Iraq seeks 'strategic ties' with India

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, NOV. 29. India has struck a counter-trade oil deal with Iraq as part of an effort to build a strategic relationship with Baghdad. Iraq, suffering under the U.N. sanctions regime, has also promised to give ``priority'' to countries like India after the sanctions are lifted.

Iraq, according to the Foreign Office spokesman, has agreed in principle on a ``bilateral arrangement'' which is outside the U.N.'s oil for food programme. India, in return for Iraqi oil, will send wheat to Baghdad. The spokesman, however, clarified that India would consult the U.N. sanctions committee which oversees Iraq's restricted trade as prescribed by the Security Council resolutions. This decision was taken during the visit of Iraq's Vice President, Mr. Taha Yassin Ramadhan.

Mr. Ramadhan said at a press conference that the purpose of his visit was to lay a framework for a ``strategic and long-term'' relationship with India. These ties were not ``commodity specific,'' but revolved around building a multifaceted relationship. In response to a question, he said the evolving relationship with India did not preclude defence cooperation. He pointed out that Iraq had worked out a special relationship with China.

Mr. Ramadhan, who also addressed the Indian business community, proposed that a ``clear mechanism'' be established to overcome any problems in the new closer bilateral ties.

India has been invited to participate in developing an oil field in Iraq. The Oil and Natural gas Commission ( Videsh) will also prospect for oil in Iraq's Tuba field as part of an international consortium. Mr. Ramadhan warned businessmen here, however, that they should look beyond the oil-for-food programme under the aegis of the U.N. as this was only a ``temporary necessary measure'' and would disappear soon. India has also decided to supply raw material and equipment and as well participate in Iraq's telecommunication, transport and power sectors. These decisions were taken during a meeting of the Indo-Iraq joint commission which was held prior to Mr. Ramadhan's visit.

`A turning point'

Describing his visit as a ``turning point,'' Mr. Ramadhan said Iraq's prime foreign policy objective was to get the post-cold war U.N. sanctions imposed on it lifted. He lauded the statement by the External Affairs Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh, in the Rajya Sabha advocating the revocation of the U.N. sanctions on Iraq.

Mr. Ramadhan pointed out that Indo-Iraq ties would become a factor in promoting regional stability.

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