said, ''both Turkey and Syria, as neighboring countries, are interested in current situation in Iraq and future of this country. Protection of Iraq's territorial integrity and national unity is of vital importance. Iraq's taking its place in the international community as a peaceful, free and sovereign state is our joint target. Turkey will continue supporting all international efforts to this end and fulfill its neighborly duties.''
President Bashar Al-Asad of Syria has said, ''Turkey and Syria are two important neighboring countries in regard to their geographical positions and strategic developments in the region. Their common interests and positive dialogue will have a very significant effect on problems of the Middle East.''
Speaking at the dinner, President Asad said that both Turkey and Syria should expend more efforts to bring their relations to the higher levels. He noted that recent bilateral visits and meetings between Turkey and Syria had made valuable contributions to efforts of further improving the bilateral relations.
Complaining that developments in the Middle East had affected considerably social stability and social structure in the region, President Asad said, ''we appreciate Turkey's attitude against dangerous developments in Palestine. As a result of events in Palestine, death toll increases each day. Israel's massacres and destruction have been continuing. This inhuman and radical policy of Israel yields negative results. In addition to all these negativities, Israel ignores the law of states and rejects to implement the resolutions of the United Nations. Turkey's long-standing attitude against all these developments is appreciated by the whole Arab world. On this occasion, I would like to congratulate Turkey's attitude about the war in Iraq. This attitude is a sample of Turkey's deep information about structure of the region and its foresight that could estimate the results.''
''Despite all our warnings about negative results, Iraq was occupied. Now, lack of control and illegality have been prevailing in Iraq. The issue of Iraq has been turning into a concrete threat, and this threat includes not only Iraq and neighboring countries, but even more distant regions. There have been neighborly and historical relations between Syria and Iraq. Therefore, we will support all efforts to provide security, unity and stability of Iraq. Iraq can reach all these with a constitution which is adopted with the free will of its people and which will take under guarantee its territorial integrity and unity,'' he said.
Condemning the acts of terrorism targeting Turkey and some Arab and Muslim countries recently, President Asad stressed, ''I harshly condemn all acts of terrorism once again since these acts contradict with the values of the humanity. The Islam cannot be connected with terrorism since terrorism contradicts with its deep understanding of tolerance.''
''All regional peoples are watching the weapons of mass destruction and Israel's nuclear weapons of mass destruction with a great terror. While we have been expending efforts to protect peace and stability in our region, we witness that it has been continuing unilaterally. The balance in implementation of international resolutions is not equal for all sides. Therefore, our region has lost its security and stability. This situation creates a serious depression in the Islam world and leads it to extremely negative reactions,'' he emphasized.
Noting that they had monitored Turkey's economic and social achievements in the past, President Asad said, ''these achievements enable us to benefit mutually from our co-operation and experiences.''
President Asad expressed his pleasure with existing co-operation and dialogue between Turkey and Syria, adding that they had the will to further develop this co-operation.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, General Staff Chief General Hilmi Ozkok, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, Culture and Tourism Minister Erkan Mumcu, State Minister Kursat Tuzmen and Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal also partook in the dinner.
06.01.2004