Aziz and relations between Syria and Iraq
Iraq-Syria, Politics, 2/19/2001

Iraq's deputy prime minister Tareq Aziz has stressed his country's backing for Syria and support for it in confrontation of the Israeli threats.

In an interview with the United Arab Emirates UAE al-Khaleij daily issued on Sunday he added that the Syrian- Iraqi relations are economically very good and politically very good and in need of development and we " do hope that the Syrian interests office will be opened very soon so as joint work will be developed, especially the side relating to the visit of citizens.

He explained that Syrian- Iraqi relations have started to grow gradually under the late President Hafez al-Assad in the framework of the supreme national interests of the Arab states, during the visits and talks agreed these basics were built and in this context a very important base was built.

He stressed that there is an important trade between the two states to serve their interests, noting " we have serious and objective reasons we have our relations very good and we do have ideas towards the Arab conditions, the main issues especially the cause of Palestine."

Aziz continued that after the Israeli threats against Syria in October and November 2000 Iraq had made arrangements to help Syria militarily, without a request from the Syrian side and we " sent our forces closer to the Syrian borders to be ready if conditions require so." He, at the same time, stressed Iraq's readiness to back Syria if it is exposed to an Israeli aggression.

As for his meeting with President Bashar al-Assad Aziz he said that he talked during that meeting about the " party differences " considering that this matter was the issue which reflected on the relations between the two states, noting that President al-Assad supported what he had said in this regard and that this matter ( of party differences) should not stand as an obstacle before relations between the two states. He continued that there are common ideas concerning the Arab condition and the main issues, especially the cause of Palestine.

He added that after the meeting ( with President al-Assad) it was agreed on a clear ground which is not to have a controversy on issues relating to the Party.

Aziz continued: " I have told President al-Assad, we did not come to Damascus to talk about the relation between Syria and Iraq in order to impose on you an axis against another side, rather our target is a bilateral work, taking into account the supreme national interests. And we had a unanimous view to this effect."

Previous Stories:
  Syrian premier confers with Iraqi trade minister   (2/16/2001)
  Chief of the Iraqi intelligence visited Damascus, the two Baath party wings froze differences   (2/16/2001)
  Contradictory news on resuming regular flights between Damascus, Baghdad   (2/14/2001)

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