Official demands economic conference in Baghdad

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The head of the Iraqi presidential office on Thursday said that it is necessary to hold the annual economic conference on Iraq in the capital Baghdad, citing the recent improvement in the security situation. “During his meeting with the Japanese charge d’affaires in Iraq on Thursday, Naseer al-Aani stressed the importance of holding the annual economic conference on Iraq, scheduled for early 2009, in Baghdad,” according to a statement received by IraqiNews.com. Aani invited Japanese companies to participate in the reconstruction projects that are currently taking place in Iraq, the statement noted. The Japanese official said that preparations are currently underway for the conference, which had been held in the Jordanian capital Amman. SS (P) 1