A Turkish diplomatic source mentioned that Syrian Vice President Abdel Halim Khaddam is scheduled to make an official visit to Turkey on Thursday and Friday, carrying a message from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Necdet Sezer.
The source did not provide any clarification on the content of the message but confirmed to the French Press Agency (AFP), requesting anonymity, that Khaddam would also meet with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi.
It is worth noting that the relations between Turkey and Syria are currently experiencing a period of thaw after the two neighboring countries were on the brink of armed conflict two years ago.
In 1998, tensions escalated and reached their peak after Turkey threatened military action against Syria if it did not cease its support for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (the Kurdish rebels in Turkey) and the harboring of their leader Abdullah Ocalan.
