By NNN-KUNA
Damascus : Iraqi and Syrian Prime Ministers Nouri Maliki and Mohammad Naji Al-Utri have both affirmed that bilateral talks here were very successful and important, saying that several agreements on the political and economic levels had been reached.
The two PMs told a joint press conference held in the Syrian cabinet headquarters that talks resulted in several agreements on combating terrorism and securing common borders.
The meeting with Maliki was highlighted with understanding and mutual desire for cooperation, said Utri, revealing that both sides had approved the revival of the Joint Iraqi-Syrian High Committee, to be headed by the prime ministers of both countries, as well as establishing of a follow-up committee which would assess bilateral cooperation.
The Syrian prime minister stated that solid structures for commercial exchange were approved by both parties.
On oil cooperation, Utri pointed out dry natural gas would be drawn from the Akkas oil field in Iraq to gas factories in Deir Al-Zour, Syria, adding that the oil pipeline between Kirkuk- Banias would be reopened to satisfy both countries’ need for oil products.
An agreement was reached on supplying the city of Hasaka in Syria with water from the Tigris River, a step which would activate signed accords between both countries, stated the Syrian official.
He added that his country would back up the security and political efforts in Iraq in order for peace to prevail there, affirming that Damascus supported the national reconciliation in the neighbouring Arab country.
Ending foreign military presence in Iraq would contribute to security and peace in Iraq, Utri said as he expressed Syria’s view of improving security in the fellow Arab country, hoping that Iraqis would achieve that goal.
The Syrian prime minister noted that there was a mutual understanding towards preventing all activities which caused instability between Iraq and Syria, affirming both governments’ readiness to observe common borders.
On the situation of Iraqi refugees in Syria, Utri said that their presence has caused financial difficulties to Syria, citing that Iraqi and Syrian officials agreed to form a committee to study the situation in order to provide a solution for the matter.
On his part, Maliki stressed the success of talks with Syrian officials, indicating that cooperation on the economic sector was focused upon during the meetings here.
The security and political files were also touched on during the bilateral talks, said Maliki, calling for intensifying diplomatic representation between Syria and Iraq in order to tackle these issues.
He added that a mutual desire to fight terrorism was found here during discussions with Syrian officials, stating that insurgency was a grave problem that requires the attention of all Middle East nations.
Agreements signed between the former Baath regime and Syria were reviewed during the visit here, indicated Maliki, saying that some were agreed upon and others were cancelled.
Whether the visits to Syria, Iraq, and Turkey were aimed at finding a common understanding among these nations on the importance of security in the region, Maliki affirmed that the new Iraq was working on less tension in the Mideast and not on creating other problems.