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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Syria Says It Will Send Envoy to Iraq
2006-02-03
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) - Syria will exchange ambassadors with Iraq after a new Iraqi government is formed, Syria's official news agency reported Thursday, marking the first time Damascus has set a time frame for restoring full diplomatic ties with Baghdad after a 23-year break.

Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa said Syria wished to have "the closest relations with Iraq based on historical and geographical ties," according to SANA. "After the formation of the new Iraqi government, (Syria and Iraq) will exchange ambassadors, and delegations from both countries will make visits to strengthen cooperation in all fields," al-Sharaa told a visiting delegation of Iraqi journalists, according to SANA.
"And we hope our Iraqi brothers can restrain those Americans," he added anxiously.
Syria broke relations with Baghdad in 1982 after accusing Iraq of inciting riots by the banned Muslim Brotherhood in Syria. Commercial ties improved in the last few years of Saddam Hussein's regime before he was overthrown in 2003. The two countries maintain only interest sections in each other's capitals. There have been talks in the past year between Syria and Iraq on restoring diplomatic ties and exchanging ambassadors but no date has been set for opening embassies and appointing ambassadors.

The announcement comes at a time Syria is feeling increasingly frightened isolated, particularly over last year's assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in Beirut.
Posted by:Steve White

#1  perhaps our Iraqi friends can explain "hot pursuit" better than we can?
Posted by: Frank G   2006-02-03 00:16  

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