- AR'AR, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraq
reopened a border crossing with Saudi Arabia on Thursday, letting through
people and goods for the first time since the frontier was shut after Iraq's
invasion of Kuwait in 1990.
-
- The reopening is one of several signs that Baghdad, facing
a the prospect of a U.S. and British military campaign, wants to improve
its relationship with its former Gulf War foe.
-
- "The opening of the crossing is a step forward toward
promoting and strengthening trade ties with Saudi Arabia," Iraq's
trade Minister Mohammed Saleh told reporters at Ar'ar.
-
- Saleh said Saudi Arabia is among countries that supply
Iraq with goods such as cooking oil, soap and milk powder under a U.N.-administered
oil-for-food scheme that allows Baghdad to distribute rations to Iraqis
burdened by U.N. sanctions.
-
- Witnesses at the crossing said 100 Saudi trade officials
and businessmen crossed into Iraq to attend Baghdad's 10-day trade fair,
due to open on Friday.
-
- It is the largest such delegation to come to Baghdad
since the two former Arab allies severed ties over Iraq's invasion of Kuwait
12 years ago.
-
- Iraqi trade sources said 43 major Saudi firms plan to
take part in Baghdad's trade fair. The border point will allow Saudi Arabia's
exports, usually sent to Iraq through neighboring countries, to cross directly
into Iraq.
-
- The crossing, 210 miles southwest of Baghdad, was once
a major route for goods in and out of Iraq before the Gulf War. During
the war, U.S. and coalition troops staged attacks on Iraq from bases in
Saudi Arabia.
-
- Saudi Arabia asked Iraq to reopen the border crossing
in October 2000 and Baghdad gave its approval last June.
-
- Five years ago there was no trade between Saudi Arabia
and Iraq but trade between the two states is expected to reach $1 billion
in 2002. Saudi Arabia's exports to Iraq under the oil-for-food program
stood at $298 million in 2001.
-
- The Ar'ar crossing will be the fifth authorized entry
point for humanitarian goods brought with proceeds of Iraqi oil sales under
the U.N. deal. U.N. sanctions were imposed on Iraq in 1990 for its invasion
of Kuwait.
-
- The four other crossings are at the Iraqi towns of Trebil
on the Jordanian border, Al-Walid on the Syrian border, Zakho on the Turkish
border and at Um-Qasr on the Gulf.
|
