Bulletin de liaison et d'information - Institut kurde de Paris

Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka
Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Baszn Özeti
When asked to provide further commentson what he. called "unexpected developments/" the senior
official declined to do so. "Even the creation of rumors over the future of northern Iraq made such
communication with neighboring countries urgent/" he continued.
Parallel to the crisis between Iraq and the United Nations, a debate over the future of Iraq, particularly ovèr
possible scenarios in the region, dominated the region's agenda. Even Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit
was quoted as saying then that the United States may hay~ a hidden agenda regarding Iraq, alluding to the
rumors that the United States was in favor of the establishment of a Kurdish state within Iraqi territory.
Washington, however, strongly denied that officially and reiterated its respect for the territorial integrity of
Iraq.
Turkey: more tolerant?
Turkish diplomats also seemed more tolerant towards Syria than they had before regarding the Kurdistan
Workers' Party (PKK) issue. "Syria has been claiming that the leader of the PKK is not in its territory. So we
don't expect an immediate step which would completely deny Damascus' former argument. Perhaps
Damascus is planning to expel some leading figures of the PKK or narrow the PKK's area of actiVIty.We
don't know. We will wait and see/" commented the Turkish official.
Reports: 'Syria welcomes good ties with Turkey'
In a related development, according to a Reuters report, Syria on Monday welcomed good ties with Turkey,
and Ankara said it sought to launch a fresh dialogue with Damascus to improve the battered ties between
the two neighbors. "We have always called for good ties with Turkey as an Islamic nation. We believe that
Turkey's ties with Israel contradict its belonging to the Islamic nations/" a senior Syrian official.said.
Earlier, Foreign Ministry spokesman Sermet Atacanli said a Syrian delegation might visit Turkey soon,
following the recent visit of Turkish envoy Aykut Cetirge to Damascus. "The idea is to start talks on matters
of mutual concern/" he added.
Syrian Vice President Abdel-Halim Khaddam, in remarks published on Monday reiterated Syria's criticism
öf,Turkey's ties with Israel. "This relationship serves Israel in the short- and long-term, and it inflicts great
harm on Turkey's interests in the long-term/" Khaddam said during an interview published in the weekly
Tishreen's first issue.
"Turkey is an Islamic country regardless of its political system. Its natural place is among.the Arab nations.
Its normal ties should be with Arab and Islamic nations/" he added.
Khaddam said he hoped Turkish leaders would soon realize the dangers for Ankara of relations with Israel.
"I don't think that day is far away/" he commented.
Syrian natural gas
In addition, Turkey earlier made a offer of cooperation to SyriÇlregarding Syria's natural gas reserves in its
northern region. "We, with the Petrochemicals Industry (PETKIM),prepared plans for the construction of
factoriesin the border areas between Syria and Turkey. But the Syrians were not enthusedby that proposal/"
said a senior Turkish Foreign Ministry official, complaining that it was not only Turkey but also Syria who
had closed communication channels.
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