Syria calls Iraq for real assessment of border control efforts

An official source at the Syrian Foreign Ministry said "Syria, out of its belief in the fraternal relations that bind the two sisterly people of Iraq and Syria and keenness on the safety of Iraq and its unity and independence, has deployed a great number of its soldiers and increased the number of control checkpoints on the Syrian-Iraqi borders."

The source added that Syria has called on all diplomatic missions, media men and offices of military attaches accredited in Damascus to visit the Syrian-Iraqi borders and verify by themselves the situation there. All representatives of these missions, except one, have accepted the invitation and expressed appreciation of these efforts despite modest available capabilities due to the difficult border conditions.

The source told SANA that Syria "had already sent a diplomatic and security delegation to Baghdad last month to brief Iraqi brothers on the efforts being exerted by Syria in the field of border control, and asked to be provided with any information, photos or phone numbers on claims of cross-border infiltrations but the Iraqi side didn't supply any information in this regard."

The source voiced Syria's deep sorrow over the statements attributed today to the Iraqi Interior Minister in Istanbul, adding they contradict with what had been agreed on in Baghdad. "Syria reiterates care for establishing best relations with sisterly Iraq and readiness to offer what it can do to help Iraq overcome the ordeal it faces as well as to thwart any attempts to incite discord between the two sisterly countries," the source concluded.