The spokesperson for the Iraqi government, Basem Al-Awadi, highlighted the strategic importance of Prime Minister Mohammad Shia' al-Sudani's visit to Syria on Monday. In an interview with the Iraqi News Agency, he stated that al-Sudani's visit and his meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad come at crucial times, noting that Iraq has contributed to Syria's return to the Arab League and has exerted significant efforts in this regard.
Al-Awadi emphasized that Syria is an integral part of Iraq's national security and regional stability, and that Iraq rejects the economic sanctions imposed on Syria, which also contribute to instability. Thus, Iraq is working to help Syria regain its economic vitality.
In addition to shared issues, including the drug problem both countries face, Iraq is seeking new outlets to export its oil. He hinted at Baghdad's readiness to discuss with Damascus the possibility of reviving the Iraq-Baniyas oil pipeline to the Mediterranean, should conditions in Syria improve, which would provide Iraq with new opportunities to export its oil quickly to the Mediterranean and purchasing countries.
He pointed out that "Syria has very large and well-known ports on the Mediterranean, and if Syria is convinced to join the development roadmap for overland and rail connections from its ports to the Iraqi-Syrian-Turkish triangle, I believe this will also provide significant financial resources."
