Iraq and Syria agree to boost up relations: Banias-Kirkuk oil pipeline to be reopened

By Global Research
Global Research, December 17, 2007
Alsumaria 17 December 2007
Region:
Theme: ,
In-depth Report:

Global Research Editor’s Note

Does the signing of an agreement between the Syrian government –still considered by Washington as a “rogue State”– and the US puppet regime in Baghdad, suggest a shift in US Middle East policy?

There is no way this agreement could have been reached without the approval of Washington.  The substance of this agreement serves US interests. It essentially re-establishes the transport and pipeline corridor between Iraq and the Syrian coastline.

At a political level, it signfiies the acceptance by Damascus to negotiate with a US sponsored proxy Iraqi government rather than establish ties with the Iraqi resistance.

It is worth noting that while this agreement might suggest a rapprochement between Washington and Damascus, the Syrian government is also developing cooperation ties with Russia. Russia’s Stroytransgaz is to submit an offer to re-activate the  oil export pipeline to Syria’s Mediterranean port of  Banias. This deal is also being negotiated with the US sponsored Iraqi regime.

Michel Chossudovsky, Global Research,  17 December 2007

Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh conducted a successful visit to the Syrian capital heading a delegation including Interior Minister Jawad Al Boulani and Trade Minister Abdul Fallah Al Soudani in addition to the head of  the presidential endowment and a number of governmental and security officials.
 
Iraq’s delegation headed by Saleh, discussed with a number of Syrian officials bilateral relations and several issues mainly security and trade, SANA Syrian News Agency reported.

Following his meeting with Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Naji Otari, Saleh expressed the willingness of Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki’s government to promote bilateral relations in all sectors.

Al-Otari stressed the necessity of establishing special relations with Iraq through enhancing signed agreements between both countries by renewing bilateral cooperation in such sectors an energy, oil, electricity, irrigation and transport. Al-Otari reiterated as well Syria’s determination to ascertain Iraq’s security and achieve national reconciliation among the Iraqi people.

Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh discussed with his Syrian counterpart for economic affairs Abdullah Al Dardari the formation of a joint council for businessmen and the establishment of a free zone on Iraqi-Syrian borders in addition to reopening Banias-Kirkuk oil pipeline.
Articles by: Global Research

Disclaimer: The contents of this article are of sole responsibility of the author(s). The Centre for Research on Globalization will not be responsible for any inaccurate or incorrect statement in this article. The Centre of Research on Globalization grants permission to cross-post Global Research articles on community internet sites as long the source and copyright are acknowledged together with a hyperlink to the original Global Research article. For publication of Global Research articles in print or other forms including commercial internet sites, contact: [email protected]

www.globalresearch.ca contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available to our readers under the provisions of "fair use" in an effort to advance a better understanding of political, economic and social issues. The material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving it for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material for purposes other than "fair use" you must request permission from the copyright owner.

For media inquiries: [email protected]