Iraq: Petroleum cooperation with Egypt developing

Amer Rashid, the Iraqi minister of petroleum, said in a special statement to the Egyptian Middle East News Agency today in Baghdad that "Iraq considers Egypt not only an intimate country but one of the major countries in the area."

He expressed Baghdad's readiness to develop cooperation and petroleum relations with Egypt, clarifying that he discussed the issues between the two states with Egyptian Minister of Trade and Supply Ahmed Goweili during Goweili's visit to Baghdad in June, especially issues pertaining to petroleum cooperation and the possibility of an Egyptian contribution to supplying the Iraqi petroleum sector according to the note of understanding signed between Baghdad and the United Nations.

Rashid stated that "communications are currently underway with Egypt for establishing an Iraqi - Egyptian joint company for drilling petroleum."