DAMASCUS - ''Turkey is willing to further improve its relations with Syria'', Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Wednesday.
Syrian President Bashar al-Asad hosted dinner in honor of Sezer, who is currently visiting Syria.
During the dinner, Sezer said, ''I believe that my visit has added a new page to relations between our countries.''
-DEVELOPMENTS IN MIDDLE EAST-
Touching on developments in the Middle East, Sezer said, ''unfortunately, the Middle East, to which we are bound with historical, cultural and social values, can't reach the desired peace and stability due to ongoing problems and conflicts. But, some positive developments have occurred in our region in recent days. Middle Eastern nations, which have a rooted history, rich culture and wide resources, deserve to live in peace and prosperity as much as other nations.''
Sezer added, ''during our meetings, we have stressed the necessity that efforts should be continued to preserve national unity and stability of Lebanon. On the other hand, Israel and Palestine have started to undertake their responsibilities regarding security and rehabilitation of living conditions of the Palestinians. However, we have witnessed for many times that things changed in a negative way. Therefore, the international community should maintain its support and interest in the region to improve the atmosphere of security and start talks to enable two independent states to live together in peace.''
-PALESTINE AND IRAQ-
Sezer said that the safeguard of legal rights of brother Palestinian people and Palestine's taking the place it deserved in international arena were among the prior items of Turkey's foreign policy.
''The current situation of Iraq and the future of this country closely concern two neighboring countries, Turkey and Syria. The safeguard of Iraq's territorial integrity and national unity and its taking the place it deserves in international community as a free and sovereign country which is in peace within itself and with its neighbors, are our common goals. Turkey will continue its support to reach this aim, and fulfil the requirements of close neighborly relations,'' added Sezer.
On the other hand, al-Asad said that their region was a scene of political developments which caused a chaotic climate, caused losses of lives, and deteriorated security and stability.
Al-Asad continued, ''when there is a light for stability and development, our hopes raise. But, we experience new tension and development as suitable solutions can't be found to regional problems. This situation shows that we should resort to dialogue instead of violence and threat.''
''Regarding Iraq issue, Turkey and Syria have exerted every effort to assure peace and fight against terrorism and also clearly shown that they are ready to cooperate with the parties which want genuine stability,'' al-Asad said.
Al-Asad noted that they continued to underline the importance they attached to Iraq's integrity and stability, and had exerted every effort to support a political process which would cover all the groups in Iraq without intervention in internal affairs of this country.
Stating that his country had condemned terrorism, al-Asad said that their positive initiatives and their readiness for dialogue had been ignored by several international circles.
''Syria's all these efforts were tried to be darkened, while Israel continues to reject all Arab initiatives and to put obstacles before genuine progress in the peace process,'' al-Asad said.
Expressing pleasure with current stage of Turkish-Syrian relations, al-Asad added, ''we would like to state that we are ready to exert every effort to eliminate problems faced in this process, and we appreciate Turkey's stance, supporting regional problems and our just causes.''