Jordan Times
Monday, August 23, 2004
PM arrives in Syria
AMMAN (JT) — Prime Minister Faisal Fayez and his Syrian counterpart Mohammad
Otri agreed on Sunday to resolve several outstanding issues and boost bilateral
ties.
Fayez and Otri agreed to strengthen cooperation
in various fields, mainly security issues including border control and combating
drug trafficking and organised crime, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
They also agreed to boost the two countries' economic cooperation by increasing
Jordanian exports to Syria and exchanging expertise in the fields of
agriculture, water, finance and the judiciary.
Fayez, on a two-day visit to Damascus, highlighted the "distinguished ties"
between both countries, saying he believed that dialogue was the best way to
overcome any differences.
"We look forward to resolving outstanding issues, especially those related to
the borders as well as joint projects," Petra quoted Fayez as saying.
Syrian authorities had earlier this month released five Jordanian truck drivers,
who had been detained in July for carrying Israeli-made freight.
Both countries have also been discussing ways to control the borders after
infiltrations from the Syrian side. Jordanian security forces last April
arrested several terror suspects who entered the Kingdom from Syria with
explosive-laden vehicles.
According to Petra, Interior Minister Samir Habashneh, who accompanied Fayez,
and his Syrian counterpart Major General Ali Haj Hmoud will in the near future
forge an agreement to allow for greater cooperation in controlling their
borders.
The deal would also allow for both sides to counter cross-border drug
trafficking and "terrorist infiltration," as well as regulate the flow of labour
and facilitate travel. Both sides also agreed to ease custom procedures to
increase the flow of goods.
Fayez said that an increased economic cooperation would help both countries face
the current political challenges in the region. He noted that trade balance grew
to JD115 million in the first five months of 2004 from JD73 million in the same
period last year. Fayez also called for implementing the Jordanian-Syrian free
trade agreement.
The agreement is expected to gradually lead to lifting of all tariffs on
agricultural, animal and industrial exports and imports between the two
countries.
A gas pipeline, which currently supplies Jordan with Egyptian gas, is also
scheduled to be extended to Syria by early 2006.
His Majesty King Abdullah and Syrian President Bashar Assad launched the
construction of Al Wihdeh Dam on the Yarmouk River last February as part of
strategic cooperation.