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.