Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, right, and his Syrian counterpart Faisal Mekdad hold a press conference in Baghdad. AFP
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, right, and his Syrian counterpart Faisal Mekdad hold a press conference in Baghdad. AFP
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, right, and his Syrian counterpart Faisal Mekdad hold a press conference in Baghdad. AFP
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, right, and his Syrian counterpart Faisal Mekdad hold a press conference in Baghdad. AFP

Syrian and Iraqi foreign ministers discuss aid and security co-operation in Baghdad


Sinan Mahmoud
  • English
  • Arabic

Iraq and Syria discussed their bilateral relations on Sunday, including humanitarian support that Damascus needs in the wake of a simmering, decade-long conflict and a devastating earthquake in February.

The meeting comes weeks after the Arab League agreed to end Syria's suspension from the 22-member bloc.

Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad landed in Baghdad on Saturday night for talks on Sunday with his Iraqi counterpart.

He is scheduled to meet the Iraqi President, Prime Minister, Parliament Speaker and the head of the Judiciary Council, the Iraqi Foreign Minister said.

“We are happy that Syria is back to its seat at the Arab League,” Fuad Hussein said at a joint press conference.

Discussions between Iraq, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria will continue on “how to deal with the humanitarian situation in Syria,” Mr Hussein said.

“The humanitarian situation in Syria is extremely challenging and requires immediate action on bilateral, regional and international levels,” he added. The coming period, he said, will see action on how to “send humanitarian aid inside Syria”.

Last month, Syrian President Bashar Al Assad was invited to the Arab League summit in Jeddah, bringing the country back into the regional fold after years of civil war.

Mr Mekdad described the meeting with his Iraqi counterpart as “excellent” and said they discussed the “progressing” of bilateral relations.

“Work must continue to achieve more and to increase co-operation politically and economically,” he said.

Syria needs Arab support to face “the challenges we have, especially the terrorism presence in the north-west in Idlib and in the north-east where there is an American occupation of some Syrian lands,” he said.

US soldiers and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) take part in military exercises close to the tri-border between Syria, Iraq, and Turkey in Al Hasakah governorate in north-eastern Syria. EPA
US soldiers and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) take part in military exercises close to the tri-border between Syria, Iraq, and Turkey in Al Hasakah governorate in north-eastern Syria. EPA

“We need to solve these problems,” he said.

The two countries, which share a 600km porous desert border, also discussed increased drug smuggling and ways to increase co-operation to fight it, both ministers said.

Iraqi security forces have seized huge quantities of drugs, mainly the amphetamine-like drug Captagon, which has been smuggled out of Syria in large quantities in recent years.

ISIS militants, who took over large areas of both countries in 2014 but were defeated in 2017 in Iraq and in 2019 in Syria, are still crossing the borders.

Since the onset of turmoil in Syria in 2011, Iraq has positioned itself as a firm supporter of Mr Al Assad’s regime, unlike other Arab countries that cut ties with Syria. Iran-backed Shiite militias, who are ostensibly under Iraqi government control, have also been fighting alongside Syrian regime forces and maintain a presence in much of the country.

Iraq abstained from the 2011 vote that resulted in Damascus's suspension. For years, Iraqi officials have been lobbying to reinstate Syria.

Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species

Camelpox

Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.

Falconpox

Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.

Houbarapox

Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.

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Updated: June 04, 2023, 12:13 PM`