Putin anticipates Russian participation in rebuilding Iraq
MOSCOW, Dec. 22 (Xinhuanet) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday expressed the desire that his country may attend reconstruction in the post-war Iraq, pledging a huge investment from Russian companies in the near future.
Putin made the statement while meeting in the Kremlin with Abdel Aziz Al Hakim, head of the Iraqi Interim Governing Council, noting that "Russian companies are ready to be active in Iraq," the Interfax news agency reported.
The president estimated that "investment from Russian companies may soon total 4 billion US dollars."
Moscow, which has had historically good relations with Baghdad, expects to maintain such ties with the new Iraqi authorities on the basis of developing relations with the Iraqi people, Putin told the Iraqi official, whose delegation arrived here Sunday night.
"We wish the people of Iraq the soonest possible solution of their problems, as we know how hard life is for the Iraqi people now," Putin noted, expressing his belief that Iraq's current difficulties will soon be resolved.
Talks between the Iraqi delegation and Russian leaders are expected to cover the issues of post-war settlement in Iraq, the prospects of the participation of Russian companies in the economic reconstruction of the war-torn nation, and the Iraqi debt payments.
Among the 120-billion-dollar foreign debt, Iraq owes Russia some 8 billion US dollars.
Moscow has expressed its disapproval of Washington's intention to exclude nations that had opposed the US-led coalition actions in Iraq from bidding for prime contracts to rebuild the country.
Russia, a strong opponent to the US-led war against Iraq, has vowed to continue supporting its companies in Iraq's rebuilding program.
news.xinhuanet.com |
