A high-level Syrian delegation couldn't get the big contracts Damascus was hoping for, reports Bassel Oudat from Damascus Syrian Prime Minister Mohamed Naji Al-Atri arrived in Baghdad with 10 Syrian ministers and great hopes. It was the first high-level exchange between the two countries in years, but its achievement was modest to say the least. Members of the Syrian-Iraqi Higher Committee, which Al-Atri co-chairs, came up with a few minor agreements, but none of the beefy contracts Damascus so badly wanted. During the meetings, Al-Atri called for "profound change" in relations between Syria and Iraq, while pledging to take part in Iraq's reconstruction efforts. "Syria supports the efforts of the national unity government in leading Iraq to safe shores and consolidating its political march. The security of Iraq is an integral part of the system of security and stability in the region," the Syrian prime minister said. Al-Atri said that Syrian companies and state agencies were willing to take part in the reconstruction of Iraq and in all development plans. "Citizens in both countries should experience the tangible results of this historic round of talks," he added. Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki described the meeting as "historic" and said that Baghdad was seeking "model" relations with Syria. "The scope of cooperation between Iraq and Syria is broad and expansive," he said. Al-Maliki expressed hope that the Higher Council for Strategic Cooperation, a new bilateral agency the two countries plan to form, would help further cooperation. The Syrians wanted more. They wanted to sign agreements allowing Iraqi oil to run through Syrian pipelines and be exported from Syrian harbours. Damascus wants in on deals for rebuilding Iraqi roads, irrigation canals, housing projects and other infrastructure projects. And the Syrian delegation was hoping for closer trade ties. As it turned out, the two countries signed nine agreements and cooperation memoranda, none of which is memorable. One agreement was on double taxation, another on free zones, a third on health cooperation. Several protocols were signed for industrial, cultural, and scientific cooperation. Housing and reconstruction were confined to a memorandum of understanding. Asaad Abboud, chief editor of the Syrian newspaper Al-Thawrah, hinted at Syrian disappointment. "Goodwill, sound vision, many agreements, but then what?" he said in a commentary in which he called for "tangible steps on oil cooperation, on the fate of 1.5 million Iraqis in Syria, and on opening Iraqi markets to Syrian products." Considering the modest outcome of the talks, it seems that both Damascus and Baghdad would need more time to take each other's measure. Right now, Syria exports to Iraq $800 million worth of goods annually. Before the US invasion, the figure was $5 billion. Syria has much to gain from closer ties with Iraq. Damascus wants Washington to know that it is willing to cooperate even before the Americans pull out. The Syrian-Iraqi meetings came after United States President Barack Obama promised to withdraw most US forces within 18 months. Also, the Syrians want a share in Iraq's reconstruction contracts to shore up their flagging economy. Economic opportunities in Iraq may just help Damascus overcome a fiscal deficit that is worsening by the year. Syria also wants a role in Iraq's future, maybe not one as big as Iran's, but big enough to boost its regional standing, much reduced since its forced exit from Lebanon. Syrian officials keep reiterating that Damascus wants to help the Iraqis on more than one front. The Iraqis are still dubious. They want Damascus to do a few things for them first. One is to hand over to Baghdad the Baathist Iraqi officers it harbours. Syria objects, and has pointed out to the Iraqis in power that at one point, they too were "guests" in Syria. Damascus maintains that the Baathists who live in Syria are not engaged in any political activities. Baghdad also wants the Syrians to tighten border security with Iraq and prevent "terrorists" from crossing these borders. Damascus says it has deployed thousands of soldiers on the borders, dug trenches, and arrested and deported hundreds of potential infiltrators. Another Iraqi request is for Damascus to stop opposing the security agreement signed by Iraq and the US early this year. Syria's Bashar Al-Assad has said that the agreement "squanders Iraq's sovereignty and security, harms the entire Arab national security, and turns Iraq into a base [to be used] for striking at neighbouring countries." Damascus is not giving any sign of changing its mind on that matter. Nearly 1.5 million Iraqi refugees, including thousands of political refugees, currently live in Syria, so there is no question that Syria is a very important neighbour for Iraq. Syria offers access to Iraqi imports and exports and sells electricity to Iraq too. And Damascus has cultivated close friendship with many in the Iraqi government and opposition, a great asset that it can use at any time to help Iraqi reconciliation. In short, the Syrians can make things a lot harder, or easier, on Iraq. Even if Iraqi leaders defy their American masters and warm up to Syria after this timid beginning, it is very unlikely the Syrians will hand over Iraqi political refugees, especially while US troops occupy Iraq. Most of the refugees are members of the Iraqi Baath Party, an ideological sibling of Syria's ruling party, and the Syrians are hoping to see them play a part in Iraq's future. Syria, for its part, believes that it has been good to the Iraqis, long giving them a home away from home, selling them electricity, and letting their goods pass through. It wants something in return but it seems it must be patient.
