UPDATE: Russia, Syria can sign econ cooperation deal in few weeks

(adds details after paragraph 3)

MOSCOW, Mar 16 (PRIME) -- Russia and Syria could sign an economic cooperation agreement in a few weeks, while each project will be agreed upon separately, President of the Syrian Arab Republic Bashar Al-Assad told PRIME in an interview released on Thursday.

"The projects are being considered, an agreement will be signed in several weeks, but this clause was left at the discretion of each company and each project. Each project will be assessed separately later. This is part of a control mechanism over projects and their progress," Al-Assad said after talks with the Kremlin.

According to the official, the projects and their estimated cost will be announced after the deal signing, and the interested companies will be able to file for participation.

Al-Assad said Russia and Syria plan about 40 joint investment projects in the energy, transport and housing sectors.

“This is a new stage in our relations. The delegation that came to Moscow was large, because work on the agreement lasted for years, not months,” he said.

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