Syria, Turkey Discuss Reopening Key Border Crossing for Trade

Syrian and Turkish officials met this week to discuss reopening a major border crossing. The talks focused on boosting trade between the two neighbors. The meeting was held in Damascus on Wednesday. The head of Syria's Chambers of Commerce, Alaa al-Ali, met with Alp Eran Yılmaz. Yılmaz is the governor of the Turkish Cilvegözü border gate. They discussed the role of land crossings in improving trade integration. The Cilvegözü crossing, known as Bab al-Hawa in Syria, is a critical route for goods. The discussion signals a potential step toward normalized economic relations. The border has been largely closed for years due to the Syrian conflict.