Word: iraq
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...Europe" famously declined to join the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. But six years on, countries such as France and Germany are eager to get in on the cleanup process in Iraq - and the hundreds of billions of dollars in business that effort is expected to generate...
...most recent European move to woo Iraq came this week when German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier made a surprise visit to Baghdad. In addition to discussing diplomatic issues, Steinmeier made it clear that restoring the bustling business that Germany Inc. was doing in Iraq before the war is a key priority for Berlin. "Germany wants to assist Iraq in reconstruction," declared Steinmeier, who was accompanied by a delegation of German business leaders. "My visit demonstrates that we want to support this new Iraq on the path of democratic consolidation." (See pictures of Basra bouncing back...
...While stability in Iraq is still shaky, Germany wants to make sure it gets a piece of the reconstruction pie early. As Steinmeier made the rounds in Baghdad during his unannounced trip, German Economy Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg was back in Berlin touting the initiative as seeking to "contribute to reviving the once intensive economic relations between Germany and Iraq...
...German Foreign Minister's trip to Iraq came just a week after French President Nicolas Sarkozy visited Baghdad. "My coming here is to tell French companies: the time has come. Come and invest!" Sarkozy declared, explaining to his host, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, how French investment would be mutually beneficial. "We seek cooperation in the economic field, energy, rebuilding, and to help the police, security and Iraqi military forces, as well as restoring the international position of Iraq," Sarkozy promised. "We want to encourage all European countries to come. It is in Europe's interest to extend...
...authorities about developing five new oil fields in the north and south of the country. (U.S. rivals Chevron and ExxonMobil are also after that business.) European chemical, engineering and construction companies and arms producers would also like to re-establish ties that were severed by the international embargo of Iraq before the war. British and Italian firms, meanwhile, long to kick-start contracts they had from 2003 to 2004, when an explosion of insurgent violence forced most of them to abandon the country. (See pictures of life inside a Baghdad prison...