Iraq to sign six deals with Austria
16/11/2011 14:18
Baghdad, Nov. 16 (AKnews) - Iraq and Austria have agreed to sign six economic agreements with a combined value of $60 million USD (72 billion IQD), the Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and his Austrian counterpart Michael Spindelegger announced Wednesday.

Zebari said the Austrian Foreign Minister came to Baghdad leading a large delegation of businessmen which has a forum with the Supreme National Investment Commission.

"We are trying to activate the Supreme Iraqi-Austrian ministerial committee and we received memoranda of understanding from the Austrian side. We discussed a number of international and regional issues including the fact that Austria has an important role in international forums."

While Spindelegger said during the joint press conference there will be more cooperation between the two countries. "The Austrian government supports the Iraqi government's efforts to develop and improve the situation in the country," he said.

According to the Council of Representatives' Foreign Relations Committee the position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the sovereign and outstanding issues with neighboring countries like Kuwait, Iran and Turkey is very weak.

The Foreign Ministry was often been accused of having a weak role and failing in re-integrating Iraq with its neighbours.

Reported by Haider Ibrahim