Iraqi oil minister discusses in Damascus reopening pipelines
Syria-Iraq, Economics, 7/13/1998

Iraqi Oil Minister Amer Muhammad Rashid started talks in Damascus on Sunday night with his Syrian counterpart Muhammad Maher Jamal on means of strengthening cooperation in the oil sector.

Oil sector sources said that the talks which had started immediately upon the arrival of the Iraqi minister in Damascus covered a large range of issues to be debated today in detail. Following his talks with his Syrian counterpart, Jamal, the Iraqi minister told reporters, "We will discuss oil cooperation between the two brotherly countries."

Asked about reopening the oil pipelines between the two countries, he added, "Eventually means of reopening the oil pipelines will be among issues were are going to tackle." The pipelines' pumping capacity is 1.4 million barrels per day. In April 1983 Syria closed the pipelines following tensions in relations between the two countries.

In earlier statements, the Iraqi minister said that measures have been taken to perform maintenance work on the oil pipelines between Iraq and Syria. The lines have been neglected since the beginning of the 1980s. After maintenance works, oil exports will resume via the Syrian - Banias port on the Mediterranean.

Previous Stories:
  Iraqi oil minister arrives in Damascus   (7/13/1998)
  Syria's help to Iraqi people underlined   (7/1/1998)
  Syria denies free zone for commodity exchange with Iraq   (4/24/1998)

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