Turkey Analysis: Ankara Expands Ties with Syria and Iran

Turkey's relations with its Eastern neighbours are continuing to develop. On Sunday, at the groundbreaking ceremony of Asi Friendship Dam in Hatay, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Syrian President Bashar Assad. Erdogan said:

Asi river is not a river separating us, drawing borders between us anymore; it is turning into a river bringing us together.

Eight years ago, when we formed the government, we said this: 'Turkey wants peace, Turkey wants calm in the region. Turkey wants stability in this geography, wants wealth all together.' We said 'zero problem with neighbours' eight years ago. Because we believe this with our hearts that the more Syria is in peace the more Turkey is in peace. The more Turkey is in wealth the more the more Syria is in wealth. Because we are nations that are rendered as brothers by history. Throughout the history, our fate has been the same, our hearts have beat together. 

The number of tourists coming from Syria to Turkey has increased by 100 percent and reached one million - compared to the visa period. The number from Turkey to Syria increased by 150 percent and reached 1.5 millions. 

Erdogan reminded the audience that Turkey's economy tripled in the last eight years, becoming the world's 17th-largest. He outlined six important in initatives with Syria to be completed by the end of 2011:

- Another customs gate between Nusaynin and Kamisli.

- A common bank between two countries.

- Fast train services between Gaziantep and Halep.

- The combination of natural gas networks of both countries.

- Turkey Eximbank's providing credits to the Syrian government,

- The foundation of the Friendship Dam on Asi river.

On Monday, Iran's Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said that Turkey and Iran aim to triple their bilateral trade to $30 billion in five years. This trade volume was also confirmed by Turkish State Minister Cevdet Yilmaz, who also stated that the bilateral trade volume rose to $10.7 billion last year from about $1 billion in 2000.