Syria and Iran expand energy, economic cooperation

Damascus - Syria and Iran agreed to expand their cooperation in the fields of energy, technology and utilization of water resources, state media in Damascus reported Monday. Iranian Minister of Energy Majid Namjou met in the Syrian capital with Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Naji Otri and other officials on Sunday, resulting in several agreements, including one to expand a power plant.

At a cost of some 240 million euros (356.3 million dollars), the two countries would expand the Jender Power Station near Homs, in central Syria.

Iran also pledged to help introduce better irrigation systems to save water in Syria.

Separately, Iranian Environment Department chief Mohammad-Javad Mohammadizadeh met in Syria with various officials on health and environmental issues.

The talks took place ahead of the negotiations in Copenhagen on a follow up to the Kyoto protocol in an effort to mitigate climate change.

Recent reports have shown that Arab states face threats from rising sea levels. Moreover, while the Arab states' combined areas amount to 10 per cent of the earth's land, the region contains less than 1 per cent of the world's freshwater resources.