Baghdad, Damascus to sign economic agreements

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Joint Iraqi-Syrian Supreme Committee, headed by premiers Nouri al-Maliki and Naji al-Otari, will convene in Baghdad later this month to sign economic agreements, the Syrian al-Watan newspaper said on Monday. “The agreements include an oil agreement that will allow the repumping of Iraqi oil across Syrian territory,” the newspaper said in its Monday issue. In late December 2007, talks were held with Syrian companies to develop Okaz oilfield so it could be connected to the Arab Gas Pipeline. The Arab Gas Pipeline is a pipeline that exports Egyptian natural gas to the Middle East and by the possible further extension, to Europe. When completed, it will have a total length of 1,200 kilometers (750 mi) at a cost of US$1.2 billion. “A Syrian technical delegation will soon head to Baghdad to discuss preparations for the supreme committee’s meeting,” the newspaper added. SS (P) 1