Damascus returns back $ 3.5 million to Iraq

Well-informed Syrian sources said that the Syrian government returned back a sum of $ 3.5 million to the Iraqi authorities after it was agreed to return back this sum in earlier meeting with Iraqi officials. The sources explained that this sum was not a matter of controversy between the two sides.

The sources added that matters remain standstill concerning the rest of the money which the Iraqis say is estimated at $ 800 million, while the Syrians demand a sum exceeding one billion dollars the Iraqi private and public sectors have to pay for Syria, while the Syrians admit of $ 265 million for the Iraqi side.

Handing over this money comes several days before the visit of the US under secretary of state Richard Armitage to Damascus who will be accompanied by his assistant William Burns and a large delegation of Department Of State officials.