Iraq, Syria agree to restore full ties

A Syrian soldier looks across at Iraqi border

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq and Syria agreed on Tuesday to restore full diplomatic relations after a break of nearly a quarter of a century, in a move Iraq hopes may help stem what it says is Syrian support for militants.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem, making the first visit by a Syrian minister to Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, signed the agreement with his Iraqi counterpart Hoshiyar Zebari in the presence of journalists.

In the document, Syria and Iraq agreed on the need for U.S.-led forces to stay in Iraq until they were no longer needed, after which they would be gradually withdrawn.

Moualem had earlier called for the setting of a timetable for the withdrawal of 140,000 U.S. troops.

The two governments agreed to restore full diplomatic ties, reopening their embassies in Damascus and Baghdad. An agreement in principle was struck some months ago. Ambassadors with full rank would be named and flags raised over embassies shortly.

Iraq and Syria severed ties when Syria sided with Iran during the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war.

U.S. and Iraqi officials have long accused Damascus of doing too little to stem the flow of foreign Islamist fighters and weapons across its long, porous border. Syria says sealing the border is impossible and Iraq must do more to patrol its side.

The U.S. military said on Monday that between 70 and 100 foreign fighters were still crossing the border each month.

Read the rest at the Washington Post

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