TURKEY

2010

''The Syrian-Turkish relations have made remarkable progress and turned into a strategic partnership between the two countries; the benefits of this partnership will not be restricted to both countries, but they will also include other countries.''

From H.E.'s Press Conference with Premier Erdogan, ( October 11, 2010)

''The Turkish people, and not only the Turkish government, have stood by their Palestinian brothers, particularly during the stage of Gaza siege… They now know, more than any others, the Israeli intentions following the aggression on the Freedom Flotilla which was carrying basic materials for life to Gaza people.''

From H.E.'s Press Conference with Premier Erdogan, ( October 11, 2010)

"The Turkish demands regarding the aggression on the Freedom Flotilla and the Turkish martyrs who passed away as a result of the aggression are right demands on the national level and a right for the families of those martyrs," the President added.

From H.E.'s Press Conference with Premier Erdogan, ( October 11, 2010

"We lived for hundreds of years in one state, and before the Ottoman state we lived in an Arab state and other different ages and stages… we were always together."

From H.E.'s TRT TV Interview, (October 6, 2010)

"On the other hand, there was commitment by both countries to the popular desire… this means that we weren't working through an international or regional agenda; we were working through a popular agenda… the people in Syria and the people in Turkey want these relations, so we moved as states in this direction,"

From H.E.'s TRT TV Interview, (October 6, 2010)

"The relation went through very difficult conditions as there were strong pressures exerted on Syria and on Turkey to move away from Syria, and it didn't move away. So, the trust isn't based on sentiments but rather on facts… there are experiences that this relation went through and it proved to be strong, so the trust was built without being shaken,"

From H.E.'s TRT TV Interview, (October 6, 2010)

"On the other hand, agreements are general directives… they are doors that we open, but this door can be opened and no one might pass through it… we want to open doors, and these meetings serve to encourage people to walk through them by entering projects… it isn't enough to talk about agreements, we have to talk about projects and what are the joint projects that we can establish… this will shift this political relations and these agreements into daily reality and interests that connect people… sentiments are strong and important, trust is important, culture is important, but interests are also important, so we must connect popular interests between Syria and Turkey, which is what this type of meetings which we see frequently means to us,"

From H.E.'s TRT TV Interview, (October 6, 2010)

''Turkey has become a 'regional player and its name has become a reality in the international sphere and not only the regional sphere'

From H.E.'s TRT TV Interview, (October 6, 2010)

''We view the Turkish-Israeli relations from two perspectives. The first is Turkish role in the peace process which is built on the relationship between Turkey and Israel and the relationship between Turkey and Syria. Any mediator must have good ties with both parties. The second perspective is that the Israeli government's policies are not only the attack on Freedom Flotilla, but its non-response to the indirect Syrian-Israeli talks in Turkey in 2008 and the war on Gaza. All of these affected the Israeli-Turkish relations…As a result, these relations have not been back to normal and the Turkish role will be difficult to make these talks take place.''

From H.E.'s Press Conference in Spain, (July 5, 2010)

''Therefore, if Turkey's role in the negotiations process on the Syrian track recedes, this will affect regional stability. The matter is not that easy, because it was the Israeli policies, aggressions and Gaza siege which caused lack of stability, and not only severing ties between Turkey and Israel could affect the peace process,''

From H.E.'s Press Conference in Spain, (July 5, 2010)

"Our feelings for the Turkish martyrs are the same as our feelings towards losing a Syrian, Palestinian or any Arab citizen,"

From H.E.'s Press Conference with Premier Erdogan (June 7, 2010)

"Israel has had several objectives from what has happened to the freedom Flotilla: First, Israel wanted to deter any other flotilla or ship from coming to Gaza; because talking about the siege on Gaza and on the siege Palestinians in general is forbidden as far as the Israeli logic is concerned; even talking of the killing of the Palestinians is forbidden,''

From H.E.'s Press Conference with Premier Erdogan (June 7, 2010)

"What happened in Davos wasn't directed against Premier Erdogan; rather it was directed against the Turkish People, and their stances; among which is their stances on the war against Iraq when the Turkish people rejected to make of Turkey and its territories a base for the illegitimate invasion of a free independent country. The objective was also to offend the Turkish people and their stances in support of Gaza, and their persistent bids to lift the siege and support aid convoys to the Palestinians. The objective was further to harm the stance of the Turkish People in support of their Governments role in peace process.''

From H.E.'s Press Conference with Premier Erdogan (June 7, 2010)

"My Brother Prime Minister Erdogan has said in one of his speeches recently that Jerusalem is the same as Istanbul and what happens in the Palestinian territories happens on Turkish lands, and I say to him that the Arab blood and the Turkish blood are the same. This is not new. This is a historical issue and today Turkey stands by Gaza, and the Ottoman Turkey a little more than one hundred years ago rejected to give Palestine to the Jews. This is well known, so we are talking about one blood throughout history".

