Politics 2/26/2010 1:01:00 AM
Iraq eyes French support to get rid of "shackles" of Chapter VII -- PM
BAGHDAD, Feb 25 (KUNA) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki said Thursday that France could play a supportive role in Iraq's efforts to get rid of the sanctions imposed under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.
"Iraq is no longer a threat to any country in the region and our efforts focus on reconstruction and the anti-terrorism combat," Al-Maliki said during his meeting with visiting French Industry Minister Christian Astrozzi here.
"We are looking forward to France and the other friendly countries to help us evade the sanctions imposed on Iraq due to the policies of the deposed regime," the premier said.
"Our country is an emerging democracy with a representative system of government featuring a parliament, a central government and local governments which work according to stable and practical controls," he affirmed.
Al-Maliki voiced desire to enhance the friendly ties between his country and France in the political, economic, commercial and industrial fields.
He said he was pleased that a number of French businesses got licenses to operate in, and contribute to the reconstruction process of, Iraq.
"We aspire for strategic cooperation with France in the areas of oil, industry, and infrastructure," he said.
Earlier in the day, Astrozzi who is also special envoy of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, signed a three memos of cooperation with Iraqi Minister of Industry and Minerals Fawzi Al-Hariri.
Speaking to reporters after his meeting with Al-Maliki, the French minister affirmed his country's desire to strengthen ties with Iraq.
The documents, signed today, include contracts on vehicle assembling, road building and civil aviation, Astrozzi disclosed.
The French minister expressed desire to deepen the cooperation with Iraq in such areas as oil, energy, power generating and agriculture, with a view to backing up the Iraqi economic development.
BAGHDAD, Feb 25 (KUNA) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki said Thursday that France could play a supportive role in Iraq's efforts to get rid of the sanctions imposed under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.
"Iraq is no longer a threat to any country in the region and our efforts focus on reconstruction and the anti-terrorism combat," Al-Maliki said during his meeting with visiting French Industry Minister Christian Astrozzi here.
"We are looking forward to France and the other friendly countries to help us evade the sanctions imposed on Iraq due to the policies of the deposed regime," the premier said.
"Our country is an emerging democracy with a representative system of government featuring a parliament, a central government and local governments which work according to stable and practical controls," he affirmed.
Al-Maliki voiced desire to enhance the friendly ties between his country and France in the political, economic, commercial and industrial fields.
He said he was pleased that a number of French businesses got licenses to operate in, and contribute to the reconstruction process of, Iraq.
"We aspire for strategic cooperation with France in the areas of oil, industry, and infrastructure," he said.
Earlier in the day, Astrozzi who is also special envoy of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, signed a three memos of cooperation with Iraqi Minister of Industry and Minerals Fawzi Al-Hariri.
Speaking to reporters after his meeting with Al-Maliki, the French minister affirmed his country's desire to strengthen ties with Iraq.
The documents, signed today, include contracts on vehicle assembling, road building and civil aviation, Astrozzi disclosed.
The French minister expressed desire to deepen the cooperation with Iraq in such areas as oil, energy, power generating and agriculture, with a view to backing up the Iraqi economic development.
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