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Minister Hoshyar Zebari: Romania can help Iraq reconstruction

Romanian-Iraqi business opportunities must be explored, and Romania, after having been already present in Iraq through its companies, can help the reconstruction of this country, stated on Wednesday evening the Iraqi Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hoshyar Zebari, on the occasion of the conference 'Iraq's foreign policy ', given at the Romanian Diplomatic Institute in Bucharest.

'I am here, in Romania, because I want to have an overview of the stage of our relations, to see where we stand and where are the areas in which we can make progress. Romania is a friend, and in a way it is our duty to visit this country. In recent years, we have received Romanian officials' visits. The President of Romania came to Baghdad, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, and the Minister of Defense. And this is the second visit of mine. One of the aims is to sign a Memorandum on diplomatic cooperation. But I want to also explore business opportunities. Iraq is a developing country, we have potential. And Romania, who worked in Iraq, through its companies, can help our reconstruction because we have the resources, the need and the will ', said Iraqi official.

He reminded that Romania has been for decades a friend and very close to Iraq and there has always been a very good bilateral cooperation. In 2003 Romania was actively engaged in the international coalition, as well, and was helping with the institutional reconstruction. Because of similar experiences of transition from dictatorship to a democratic system, many Romanian specialists have shared their experience with Iraq, in reforming the institutions of central administration, the official in Baghdad mentioning in particular Ambassador Radu Onofrei.

In his address, the Iraqi official also said that, eight years ago, his country was also isolated in the Arab and Islamic world, as well as globally, having to start its foreign policy from scratch, and the transition from dictatorship to democracy was 'a nightmare', including at international relations level.

According to the Iraqi official, his country's foreign policy is not solely confronted with negotiations for lifting international sanctions, following the UN resolutions after the Kuwait war in the early 90s (and now 5 percent of the Iraqi oil revenues are paid to Kuwait as financial compensations), but also with 'complicated' relations with those two powerful non-Arab neighbors - Iran and Turkey. At the same time, in the relationship with the U.S., Baghdad's goal was and still is the regaining of full independence and sovereignty of the country.

On the other hand, the Iraqi Minister was keen to emphasize that his country is neither in the same situation as Afghanistan, nor a failed state as Somalia, claiming that it is a rich state, with educated people, and its strength currently resides not in its military capabilities, but in the democratic values it represents in the region .

He noted that, unlike other Arab countries in the region, where there were popular movements for democracy and obtaining civil rights, Iraq is an example in this respect since civil protests are not aimed at a change in regime or political reforms, but at improved living conditions.

According to Zebari, the status of a democratic country is confirmed by the hosting by Baghdad this year's forthcoming Arab Summit, where, the Iraqi official said, there are no expectations that the political problems in the Arab countries will be solved, but there are hopes an important symbolic message would be conveyed about political reforms in these states.

Minister Zebari payed on Wednesday and Thursday an official visit to Bucharest, and has scheduled meetings with high rank Romanian officials from the Executive and Legislative powers.

Sursa: http://www.actmedia.eu

Tags: country foreign official iraqi romanian zebari romania reconstruction minister

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