Istanbul,May10 :President Abdullah Gül and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had talks this weekend with a number of top leaders from Turkey’s Middle Eastern neighbors, including Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
President Gül and his spouse, Hayrunnisa Gül, hosted the Syrian president and his spouse, Esma al-Assad, at a breakfast at the Tarabya presidential palace. Prime Minister Erdoğan also attended the breakfast. In addition, Gül also separately met with Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, Iraqi government spokesperson Ali al-Dabbagh and Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani at Tarabya Palace later in the afternoon.
In addition, the prime minister met with Assad at Çırağan Palace and al-Thani at Dolmabahçe Palace. Erdoğan also hosted a working lunch for Assad, al-Thani and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr al-Thani. Later in the day, Erdoğan met with al-Dabbagh at his office in Dolmabahçe Palace.
Assad, on a two-day visit to İstanbul, and Gül held a joint press conference on Saturday during which Gül said Syria had indicated it is ready to resume talks where they had left off; however, they had not yet heard from the Israeli side. “It is up to them,” he added. Gül said Turkey would like to help contribute to the peace process for the stability and welfare of the region. Israel and Syria held four indirect rounds of talks with Turkish mediation in 2008.
Those were suspended after the Israeli incursion into Gaza in December 2008 and January 2009. Gül later hosted a dinner for the Syrian president and his spouse on a boat in the Bosporus, which was closed to the press.
Noting that the basis of Turkish-Syrian relations was very healthy, Gül said the reciprocal elimination of visa requirements and easier customs operations was a sign of the fast-improving relations between the two countries. “Turkey and Syria have developed their relations not only in the political sphere, but also in the spheres of education, culture, tourism and communication,” Gül said. He also added that the visit of his “valuable friend” Assad had carried relations one step further.
Speaking alongside Gül, Assad said he was ready for talks but he accused Israel of avoiding negotiations, saying it did not want a resolution in the fight over the Golan Heights, territory Israel captured in 1967. “Israel is not ready for mediation because it knows that successful mediation will bring peace, and the Israeli side does not want peace. We emphasize mediation and Turkey’s role, but we also say Israel is not an honest partner,” he said.
Assad also said Turkey could play a part in negotiations between Iran and Western powers over its nuclear program. “I want Turkey to continue its important role because a trust has formed between the Iranian and Turkish governments and Turkey has good relations with the rest of the region,” he said.
