Iraq Seeks Korean Partnership in Rebuilding Efforts
By Michael Ha
Staff Reporter
A senior Iraqi government official said his country's security issues are improving and that his government would welcome Korea's partnership in the nation's rebuilding efforts.
``This year, our government has decided that we should focus on reconstruction and services,'' Labeed M. Abbawi, an undersecretary in Iraq's Foreign Ministry, said in an interview with The Korea Times in Seoul, Tuesday.
``In our budget for this year, our government allocated $18 billion for internal investments and construction processes. And we hope that with more than 60 donor countries, we will be able to start a comprehensive process of reconstruction. We welcome Korean companies with open arms,'' Abbawi said. He is visiting Seoul as part of an Iraqi delegation to the conference for the formation of the Korea-Arab Society.
``When we first heard about the initiative boosting economic and cultural exchanges between the Arab world and Korea, we strongly supported the idea,'' he said. ``We think this is important because Korea in the past few years has played a very positive role in the Arab region. The Korea-Arab Society will enhance mutual understanding between Arab countries and Korea. It will help exchanges of cultures, heritage and ideas.''
And as far as Iraq is concerned, Abbawi said, Korea has been supportive of Iraq's new government since the beginning. ``And therefore we believe that any promotion of Korea-Iraq relations is important at this time."
``Iraq, as you know, has reestablished diplomatic ties with Korea after the fall of the dictatorial regime. Korea opened its embassy in 2004. We opened our embassy here in Seoul last year. We have so far been very active in furthering Korea-Iraq ties. And we hope that in the near future we will expand our embassy here,'' Abbawi said.
He noted that Korea has sent troops who are actively engaged in the reconstruction of Iraq. ``We have opened our arms to Korean investors and corporations to come to Baghdad and invest. As a matter of fact, one of the major oil companies is already taking part in the Iraqi construction,'' he said.
``Korean companies are already active in the northern part of Iraq. The security situation is also improving now, and we hope that in the near future Korean companies will be more actively engaged in the reconstruction of Iraq.''
He said the Iraqi government's main focus this year is on the reconstruction and building of Iraq. ``During the last two years of the present Iraqi government, most of our resources were directed to the security situation and the building of our armed forces.'' And now the Iraqi armed forces have improved in numbers, training and capabilities, he added.
He noted that recent military operations in Basra and in Baghdad against militia have been conducted by Iraqi armed security forces, with the U.S. forces just providing aerial support.
``The security situation is improving and reconstruction is starting in earnest. We want Korea's participation,'' he said.
Abbawi said that Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has agreed to send a first exploratory delegation of investors to Iraq in the near future, to observe the situation on the ground firsthand and to convince investors and businesspeople that it will be beneficial to work in Iraq.
``We need Korean investments, partnership and expertise in the energy sector, and in the transport, shipbuilding, and electrical power plants. We know that Korea has strong expertise in these fields," he said. ``We welcome Korean businesses and companies with open arms."