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Syria and Turkey Agree on Water Problems |
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Thursday, 23 December 2004Agreement on the Rivers Asi And Tigris in Damascus
23 December 2004
The improvement of relations between Turkey and Syria, which reached the brink of war in 1998, turned another historic corner yesterday.
The Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's first foreign visit since the December 17th European Union (EU) summit was to Damascus to sign free trade agreements and promote investment between Turkey and Syria. The visit sent the message that the warmer relations between the two countries will be encouraged through economic relations. During the talks, Erdogan replied positively to a Syrian request to pump water from the River Tigris. Also, a consensus on the long-planned issue of constructing a dam over the River Asi was reached during the visit. Erdogan and Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad extended the message to Damascus, saying "Our most important philosophy is not to make enemies, but to gain friends." They opened a war on "bureaucratic oligarchy" in order to further develop economic relations. Al-Assad specifically expressed his pleasure in hosting Erdogan. Visiting Damascus with his spouse Emine Erdogan and his daughter Sumeyye Erdogan, the Turkish Prime Minister was also accompanied by Energy Minister Hilmi Guler, State Ministers Kursad Tuzmen, Mehmet Aydin, and their spouses. 120 businessmen, including Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President Rifat Hisarciklioglu, accompanied Erdogan too. The Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Naji Otri met them at the airport with the words "Welcome to your second country." Erdogan had the first meeting of his two-day mission with his Syrian counterpart Otri and they signed free trade accords and agreements to promote investment.
Otri said at a joint press conference: "Our links will develop in all fields in the future, especially in trade," and Erdogan said, "It shows how far relations have come between the two countries". Otri emphasized that bilateral relations depend on common history, culture and values and noted that both countries aim to strengthen their regional and global roles as well as coordination and solidarity. Erdogan began with the words: "I would like to express my greetings and respect to our Syrian brothers." He pointed out that they had had fruitful meetings and had consolidated on a legal basis developments in economic and commercial areas through the free trade agreement they signed. Erdogan also indicated they had the chance to negotiate in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with their Syrian counterparts and discussed what could be done to find a permanent solution to the Palestinian issue.
Water Gesture from Turkey to Syria
Syrian Prime Minister Otri announced the good news from his negotiations with his Turkish counterpart Erdogan on water from the River Tigris. Explaining that Turkey supports them in pumping water from the River Tigris, Otri announced that Erdogan promised the required technical support. Otri signified that a 150,000-hectare area could be watered within this framework. It is also reported that a dam project on the River Asi was also agreed upon, an issue which has long been planned but never been realized because of Hatay question. According to this, both countries will meet costs for the dam, which will be built at the border. It will produce energy for both sides and irrigate 20,000 hectares agricultural area in Turkey and 10,000 hectares in Syria. Erdogan disclosed that Turkey's investment in Syria amounts to $150 million and they hope it will increase.
Erdal Sen - Harun Celik, Zaman, Damascus
23 December 2004 |
Thursday, 23 December 2004
The Middle East
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