/ 19 September 2000

IRAQ, SA TO COOPERATE ON ELECTRICITY

AN IRAQI delegation has left for South Africa to examine cooperation plans to rebuild Iraq’s electricity sector. Delegation chief Saleh Yussef Qazir, who heads up the Iraqi electricity office, said he would talk with South African electricity officials about “the basis for cooperation over production and distribution of electric energy.” He said the talks would also cover the possibility of South Africa helping Baghdad with its electricity network and technical assistance. Iraq has increasingly been seeking international cooperation to revive its electricity sector, hit by 10 years of UN embargo since the Gulf War. In November, a South African delegation of some 30 businessmen from large companies will visit Iraq to discuss cooperation possibilities. – AFP