Iraq is one of Syria’s closest allies in the Arab region, with relations further cemented by Damascus's return to the Arab League last month, experts told The National on Wednesday.
Baghdad was the first stop for Syria’s Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad on Sunday, following Damascus’s emergence from years of diplomatic isolation.
Mr Mekdad spoke to Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein on the need to combat illegal drugs trade, ensure the safe return of Iraqi and Syrian refugees and provide humanitarian aid.
Iraqi foreign ministry spokesman Ahmed Al Sahaf told The National that stability in Syria reflects on both Iraq and the rest of the region.
“We have been pushing for the return of Damascus for years back into the Arab League and Baghdad was one of the initiators for this,” he said. “We will continue to work together.”
For years, Iraq has struggled to create a coherent foreign policy with any of its neighbours, but senior Iraqi officials, even throughout the conflict in Syria, continued relations with President Bashar Al Assad’s regime, said Renad Mansour, director of the Iraq initiative at Chatham House in London.
Ties between Baghdad and Damascus “have always been there”, Mr Mansour told The National. And after Syria’s reintegration into the Arab League, “certainly Baghdad is one of its closest allies as a neighbour especially”, he said.
Despite Syria's civil unrest, Iraq remained an ally of Damascus throughout the wider Arab boycott, never severing relations and maintaining close co-operation.
This was seen through the fight against ISIS extremists when they took over large swathes of Iraq and Syria in 2014.
On May 7, the Arab League voted to readmit Syria after its suspension in 2011 over Mr Al Assad’s brutal repression of pro-democracy protests that later devolved into an all-out war.
Baghdad, at the time, had abstained from the vote that resulted in Damascus’s suspension.
Syria’s best relations with the Arab world has been with Iraq, Sajad Jiyad told The National.
“Al Assad is grateful for that relationship with Baghdad and his position has changed tremendously. Pre-2010, there was many tensions over suicide bombers crossing in, as well as Al Qaeda and ISIS operatives,” said Mr Jiyad, who is based in Baghdad and a fellow at the Century Foundation.
“But those days are over,” he said.
Closer security ties
The sides share share a 600km desert border that has continued to see militant activity even years after the defeat of ISIS.
“The control of the Syrian border is extremely important to Iraqis. They cannot rest and always worry about what is coming across the border,” Mr Jiyad said.
Drug trafficking has also proliferated in past years, with the trade of the amphetamine-like drug Captagon exploding in the region, much of it across the Syria-Iraq border.
“The size of drugs that has been captured is massive by Iraqi authorities and Iraq is pushing to crack down on the drug industry.”
Mr Mansour said the sides have historically had problematic relations on the border.
“It has been an on-off type of relationship and the drug issue would highlight that,” he said.
Iraqi authorities have seized a lorry carrying three million Captagon pills at Al Qaim, a town on the Iraqi-Syrian border.
The area has long been a stronghold of Iran-backed Iraqi militias, who also control the town of Albu Kamal on the Syrian side of the border, using the area to store and move weapons.
“There’s been reports that Al Qaim has been a big hub for drug trade and of course both states have counter drug policy, but it’s a fragmented relationship,” Mr Mansour said.
In recent months, Iraqi security forces have intensified narcotics operations with several high-profile drug seizures reported.
Mr Jiyad said Baghdad stands to gain a lot if it has a stable neighbouring Syria and there is a lot of threat if instability increases.
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Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
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Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh1,100,000 (est)
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Wenger's Arsenal reign in numbers
1,228 - games at the helm, ahead of Sunday's Premier League fixture against West Ham United.
704 - wins to date as Arsenal manager.
3 - Premier League title wins, the last during an unbeaten Invincibles campaign of 2003/04.
1,549 - goals scored in Premier League matches by Wenger's teams.
10 - major trophies won.
473 - Premier League victories.
7 - FA Cup triumphs, with three of those having come the last four seasons.
151 - Premier League losses.
21 - full seasons in charge.
49 - games unbeaten in the Premier League from May 2003 to October 2004.
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
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- 600-seat auditorium
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- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
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- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs: 2018 Maxus T60
Price, base / as tested: Dh48,000
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder
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Fuel consumption, combined: 9.1L / 100km
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Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
