DAMASCUS, Jan 20: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad pledged on Saturday to work with the Iraqi authorities to wipe out “terrorism,” on the final day of a landmark visit by Iraqi counterpart Jalal Talabani.

The two heads of state, whose countries only restored relations in November after a 26-year rupture, held “frank, sincere and positive” discussions on the situation both in Iraq and the region, the SANA news agency said.

In a joint statement issued as Talabani wrapped up the first visit to Syria by an Iraqi head of state in three decades, the two leaders condemned “all forms of terrorism plaguing the Iraqi people and their institutions, infrastructure and security service.” Assad, whose regime US commanders accuse of turning a blind eye to the smuggling of men and weapons to insurgents in Iraq, joined Talabani in expressing “readiness to work together and do everything possible to eradicate terrorism.” He expressed his “support for the political process under way in Iraq...and the efforts being made by the Iraqi government to achieve national reconciliation and stability.”

The two leaders described Talabani's visit as “historic” and said it would “usher in a new phase in fraternal relations.” The Iraqi president hailed the “end of the political rupture between the two countries.” Mr Talabani, a former Kurdish rebel leader whose assumption of Iraq's presidency angered many Arabs, recalled that his country had been a founding member of the Arab League and pledged to “reactivate its Arab role.” The Iraqi president acknowledged the need for “concrete steps to rebuild the armed forces and dissolve militias” connected to Shia Arab parties that lead the Baghdad government.

“Standing up Iraq's own security forces will pave the way to setting a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops in accordance with UN security Council Resolution 1546.” Talabani said a review of the laws banning middle-ranking and senior officals of Iraq's former ruling Baath party from public life was “among the priorities of the Iraqi government and parliament.”The laws, which were adopted under the US-led occupation in June 2003 have been widely blamed for throwing large numbers of qualified government employees on to dole and into the arms of anti-US insurgents.—AFP

Opinion

Editorial

Border clashes
19 May, 2024

Border clashes

THE Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier has witnessed another series of flare-ups, this time in the Kurram tribal district...
Penalising the dutiful
19 May, 2024

Penalising the dutiful

DOES the government feel no remorse in burdening honest citizens with the cost of its own ineptitude? With the ...
Students in Kyrgyzstan
Updated 19 May, 2024

Students in Kyrgyzstan

The govt ought to take a direct approach comprising convincing communication with the students and Kyrgyz authorities.
Ominous demands
Updated 18 May, 2024

Ominous demands

The federal government needs to boost its revenues to reduce future borrowing and pay back its existing debt.
Property leaks
18 May, 2024

Property leaks

THE leaked Dubai property data reported on by media organisations around the world earlier this week seems to have...
Heat warnings
18 May, 2024

Heat warnings

STARTING next week, the country must brace for brutal heatwaves. The NDMA warns of severe conditions with...