Damascus, October 16, SPA -- Syrian President Bashar Assad is to begin an official visit to Turkey later today that will include talks on regional issues of common interest, Syria's official news agency 'SANA' reported. His visit comes amid an ongoing crisis of Turkish plans to launch incursions against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq. The Turkish government is seeking parliamentary approval for a cross-border operation into Iraq to destroy Kurdish rebel bases inthe mountainous border region. Assad's first visit to Turkey since early 2004, also follows hisrecent confirmation that Turkey is playing a mediation role betweenSyria and Israel. In a recent newspaper interview, Assad was quoted as saying, "We have told them (Turkey) that our stance toward peace does not change. All we want is a clear declaration by Israeli officials of theirdesire for peace and returning (occupied) land to Syria." Bilateral relations between Syria and Turkey, have includedconsistent development in all fields and a mutual desire to ensuresecurity and stability in the region, SANA said.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/490743