Romania and Iraq want to resume the economic relations

President Traian Basescu declared yesterday in Baghdad, after the meeting with his Iraqi counterpart Jalal Talabani that the Romanian troops will retire from Iraq when the Government of this country requests it. “We shall retire in full agreement with the allies!” stressed Traian Basescu in the joint press conference, adding that he told the same thing to the Iraqi PM Nouri Al-Maliki, and also to the members of his Cabinet. “In my discussion with President Jalal Talabani, I voiced my satisfaction that the area where the Romanian soldiers take action is protected against violence, and thus the Iraqi from the area can live an almost normal everyday life”, said Traian Basescu.

The head of the Romanian state declared also that the major objective of the visit that he pays to Iraq is to re-launch the political relations with the new democratic power from Baghdad. He said that Romania wants to resume the economic relations with Iraq and to contribute to the reconstruction of the country, especially in domains such as the rehabilitation of the electrical networks, the rail infrastructure, and oil refining.

In his turn, Jalal Talabani told President Traian Basescu that Iraq is keen to resume the traditional relations, and stressed that the Romanian firms are welcome to participate to the reconstruction of Iraq. “We know that Romania is an important factor in the strengthening of our relations with the European countries, the same as we can help Romania to strengthen the relations with the Arab countries.

Iraq wants Romania to participate to the reconstruction from our country”, said Talabani at the press conference. The Iraqi President equally appreciated the human and material efforts made by Romania in the process of stabilization and creation of the permanent democratic structures and expressed his hope that Romania will continue to be a serious partner both at bilateral and multilateral levels, until the Iraqi authorities can entirely assume the responsibilities for maintaining order, stability and security.

Before the meeting with Jalal Talabani, Traian Basescu met with PM Nouri Al-Maliki and with members of the Iraqi Government with responsibilities in the economic field, namely with the Finance Minister Baqir Jabel Solagh, the Minister of Trade Abdulah Fallah Hassan Hamadi, and the Minister of Industry Fawzi Hariri. On the occasion of the meeting with the Iraqi PM, the head of the Romanian state stressed that even if he has been to Iraq several times, this is the first time that he visits Baghdad. “I visited three times Iraq, but I went only to the troops. Now, the time has come to resettle our relations with the elected President of Iraq and the Executive”, said Traian Basescu, adding that his visit has a “powerful political character”.

“Romania can play an important role in the development of the upstream and downstream oil sector in order to increase Iraq’s exports and cover the domestic needs of derivatives,” Maliki’s office quoted him as saying after the meeting, AFP reports.

The statement said Maliki also felt that Bucharest can help in the development of the agricultural sector.

Traian Basescu had also to meet in the afternoon, in the Green Area, with General George Casey, commander of the multinational forces (MNF-I). President Basescu finished his visit to Iraq with a visit to the camp of the Romanian soldiers dislocated in the area. Traian Basescu was accompanied to Baghdad by the Foreign Minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu, and the presidential counsellors Sergiu Medar and Adriana Saftoiu.

This sounds like a step in the right direction. We'll probably never see it in the dinosaur media.

When commerce begins between nations separated by war, it's always a good indication that conditions are right for trade in formerly war-torn nations.

But I wonder what will be traded? Romania's main export resource is oil.

It would appear that Iraq is looking to Romania to help with developing their oil exporting capability. Oil is such a primary resouce where there is plenty of money to be made for those who have it. who knows? Maybe these two countries can form their own cartel.

Wouldn't it be incredible if they didn't join OPEC?

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