18 June 2004 06:42
RUSSIA WILL HAVE TO STRUGGLE FOR IRAQI MARKET AFTER JUNE 30 - KURDISH
REPRESENTATIVE
MOSCOW. June 18 (Interfax) - After sovereignty is transferred to the Iraqi provisional government on June 30, Russia
will have to win the Iraqi market in a strong competition atmosphere, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan's (PUK)
envoy in Russia, Shorsh Said, told Interfax on Friday.
PUK and the Democratic Party of Kurdistan are the leading political organizations among the Iraqi Kurds. The two
parties are represented in the Iraqi provisional government by one vice president and seven ministers.
"After June 30, the economy in Iraq will be no longer controlled by the state, as was under Saddam Hussein, but
will become a market economy in the full sense of the word. Everybody, including foreign investors, will be put under
equal conditions, and Russia will not be an exception in this case," Said said.
However, he confirmed that Iraq is interested in Russia's economic presence in Iraq, in particular in the
northern part of the country where the Kurds live.
"There are no reasons for Russian companies not to work in Iraqi Kurdistan. Unlike Baghdad, it is safer there,
and there have been no terrorist attacks," Said said, noting that Japanese and South Korean companies have long
been active in the area.
Russia should be playing a more active role in the Iraqi settlement after power in the country is delegated to the
provisional government.
"Moscow's policy should not be just a response to political decisions made by other states," he
said.
"Russia does not seem to be willing to intensify its efforts in Iraq," Said said. Moscow could provide
assistance in the organization of Iraq's national security forces, "taking into account Russia's vast
experience in fighting terrorism."
"We would like a for group of Iraqi security forces to travel to Russia to gain experience on this issue,"
he said. ###
[Interfax] |
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