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France, Germany, Russia, & China: Economic Interests in Iraq
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook 2002 ^ | Many sources see list

Posted on 03/29/2003 4:31:03 PM PST by grafic11

Facts on Who Benefits From Keeping Saddam Hussein In Power by The Heritage Foundation WebMemo #217 February 28, 2003 France

a. According to the CIA World Factbook, France controls over 22.5

percent of Iraq's imports. [1] French total trade with Iraq under the

oil-for-food program is the third largest, totaling $3.1 billion since

1996, according to the United Nations.

[2] In 2001 France became Iraq's largest European trading partner.

b. Roughly 60 French companies do an estimated $1.5 billion in trade

with Baghdad annually under the U.N. oil-for-food program.[3]

c. France's largest oil company, Total Fina Elf, has negotiated a deal

to develop the Majnoon field in western Iraq. The Majnoon field

purportedly contains up to 30 billion barrels of oil.

[4]

d. Total Fina Elf also negotiated a deal for future oil exploration in

Iraq's Nahr Umar field. Both the Majnoon and Nahr Umar fields are

estimated to contain as much as 25 percent of the country's reserves.

[5]

e. France's Alcatel company, a major telecom firm, is negotiating a $76

million contract to rehabilitate Iraq's telephone system.[6]

f. From 1981 to 2001, according to the Stockholm International Peace

Research Institute (SIPRI), France was responsible for over 13 percent

of Iraq's arms imports. [7]

Germany

a. Direct trade between Germany and Iraq amounts to about $350 million

annually, and another $1 billion is reportedly sold through third

parties.[8]

b. It has recently been reported that Saddam Hussein has ordered Iraqi

domestic businesses to show preference to German companies as a reward

for Germany's "firm positive stand in rejecting the launching of a

military attack against Iraq." It was also reported that over 101

German companies were present at the Baghdad Annual exposition.[9]

c. During the 35th Annual Baghdad International Fair in November 2002, a

German company signed a contract for $80 million for 5,000 cars and

spare parts.[10]

d. In 2002, DaimlerChrysler was awarded over $13 million in contracts

for German trucks and spare parts.[11]

e. German officials are investigating a German corporation accused of

illegally channeling weapons to Iraq via Jordan. The equipment in

question is used for boring the barrels of large cannons and is

allegedly intended for Saddam Hussein's Al Fao Supercannon project.[12]

Russia

a. According to the CIA World Factbook, Russia controls roughly 5.8

percent of Iraq's annual imports.

[13] Under the U.N. oil-for-food program, Russia's total trade with Iraq

was somewhere between $530 million and $1 billion for the six months

ending in December of 2001.[14]

b. According to the Russian Ambassador to Iraq, Vladimir Titorenko, new

contracts worth another $200 million under the U.N. oil-for-food program

are to be signed over the next three months.[15]

c. Soviet-era debt of $7 billion through $8 billion was generated by

arms sales to Iraq during the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war.

d. Russia's LUKoil negotiated a $4 billion, 23-year contract in 1997 to

rehabilitate the 15 billion-barrel West Qurna field in southern Iraq.

Work on the oil field was expected to commence upon cancellation of U.N.

sanctions on Iraq. The deal is currently on hold.[16]

e. In October 2001, Salvneft, a Russian-Belarus company, negotiated a

$52 million service contract to drill at the Tuba field in Southern Iraq.[17]

f. In April 2001, Russia's Zaruezhneft company received a service

contract to drill in the Saddam, Kirkuk, and Bai Hassan fields to

rehabilitate the fields and reduce water incursion.

g. A future $40 billion Iraqi-Russian economic agreement, reportedly

signed in 2002, would allow for extensive oil exploration opportunities

throughout western Iraq.[18] The proposal calls for 67 new projects,

over a 10-year time frame, to explore and further develop fields in

southern Iraq and the Western Desert, including the Suba, Luhais, West

Qurna, and Rumaila projects. Additional projects added to the deal

include second-phase construction of a pipeline running from southern to

northern Iraq, and extensive drilling and gas projects. Work on these

projects would commence upon cancellation of sanctions.[19]

h. Russia's Gazprom company over the past few years has signed contracts

worth $18 million to repair gas stations in Iraq.[20]

i. The former Soviet Union was the premier supplier of Iraqi arms. From

1981 to 2001, Russia supplied Iraq with 50 percent of its arms.[21]

China

a. According to the CIA World Factbook, China controls roughly 5.8

percent of Iraq's annual imports.[22]

b. China National Oil Company, partnered with China North Industries

Corp., negotiated a 22-year-long deal for future oil exploration in the

Al Ahdab field in southern Iraq.[23]

c. In recent years, the Chinese Aero-Technology Import-Export Company

(CATIC) has been contracted to sell "meteorological satellite" and

"surface observation" equipment to Iraq. This contract was approved by

the U.N. oil-for-food program.[24]

d. CATIC also won approval from the U.N. in July 2000 to sell $2 million

worth of fiber optic cables. This and similar contracts approved were

disguised as telecommunications gear. These cables can be used for

secure data and communications links between national command and

control centers and long-range search radar, targeting radar, and

missile-launch units, according to U.S. officials. In addition, China

National Electric Wire &Cable and China National Technical Import

Telecommunications Equipment Company are believed to have sold Iraq $6

million and $15.5 million worth of communications equipment and other

unspecified supplies, respectively.[25]

e. According to a report from SIPRI, from 1981 to 2001, China was the

second largest supplier of weapons and arms to Iraq, supplying over 18

percent of Iraq's weapons imports.[26]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

[1] Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook 2002, at

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook.

