Turkey, Syria vıw cooperation to repel terrorism in the region

Top Syrian and Turkish officials yesterday pledged to block those seeking to hamper a vision of strategic cooperation in the Middle East, including the terrorist PKK. They made this pledge at the second ministerial-level meeting of the bilateral High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council in Syria's port city of Latakia."There is a joint will and desire between the two countries as well as ongoing cooperation against terrorism. We are working to expand this cooperation," Assistant Vice President Hassan Turkmani, who chaired the Syrian side during the meeting, told reporters at a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who chaired the Turkish side. The two sides agreed that an already existing framework security cooperation arrangement, based on the Adana Protocol, will be expanded, according to diplomatic sources. "There are two visions for the region," Davutoglu told the press conference. "One vision is the mission of building mutual welfare, peace and stability through mechanisms such as the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council. The other vision is based on sowing disputes and tension." He added, "The first vision will serve to restrict the second. As regional cooperation improves, the positive agenda will grow stronger. These cooperation mechanisms will also serve as measures to head off disputes. The understanding between Turkey and Syria is in full harmony, in terms of both vision and activity."