Jordan Times
Friday, June 30, 2006
Jordanian-Syrian Higher Committee meetings conclude
DAMASCUS (Petra) — At the conclusion of the Jordanian-Syrian Higher Joint Committee meetings in Damascus on Thursday, Jordan and Syria signed nine agreements and protocols designed to enhance bilateral cooperation.
These included collaboration between the investment office in Syria and the Jordan Investment Board, an agreement for Jordan to purchase wheat from Syria, a programme for cooperation in the field of youth, and a programme between the Jordan News Agency, Petra, and the Syrian Arab News Agency.
Others agreements included cooperation in the fields of vocational training, scientific research and the environment.
Also yesterday, Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit and his Syrian counterpart Mohammad Itri signed the minutes of the meetings.
For his part, Minister of Interior Eid Fayez held talks on border issues with his Syrian counterpart Bassam Abdul Majid to facilitate the entry of Syrian trucks passing through Jordan en route to the Arab Gulf states.
In this regard, Fayez said it was agreed that the convoys of Syrian trucks heading to the Gulf would pass the Jordanian borders without being inspected, on the condition that security and customs personnel accompany these trucks until they reach the Saudi borders.
However, the Syrian trucks with Jordan as a final destination will still be inspected at the border and the Amman Customs Department, Fayez said.
Minister of Industry and Trade Sharif Zu’bi, who held talks with Syrian Minister of Industry Fouad Joni, said a Syrian delegation would visit Amman to benefit on Jordanian expertise in the field of small and medium enterprises.
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Azmi Khreisat met with Syrian Minister of Oil and Mineral Resources Sufian Al Alao and discussed cooperation in the field of energy and inspection of oil, gas and mineral resources.
Meanwhile, Minister of Water Thafer Alem agreed with Syrian Irrigation Minister Nader Al Bunni to form a technical committee to evaluate the water situation in the aquifers of both countries, among other related issues.