Syria, Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon sign a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on agriculture

The agreement comes amid the rapprochement of Damascus with the countries of the region after nearly ten years of almost total isolation

March 27 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The governments of Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria have signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday to cooperate in agricultural matters and promote trade, a pact signed in the Syrian capital, Damascus, amid the approach of the Syrian authorities to the countries of the region after nearly a decade of almost total isolation due to the war.

According to information collected by the Syrian state news agency, SANA, the document includes points to improve cooperation on agriculture, including an exchange of information on the matter and the management of nature reserves. It also contemplates a four-way cooperation to deal with climate change, fight fires and promote rural development.

The Syrian Agriculture Minister, Mohamad Hasan Qatana, stressed that “through this document investment projects will be presented to create facilities for livestock and fodder”, while his Iraqi counterpart, Abbas al-Alaiui, has maintained that “it represents a starting point for joint work and cooperation in the agricultural sector, on which the majority of the Arab population depends”.

For his part, the Minister of Agriculture of Jordan, Khaled al-Hanifat, stressed that the document “is a translation of the sincere feelings of brotherhood between the countries and helps to achieve integration in a way that benefits the interests of the towns”.

The document has been signed days after Syria and Saudi Arabia began talks to reestablish ties, a measure that came in line with the recently signed agreement between Riyadh and Tehran to normalize their bilateral relations, broken in 2016. Several countries in the region have opted for restore its ties with Damascus, which has been a boost for Syrian President Bashar al Assad.