Syria's justice minister meets head of Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council in Damascus

DAMASCUS, Syria — Syrian Justice Minister Mazhar al-Ways received the head of Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council, Judge Faiq Zidan, in Damascus on Thursday for talks aimed at expanding judicial cooperation between the two countries. Al-Ways said Syria-Iraq relations have recently improved, particularly in the economic and security fields, and that Damascus seeks to broaden legal and judicial ties in parallel with that progress. He called for stronger communication and coordination channels between the justice institutions of both countries. The Syrian minister said Syria has entered a new phase based on the rule of law, institutional building and national unity, and aims to establish balanced relations with regional states grounded in mutual respect. He described Zidan's visit as the start of a new stage in judicial cooperation, citing shared history, geographic proximity and common interests. Zidan arrived in Damascus on an official visit and was received by al-Ways and Foreign Ministry Arab Affairs Adviser Mohammed Taha al-Ahmad. According to the Syrian side, the talks are expected to cover transitional justice, transparency, anti-corruption efforts and joint legal files, including ISIS detainees recently transferred to Iraqi prisons.