From H.E.'s Press Conference with Premier Erdogan (June 7, 2010)

''Turkey has the three criteria, the geopolitical position, big country, strong economy, will and vision. It was a strong and it was big 10 years ago, but they didn’t have the will and same vision, so it didn’t play that role, Turkey.''

From H.E.'s PBS Interview (May 28, 2010)

"We as Syrian and Turkish officials no longer feel that we're traveling from one country to another when we visit each other. This reflects the reality of the feelings that prevail on the public level and the development and consolidation of this relationship over the past years in political and economic fields,"

From H.E.'s Press Conference with His Turkish Counterpart, H.E. President Gul, (May 8, 2010)

"Syrian-Turkish relations are not only bilateral relations, but they also express the interests of all the countries of the region in general and the Arab states in particular. we see that there have been enthusiasm and eagerness towards this relationship with Turkey over the past few years. This was represented through setting up the Arab-Turkish Council and through Turkey's latest participation in the Arab Summit in Libya,"

From H.E.'s Press Conference with His Turkish Counterpart, H.E. President Gul, (May 8, 2010)

''Maintaining Syrian-Turkish relations is achieved by expanding them through getting down the pyramid…Relations start at the top of the pyramid before descending to the governmental, then the institutional and popular levels comprising various hues: the educated, academics, NGOs, trade relations and popular relations across borders…Only then can these relations become immune as we seek them to be, and therefore we cancelled visas which was an important step…and that's why we assess the obstacles hindering communication among different categories at every stage. There are interests and there's an emotional part in this relation but part of it is built on interests. There's no worry when we connect emotions with interests, and any group that could be harmed by or opposed to this relation can achieve nothing,''

From H.E.'s Press Conference with His Turkish Counterpart, H.E. President Gul, (May 8, 2010)

"The relation with Turkey has been built with all the establishments even with the scientific establishments …and tomorrow we have a conference to be held on joint scientific research with universities, army, security, and with the various political forces and others particularly with those who oppose the government of Prime Minister, Erdogan. They say that although we are different in Turkey on many issues with the current government but we are unanimous on the relation with Syria."

From H.E.'s Press Interview with Al-Manar Satellite TV, (March 24, 2010)

2009

''The Turkish role was not in the limelight as to have normal and perfect relations among States, filled with amity and reciprocal respect. With this in mind, last year, the region actually witnessed a big stride through the development of the Syrian-Saudi relations; and recently through the development of the Syrian-Lebanese relations. Within this frame came the successful visit of the Prime Minister of Lebanon, Saa'd Hariri to Syria laying down correct institutional bases for the relations with Lebanon. Certainly, I am interested in visiting Lebanon; but in the appropriate time.''

From His Excellency's Conference with Premier Erdogan, (December 23, 2009)

''The signing of the Agreements between Syria and Turkey has redrawn the map of the Middle East and demolished the borders between both countries. The signing of more than 50 accords, documents, and memos, is but a big indication to this effect. These Accords cover different fields including Energy, Security, Diplomacy, Education, Higher Education, Culture, Communications, Housing, Agriculture, Sport, Youth, Local Administration, and other fields. The challenge which starts tomorrow is how to translate the Accords and Memos to real accomplishment on the ground. Of course, businessmen would play a big role to this effect besides State Institutions''

From His Excellency's Conference with Premier Erdogan, (December 23, 2009)

''Turkey is one basic part and players in the process of peace. We do not meet today as to ask Mr. Erdogan or to encourage him to play the role of the mediator in the process of peace: Turkey several times and persistently has announced its preparedness as to play this role. Further, Mr. Erdogan has not come as to encourage Syria to commit herself to the process of peace; he knows more than others Syria's zeal for the achievement and accomplishment of the Just and Comprehensive Peace in the Middle East. The world today, as we know, is much more interested in the process of peace; it seems that such interest is because the process is, unfortunately, dying; the process of peace is in need for interest, not only when it fails, but the process is perhaps in need for more interest when it starts to make success or when to kick off; that is why, we always witness fluctuations in this process between the ups, but not high, followed by the quick downs.''

From His Excellency's Conference with Premier Erdogan, (December 23, 2009)

''The good relations with neighbouring countries supporting the Arab Causes, particularly turkey and Iran would further be a factor of strength helping the Arab Countries as to reach to the Independent Arab Resolution, restore the Arab Rights, and realize stability in the region.''

From His Excellency's Speech at 5th General Conference of the Arab Parties, Damascus Summit, (November 11, 2009)

“Turkey’s support is very important for us. We have full trust. As an example, without even us demanding it, Prime Minister Erdoğan explains us in Washington; he conveys our views. This is very important. Besides, the role he played at peace talks with Israel was also very important. Because of this, he is now at a point where he can easily speak on our behalf.”

