Syria Foreign Relations Turkey

Turkish engineers Saturday halted the flow of the Euphrates, one of the world's great rivers, sending a flood of jitters through downstream, drought-stricken Syria and Iraq. The water will be diverted for one month into the reservoir behind Turkey's giant new Ataturk Dam, linchpin of a network of hydroelectric and irrigation projects along the upper reaches of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers in eastern Anatolia.

Iran joined Middle Eastern efforts to mediate a dispute between Turkey and Syria over Kurdish rebels, expressing hope Friday that war between the neighbors could be averted. Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi flew from the Syrian capital, Damascus, to Ankara for talks with Turkish President Suleyman Demirel and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. He had met with Syrian President Hafez Assad on Thursday, after Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's shuttle diplomacy earlier this week.

Iran joined Middle Eastern efforts to mediate a dispute between Turkey and Syria over Kurdish rebels, expressing hope Friday that war between the neighbors could be averted. Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi flew from the Syrian capital, Damascus, to Ankara for talks with Turkish President Suleyman Demirel and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. He had met with Syrian President Hafez Assad on Thursday, after Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's shuttle diplomacy earlier this week.

Turkey's parliament issued an ultimatum to Syria, demanding that it expel Turkish Kurdish rebels from its territory or "face the consequences." Turkish leaders accuse Syria of sheltering the rebels, who carry out cross-border attacks on Turkish territory. Syria denies the accusation, and Turkey's harsh rhetoric has triggered fears of a regional conflict.

Turkey and Syria considered using WATER AS A WEAPON against Iraq in the war but decided against it, according to a senior Arab official in Cairo. A prewar agreement among Turkey, Iraq and Syria stipulates that Turkey must release a set amount of water into the Euphrates River below the Euphrates Dam. The official said the Syrians have made it clear that "they would suffer as much as the Iraqis if Turkey restricted the flow."

Turkey's parliament issued an ultimatum to Syria, demanding that it expel Turkish Kurdish rebels from its territory or "face the consequences." Turkish leaders accuse Syria of sheltering the rebels, who carry out cross-border attacks on Turkish territory. Syria denies the accusation, and Turkey's harsh rhetoric has triggered fears of a regional conflict.

Two Syrian MIG-21 jets intruded 12 miles into Turkish airspace and shot down a plane conducting a land survey, killing all five people on board, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said. Two fliers, a surveyor, a photographer and an official aboard the twin-propeller plane were killed, a spokesman said. In Damascus, Syria ordered an inquiry into the incident and offered condolences to the Turkish government.

Deeply frustrated by the spreading violence of Kurdish separatists, Turkey warned neighboring Syria, Iran, Iraq and Armenia on Thursday that it might retaliate if they do not clamp down on alleged guerrilla activity on their territory. "It is time for our neighbors to show they are together with us . . . to see who is our friend. There is no in-between," said Turkish Prime Minister Tansu Ciller. She added that if Turkey's neighbors do not cooperate, "we will do what we have to do."

Deeply frustrated by the spreading violence of Kurdish separatists, Turkey warned neighboring Syria, Iran, Iraq and Armenia on Thursday that it might retaliate if they do not clamp down on alleged guerrilla activity on their territory. "It is time for our neighbors to show they are together with us . . . to see who is our friend. There is no in-between," said Turkish Prime Minister Tansu Ciller. She added that if Turkey's neighbors do not cooperate, "we will do what we have to do."

Turkey and Syria considered using WATER AS A WEAPON against Iraq in the war but decided against it, according to a senior Arab official in Cairo. A prewar agreement among Turkey, Iraq and Syria stipulates that Turkey must release a set amount of water into the Euphrates River below the Euphrates Dam. The official said the Syrians have made it clear that "they would suffer as much as the Iraqis if Turkey restricted the flow."

Turkish engineers Saturday halted the flow of the Euphrates, one of the world's great rivers, sending a flood of jitters through downstream, drought-stricken Syria and Iraq. The water will be diverted for one month into the reservoir behind Turkey's giant new Ataturk Dam, linchpin of a network of hydroelectric and irrigation projects along the upper reaches of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers in eastern Anatolia.

Two Syrian MIG-21 jets intruded 12 miles into Turkish airspace and shot down a plane conducting a land survey, killing all five people on board, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said. Two fliers, a surveyor, a photographer and an official aboard the twin-propeller plane were killed, a spokesman said. In Damascus, Syria ordered an inquiry into the incident and offered condolences to the Turkish government.