in the late s prior to the uprising in syria syrianturkish relations had improved considerably with the establishment of the turkishsyrian strategic cooperation council agreement in table under this umbrella the parties signed several protocols projects and memorandums mainly on security issues they also agreed to cooperate in the domain of water with specific reference to the construction of a pumping station on the syrian stretch of the tigris river the improvement of water quality and the pursuit of joint efforts to combat drought