Iraq appoints first ambassador to Syria

Damascus: Iraq's first ambassador to Syria in 28 years will arrive in Damascus on Thursday.

Sources at the Iraqi Embassy in Damascus told Gulf News that the new ambassador will be Alaa Al Jawadi, who currently serves as director of Arab Affairs at the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His appointment has just been approved by Prime Minister Nuri Al Malki.

Syrian diplomatic relations with Iraq were cut off in 1980, and only restored gradually in 1997-1998 by Syria's late President Hafez Al Assad.

Syria opened an embassy in Baghdad in 2008 and appointed Nawaf Al Fares, a former officer and senior member of the ruling Baath Party, as its first ambassador in 20 years, to Baghdad.