MOSCOW (RIA Novosti) – Trade turnover between Russia and Syria increased by $120 million in 2005, the co-president of a bilateral government commission said Wednesday. Vladimir Yakovlev, also the Russian Regional Development Minister, said: "In 2005 trade turnover increased by almost $120 million to $459.8 million."

Yakovlev said the figure was less than the $1 billion trade turnover between the two countries in 1992, but was nevertheless an achievement and that the 1992 level could be reestablished in the next few years.

He said Russian markets were open to Syrian goods, which have a favorable import regime including a customs reduction of 25%.