美国银行摩根大通帮助叙利亚发行了十多年来的首张信用证，一位叙利亚高级能源官员向路透社透露，这使该国本月得以执行一项来自沙特阿美（2222.SE）燃料产品的商业协议。
US bank J.P. Morgan helped Syria to issue its first letter of credit in more than a decade, a senior Syrian energy official told Reuters, allowing the country to execute a commercial agreement this month for fuel products from Saudi Aramco (2222.SE).
这一举动标志着叙利亚在前总统巴沙尔·阿萨德被推翻近两年后，恢复其进入国际银行渠道的进程。
The move marks a step towards restoring Syria's access to international banking channels after the ousting of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad nearly two years ago.
叙利亚新领导层将重建该国多年来孤立状态下的政治和金融关系列为优先事项。美国去年对该国解除了广泛制裁，并于去年8月取消了叙利亚作为恐怖主义国家支持国的指定。
Syria's new leadership has prioritised the rebuilding of the country's political and financial ties after years of isolation. The US lifted sweeping sanctions on the country last year and removed Syria's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism last August.
叙利亚中央银行10月11日在一份声明中表示，它通过一家主要的美国金融机构发行了14年来的首张信用证，以支持与阿美的交易，但未提及该银行的名称。
The Central Bank of Syria said in a statement on October 11 that it had issued its first letter of credit in 14 years through a major US financial institution to back a deal with Aramco, but did not name the bank.
叙利亚石油公司（SPC）财务事务执行董事穆罕默德·考贾表示，摩根大通的作用是“确认已发行的信用证及其执行担保”。
Mohammad Qawja, executive director of financial affairs at the Syrian Petroleum Company (SPC), said that J.P. Morgan's role was to "confirm the issued letter of credit and a guarantee of its execution".
他说，SPC已根据该协议收到6.5万吨柴油，并希望未来的货运能扩大到包括汽油，以及后来的轻质原油。
He said that SPC had already received 65,000 metric tons of diesel under the deal and hoped that future shipments could expand to include gasoline and, later, light crude oil.
考贾表示：“鉴于该地区当前的形势——例如全球燃料价格急剧上涨，以及石油产品和原油的供应及供应链面临困难——这项协议首先提供了为叙利亚国内市场保障燃料供应。”他补充说，信用证在管理支付义务方面提供了更大的灵活性。摩根大通拒绝就该安排发表评论。
"Given the current circumstances in the region — such as the sharp global rise in fuel prices and the difficulties in securing supplies and supply lines for petroleum products and crude oil — this agreement offers, first, the securing of fuel supplies for the Syrian domestic market," Qawja said, adding that the letter of credit provides greater flexibility in managing payment obligations. J.P. Morgan declined to comment on the arrangement.