Turkish Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu has said that Turkey will provide internet support to Syria and prioritize efforts to restore key railway links between the two countries, according to a report by the Halk TV news website.
The minister’s announcement came during an official visit to Damascus on Wednesday.
Uraloğlu, who traveled to the Syrian capital with a delegation for a series of meetings, was welcomed at Damascus International Airport by his Syrian counterpart, Yarub Suleiman Badr. The Turkish minister first met with Abdul Salam Haykal, Syria’s communications and information technology minister, followed by bilateral and inter-delegation meetings with Badr.
“We’ve conducted the necessary talks with my counterpart and the communications minister. Work is underway to provide internet access from Turkey to Syria,” Uraloğlu told reporters after the meetings.
The minister also stated that Turkey places top priority on rebuilding Syria’s damaged railway infrastructure.
“We had talks on reviving the damaged rail line between Çobanbey and Aleppo to connect all of Turkey with Damascus and potentially extend that connection all the way to Europe,” he said.
The minister added that efforts were also underway to expand the Hejaz Railway Station and to repair the damaged sections along the route.
Uraloğlu further announced that the two countries are working on activating all existing border gates as well as establishing a joint, single-entry border crossing point in the near future.
Turkey currently shares a 900-kilometer (560-mile) border with Syria with five operational crossings.
Regarding air travel, the minister said flights between Turkey and Syria are operating at full capacity, with additional flights being scheduled. He noted that Syrian Airlines has expressed interest in resuming flights to Turkey, pending fulfillment of certain criteria.
The Turkish government supports the Islamist-led rebels who toppled president Bashar al-Assad in December and is hoping to accelerate the return of Syrian refugees to ease the tensions their presence has generated in parts of the country.