STAR- Columnist Zeynep Gurcanli writes about Turkish-Syrian relations and possible ways of cooperation in the future. A summary of her column is as follows:
Ever since Abdullah Ocalan was deported from Syria in 1998, the pivotal issue determining Turkish-Syrian relations has been our border province of Hatay. This is a shame considering the fact that the administration of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad is very much in favour of developing economic relations with Turkey. Syrian Economy Minister Mohammed Hussein made this very clear when I spoke to him recently. Even Syria, a country having no links with the IMF or the World Bank, has taken steps to develop economic relations with the European Union. With the signing of an association agreement with the EU, it seems that Syria is trying to upgrade its production techniques to European standards. Hussein, who is also deputy prime minister, has also expressed Syrian support for Turkey’s EU membership. ‘EU membership is Turkey’s historical right’ he said, adding that Turkey’s membership would have a positive effect on Syrian relations with the EU, as well as Syria’s bid for membership in the World Trade Organisation. In fact, he believes that Turkey, as an EU member, would help Syria to improve its standards of production. Hussein also pointed out that Arab countries, for the first time, have initiated the establishment of an ‘Arab Common Market’ and that Turkey could also benefit from Syrian membership in this Arab formation. ‘Just think,’ he remarked, ‘If relations between Turkey and Syria were to develop, Turkey’s membership in the EU would give Syria access to the European market and similarly Syrian membership in an Arab Common Market would provide Turkey with access to the Arab market.’ The Syrian government is also determined to ease restrictions on investment. Hussein said that Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Miro’s visit to Turkey scheduled for this May had had to be postponed due to Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit’s illness. However, he made a point of telling us that the visit would be rescheduled and that during Miro’s visit, agreements encouraging investment would be signed by the two countries. However, despite this bilateral rapprochement, old problems continue to plague our relations. Hussein believes that Turkish businessmen are reluctant to invest in Syria due to psychological reasons related to the issue of the Turkish province of Hatay, which borders Syria. On Syrian maps, Hatay is still not shown to be Turkish territory. Syrian officials, however, say that Syria needs some time to withdraw its claim on Hatay because renouncing this old claim would spark negative reactions in the Arab public. Nevertheless, the visit made by Sufi Abudan, the Syrian governor of Lazkiye, to Hatay in March shows that Syria wants to normalise relations. In addition, as the head of state, Bashar al-Assad wants to schedule an official visit to Turkey. However before this visit can take place, Syria says that the Turkish foreign minister must first visit Syria. But for the Turkish foreign minister to visit Syria, Turkey first wants Syria to sign an official document stating that it has forsaken all its claims on Hatay. So, again, everything boils down to one issue: Hatay.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION