Stability in Iraq beneficial for Syria

Syrian Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdullah Al-Dardari said on Saturday night that Syria will benefit from establishment of stability in Iraq.

"Establishment of stability, development, prosperity and unity in Iraq will be beneficial for Syria more than any country," Al-Dardari added.

He said "Our economic outlook depends on economic growth and development of Iraq." The mastermind of Syrian economic reforms advised Iraqi visiting officials to Damascus recently that the two sides should revise former agreements to select those useful to the two states.

The Syrian deputy prime minister also noted that the best way to bolster economic ties between Iraq and Syria is to resume activities of the joint high committee for upgrading relations.

He recommended that negotiations should be held between the two states in various economic arenas and said that Syria is to create an effective economic strategy between the two sides.

Syrian and Iraqi economies have been interdependent thanks to thousands of years neighborhood, he said, adding that Iraq regards an important market for the Syrian made goods, and Iraqis are keen to consume Syrian commodities.

Syria has been a tourist site for Iraqi people for years, he noted, saying that there are historical documents on bilateral cooperation in the fields of commerce, transit trade, and infrastructural establishment.

The Syrian officials are willing to hold talks with Iraqi officials to indicate its interest in implementing joint projects and memoranda of understandings inked so far, he underlined.

He also called for Iraqi officials to visit Syria to hold discussions on practical steps to be taken for implementation of the economic agreements.