MILLIYET- Columnist Fikret Bila comments on the improving state of Turkish-Syrian relations. A summary of his column is as follows:
Syria, which for years sheltered the terrorist organization PKK, is sending warm messages to Turkey nowadays. Damascus, which had to expel Ocalan and the PKK from Syria following the policy pursued by the Turkish government with the support of its military, wants to improve its relations with Ankara and act in unison regarding the Iraqi question. Reportedly, Syrian President Basher Al-Assad wants to visit Turkey. However, it expects Foreign Minister Ismail Cem to visit Damascus first. If Cem makes such a gesture, Assad will then pay a visit to Ankara. However, Cem is in no hurry to act on the issue. He believes that bilateral relations should be somewhat more improved. One reason for the stance of the Foreign Ministry is that Syria has not changed its policy over the border province of Hatay. It is still using maps showing Hatay within its borders. In a visit to Damascus, Gendarmerie Command General Aytac Arman has established warm relations and expressed Turkey's view that these maps were mistaken. Following up on the bridge formed with General Aytac's visit, a similar visit to Beirut is also planned. Warm relations with both Damascus and Beirut will strengthen Turkey's hand in its policies pursued towards Iraq and the region in general. Washington is also trying to improve relations with Syria. Ankara's diplomatic offensive seems to have enhanced its role as a pioneer state in the region.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION