Arabic News Weekly Edition for Iraq, 8/31/1998
Weekly Edition, Iraq - Week of August 31, 1998
- Iraq: negotiations with Saudi Arabian companies are being made
Iraqi Trade Minister Muhammad Mahdi Saleh said that negotiations are being made with Saudi companies to buy foodstuffs and medicines despite the fact that relations between Riyadh and Baghdad are severed. Iraq-Regional, Business, 9/5/1998 - Iraqis have opportunity to buy Syrian products as trade center opens
Iraqi Minister of Trade Muhammad Mahdi Saleh on Thursday opened the Syrian trade center in Baghdad showcasing medicinal items, foodstuffs industries and garments. Saleh said the center will help organize trade relations between Syria and Iraq. Iraq-Syria, Economics, 9/4/1998 - UN: Iraq's oil revenues insufficient for people's needs
Iraq's oil revenues are inferior to the needs of the population which is suffering from the effects of international embargo, said UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Iraq-UN, Politics, 9/3/1998 - Baghdad seeks to lift UN trade embargo rather than extending oil-for-food
Iraqi Oil Minister Amer Muhammad Rashid on Tuesday said his country does not seek to extend validity of the oil-for-food program, rather to lift the trade embargo imposed on it. Iraq, Politics, 9/3/1998 - Scott Ritter alleges US interfered to hamper Iraqi inspection efforts
Scott Ritter, the former US Marine and now former chief inspector of the concealment unit with the UN Special Commission On Iraq (UNSCOM) testified before the US Senate today on the surprising claims that the Untied States has obstructed the inspection process of his team in Iraq. Iraq-USA, Politics, 9/3/1998 - Iraqi Vice President visits US-hit medicinal factory in Khartoum Iraq-Sudan, Politics, 9/3/1998
- Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and Kurdish Democratic Party exchange captives Iraq, Politics, 9/3/1998
- Iraq: Ritter's resignation weakens US efforts to perpetuate sanctions
The controversial US arms inspector Scott Ritter provoked the US intelligence to sacrifice and pressure him to resign from UNSCOM since he was weakening the US position at the UN Security Council, according to Iraqi officials. Iraq, Politics, 9/2/1998 - Syrian - Iraqi contract level stalls amid competition
Fawzi El-Zaher, the manager of the Iraqi department at the Damascus International Exhibition said that the value of Iraqi contracts signed with Syria since the beginning of reconciliation between Damascus and Baghdad last year is still at $120 million because of competition in prices and quality from products made in Turkey, Egypt, Cyprus and Jordan. Syria-Iraq, Economics, 9/2/1998 - 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." Iraq-Egypt, Economics, 9/2/1998 - Emirates offers to help sick Iraqis United Arab Emirates-Iraq, Economics, 9/2/1998
- US: Developing conflict with Iraq 'indisputable'
US State Department Deputy Spokesman James Foley said that it is "indisputable" that another confrontation with Iraq is in its early stages, stressing US support for UNSCOM, but declining to say what measures the US might take in the current dispute. Iraq-USA, Politics, 9/1/1998 - Iraqi message to Annan
Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz said in a message directed to United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and to the Security Council's chairman that UNSCOM is under the control of the U.S.A. Iraq-UN, Politics, 9/1/1998 - Jordan criticizes the US policy toward Iraq Jordan-Iraq-USA, Politics, 9/1/1998
- US plans to strike Iraq in October
Diplomatic sources in Cairo said they expect the U.S. to direct a military strike at Iraq in October should Baghdad continue its refusal to cooperate with the special international committee, UNSCOM, investigating weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Iraq-USA, Politics, 8/31/1998 - Iraq criticizes Gulf states statement
Iraq has strongly criticized Kuwait as being behind a position against Baghdad adopted during a meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council states on Friday in Jeddah. Iraq-Gulf, Politics, 8/31/1998 - Two Kurdistani parties exchange prisoners
The decision to release all prisoners of war in the two parties came just after positive talks between Talibani and a delegation from the Kurdistan Democratic Party on August 24 in Qala Shoulan in northeastern Iraq. Iraq, Politics, 8/31/1998 - 35 million dollar oil contract, Indian - Iraqi committee meetings
The meetings of the Indian - Iraqi joint committee for economic and commercial cooperation will start this week in New Delhi, India. Iraq-India, Economics, 8/31/1998