Interfax's Interview

 Commenting on Russian-Iraqi economic cooperation, Zebari said: “We [] look forward to broaden our cooperation, to have a framework of economic cooperation” and the issue was discussed at a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

 Speaking more about economic cooperation, the Iraqi foreign minister said that he had a meeting with Lukoil president Vagit Alekperov, which he described as “very good.” On behalf of the Iraqi government, the foreign minister "encouraged him [Alekperov] to pay a visit to Iraq. We extended an invitation to come and meet me, the government, authorities and so on.”

 There will be no discrimination but a competitive beginning and plenty of opportunities for cooperation, he said. “The door will be open,” Zebari said.

 Lukoil has had a presence in Iraq for a long time and will have to take part in the new tender for the West Qurna II field and will have an advantage compared to companies from other countries, Zebari said.

 “We discussed that. That agreement, contract, is not longer [valid] because it was signed and then abolished during Saddam’s regime. Lukoil has done a lot of homework, a lot of surveys. This will be to their advantage," the minister said.

 The position of the Iraqi government was also made known to Alekperov, he said, adding that Iraq is ready to cooperate with Lukoil in the future, but this will depend to a great extent on the adoption of new Iraqi gas and oil legislation.

 The new oil and gas bill has been submitted to the Iraqi parliament and will soon be passed. The minister expected this to happen by the end of the year or even earlier.

 Speaking about George Bush’s decision to reduce the coalition contingent in Iraq by the summer of 2008, the Iraqi foreign minister said, “This was expected by us, and has not come to us as a surprise, and we understand the rationale, the reasoning behind the decision,” Zebari said.

 Zebari also argued that it is necessary that Western coalition armed forces should stay in Iraq for the time being and that it is hard to predict when they will leave the country. “Iraqi security and military forces will be able to fill that vacuum when the Americans leave. This is a key issue. They will not withdraw suddenly or abruptly; there is no such decision, because there are still many challenges,” he said, adding that there is  progress in various parts of the country, “which need to be sustained.”

 As far as the murder of Russian diplomats is concerned, Zebari said that Iraqi authorities have arrested a man suspected of masterminding the murder of four members of the Russian Embassy staff in Baghdad in the summer of 2006.

 “We have arrested a key member of the network that was responsible for the murder of the Russians. He is in our custody. He is called Abu Nur,” Zebari said, adding that he was a member of Al Qaeda.

 Asked to comment on U.S. criticism of the Iraqi government, Zebari said, “it is unfair to hold his government responsible for all the failures.”

 Speaking about the interference into the internal Iraqi affairs on the part of the regional players contributing to terrorist penetration through the border, Zebari said “We have been complaining about regional intervention and regional affairs. Most of our neighbors have not been helpful to support, assist the Iraqi government, to stabilize, to control border, to prevent terrorist weapons and money across []. We, the Iraqi, government started to engage to neighbors in discussions and negotiations and recently we convened three working groups, on security, one; on refugees, the second one; and the third on energy supplies to Iraq from neighbors.”

 Asked what neighbors interfere in Iraq’s internal affairs, the minister diplomatically evaded naming them, saying: “[These are] different countries, not one or two, because the intervention happens in different forms. It is not only weapons, some countries send money, some countries their nationals Others gives propaganda to terrorists, others wants to interfere military.”

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