Ottri and Maliki: an agreement on the rehabilitation of the oil pipeline to Banias

Syria and Iraq signed during the visit of Prime Minister Mohammed Naji Ottri to Baghdad, a joint memoranda of understanding in the areas of oil, trade and energy. It was agreed on the rehabilitation of the Kirkuk – Banias oil » and the preparation of a draft cooperation agreement sets out a strategic cooperation complementarily between the two countries in all areas».

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said at a joint news conference with Ottri, at the conclusion of the meetings of the Joint Higher Committee for cooperation between the two countries, said that «the dialogues between the two sides concluded a strategic agreement in the fields of oil, trade, energy and gas». He added that «the two sides also agreed on the rehabilitation of the line carrier oil through Syrian territory», in reference to the pipeline of Kirkuk to Banias.

 
Maliki added that «after today there are no obstacles facing Syrian companies» to work in Iraq, saying that «the obstacles were beyond the control of the government. Companies need a secure environment, has been achieved so now ». He stressed that «anything that would disturb the relations between the two countries is unacceptable and inadmissible, and Iraq would not allow him to take a platform to disrupt these relations».

 
For his part, Ottri, who met with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi, said that «the Syrian-based approach to establish stronger ties with our brothers in Iraq, the Syrian government and the policy of moving towards what is needed is taken from Iraq, Syria, and Iraq needs is taken from Syria».