The Iraqi Minister of Trade H.E. Mohamed Mahdi Salih announced that Iraq has decided to give considerable priority to the economic cooperation with the Federal Republic of Germany.

Reason for this is the honouring of the demonstration executed against the United States of America. H.E. the Minister stated that Iraq had decided to give first priority to the economical cooperation for the German people, who had protested against the visit of the president of the United States on occasion of his last trip around Europe; during the visit of Mister Bush last May about 20,000 had demonstrated against the American policy.

H.E. the Minister stated that since the beginning of the economic cooperation based on MoU in connection with Oil for Food program in the year 1996 the volume has reached USD 661 Mio.

H.E. the Minister did not mention any details of the economic cooperation with Germany but mentioned that in the daily traffic within Iraq a great number of German cars can be noted already. Also the Minister of Trade has purchased a large quantity of German cars.

Furthermore a great number of German companies had participated in the International Baghdad Fair of last year and a number of German delegations had visited Baghdad in order to negotiate with state companies and also with private companies in Iraq.