Ankara and Damascus form stronger ties

DAMASCUS, Syria, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- The border between Turkey and Syria is a bond that ties the two neighboring countries together, the Turkish speaker of Parliament said in Damascus.

Mehmet Ali Sahin met with his Syrian counterpart, Mahmoud al-Abrash, to discuss bilateral issues and simmering disputes over the Middle East peace process.

Sahin and Abrash called for the activation of a joint parliamentary association to further strengthen bilateral ties, the official Syrian Arab News Agency reports.

The countries approached the brink of war in 1998 following Ankara's displeasure with Syrian support for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party.

Ankara and Damascus, however, signed a bilateral agreement in 2002 that allows the countries to coordinate military activities as a part of a push for improved relations.

The countries formed a bilateral council in September in an effort to re-establish relations and work toward a joint vision for regional issues.

Sahin welcomed the durability of bilateral cooperation between Damascus and Ankara, saying a common border was indicative of a common bond.

"The borders which Turkey and Syria share are considered the longest borders," he said. "These long borders are a bond that ties our countries and peoples."