Syria-Iraq Railway To Resume Activity

Ibrahim Humeidi      Al-Hayat      2003/11/14

Damascus

It was announced yesterday in Damascus that the Syrian and Iraqi railroad companies have reached an agreement to reactivate a weekly passenger train between the Syrian town Aleppo and the Iraqi town Mosul, for the first time since the beginning of military operations in Iraq.

Iyad Ghazal, the Director General of the Railroads company, told Al-Hayat that the first train will depart on the evening of Friday, November 21.

After the war was on Iraq started, the Syrian government had imposed a travel ban on its citizens, limiting the travels to businessmen who obtained a visa. The railroad company asked the immigration and passports department yesterday to dedicate some of its human resources to inspect the visas of travelers leaving for Iraq, in order to avoid problems they could face when crossing the Syrian border into Iraq.

Damascus announced that it would like to maintain its control over the three official points between both countries, in order to prevent the infiltration of terrorists into Iraq, provided the coalition forces control the Iraqi side. The Yaarabiya gate, which the train will be crossing, is one of these official points. Ghayath Shaarani, the head of the passengers' transportation at the railroad company, said that the train has five wagons and holds up to 110 passengers. According to the agreement, Syrian travelers will pay the fees of the trip of around 11 hours, in local currency (around 850 SP), while Iraqis will pay the fees in U.S. dollars (around $17).

Over the past few months, several measures have been taken to foster social and economic relations between Mosul and Syria, including the launching of two weekly cargo trains. A Syrian tribal delegation, comprised of 81 Sheikhs, visited the region weeks ago. In parallel, an Iraqi commercial and industrial delegation, headed by the mayor of Ninwa, Ghanem Al Rifai Al Basou, held negotiations last August with Syrian businessmen and with the Economy Minister Ghassan Al Rifai and Minster of Local Administration, Hilal Al Atrash. It was decided that a Syrian delegation would return the visit with the aim of fostering commercial and economic relations. Moreover, Syria is feeding the Mosul region with approximately 60 megawatts of electric power.

Observers have noted a difference between the attitude of the U.S. administration in Washington and U.S. officials in Iraq towards Syria. For instance, Army Major General David Petraeus, Commander of the 101 st Airborne, said that around 500 to 700 trucks arrive daily from Syria, and that he facilitated a barter agreement for Syrian fuel against Iraqi oil, between Syria and the Mosul region, home to 1.7 million inhabitants.

<h1>Syria-Iraq Railway To Resume Activity</h1><h3>Ibrahim Humeidi      Al-Hayat      2003/11/14</h3><p>Damascus</p><p>It was announced yesterday in Damascus that the Syrian and Iraqi railroad companies have reached an agreement to reactivate a weekly passenger train between the Syrian town Aleppo and the Iraqi town Mosul, for the first time since the beginning of military operations in Iraq.</p><p>Iyad Ghazal, the Director General of the Railroads company, told Al-Hayat that the first train will depart on the evening of Friday, November 21.</p><p>After the war was on Iraq started, the Syrian government had imposed a travel ban on its citizens, limiting the travels to businessmen who obtained a visa. The railroad company asked the immigration and passports department yesterday to dedicate some of its human resources to inspect the visas of travelers leaving for Iraq, in order to avoid problems they could face when crossing the Syrian border into Iraq.</p><p>Damascus announced that it would like to maintain its control over the three official points between both countries, in order to prevent the infiltration of terrorists into Iraq, provided the coalition forces control the Iraqi side. The Yaarabiya gate, which the train will be crossing, is one of these official points. Ghayath Shaarani, the head of the passengers' transportation at the railroad company, said that the train has five wagons and holds up to 110 passengers. According to the agreement, Syrian travelers will pay the fees of the trip of around 11 hours, in local currency (around 850 SP), while Iraqis will pay the fees in U.S. dollars (around $17).</p><p>Over the past few months, several measures have been taken to foster social and economic relations between Mosul and Syria, including the launching of two weekly cargo trains. A Syrian tribal delegation, comprised of 81 Sheikhs, visited the region weeks ago. In parallel, an Iraqi commercial and industrial delegation, headed by the mayor of Ninwa, Ghanem Al Rifai Al Basou, held negotiations last August with Syrian businessmen and with the Economy Minister Ghassan Al Rifai and Minster of Local Administration, Hilal Al Atrash. It was decided that a Syrian delegation would return the visit with the aim of fostering commercial and economic relations. Moreover, Syria is feeding the Mosul region with approximately 60 megawatts of electric power.</p><p>Observers have noted a difference between the attitude of the U.S. administration in Washington and U.S. officials in Iraq towards Syria. For instance, Army Major General David Petraeus, Commander of the 101 st Airborne, said that around 500 to 700 trucks arrive daily from Syria, and that he facilitated a barter agreement for Syrian fuel against Iraqi oil, between Syria and the Mosul region, home to 1.7 million inhabitants.</p>