Iraq to import more Australian wheat
Friday, 13 March 2009
CANBERRA, Mar 12 (AFP): Iraq has agreed to buy more Australian wheat after cutting imports over bribes paid to former president Saddam Hussein's regime, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said today.
"I'm pleased to note the statement made by the Iraqi trade minister that Iraq has agreed on new wheat sales from Australia to Iraq," Rudd told reporters after talks here with visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki.
The sanctions-busting kickbacks were paid by Australia's monopoly wheat exporter AWB to secure billions of dollars in grain deals with Iraq between 1999 and 2003 under a United Nations oil-for-food programme.
Iraq's new government suspended business with the AWB in 2006 after its role in the scandal surrounding abuse of the programme was confirmed by an official inquiry.
"I'm pleased to note the statement made by the Iraqi trade minister that Iraq has agreed on new wheat sales from Australia to Iraq," Rudd told reporters after talks here with visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki.
The sanctions-busting kickbacks were paid by Australia's monopoly wheat exporter AWB to secure billions of dollars in grain deals with Iraq between 1999 and 2003 under a United Nations oil-for-food programme.
Iraq's new government suspended business with the AWB in 2006 after its role in the scandal surrounding abuse of the programme was confirmed by an official inquiry.