Iraq, Jordan discuss pending issues

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: An Iraqi-Jordanian session of talks will kick off in Amman on Saturday to discuss outstanding issues between the two countries, including debts and the remaining frozen Iraqi funds in Jordan, according to a Jordanian paper on Friday. “The Iraqi-Jordanian talks will be held after another round of talks by the Iraqi delegation led by Finance Minister Baqer Jabr al-Zubaydi, Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahrestani and Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) Governor Sannan al-Shebeibi while the Jordanian side will be led by Finance Minister Bassem al-Salem and Central Bank of Jordan Governor Ommaya Touqan,” read Addustour newspaper. The two sides will try to settle all the items on the pending years’ long financial issue between Amman and Baghdad as well as a dialogue on economic relations between the two neighboring countries, it added. Iraq and Jordan had earlier agreed on laying down a time frame to settle all outstanding issues and proposals to facilitate relevant procedures. Iraqi debts for Jordan are estimated at $1.3 billion. The debt is a commercial one due for the Central Bank of Jordan to cover the financial rights of Jordanian merchants in return for the goods exported to Iraq. Iraq argues that most of these debts should be due on the former regime, not the state of Iraq. AmR (S) 1