Malaysia backs Iraqi demand to lift sanctions

Malaysia has pledged continuing support for Iraq's efforts for the lifting of United Nations sanctions imposed on the gulf state nine years ago, Malaysian news agency BERNAMA reported.

Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi made the statement this Wednesday meeting with his Iraqi counterpart Tariq Aziz, who arrived Tuesday for a four-day visit.

Abdullah said it was vital for both the Malaysian and Iraqi permanent representatives at the UN to ensure that whatever measures adopted by its arms inspection agency UNMOVIC would reinforce optimism towards lifting the sanctions.

The UN imposed the sanctions following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990.

UNMOVIC (acronym for UN monitoring, verification and inspection commission) is the new agency in charge of dismantling Iraq's mass destruction weapons.

He and Tariq also discussed upgrading bilateral ties, especially economic and trade ties, Abdullah said.

For this purpose the Malaysia-Iraq Joint Commission would meet in Baghdad this year but Abdullah said the date has not been fixed yet.

Iraq also expressed keenness in direct purchase of more Malaysian palm oil, said Abdullah.