Turk Leader To Pay Key Visit to Syria

[Solid Beast]

BY BURAK EGE BEKDIL and UMIT ENGINSOY
Published: 15 Dec 2009 16:13

ANKARA - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will pay an official visit to Syria on Dec. 22-23 at the invitation of President Bashar al-Assad at a time when Turkey's ties with Israel have hit rock bottom.

A statement from the Turkish Foreign Ministry said Erdogan would participate in the first meeting of prime ministers of the Turkey-Syria High Level Strategic Cooperation in Damascus.

Officials said Turkish and Syrian authorities will sign a series of agreements, protocols and memorandums of understanding during Erdogan's visit. These agreements are expected to include military and defense industry cooperation accords. Erdogan's visit comes shortly after Turkey and neighboring Syria agreed to hold their first major joint military exercises.

Reconciliation between former foes Turkey and Syria comes at a time of rising tensions between Ankara and Israel. Turkey in mid-October expelled Israel's Air Force from planned international military exercises in its airspace, angering the Jewish state and the United States.

Erdogan has strongly criticized Israel of using excessive violence against Palestinians in a military operation targeting the Gaza Strip early this year.