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Syrian trade minister arrives in Baghdad for economic talks
( 2001-05-22 10:49 ) (7 )

Syrian Economy and Foreign Trade Minister Mohammed Imadi arrived in Baghdad late Monday aboard a direct flight from Damascus for talks focusing on commercial issues.

Joined by officials from his ministry and those of health and irrigation, Imadi will participate in a meeting of the two countries' joint commission.

"We are going to work by all means to expand cooperation between Iraq and Syria in various areas," the Syrian minister told reporters at the airport.

Iraqi Trade Minister Mohamed Mahdi Saleh said the joint commission would hold its first meeting on Tuesday, concentrating on "cooperation in the economic, scientific and technical fields".

"Despite the progress achieved over the past four years at the level of bilateral economic relations, it does not yet meet the expectations of the two peoples," he added.

Syria on Saturday opened an interests section in Baghdad, more than a year after the opening of a parallel Iraqi office in Damascus.

Syria and Iraq, ruled by rival branches of the Baath party, broke off relations in 1980 amid Damascus' support for Tehran during the Iran-Iraq war.

The two countries began to improve ties in 1997, reopening their border for official and business delegations.

Imadi's flight into Baghdad was made in defiance of a crumbling air embargo imposed on Iraq after its 1990 invasion of Kuwait.

Since the reopening of Saddam International Airport last August, dozens of Arab and European delegations have flown into Baghdad in spite of the air sanctions, which are backed by the United States and Britain.