Jordan Times
Friday, October 28, 2005
Jaafari in Amman to enhance
ties
AMMAN (Agencies) — Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari began Thursday a
landmark visit to Jordan to boost political and economic ties between the two
neighbours.
“Iraq's sovereignty, independence and territorial unity is in Jordan's interest
as much it is in Iraq's interest,” King Abdullah told Jaafari during talks, a
Royal Court statement said.
The King also strongly denounced “all terrorist activity targeting innocent
civilians and aimed at destabilising security and stability in Iraq,” and
praised the Iraqis for voting on a new constitution, it said.
The two leaders expressed their “determination to develop bilateral relations
between the two countries in all fields, particularly trade and economic ties,”
the statement said.
Jaafari, on his first trip to Amman, earlier said he would discuss with Prime
Minister Adnan Badran the setting up of a “higher ministerial committee” to
follow up on the talks.
Jaafari said he would examine “strategic” issues with Badran.
“This is an important visit and the first of its kind and it will help reinforce
bilateral relations” between the two Arab neighbours, Jaafari told reporters.
In an interview published Thursday by Ad Dustour newspaper, Jaafari said he was
carrying with him “important and decisive files linked to security, oil and
trade exchanges.”
Badran for his part also noted that discussions included “the question of oil,”
a rare commodity in Jordan which relied on Baghdad for all its oil needs before
the March 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq.
Jordan used to get Iraqi oil half free of charge, the other half at preferential
rates. Since supplies were cut off Amman has had to buy it on the international
market, raising prices four times since March 2003.
Badran later told a joint press conference with Jaafari: “Our borders are
tightly sealed in the face of terrorists, tighter security measures were
implemented at the borders and we're comfortable about the situation there.
There is no infiltration at all.”
Badran stressed that Jordan was the victim of terrorists who came from Iraq and
carried out rocket attacks August 19 against the southern Red Sea resort of
Aqaba, including one which narrowly missed US warships anchored in the port.
“We made an official request [to the Iraqis] to follow the individuals who
infiltrated into Aqaba,” Badran said, referring to two Syrians and their Iraqi
cell leader who allegedly fled back to Iraq after the attack. The father of the
two Syrians was arrested in Jordan.
Iraq's Shiite-led government has repeatedly complained of Iraq's most wanted man
Al Qaeda frontman Abu Mussab Zarqawi fighting alongside Sunni insurgents.
Zarqawi, who was sentenced to death by Jordan for planning the October 2002
murder of US diplomat Lawrence Foley, had been previously sentenced in 1994 to
15 years in prison for membership in an illegal group and arms possession.
But he was freed in May 1999 under a general amnesty.
In recent weeks, Jordan and Iraq have taken measures to enhance relations.
Jaafari also co-chaired meetings of a joint Jordanian-Iraqi committee that sets
guidelines on issues such as border controls and the prevention of dual
taxation.
Badran said frozen Iraqi assets and Jordanian debts were discussed.
Iraq estimates $500 million of its assets are frozen in Jordan.
Minister of Industry and Trade Sharif Zu'bi said increased exports to Iraq were
also to be discussed as well as the creation of a free trade zone along the
border, a pipeline stretching from Iraq's western Haditha oil field to an
eastern Jordanian refinery and a railroad linking Iraq with Aqaba.
Badran made a landmark visit to Baghdad in September, becoming the first Arab
leader to visit Iraq since Saddam's ouster.
On October 1, Iraqi Interior Minister Bayan Bagher Solagh visited Amman and
signed an agreement to boost security along the border in the fight against
“terrorism and organised crime.”
Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Ahmed Chalabi has been a thorn in relations between
the two neighbours.
Jaafari told Ad Dustour he was ready to give Jordan “clarifications” and his
“personal opinion” concerning Chalabi who was sentenced in absentia in 1992 by
the State Security Court to 22 years in jail over an alleged huge banking fraud.
Chalabi, an erstwhile Pentagon favourite who vehemently opposed Saddam regime
from exile, was convicted of corruption and embezzlement of around $288 million
over the collapse of Petra Bank of which he was managing director.