IRAQ: BAGHDAD REOPENS A BORDER POINT WITH SAUDI ARABIA TO ALLOW GOODS INTO THE COUNTRY UNDER THE UN OIL-FOR-FOOD PROGRAMME

Record ID: 189736

  • Title: IRAQ: BAGHDAD REOPENS A BORDER POINT WITH SAUDI ARABIA TO ALLOW GOODS INTO THE COUNTRY UNDER THE UN OIL-FOR-FOOD PROGRAMME
  • Date: 31st October 2002
  • Summary: (W6) AR'AR BORDER CROSSING, IRAQ (OCTOBER 31, 2002) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. WIDE OF BORDER CROSSING AT AR'AR, 340 KM SOUTHWEST OF BAGHDAD / MAN RAISING THE POLE MARKING THE OPENING OF THE BORDER POINT 0.07 2. SV: IRAQI TRADE MINISTER MOHAMMED MEHDI SALEH ACCOMPANIED BY HOUSING MINISTER AND OTHER IRAQI OFFICIALS WAITING FOR THE ARRIVAL OF SAUDI DELEGATION 0.10 3. MV: SAUDI BUSINESSMEN AND TRADERS' CONVOYS CROSSING INTO THE COUNTRY VIA THE BORDER CROSSING, TO ATTEND THE OPENING OF BAGHDAD FAIR 0.19 4. SV: TRADE MINISTER MOHAMMED MEHDI SALEH CUTTING THE RIBBON, MARKING THE OPENING OF THE BORDER CROSSING / SALEH AND HEAD OF THE SAUDI DELEGATION HUGGING / TWO SIDES CLAPPING 0.50 5. SCU: (SOUNDBITE)(Arabic) SALEH SAYING: "Saudi Arabia has become one of the main countries that supplies Iraq with various items as being the Saudi industry and products are of high quality and competitive capability and for being products of an Arab brotherly country a matter that prompt us to do more cooperation." 1.19 6. MV: SAUDI DELEGATION WALKING 1.26 7. SCU: (SOUNDBITE)(Arabic) HEAD OF THE SAUDI DELEGATION ABDUL-RAHMAN AL-ZAMIL SALEH SAYING: "Our visit in this time is a message to friends and enemies, our visit is a visit of brothers to brothers." 1.38 8. SCU: CAMERA OPERATOR FILMING 1.41 9. TRACK: SAUDI DELEGATION WITH THE MINISTER WALKING; HOLDING HANDS; GETTING INTO CAR 2.11 10. PAN: SALEH AND AL-ZAMIL IN ONE CAR AND THE MINISTER HIMSELF DRIVING THE CAR 2.13 11. TRACK: SAUDI BUSINESSMEN WALKING ALONG ROAD 2.24 12. MV: SAUDI BUSINESSMEN WALKING INTO BUILDING WITH IRAQI FLAG 2.31 13. SCU: (SOUNDBITE)(English) SALEH SAYING: "Their coming (Saudi delegation) reflects the will of the two countries to strengthen bilateral relations, this is the start of the movement that took place since 1997, we used to indirectly trade with Saudi Arabia through a third country." 2.57 14. SV: SAUDI BUSINESSMEN WALKING 3.01 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 15th November 2002 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: AR'AR BORDER CROSSING, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Reuters ID: LVA9VX62PHGI9UQEL14660HIR0AX
  • Story Text: Iraq has reopened a border point with Saudi Arabia to
    allow goods into the country under the United Nations
    oil-for-food programme.

    The move is one of several signs that Baghdad wants to
    improve it's relationship with it's former Gulf War foe.



    Iraq and Saudi Arabia reopened on Thursday (October 31)
    a border crossing that would facilitate the flow of
    commodities into Iraq under the U.N. oil-for-food deal.

    The crossing at Ar'ar, 340 km (212 miles) southwest of
    Baghdad, opened to allow a 100-strong Saudi delegation of
    businessmen and representatives of Saudi firms to cross into
    the country to attend a Baghdad fair.

    "Their coming (Saudi delegation) reflects the will of the
    two countries to strengthen bilateral relations, this is the
    start of the movement that took place since 1997, we used to
    indirectly trade with Saudi Arabia through a third country,"
    said Trade Minister Mohammed Mehdi Saleh.

    According to Iraqi sources, 43 major Saudi firms plan to
    take part in Baghdad's main trade fair due to open 1 November
    as the two neighbours expand trade ties.

    Saudi Arabia's exports, now sent indirectly through
    neighbouring countries, will be able to go directly into Iraq.

    The crossing was a major route for goods in and out Iraq
    before the Gulf War.

    "Our visit in this time is a message to friends and
    enemies, our visit is a visit of brothers to brothers," Head
    of the Saudi delegation Abdul-Rahman al-Zamil said.

    During the war, U.S. and coalition troops staged attacks
    on Iraq from bases in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia asked Iraq to
    reopen the crossing in October, 2000, and Baghdad gave its
    approval last June.

    Five years ago there was no trade between Iraq and Saudi
    Arabia, but trade between the two states is expected to reach
    1 billion U.S. dollars (USD) in 2002. Saudi exports to Iraq
    under the oil-for-food programme stood at 298 million USD in
    2001.

    The Ar'ar crossing will be the fifth authorised entry
    point for humanitarian goods bought with proceeds of Iraqi oil
    sales under the U.N. oil-for-food programme.

    Iraq is allowed to sell an unlimited quantity of oil to
    buy food, medicine and other essential humanitarian needs
    under the oil-for-food programme.



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