DAMASCUS, Syria, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- Iraqi President Jalal Talabani is due to make his first visit to Syria Sunday for talks with President Bashar Assad, officials said Friday.
The Syrian sources told United Press International that Talabani will lead a high-level delegation during the one-week visit, seen as significant in bringing the neighboring countries closer together after decades of tension.
Analysts say the Iraqi president's visit to Damascus suggests Syria -- by tacitly recognizing the legitimacy of the U.S.-backed Iraqi government -- may be ready to cooperate on Iraqi and American demands to tighten control of its borders from fighters infiltrating to battle the U.S. forces in Iraq.
Talabani's visit comes shortly after President George W. Bush said in a strategy speech Wednesday that Syria, as well as its Iranian ally, was supporting anti-American insurgencies in Iraq.
It also comes following recommendations by the U.S. bipartisan Iraq Study Group urging Washington to start dialogue with Damascus and Tehran to help in restoring stability in Iraq.
Observers note the ISG recommendations launched a series of official Iraqi visits to Syria, the most recent being a high-level security team which agreed to forming a joint security committee and establishing a hotline between the neighbors.
Analysts say Damascus is pinning importance on cooperation with Iraq in the hope it would pave the way for the U.S. administration to work towards restarting peace negotiations with Israel, frozen since 2000.
