Iraq threatens Australia to cut wheat imports due to position on attack
Iraq-Australia, Politics, 7/29/2002

Officials representing the Australian wheat council will discuss in Baghdad this week the issue of Iraq's threats to reduce its imports of Australian wheat if Australia will support American attacks against Iraq.

Australia's Minister for Trade Mark Vaile said Saturday on the occasion of his visit to Malaysia that the officials who visit Iraq will avoid dealing with political issues during the talks and will only concentrate on trade issues.

Vaile indicated that the good wheat harvest in Iraq this year might be behind Iraq's threat.

On July 23, Vaile had said regarding the 2 million tones of wheat exported by Australia's AWB company to Iraq that "Australia's history as a reliable supplier of quality wheat to Iraq should persuade the Iraqi Government not to disrupt wheat imports from Australia," adding "Australia has been a long-standing, reliable supplier of quality wheat to Iraq, even during times of political difficulties and actual military hostilities."

Iraq which falls on top of the list of Australian wheat importers announced it will reduce its imports of the Australian wheat by one half, after Australia had supported the US policy aiming at launching attacks against what it called "the axis of evil" countries within which Iraq was included.

Meantime, Iraq's Foreign Minister Naji Sabri that Australia is helping the US Navy forces in inspection operations in the Arab Gulf that are an "aggression" and in contradiction of "norms of the UN Charter and international laws related to sea navigation" INA reported yesterday. He added that Òtwo Australian military ships carrying 20-armed soldiers attacked Iraqi ship 'al-Fida' through its sailing from Um-Qasr port to Iraqi Ma'qal Port. The soldiers detained its crews, completely inspected it, broken stores' locks and changed ship's movement to 6 miles towards a US frigate.Ó

Previous Stories:
  Australia supports the American move to topple Saddam Hussein   (3/11/2002)
  Iraq might be attacked, Australian official says   (11/8/2001)
  Smuggling Iraqis to Australia   (3/16/1999)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search