[Excerpt: The growing influence of Kurds in Iraq and the influence it may have on the large Kurdish minorities in Syria and Turkey are also a likely subject for discussion, reports say....Relations between Syria and Turkey have greatly improved since 1998 when they came to the brink of war over Turkish accusations that Damascus was sheltering separatist Kurdish militants Ankara blamed for attacks on its forces.]
Last Updated: Wednesday, 13 April, 2005, 14:42 GMT 15:42 UK Turkey defies US with Syria visit http://212.58.240.132/1/hi/world/middle_east/4440183.stm Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer has begun a two-day visit to Syria aimed at strengthening bilateral ties. Before his departure, Mr Sezer said he hoped the visit would help contribute to peace and stability in the region. The Syrian foreign minister as well as hundreds of flag-waving Syrian and Turkish children were on hand to welcome Mr Sezer at Damascus airport. His visit comes despite US calls for Ankara to join international pressure on Syria to pull troops out of Lebanon. Turkey supports the withdrawal, but believes good neighbourly ties are the best way to ease regional conflict. Improved ties Turkish-US relations have cooled due to differences over Iraq and correspondents say a recent statement about Syria by the US ambassador in Ankara was meant as a warning to drop plans to visit Damascus. Ambassador Eric Edel said in March: "The international community is completely unanimous on [a Syrian withdrawal]. We hope Turkey will join the international community." The growing influence of Kurds in Iraq and the influence it may have on the large Kurdish minorities in Syria and Turkey are also a likely subject for discussion, reports say. Relations between Syria and Turkey have greatly improved since 1998 when they came to the brink of war over Turkish accusations that Damascus was sheltering separatist Kurdish militants Ankara blamed for attacks on its forces. enditem ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> DonorsChoose. A simple way to provide underprivileged children resources often lacking in public schools. Fund a student project in NYC/NC today! http://us.click.yahoo.com/EHLuJD/.WnJAA/cUmLAA/TySplB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: osint@yahoogroups.com Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/