BAGHDAD: Syrian Premier Mohammed Naji Otri held talks with top Iraqi officials Saturday on a visit to Baghdad aimed at boosting ties four months after the two neighbors re-established full diplomatic ties. Otri's visit follows a mid-October trip to Damascus by Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki, and comes after the two countries ended a year-long row in September by restoring their respective ambassadors. "The visit is firstly to congratulate Iraq on forming the government," Mussawi added, referring to the Dec. 21 formation of an administration in Baghdad, more than nine months after parliamentary elections. "It is also a business visit – a big delegation including Syria's oil, finance and economy ministers has come with him - and the visit will be about implementing previous agreements." Among these was a deal last year to build two pipelines linking Iraq to Mediterranean sea ports, via Syria, for exporting crude oil, which accounts for the vast majority of Baghdad's government income. – Agence France
