Pilgrims crisscross Syrian-Turkish border

DAMASCUS, Syria, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- Syria said it estimated tens of thousands of pilgrims crossed the border with Turkey for Eid al-Adha celebrations as bilateral ties improve.

Syrian officials said they estimated more than 40,000 pilgrims crossed over the border with Turkey during holy celebrations, the official Syrian Arab News Agency reports.

Syrian President Bashar Assad has lobbied for an improved reputation in the region in an effort to erase a legacy of isolationism.

War nearly broke out between Syrian and Turkey in 1998 following Ankara's frustration with Damascus's support for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party.

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

Ankara and Damascus signed a bilateral agreement in 2002 that allows both countries to coordinate their military activity.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul, meanwhile, said in an interview with al-Jazeera that the shared border encourages stronger ties with Damascus.

"Turkey shares borders with Syria, therefore it is necessary to build solid cooperation and developed relations with her," he said.