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Article: The year of living safely: regional governments attempt to mend fences.(Regional)(new year provided the occasion for an outpouring of seasonal goodwill in the Middle East)
- Article from:
- MEED Middle East Economic Digest
- Article date:
- January 9, 2004
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The new year provided the occasion for an outpouring of seasonal goodwill in the Middle East. A number of governments began the process of burying the hatchet over longstanding disputes, although some were less willing than others to admit to doing so.
The most public rapprochement was between Damascus and Ankara. On 6 January President Asad became the first Syrian head of state to make an official visit to Turkey, emerging from a meeting with his counterpart President Sezer to pledge closer cooperation on trade, tourism and regional politics. The neighbours have a traditionally difficult relationship and came close to armed conflict when Damascus gave refuge to ...