Sanctions-hit Iraq accorded a warm welcome to Minister of State for External Affairs Ajit Kumar Panja on his significant visit to Baghdad and pledged to strengthen its traditional ties with new Delhi in trade, economic and other fields. Baghdad would welcome a larger share for India in the UN approved oil-for-food programme and was also willing to buy as much wheat from India as it could supply, Iraqi leaders told Mr Panja. Singificantly, Mr Panja's arrival in the Iraqi capital came a day after a chartered French plane flew into Baghdad carrying athletes, doctors and artists, virtually challenging the UN embargo on Iraq.
Soon after his arrival, the Indian minister held meetings with Iraqi minister of trade Mehdi Mohammed Saleh and Minister of Industry and Minerals Adnan Abdul Majeed Jassim.
An Indian embassy release in Baghdad said Mr Panja made a forceful presentation of India's economic potential and the need for a larger share for New Delhi in the oil-for-food programme. In response, the Iraqi ministers assured him that Baghdad would welcome a much larger role for India under the oil-fod-food programme and also once the UN sanctions had been lifted against their country.
Bureau Report