Venezuela, Syria boost ties with accords

 
Caracas, Damascus cement ties via five trade, agriculture, energy cooperation agreements.

 
CARACAS - Venezuela and Syria cemented their ties on Monday as they signed five trade, agriculture and energy cooperation agreements, the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry said.

Among the agreements signed by Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro and his Syrian counterpart, Walid Muallem, in Damascus was a deal to build a refinery that can treat 140,000 barrels of oil per day.

Syria has signed several oil and gas deals with foreign companies in recent years and launched tenders for exploration in both sectors in a bid to boost its dwindling energy output.

Maduro and Muallem also signed a letter of intent for cooperation in cotton and olive oil harvesting, production and research, the chief Venezuelan diplomat said.

In another accord, Telesur, the 24-hour television network created by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to counter the "hegemony" of the international broadcasters like CNN, plans to broadcast its shows in Syria.

Chavez has built close ties with Iran, Syria and other countries in the Middle East.

The charismatic leftist leader concluded a state visit to Syria in September, where he announced the agreements signed on Monday and made a stop in the southern province of Sueida, the homeland of many of Venezuela's million-strong Syrian community.

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