From His Excellency's Interview with the Turkish 'Hurriyet' Daily, (November 8, 2009)

“Let’s not hurry. Let’s go step by step. Let’s take one step and stop to look at the result, and then take another step. Let us look if two separate small economies or one large economy is better. This is what we want to do. Let’s think of Iran, Iraq, Syria, Jordan and Turkey. We want to create a joint economic region, make joint giant projects. We are calculating how we can connect the Red Sea to Europe and the Mediterranean. The prosperity of those four economies working together is apparent. We are building a joint future.”

From His Excellency's Interview with the Turkish 'Hurriyet' Daily, (November 8, 2009)

''Syria and Turkey are two sisterly Countries; with this in mind, we have moved forward. There are perfect bases at the grassroots level; that is way we have made success in reaching to the fast change in our relations.''

From His Excellency's Interview with the Turkish 'Hurriyet' Daily, (November 8, 2009)

''Syria's relations with both Iran and Turkey are very good, and so are the relations of Iran and Turkey; the Turkish-Iranian rapprochement has been taking place for years; and we help and support this. These Countries share the conviction that their relations together are important. Turkey's moves as to bolster her relations with the neighbours are in the interest of Turkey as well as of all Arabs.''

From His Excellency's Press Statements during His Visit to Croatia, (October 28-29, 2009)

''We can never forget the stance of the Turkish Parliament rejecting to allow the aggression against Iraq from the Turkish territories and airspace; such a stance has reflected the clear stance of the Turkish People, manifested through their anti-war demonstrations. Further, we would never ever forget the Turkish Government stance on the crime of the aggression against Gaza, and the grand rally of Istanbul deploring the massacres perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinians. In return, the Arab People have responded to these honorable stances with appreciations and gratitude, which concrete results are soon to emerge.''

From His Excellency's Istanbul Speech, (September 16, 2009)

''My participation in this Ramadan Iftar, given by Istanbul development and Justice Party Branch, is a deep expression of all that binding our two People, including the roots, links, habits and traditions, which add the noble emotional features to our relations. The Islamic World is in a dire need today for the type of relations like these binding Syria and Turkey, replacing discord with amity, separation with meeting, working for spreading the peace and goodness all over the region,''

From His Excellency's Istanbul Speech, (September 16, 2009)

'' We have met each other not in the middle of the way; but to cross together the way, which we have drawn through our long history, towards a future full of accomplishments, and filled with amity and peace,''

From His Excellency's Istanbul Speech, (September 16, 2009)

''Turkey's role is a very fundamental one. There are many reasons for this. As a country in this region, Turkey is more concerned with every aspect of this land than any other country. Turkey is a very skillful country both in its efforts to solve problems and in removing obstacles that lead to problems. Secondly, there is unconditional trust between Syria and Turkey both at the political level and between the peoples, and this is very important for us. There is no mistrust on any issue. Furthermore, Turkey has proven in a short period of eight months how skilful and rational it is in mediating, although this was Turkey's first effort concerning the Arab problem.''

From His Excellency's Interview with the Turkish Zaman Paper, (September 15, 2009)

''The winter before last, Prime Minister Erdoğan called me. He told me there was a drought in southeastern Turkey. He requested that the amount of water in the Orontes (Asi) River, which originates in Jordan, flows through Syria and into Turkey's Hatay province, be increased. Although we had water problems as well, I ordered that the amount of water provided to Turkey be increased. In the recent past, Turkey fulfilled all its commitments regarding the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. But this year it has not been able to fulfill a portion of its commitments. The amount of water that was left to us was little due to some investments Turkey made. However, the prime minister has said the amount of water which was supposed to be left over to us will be provided in the near future. Iraq, Syria and Turkey have reached an agreement over the Tigris. Relations over water were brought to a very good level by establishing a common commission.''

From His Excellency's Interview with the Turkish Zaman Paper, (September 15, 2009)

''Mr. Prime Minister's stance incited an emotional joy among Syrians. But as president, I cannot talk emotionally. There was a demonstrative situation there, and that had consequences. When the prime minister was displaying that stance, he was not displaying his personal stance. He displayed that stance as the prime minister of Turkey. This stance proved how Turkey can adopt a respectable stance based on its own sovereign decision. This stance was completely a “made in Turkey” stance. It is very important because it is Turkey's sovereign stance.''

From His Excellency's Interview with the Turkish Zaman Paper, (September 15, 2009)

“Thanks to our close cooperation, we have been able to stand in the face of several bids aiming as to create a gap among our stances, including the pressures put on Turkey as to participate in the bids against the stability in Syria isolating it during the few past years. We have succeeded to give a bigger push forward to our relations and our stances have been closer when many in this world succumbed to those pressures. This happened because we were aware that once each of us was well, the other would so be considering geography, history, interests, emotions and others. With this in mind, a great confidence was built between us, creating the basic introduction to make of Turkey the sole country, who was able to play a very important role in the re-launching of peace process last year, which made many in the world wonder about the secret of success where others failed ,”