Iraq to discuss Rehabilitation of Oil Pipeline through Syria

 Iraq to discuss Rehabilitation of Oil Pipeline through Syria

By John Lee.

The Iraqi National Intelligence Service has led an official delegation to Damascus under the direction of Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani.

The delegation, headed by Mr. Hamid Al-Shatri, President of the Iraqi National Intelligence Service, is scheduled to meet with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa' and other senior Syrian officials.

The delegation includes representatives from the Border Forces Command (Ministry of Interior), the Ministries of Oil and Trade, and the Border Crossings Authority.

Discussions in Damascus will cover:

• Strengthening joint counterterrorism cooperation.
• Securing the Iraq-Syria border against breaches and threats.
• Expanding bilateral trade exchanges for mutual benefit.
• Exploring the rehabilitation of the Iraqi oil pipeline running through Syria to the Mediterranean.

The meetings will also reaffirm Iraq's support for Syria's sovereignty and unity, highlighting the interdependence of Syrian stability and Iraqi national security.

The pipeline from Kirkuk to the Syrian port of Baniyas [Banias] has not been operational since 2003. An initial agreement was reached in 2010 to build two new pipelines, one for lighter crude, and one for heavier, with further details announced in 2011, but this was not implemented.

According to an article from Iraq Business News (IBN) expert blogger Ahmed Mousa Jiyad, the Syrian pipeline has several advantages, but also many risks.

(Source: PMO)