Middle East News
Iraq's al-Maliki arrives in Syria for security, economic talks
Aug 18, 2009, 8:10 GMT
Damascus - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki arrived in Syria on Tuesday for security and economic talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
The visit, which will tackle border security between the two countries, comes one week after a military US delegation visited Damascus to discuss curbing the crossing of foreign fighters into Iraq.
Baghdad and Washington have repeatedly accused Damascus of allowing fighters to cross into Iraq.
Al-Maliki, whose last visit to Syria was in 2007, is also scheduled to hold talks with other Syrian officials including his counterpart Mohamed Naji al-Otari and Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem.
The talks 'aim at discussing both countries' efforts to overcome difficulties and obstacles standing in the way of their common interests,' according to sources close to the visit.
The Iraqi delegation will discuss the water issue in order to guarantee Iraq's share of water from the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers.
Iraq and Syria have repeatedly asked Turkey to allow more water from the Euphrates and Tigris rivers to flow over the dams Turkey built to boost its irrigation projects.
The Iraqi prime minister is also expected to meet with Iraqi tribal leaders, living in Damascus to persuade them to return to Iraq.
There are around 800,000 Iraqis living in Syria, according to unofficial statistics.
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