On relations between Syria and Iraq
Syria-Iraq, Politics, 5/21/2001

The London- based al-Hayat daily issued on Sunday said that the Syrian government showed great caution in dealing with the issue of the new sanctions system on Iraq expected to be debated in a joint British- American project to adopt a new decision by the UN Security Council.

Syria does not intend, the paper said, to stand against the International legitimacy resolutions and UN resolutions, but, on the other hand, refuses to give priority to the Iraqi file in the US policy towards the Middle East.

The paper added in a report from Damascus that at the meantime, Syria continues the policy of normalization with Baghdad by opening a branch for supervising the Syrian interests in Iraq, noting that Baghdad has taken a similar step last year.

The paper continued that while the US and Britain are involved in marketing the new sanctions system, the Syrian leadership decided to send the prime minister Muhammad Mustafa Miro to Baghdad today in a visit first at this level since 20 years. This decision came after the US ambassador in Damascus Rayan Crocker handed the US deputy foreign minister Walid al-Mu'allim a copy of the American paper on the sanctions.

Al-Hayat said that Miro will discuss with the Iraqi vice Ð President Taha Yassin Ramadan in signing important economic agreements between the two countries, including agreement on setting up the new oil pipeline between the two countries and opening the borders. Damascus hopes to get the " Lion's share" from the economic contracts Iraq signed after lifting the embargo from items exported to it, in a way that Syrian exports do not exceed one billion USD.

Previous Stories:
  Syrian interests office to be opened in Baghdad   (5/14/2001)
  Miro to visit Baghdad   (5/4/2001)
  Al-Mahameed is a candidate for the Syrian diplomatic mission to Iraq   (4/20/2001)

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