The Politics of Oil

New Resources


[Date Prev][Date Next]
[Date Index] [Subject Index]

Baghdad Envoys Pitch 'Buy Iraq' Campaign in Russia



Note the Russian interest in developing those rich Iraqi oil fields.
But the US is maybe promising Russia that any new regime in Baghdad will
respect Iraq's economic commitments to Russia.
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/04/international/europe/04RUSS.html
Title: Baghdad Envoys Pitch 'Buy Iraq' Campaign in Russia
The New York Times The New York Times International October 4, 2002  

Home
Job Market
Real Estate
Automobiles
News
International
- Africa
- Americas
- Asia Pacific
- Europe
- Middle East
National
Politics
Business
Technology
Science
Health
Sports
New York Region
Education
Weather
Obituaries
NYT Front Page
Corrections
Opinion
Editorials/Op-Ed
Readers' Opinions


Features
Arts
Books
Movies
Travel
Dining & Wine
Home & Garden
Fashion & Style
New York Today
Crossword/Games
Cartoons
Magazine
Week in Review
Multimedia/Photos
College
Learning Network
Services
Archive
Classifieds
Personals
Theater Tickets
Premium Products
NYT Store
NYT Mobile
E-Cards & More
About NYTDigital
Jobs at NYTDigital
Online Media Kit
Our Advertisers
Member_Center
Your Profile
E-Mail Preferences
News Tracker
Premium Account
Site Help
Privacy Policy
Newspaper
Home Delivery
Customer Service
Electronic Edition
Media Kit
Community Affairs
Text Version

Get SBC Yahoo! DSL Internet access


Find More Low Fares! Experience Orbitz!


Only $500 to Open an Internet Account


Join Ameritrade. Get 25 commission-free trades.


Go to Advanced Search/Archive Go to Advanced Search/Archive Symbol Lookup
Search Optionsdivide
go to Member Center Log Out
  Welcome, cmhenry
Today's News Past Week Past 30 Days Past 90 Days Past Year Since 1996

IN MOSCOW

Baghdad Envoys Pitch 'Buy Iraq' Campaign in Russia

By SABRINA TAVERNISE

MOSCOW, Oct. 3 — As the Bush administration lobbies Russia and other veto-bearing members of the Security Council to agree to a new resolution on Iraq, a delegation of Iraqi officials visited Moscow to appeal to business people and officials to resist the pressure.

The six-member Iraqi delegation, which arrived in Moscow on Wednesday, included a deputy oil minister, deputy minister of industry and natural resources and the head of a state organization called the Society of Friendship, Peace and Solidarity With Foreign Countries.

Advertisement


A floor lamp that spreads sunshine all over a room



Scientists adapt NASA technology to create “smart bed” sleep surface



Digital photography for less than $60




The group made a presentation before a gathering of more than 100 Russian business people, parliamentary deputies and Foreign Ministry officials, listing the benefits for Russia by cooperating with Iraq.

The Kremlin has yet to express publicly its thinking on a new Security Council resolution. While there is little enthusiasm here for the regime of Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi leader, economic ties with Iraq run deep, and leaders are hesitant to agree to the American request before receiving assurances that Russian interests will be protected.

Mikhail V. Margelov, chairman of the foreign affairs committee in the upper house of Russia's Parliament and akey adviser to President Vladimir V. Putin, was in Washington today laying out Russia's position to American Congressional leaders.

"We want our American partners to know that we have strong economic interests in Iraq, especially in oil fields," Mr. Margelov said in a telephone interview from Washington tonight, "and these interests should be protected.

"It's not an issue of one side trying to convince the other to surrender — we can agree to disagree," Mr. Margelov said, adding that he was in Washington strictly as a Russian senator, and had not spoken to Mr. Putin in the past several weeks.

Bush administration officials expressed hope today that Russia would support the new Security Council resolution. Ari Fleischer, the White House press secretary, said that although Mr. Bush and Mr. Putin had not spoken since last month, conversations between Russia and the United States were continuing "through other diplomatic levels" at the State Department and the United Nations.

It was economic ties that Iraqi officials emphasized today in Moscow, promoting an economic cooperation program that would set aside $40 billion in business for Russian companies. Most here say the program is simply being used as a negotiating tactic in the diplomatic match to win Russia's support, and does not represent real contracts.

Oil is at the center of economic cooperation between Iraq and Russia. Baghdad gives Russian companies the single largest share of its oil quotas — 40 percent — under a United Nations-imposed program that allows Iraq to sell oil to earn money to buy food and other essentials.

The Iraqi delegation had its share of supporters in the audience. Yuri K. Shafranik, a former energy minister who heads the Russian Solidarity With Iraq Committee, urged a public display of support for Iraq, and a stand against any new Security Council resolution.

"They are waiting for our position," said Mr. Shafranik, referring to Arab countries. "It can either be one of — excuse the bad word — prostitution, or a solid and serious one."

But a surprising number of the participants at the meeting, which was held at a large central Moscow hotel that in Soviet days was reserved for government elite, expressed doubts.

While Russian parliamentary and business leaders condemned what they saw as American unilateralism, many concluded that Moscow would not be able to stand in the way of American military action, and instead focused on protecting Russia's interests.

Irina M. Khakamada, a member of Parliament from the Union of Right Forces, a pro-business party, said that Russia should support a new resolution, but that any military action must be approved by the Security Council separately.

"We must understand that the worsening of relations with the United States does not correspond with Russia's national interests," said Ms. Khakamada. "It's very important that proponents of Russia's new foreign policy direction of reaching to the West not use the situation of Iraq to turn away."




THREATS AND RESPONSES: THE ADVISER; Still Very Much a Player, Scowcroft Straddles the Worlds of Business and Government  (September 20, 2002)  $

THREATS AND RESPONSES: WHITE HOUSE; BUSH SEEKS POWER TO USE 'ALL MEANS' TO OUST HUSSEIN  (September 20, 2002)  $

THREATS AND RESPONSES: BAGHDAD; Hussein, in a Letter to General Assembly, Says Bush Wants to Control Mideast Oil  (September 20, 2002)  $

THREATS AND RESPONSES: THE INVESTIGATION; Intelligence Officials Discount '98 Report From Caribbean of Plot to Hit Trade Center  (September 20, 2002)  $



Doing research? Search the archive for more than 500,000 articles:
Today's News Past Week Past 30 Days Past 90 Days Past Year Since 1996




E-Mail This Article
Printer-Friendly Format
Most E-Mailed Articles
Reprints

Start the day informed with home delivery of The New York Times newspaper.
Click Here for 50% off.


Home | Back to International | Search | Corrections | Help | Back to Top


Copyright The New York Times Company | Permissions | Privacy Policy
E-Mail This Article
Printer-Friendly Format
Most E-Mailed Articles
Reprints

Recent Articles

Debating Inspections: U.N. Inspection Team Leaders Agree to Delay Return to Iraq (October 4, 2002)


The Congressional Resolution: Bush Strikes Deal for House Backing on Action in Iraq (October 3, 2002)


The Intelligence Dispute: C.I.A. Rejects Request for Report on Preparations for War in Iraq (October 3, 2002)



Topics

 Alerts
Moscow (Russia)
Iraq
United Nations
United States International Relations
Create Your Own | Manage Alerts
Take a Tour
Sign Up for Newsletters










You can now track properties that interest you, with our Real Estate Tracker. Click here to sign up for the e-mail and start receiving information on the latest properties on the market.











Back to:   The Politics of Oil Main Page