DAMASCUS, Syria — Syria and the Palestinian Authority took another step Saturday toward ending a longstanding diplomatic rift, with officials saying talks in Damascus had opened a new era in Palestinian-Syrian relations.
In a further sign of thawing relations, the first Palestinian plane to fly to Syria landed in Damascus Saturday, a Palestinian official said.
Palestinian Planning and International Cooperation Minister Nabil Shaath also confirmed that Palestinian President Yasser Arafat would soon visit Damascus, with the date for his visit to be discussed Saturday.
"Chairman Arafat will certainly come to Damascus. We talked about two dates during the talks today and I will consult brother Abu Ammar (Arafat) on that. We will hold another meeting on Sunday (to fix the final date)," he said.
Shaath, who held talks with Syrian Foreign Minister Farouq al-Shara, told reporters after the meeting that broad agreement had been reached on closer economic and political cooperation.
"I am pleased to say today that a new era on the Palestinian Syrian relations have started to serve the Palestinian uprising and the Palestinian, Syrian and Lebanese struggle (against Israel)," he said.
Ties between Arafat and Syria deteriorated after he signed the interim 1993 Palestinian-Israeli peace deal which gave Palestinians limited self-rule in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Syria condemned the deal, reached following secret talks in Oslo, Norway, saying it deprived Palestinians of their basic rights and harmed Arab coordination at the peace talks with Israel which were launched in Madrid in 1991.
But ties have improved since Bashar al-Assad came to power in July last year after the death of his father Hafez, and the new president has supported the principle of exchanging land for peace in Arafat's negotiations with Israel. Bashar met Arafat on the sidelines of an Arab summit held in Amman, Jordan in March.
Shaath's visit follows a trip to Damascus earlier this month by Arafat's aide Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), who discussed policy coordination and preparations for Arafat's visit with Syrian leaders.
First Palestinian plane
A 45-strong Palestinian delegation, including Finance Minister Mohammed Zuhdi al-Nashashibi and Industry Minister Saadi al-Krunz, arrived aboard the Palestinian plane.
The team will take part for the first time in the Damascus International Trade Fair, due to open on Tuesday.
"We are pleased to say that over 700 Palestinian exhibitors will show their products at the Damascus fair," al-Krunz said.
Anwar Abdul-Hadi, information adviser to the head of the Palestine Liberation Organisation political department, told Reuters the visit followed several Syrian goodwill gestures, such as the recognition of passports issued by the Palestinian Authority and permission for Israeli Arabs to visit Syria