Minister of Petroleum and Minerals Sufian al-Alaw discussed on Tuesday with Iranian Acting Minister of Petroleum Gholam Hossein Nozari bilateral relations and cooperation in the field on petroleum and energy and means to develop this cooperation between ministries of petroleum in both countries.

The two ministers agreed to sign an understanding memo for importing Iranian natural gas and transporting it through the Turkish gas network to Syria, beginning in 2009 after the completion of the gas pipeline in Turkey and Syria. Specialists from both sides were tasked with preparing the understanding memo which will be signed on Thursday.

The two sides discussed work progress in the joint Syrian-Iranian-Venezuelan refinery and decided to hold a meeting for participating countries at the end of October to sign the agreement of joint company that will establish this refinery north of Homs.

The Syrian delegation also met with a number of Iranian companies that intend to participate in a number of development projects in Syria, including companies that will present offers for the project of developing the Banyas refinery.