Syria, Iraq sign minutes of meeting to reopen Karkouk - Banias oil pipeline

Syria and Iraq on Thursday signed the joint minutes of their meeting to resume operation of the oil pipeline linking the Iraqi Karkouk city to the Syrian Banias refinery. The two states also agreed to continue contacts to strengthen oil cooperation in the future.

On the Syrian side the minutes of meeting were signed by Oil Minister Muhammad Maher Jamal and the Iraqi side by his Iraqi counterpart, Amer Muhammad Rashid.

In statements to reporters Jamal, who conducted a three-day visit to Baghdad, described the results of his visit to Iraq as fruitful and successful, adding that the talks were held in an atmosphere of joint understanding.

He stressed that the Syrian and Iraqi sides had created a solid foundation to build advanced oil relations in all areas. The Syrian minister added the Syrian and Iraq delegations have completed discussions on all topics previously agreed upon in Damascus during the visit of the Iraqi Oil Minister on July 14.

For his part, the Iraqi minister expressed pleasure over the positive results attained during the visit of the Syrian oil delegation. He indicated the mutual intrest in cooperation between the two sides expressed during the talks which started on Tuesday in Baghdad.