[2] Jon Talton, "French Ideals and Profits in the Iraqi Triangle", The

Arizona Republic, February 23, 2003.[3] Ibid.

[4] Kenneth Katzman, Iraq: Oil-for-Food Program, International

Sanctions, and Illicit Trade, Congressional Research Service, September

26, 2002.[5] Ibid.

[6] Evelyn Iritani, "Hussein's Government Signs Lucrative Contracts,

Especially with Nations that Oppose the U.S. Led Effort to Oust the

Regime," The Los Angeles Times, November 11, 2002.

[7 ]Information from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute

(SIPRI), "Arms Transfers to Iraq, 1981-2001," at

http://projects.sipri.se/armstrade/IRQ_IMPORTS_1982-2001.pdf.

[8] David R. Sands, "France, Germany Protect Iraq Ties," The Washington

Post, February 20, 2003.[9] Ibid.

[10] "Africa Analysis-Trade Points Way to Peace", The Financial Asia

Africa Intelligence Wire, November 19, 2002.

[11] Faye Bowers, "Driving Forces in War-Wary Nations: The Stances of

France, Germany, Russia and China Are Colored by Economic and National

Interests," Christian Science Monitor, February 25, 2003.

[12] "Helping Saddam Rearm," The Wall Street Journal, October 11, 2002.

[13] Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook 2002, at

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook.

[14] Testimony provided by Ariel Cohen to the House International

Relations Committee, "Russia and the Axis of Evil: Money, Ambition and

U.S. Interests," February 26, 2003.

[15] Nelli Sharushkina, "Russia Plays the Field in Iraq-Mixed Signals

Worry Baghdad," Energy Intelligence Briefing, February 5, 2003.

[16] Dan Morgan and David B. Ottaway, "In Iraqi War Scenario, Oil Is Key

Issue," The Washington Post, September 15, 2002.[17] Ibid.

[18] Scott Peterson, "Russia's Newest Tie to Iraq: Moscow Is Set to Sign

a $40 billion Economic Pact with Baghdad Next Month," Christian Science

Monitor, August 20, 2002.

[19] "Mideast Tensions to Delay Iraq Iraqi-Russian Signing," Energy

Compass, April 19, 2002.

[20] Dmitry Zhdannikov, "Russian's Grim About Working Under Saddam," The

Houston Chronicle, April 14, 2002.

[21] Information from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute

(SIPRI), "Arms Transfers to Iraq, 1981-2001," at

http://projects.sipri.se/armstrade/IRQ_IMPORTS_1982-2001.pdf.

[22] Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook 2002, at

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook.

[23] Trish Saywell, "Oil: The Danger of Deals with Iraq," Far Eastern

Economic Review, March 6, 2003

[24] Kenneth R. Timmerman, "Rogues Lending Hand to Saddam," Insight on

the News, March 4, 2003.[25] Ibid.

[26] Information from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute

(SIPRI), "Arms Transfers to Iraq, 1981-2001," at

http://projects.sipri.se/armstrade/IRQ_IMPORTS_1982-2001.pdf.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: china; france; germany; russia; warlist

1 posted on 03/29/2003 4:31:03 PM PST by grafic11
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To: grafic11
LOL,........."The 'Fog' of War",.........Take the money and RUN!!!

(Follow the money!!!!)

LOL

2 posted on 03/29/2003 4:33:36 PM PST by maestro
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To: maestro
Its always about the money
3 posted on 03/29/2003 4:35:40 PM PST by grafic11
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To: maestro
Bunch of hypocrites. Sure explains their reasons for more inspections and "peace".
4 posted on 03/29/2003 4:40:12 PM PST by Leo Carpathian
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To: grafic11
"The Axis Powers and France have an identical interest in seeing the defeat of England accomplished as soon as possible. Consequently, the French Government will support, within the limits of its ability, the measures which the Axis Powers may take to this end."
- Marshal Henri Philippe Pétain, Chief of State of Vichy France

5 posted on 03/29/2003 4:41:26 PM PST by ncountylee
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To: Leo Carpathian
peace my a$$ these counties are downright evil in my opinion. Only way they can make money is to sell to dictators, despits and thugs!!!!
6 posted on 03/29/2003 4:44:07 PM PST by grafic11
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To: grafic11
I have not seen any of this in the newspapers.
7 posted on 03/29/2003 5:08:40 PM PST by virgil
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To: grafic11
"France, Germany, Russia, & China: Economic Interests in Iraq"

OK. We will let you keep some of your economic interests, but here's the new work detail:

China: Bury all dead Iraqi bodies and misc. parts (This may take years)

Germany: Dispose of all poisonous chemicals (you're so good at handling this stuff)

Russia: Please find and destroy all Russian tanks (Whoops! we beat you too it. They blow up so nicely.)

France: Clean and replace sewage system. (Bring your hip boots)
8 posted on 03/29/2003 6:15:31 PM PST by salmon76
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To: maestro
http://www.opec.org/NewsInfo/Speeches/sp2002/spAraqueSpainApr14.htm
9 posted on 03/29/2003 7:44:25 PM PST by pkpjamestown
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To: grafic11; *war_list; W.O.T.; 11th_VA; Libertarianize the GOP; Free the USA; knak; MadIvan; ...
OFFICIAL BUMP(TOPIC)LIST
10 posted on 03/29/2003 7:48:26 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach (Nuke Saddam and his Baby Milk Factories!!)
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To: grafic11
bookmarked,thank you.
i guess is all about oil,yeah right!
11 posted on 03/29/2003 7:59:26 PM PST by green team 1999
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To: salmon76
http://www.msnbc.com/news/822481.asp
12 posted on 03/29/2003 8:03:39 PM PST by pkpjamestown
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