Jordan Times
Tuesday, July 20, 2004
Jordan urges aid for Iraq
Agencies
AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah appealed Monday to the international community
for help to end the cycle of violence in Iraq as Prime Minister Iyad Allawi
began his regional tour in Jordan.
“Iraq's security is an integral part of
Jordan's,” King Abdullah said, adding that “the international community should
help the Iraqi authorities bring an end to the violence targeting the Iraqi
security and police forces.”
The King reaffirmed the Kingdom's determination to “continue its aid to the
Iraqi brothers to help them overcome their difficulties.”
The two leaders also discussed ways to revive economic and trade cooperation,
particularly in the oil sector.
Allawi is also expected to discuss border security issues during his visit to
Jordan, which will be followed by stops in Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait
and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Iraqi officials, echoing US authorities, have repeatedly accused Syria and Iran
of failing to stop insurgents from entering Iraq.
Minister of State and Government Spokesperson Asma Khader told AFP that Allawi's
talks in Amman would also cover how Jordan can best help Iraq regain its full
sovereignty and rebuild its infrastructure.
The Iraqi leader, making his first official trip abroad since the handover of
power from the US-led occupation at the end of June, said he was pleased by the
support shown by Jordan.
Allawi, accompanied by eight members of his government, met Prime Minister
Faisal Fayez later.
The two officials signed a memorandum of understanding under which Jordan
expressed readiness to offer “various kinds of support and to participate in
rebuilding Iraq and consolidate security and stability and to confront the
terrorist activities which Iraq is facing,” the Jordan News Agency, Petra,
reported.
Foreign Minister Marwan Muasher was quoted by the Associated Press as saying
that the two countries revived the idea of building an oil pipeline between the
two countries, a plan that had been floated during Saddam Hussein's rule but put
on the back burner because of high costs involved.
Muasher also said the Iraqi side was interested in Jordanian help to develop
economic legislation and free trade agreements. Jordan signed a Free Trade
Agreement with the United States in 2002 and Singapore this year. It is also
seeking a free trade deal with the European Union.
He confirmed the supply of military equipment to Iraq but provided no details on
what was delivered. More than 4,000 Iraqi army and police cadets attended
courses this year in Jordan under an agreement with the US-led authority in
Iraq. The agreement envisions the training of 32,000 Iraqi police officers over
two years.
The top diplomat said both countries are sending a “very important and strong
political message” that they intend to fully cooperate in all fields.
“Both countries are interested in strategic long-term relationship and not just
solving current issues,” he added in comments to reporters after the talks.
Allawi hopes that his two-week tour of Arab countries will secure debt
forgiveness for Iraq and open a new chapter of relations with the rest of the
world.
“Of course the issue of debt and compensation will be discussed and I hope that
our Arab brothers will be understanding,” he said on Saturday. “We are trying to
write off 95 per cent of [all] our debts.”
Iraq owes about $120 billion, including some $50 billion to the Gulf states and
more than $1.3 billion to Jordan, most of it to private firms, according to
officials.
Jordan depended on Iraq for all its oil needs, importing half for free and the
rest at a preferential price, before last year's US-led invasion.
Supplies were cut off with the outbreak of the war, forcing Jordan to shop
elsewhere, importing a total of 100,000 barrels per day from Saudi Arabia, the
UAE and Kuwait.
Iraq also was the largest market for Jordanian products.