Exiled Iraqis discuss future of Iraq
Iraq, Politics, 12/6/2002

Exiled Iraqis, who met to plan for the form of life in Iraq following any war that will result in toppling President Saddam Hussein, said that the country might need every thing, including a new currency to mobile telephone networks.

News reports said that the meeting of the exiled Iraqis came in the framework of what is called "Iraq's future program," which has been drawn by the US Department Of State for work groups that are in charge of discussing means of rebuilding Iraq when the current Iraqi regime's rule ends.

The participants, including, at least, one who traveled from north Iraq to attend the discussions which lasted for two days in a hotel in Washington, said that they only represent themselves and that any decisions should be adopted by a new Iraqi government.

Robar Sandy, an American businessman who left Iraq in 1975, said that there is consensus among the exiled Iraqis to pay the due foreign debts with the desire to renegotiate the military debts as well as a consensus on proposing a new currency.

Some 4 among the 16 participants in the talks said in font of journalists following the meeting that the group intends to send its recommendations after laying the final touches on them to the Iraqi opposition conference which will be held in London this month.

The news reports indicated that among the debated ideas is to continue working within the UN "oil for food" program for a period ranging between 6 months and one year in order to ensure spending oil revenues for the basic requirements needed by the country, to freeze debts payments temporarily, and to renegotiate on the foreign military debts Iraq has to pay.

Previous Stories:
  UN team inspects former chemical weapons facility in Iraq   (12/5/2002)
  Israel: preparations for an Iraqi attack   (12/5/2002)
  US renovates Iraqi embassy in Washington   (12/5/2002)

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