Assad stresses importance of cooperation with Iraq to confront enemies

DAMASCUS (Sputnik): Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has received Iraqi National Security Adviser Faleh Fayyad and stressed the importance of cooperation between Damascus and Baghdad in confronting common enemies and combating terrorism, Assad’s press office said.

“Events at the regional and international levels require that Syria and Iraq move forward in protecting their sovereignty and independence of their decisions in view of the plans weaved by external enemies on a divide and wreaking havoc”, Assad said as quoted in a statement obtained by Sputnik.

According to the Syrian president, it is ultimately up to the people to decide the fate of the region regardless of the complexity of the challenges it is facing.

Assad also pointed to the importance of strengthening Syria-Iraq relations to complete the fight against terrorism and remove various challenges facing both Damascus and Baghdad, according to the Syrian Foreign Ministry.

Both Syria and Iraq are still recovering from devastating wars against numerous opposition groups and terrorist organisations, including Daesh*. Since Iraq defeated the terrorists on their territory the country’s military has re-established control over the border with Syria.

Recently, the countries reportedly announced plans to connect their railway systems.

The aim of the project, reports say, is to provide Baghdad and Tehran with access to Syrian ports. The project was started even before the outbreak of the Syrian crisis in 2011.