Iraqi, Syrian oil ministers sign MoU in Damascus

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahrestani signed on Wednesday in Damascus a Memorandum of Understanding on strategic cooperation in oil and gas field with his Syrian counterpart Sufian Allaw, according to Syrian news agency (SANA). “In the presence of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and his Syrian counterpart, Naji Otri, a Memorandum of Understanding on strategic cooperation in the field of oil and gas was signed,” SANA reported. Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Naji Otri and Iraqi counterpart Nouri al-Maliki discussed Wednesday cooperation relations between Syria and Iraq and ways of activating and developing them in various fields. Talks also dealt with the cooperation in the fields of oil, gas and electrical energy. Emphasis was put on the importance of activating the strategic cooperation agreements between Syria and Iraq, developing the land transport and border crossings system, forming joint companies between Syrian and Iraqi businessmen leading to expanding prospects of cooperation between the two countries, serving their common interests, facilitating the flow of goods and increasing the volume of economic cooperation and trade exchange. SH (S) 3