Russia to Develop Oil and Gas Fileds in Syria

Russia and Syria are in talks on
proposals for the development of oil and natural gas fields in Syria and
may soon sign contracts to that effect, Syrian Deputy Prime Minister for
Economic Affairs Abdallah al-Dardari said on Saturday.

The two countries are already cooperating in the oil and gas
industry, Dardari told reporters in Damascus, citing an April 2007
contract between Damascus and Russian company Stroitransgaz to build a
gas refinery in Syria.

He said that agreement was worth about $390 million.