Iraqi Interior Minister Jawod Al-Bolani has said that the main focus of talks by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki during his visit to Damascus will be the joint patrols along the Iraq-Syria border.
However, senior Syrian sources have said that Syria is interested in political and economic understandings, not only security understandings.
Iraqi Oil Minister Hussein Shahrastani and senior Iraqi officials accompanying Al-Maliki on his visit have said that the opening of the oil pipeline passing through Syria is contingent upon improved security in the region and on the border with Syria.
Sources: Al-Watan, Teshreen, Syria; Al-Nahar, Lebanon, August 21, 2007
