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DAMASCUS, Feb 20 (Reuters) - The Iraqi
government plans to speed up multibillion dollar energy
projects with Syria that would help end tension between the
two neighbours, Iraq's first ambassador to Syria in almost
30 years said on Friday.
The projects -- an oil pipeline linking
Kirkuk oilfield to a Mediterranean terminal and developing
an Iraqi gas field near Syria -- have been delayed, with
Baghdad criticising Damascus for what it describes as
insufficient cooperation on stopping rebel infiltration
across the 600 km (375-mile) border.
"I expect substantial progress. What I
heard directly from the leadership of my country is that
Iraq is serious and ready to remove the obstacles standing
in the way of these two strategic projects," Ala al-Jawadi
told Reuters.
Jawadi, a founder of the Shi'ite Supreme
Council For the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, lived in Syria
along with scores of exiled Iraqi opposition leaders during
Saddam Hussein's rule.
"I will not say more because these issues
are better resolved away from the spotlight, but we will see
major progress," said Jawadi, who presented his credentials
to President Bashar al-Assad this week.
Relations between Iraq and Syria plummeted
after Saddam Hussein became president of Iraq in the late
1970s and Iraq launched an eight year war against Iran.
The two countries remained on poor terms
after the U.S. invasion of Iraq removed Saddam from power in
2003, although the two sides re-opened embassies in each
other's capitals three years ago.
Syria was a major exporter to Iraq in the
last years of Saddam Hussein's rule. It also helped Iraq
bust United Nations sanctions by importing crude oil through
the pipeline, which was bombed by U.S. planes during the
2003 invasion.
HARD CURRENCY
Syria, whose oil output fell steadily to
379,000 barrels a day last year, has felt limited economic
benefit since the invasion of Iraq and end of sanctions
which contributed to the collapse of the Iraqi economy but
helped neighbours thrive.
Damascus viewed joint energy projects as
crucial -- the oil pipeline would net Syria hard currency
that would help offset its declining oil production -- but
Iraq made it clear that they must be accompanied by progress
on the security issue.
Iraq invited Russia's Stroytransgaz in
2007 to submit an offer to re-activate the 300,000 barrel
per day Kirkuk-Banias oil export pipeline and raise its
capacity but no follow-up was made, industry executives
said.
Initial agreements also envisaged
developing Iraq's Akkas gas field and exporting output
through an Arab network passing through Syria. Iraqi
officials who visited Damascus last year urged Syrian
officials to do more on security cooperation for the
projects to move forward.
Akkas is one of eight oil and gas fields
that Iraq opened to foreign firms to bid for last year. The
Iraqi oil ministry said in January it was "preparing the
requirements" for a gas pipeline from Akkas to Syria. Jawadi
would not be drawn on the security issue, but said Iraq was
looking to improve ties with Syria across the board.
"The intention is now sincere from the two
countries to move relations where they should be. Economics
ties are related to the overall political, social and
security picture," he said.
"We are not taking about a country
thousands of kilometres from Iraq. We are talking about a
neighbouring country where many of Iraq's current leaders
used to live and many Iraqis (refugees) still live under
generous benefits."
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