Iraq sanctions cause Jordan $3 billion in losses

Jordan has signed several contracts with Iraq estimated at US $203 million to selling Iraq basic foodstuffs in the course of the oil for food agreement between Iraq and the UN.

In a statement to the weekly "al-Musawer al-Arabi" magazine, the Jordanian charge d'affairs in Baghdad, Awad Khaled al-Surhan, said that Jordan has lost some US $3 billion since the beginning of sanctions on Iraq in 1990.

He added that the embargo imposed on Iraq has also affected the land and sea transport from and into Aqaba port on the Red Sea. However, Iraq provides Jordan with 4.8 million tonnes of crude oil and its by-products. These account for 96, 000 barrels per day, half of which are free of charge.