Petra News Agency
Wednesday, November 3, 2004
Jordan, Iraq Agree on
Cooperation Mechanism
Amman, Nov. 3 (Petra)--The Joint Jordanian-Iraqi Higher Committee held a meeting
at the Prime Ministry on Wednesday co-chaired by Prime Minister Faisal Fayez and
his Iraqi counterpart Dr. Iyad Allawi.
The committee approved a number of issues of common concern that would
contribute to promoting relations between the two countries within a
methodological frame that would regulate these relations and achieve sustainable
cooperation and contacts for the interest of both peoples.
Fayez affirmed Jordan's readiness to provide all forms of assistance to Iraq in
its quest to reconstruct the country, achieve economic development and move
forward to bring about security and stability for its people. He also stressed
Jordan's Keenness to ensure that Iraq would occupy the position it deserves on
the regional and international levels.
Fayez noted the upcoming meeting that will be held in Sharm Al Sheikh later this
month, expressing Jordan's hope that the meeting will unify efforts of the
international community to build a unified Iraq where freedom and democracy
prevails.
The prime minister stressed the support of the Jordanian government to the
request made by the Iraqi government to the donors to rally support for Iraq to
help it in its reconstruction efforts and in meeting the financial obligations
made by the donors during the Madrid conference. The premier also asserted
Jordan's support to the Iraqi request to deal with the huge foreign indebtedness
that prevents Iraq from achieving economic development. "As a result of that
Jordan made a request to hold the fifth meeting for the donor countries in
Jordan next spring to discuss the reconstruction process in Iraq," he added,
noting that the meeting received the approval of the donors meeting, which was
held recently in Tokyo.
The prime minister expressed Jordan's readiness to tackle the problem of Iraq's
financial commitments to Jordan in accordance to a mechanism that would be
agreed upon with Iraq and the donors and creditors. For his part, the Iraqi
prime minister voiced appreciation of the Iraqi government to Jordan's
supportive position to Iraq at international and regional fora.He also noted the
importance of issues that had been agreed upon to enhance bilateral ties and
accelerate the process of reconstruction in Iraq.
Dr. Allawi called on the international community to meet the commitments it made
during the Madrid conference and to solve Iraq's foreign indebtedness. "The
major tasks of the Iraqi government lie in building institutions, providing
security and enabling Iraq to become an active member on the Arab and
international levels," he said.
The Iraqi premier affirmed that elections will be held on the date set for that,
indicating that the Iraqi government has taken all measures to ensure their
success. Both sides agreed on a mechanism that would govern the structural
framework for cooperation between the two countries, which include, in addition
to the establishment of a higher committee, the formation of ten sectoral
committees. These would include the committees of military and security affairs,
trade, transport, oil and energy, financial and banking cooperation,
communication and information technology, health cooperation, education and
scientific research, labor and training, and investment promotion between the
two countries.
The two sides also agreed to set up a number of infrastructure projects as soon
as possible, for they constitute a strategic interest for both countries in
addition to their contribution to the reconstruction process.
Both Jordan and Iraq agreed to provide funding for these projects, which include
rehabilitating and developing the Jordanian Karamah border post and the Iraqi
Traibeel border post. Other projects include the construction of a highway
between Aqaba and the Iraqi borders, the expansion and developing of the Aqaba
Port, the establishment of a free zone on the Jordanian-Iraqi borders and a
railway network between the two countries in addition to an oil pipeline.
The two sides affirmed the important role played by the private sector of both
countries in the reconstruction efforts in Iraq and in promoting economic and
trade cooperation between the two countries. They also agreed to organize
meetings for representatives of the private sector to push the economic
development process forward in both countries.
Fayez affirmed that the meetings will bear fruits with efforts made by the
public and private institutions in both countries, affirming commitment of the
Jordanian side to put a strategic frame to enhance cooperation between the two
countries.
The two prime ministers signed at the end of the meetings minutes of the
meetings of the joint committee. The minute affirmed that the two sides
discussed the difficult situation in Iraq and condemned the terror acts that are
not related to Islam, and that will not achieve the interests of the Iraqi
people and will not lead to peace and stability in Iraq.
The two sides also discussed the latest developments related to the Iraqi
elections, which will be held early next year in addition to the international
conference to support Iraq, which will be held in Egypt later this month.
Planning and International Cooperation Minister Basem Awadallah and his Iraqi
counterpart Mahdi Al Hafez held a press conference after the committee's
meetings.
Awadallah affirmed that the Jordanian and Iraqi governments will exert every
possible effort with the donor countries to provide funding for the strategic
projects that would be established in Jordan, and which will be of special
importance to Iraq.
He also affirmed the important role of the private sector of both countries to
activate decisions of the committee.
The Iraqi planning minister for his part noted the importance of the formation
of the committee, which will enable both sides to meet the economic development
needs of both countries. He said that the signing of the meetings minutes will
not be affected by the upcoming elections in Iraq.
The meetings were attended by a number of ministers from both Jordan and Iraq.
The Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi and his accompanying delegation later left
Amman after a several-day visit to Jordan during which Allawi met with His
Majesty King Abdullah II and headed the Iraqi side to meetings of the Joint
Jordanian-Iraqi Higher Committee which were held in Amman this morning.