DAMASCUS, August 20, SPA -- Iraq's Nouri al-Maliki came to Syria on Monday on his first visit here as primeminister. The three-day sojourn by the Iraqi leader isexpected to focus on the sensitive border issues. Last week, al-Maliki went to Turkey and Iran, and said hewould continue traveling to other countries to seek help instemming the violence that has ravaged Iraq. Syria's official news agency SANA said that al-Malikitalks here would deal with the current security andpolitical situation in Iraq, as well as economiccooperation between the two countries. Al-Maliki was accompanied on the trip by a high-levelIraqi delegation, including ministers of interior, trade,oil and water resources. He is expected to hold talks withSyrian leaders, including President Bashar Assad, hisdeputy Farouk Sharaa and al-Maliki's Syrian counterpartNaji Ottri. «This visit is to implement the government's policy thatdepends on the basis of security, economic and politicalrelations with the neighboring countries and ways toenhance these relations,» al-Maliki told reportersaccompanying him on the trip. «We will discuss the serious security file and itschallenges, which concern not only Iraq but the wholeregion,» al-Maliki said. «We will discuss the Iraqicommunity and immigrants in Syria and the ways to providethem with services.» Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani, who accompaniedal-Maliki to Damascus, said that Baghdad was ready toreopen a crude oil pipeline that passes through Syria ifthe Iraqi-Syria border is made safe. Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani told The AssociatedPress that Iraq and Syria have signed a note pledging toexchange information. Also, Syria has handed over 13suspects sought by Baghdad, he said, but did not providedetails about the suspects.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/476206