The visit had been scheduled for some time and will enable the two countries to overcome once tense bilateral relations. Both parties have in fact sent signals designed to show their good will towards one another.

More importantly, the visit, which was originally expected to be the latest in a string of routine bilateral contacts between the two neighbours, has taken on a different significance following the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and the international community's demand that Syria pullout of Lebanon in accordance with United Nations Resolution 1559.

Last month US Ambassador to Turkey Eric Edelman said his country hoped that Ankara would "join the international community" which, in his view, is unanimous in urging Syria to withdraw from its neighbour.

However, many Turkish newspapers warned President Sezer against submitting to US demands.

Currently, Turkish public opinion is largely anti-US since the second Iraq War.

Speaking on CNN-Turk, Sezer indirectly responded to Edelman's request saying that "Turkey denied other countries the opportunity to interfere in its decision."

Turkey supports a Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon, but also says it wants to contribute to developing good neighbourly ties in the conflict-torn Middle East.

For his part Syria's President Bashir al-Assad told CNN-Turk that he would discuss with his Turkish counterpart the role of the United States and European countries in the region, which he said was now resembling that of "the colonial era."

"We can reduce the dangers to a minimum only if we act together," Assad said, "[since] the dangers are threatening all of us."

"They [i.e. US and Europe] started with Iraq, now they are threatening Syria and other countries. . . .  [And now] they are trying to interfere in Turkey's affairs," he added.