Media Hail Prospect of Stronger Iraq Ties

The Syrian media have expressed optimism that Prime Minister Mohammad Naji al-Otari’s recent visit to Iraq will result in better relations between Damascus and Baghdad.



Both countries would benefit from greater economic cooperation, argued an April 21 article by Samira al-Masalma, editor-in-chief of the state-run Tishreen newspaper. Such a partnership could also be an example to other countries in the region.



Asad Abboud, editor-in-chief of the official newspaper Al-Thawra, echoed this view, saying stability in Iraq would translate into wider regional security.



Abboud said that the sensitive issue of the Iraqi refugees currently in Syria would need to be broached during future bilateral meetings.



According to an April 23 article in The National, “Tens of thousands of Iraqis continue to live in Syria, fearful of returning or unable to return to homes they fled.

“Even with the Iraqi government encouraging repatriation, movement has been at best sluggish, many refugees preferring the safety of Syria to the continued, albeit lessened, violence of Iraq.”