Iraq News

Iraqi Vice President Tarek Al Hashemi addressed an economic call to Lebanese businessmen to reinvest in Iraq after security improvement. Al Hashemi made this call after meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Foad Al Siniora especially that Lebanon used to be the first trade partner of Iraq. Al Siniora and Al Hashemi discussed the extent of bilateral trade exchange mainly on the industrial and oil levels and conferred about reasons hindering the reopening of Kirkuk-Tripoli line to export Iraqi oil from Lebanon. Iraqi Vice President noted that there are some difficulties hindering the achievement of what has been agreed during Al Siniora’s last visit to Baghdad. The security and political developments in Iraq were the center of talks held by Al Hashemi with Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Mar Nasrallah Botros Sfeir. Talks stressed as well the necessity to help Christian displaced families in Nineveh return to their villages in order to preserve Iraq’s social diversity. Al Hashemi met as well yesterday Lebanese President Michel Sleyman who briefed his guest about the current developments in Lebanon and stressed the importance to make use of previous experiences in order to prevent past crisis. Al Hashemi met as well Lebanese Republic’s Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani and MP Michel Aoun.