"The exercise aims to boost friendship, cooperation and confidence
between Turkish and Syrian land forces, and to increase the capability of
border troops to train and work together," the statement said.
The Syrian-Turkish exercise has alarmed Israel, which pursued nearly 15
years of strategic cooperation with Ankara. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud
Barak, however, said he did not think the Turkish exercise with Syria would
harm Ankara's military relations with the Jewish state.
"Today a Syrian-Turkish military maneuver is taking place, definitely a
disturbing development," Barak said on April 27. "But I believe that the
strategic relationship between Israel and Turkey will overcome Turkey's
necessity to participate in this drill as well."
Officials said the military exercise was meant to enhance efforts to
secure the Syrian-Turkish border. They said the exercise between the
U.S.-equipped Turkish Army and the Russian-equipped Syrian Army would be
limited to basic maneuvers and communications.
In 2002, Syria and Turkey signed a military cooperation agreement that
envisioned exercises and joint training. But officials said the accord had
been limited to exchange of visits by military commanders.
This marked the first military exercise between Syria and a NATO ally.
Officials said Syria, led by Turkish Chief of Staff Gen. Hassan Turkmani,
was also participating in the IDEF-2009 defense exhibition in Istanbul. On
April 26, Turkmani began a five-day visit to Turkey, scheduled to include a
meeting with Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul.
