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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.
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