TURKISH MFA READOUT OF SYRIAN P.M. MIRO'S VISIT TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 005002

SIPDIS


DEPT PASS USTR FOR ERRION


E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2013
TAGS: PREL PGOV ETRD TU SY
SUBJECT: TURKISH MFA READOUT OF SYRIAN P.M. MIRO'S VISIT TO
ANKARA


(U) Classified by A/DCM Scot Marciel. Reason: 1.5 (b)(d).



1. (C) In a readout of Syrian P.M. Miro's July 29-30 visit
to Ankara, MFA Acting Head of Department for the Middle East
Kemal Tuzun told us Miro's visit was significant as the first
visit of a Syrian P.M. in 17 years. As a result of the
visit, Tuzun said, Turkey has invited Syrian President Assad
to visit Ankara in the "near future -- perhaps by the end of
the year." The Syrians have not yet responded to the Turkish
invitation.


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Economic Agreements
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2. (C) Tuzun claimed discussions focused on further
developing bilateral economic ties, since Miro's portfolio is
primarily an economic one. Miro's delegation, which included
several Syrian cabinet ministers, signed agreements with the
Turks on four economic and trade-related issues: 1) the
formation of a Joint Economic Council; 2) health services; 3)
greater customs/border cooperation; and 4) mining, petroleum
and other energy related projects. The two sides agreed to
work on technical agreements regarding double taxation and
encouraging investment, which suffered as a result of
bilateral tensions during the 1990s, when Syria actively
supported the PKK. State Minister for Trade Kursad Tuzmen
told the press that Turkey was interested in pursuing a free
trade agreement with Syria, but Foreign Trade officials
acknowledged privately that Turkey's Customs Union agreement
with the EU would make an FTA difficult if not impossible.
(Note: The officials said bilateral trade totaled only $762
million in 2002. End note)


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Middle East Peace and Iraq
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3. (C) On Middle East peace and Iraq, Miro offered "nothing
new," according to Tuzun. Miro used the "standard Syrian
talking points," saying Syria will not be an obstacle to the
Road Map and claiming that "peace is now a strategic
objective" for the Syrian government. Tuzun asserted that
the Turks encouraged the Syrians to participate more actively
in building peace and urged that Syria should use its
influence to push Lebanon to do more to promote peace.



4. (C) Offering a different take on Miro's approach, MFA DG
for the Middle East Burcuoglu claimed to Charge that Syria's
position on Israel-Palestine issue has "radicalized" of late,
e.g., the Syrians' statement that that Jerusalem should be
the capital of a Palestinian state and Syria's support for
the right of return for all Palestinian refugees.

5. (C) While Burcuoglu indicated to Charge that the Syrians
could be a stumbling block to Arab League efforts to work
with the Iraqi Governing Council, Tuzun described Miro's
statements on Iraq as the "typical Syrian approach." Miro
merely underscored what Syria has said before, Tuzun
explained, namely that: a) Iraq must determine its own
future; b) the entire region should work toward peace in
Iraq; c) foreign militaries must leave Iraq at the earliest
opportunity; and d) Turkey can play an important role.
DEUTSCH