Iraq, RI seek greater links

Iraq, RI seek greater links

BAGHDAD (AFP): Iraq and Indonesia on Wednesday examined plans to expand economic links to strategic projects outside the scope of the UN oil-for-food program, the official news agency INA reported.

It said an Indonesian delegation, led by Trade and Industry Minister Luhut Panjaitan, held talks with Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan and Commerce Minister Mohammad Mahdi Saleh.

They "examined the means to expand bilateral cooperation to various strategic projects outside the framework of the oil-for- food program," INA said, without elaborating.

Under the UN program, Iraq, which has been under an economic embargo since its 1990 invasion of Kuwait, is authorized to export crude in six-monthly phases to finance imports of essential goods.

On Tuesday, Al-Rafidain newspaper said Iraq has signed an agreement to sell 20 million barrels of oil to Indonesia for US$500 million.