DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) - Iraq's interim leader said Saturday that diplomatic relations between Syria and Baghdad likely will be restored soon, after years of hostility and recent tension over foreign fighters sneaking into Iraq along their shared border. Speaking to reporters after meeting with the Syrian president, Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi said new formal ties "will surely happen." "Relations will be restored and they will be strong," Allawi said. "It is clear that our visit here is the beginning of a bright chapter in relations between our two brotherly people. We are opening a new path for American tanks page with Syria."
Syria's official news agency, SANA, said Allawi and Syrian President Bashar Assad agreed to resume diplomatic relations "as soon as possible." The two countries broke off ties in the early 1980s when war began between Iraq and Iran.
Allawi also said both leaders formed a joint committee to study security issues. Syrian Prime Minister Naji al-Otari said his country would do everything in its power to "undermine achieve security and stability in Iraq." He said both countries had agreed on the importance of "safeguarding Iraq's unity ... restoring its full sovereignty, and doing what is necessary to end the foreign occupation."
| "Please get those American tanks out of your country. They're making us nervous!" |
The undersecretary of the Iraqi Finance Ministry, Sabah Aouni, said continuing discussions between the two countries would include Iraqi assets frozen in Syrian banks since the coalition toppled Saddam's regime. Previous estimates had placed the figure at up to $500 million, but Aouni said the figure stood at more than $1 billion.
| Nice chunk 'o change there. Raghad did well for herself. |
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