">Forum Views () 
">Forum Replies ()  
 
 
Read more with google mobile :
Sarkozy gives go-ahead for French business on Iraq visit  
 
 
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
Yahoo! Search
Search:
Sign InNew User? Sign Up
News Home -
Help
  
 
  
Navigation
Primary Navigation
 
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
 
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
 
Search
 
 
Search:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sarkozy gives go-ahead for French business on Iraq visit
 
 
 
 
 
 
 AFP - Wednesday, February 11
BAGHDAD (AFP) - - French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Tuesday vowed to help Iraq's economic revival, during a historic first visit aimed at healing ties between Baghdad and Paris which opposed the 2003 US-led invasion.
ADVERTISEMENT
  
"My coming here is to tell French companies: the time has come, come and invest," Sarkozy told a joint news conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on the first ever visit by a French president.
Sarkozy said a large French business delegation would follow him to Baghdad "by the summer" led by Prime Minister Francois Fillon and Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.
French businessmen have steered clear of the war-battered country for fear of attacks and kidnappings, but security has improved noticeably since a US military surge launched two years ago.
Sarkozy also announced plans to build a new embassy in Baghdad and French consulates in Arbil, the Kurdish capital in northern Iraq, and in the main southern city of Basra.
Defence, oil and water are all key sectors for cooperation with Iraq, he said. "We are ready to listen to the requests of the Iraqis."
Under Sarkozy's predecessor Jacques Chirac, France maintained good relations with Saddam Hussein's regime and was an outspoken opponent of the invasion which overthrew it, stirring tension with the administration of then US president George W. Bush.
"I came to express the solidarity of France," the French leader said alongside Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, shortly after receiving a red carpet welcome in Baghdad.
"It is now that we must help Iraq, it's now that we must commit," said Sarkozy, who was accompanied by Kouchner.
"I came to show France's willingness to take part in the economic development of Iraq, in the rehabilitation of its infrastructure," he said. "Our collaboration has no limits."
Sarkozy vowed France would stand "beside Iraq, from the beginning, on the path to success. The world is in need of a strong, united and sovereign Iraq."
The French president was at the start of a regional tour that was also to take him to the Gulf states of Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman, where he was due later on Tuesday.
His trip to the Gulf aims to reinforce French influence, and although he is expected to sign agreements during the trip "he is not there to announce large contracts," his office said on Monday.
Sarkozy said at the news conference that France would work with Iraq in business as well as security.
"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," he said.
"We can also help you on the diplomatic front," the French president said. "Our support will be constant and without interference."
Talabani called Sarkozy's visit "historic," and paid tribute to the solidarity that France displayed towards Iraq at the time of the invasion six years ago.
"This is an historic visit, as this is the first time for a French king or a president to visit Iraq," Talabani said. "It is our honour to welcome the French president, as he is a close friend of Iraqis."
 
 
 
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
 
 
   
Recommend this article
Average (0 votes)
Sign in to recommend this article »
Most Recommended Stories »
  
Related Articles: World
UK-World SummaryReuters -  14 minutes ago
Man leads LA police on 3-hour chase, shoots selfAP -  21 minutes ago
Colonel's secret recipe in new, safer vault at KFCAP -  26 minutes ago
Peanut company in salmonella probe shuts 2nd plantAP -  33 minutes ago
Geithner unveiling plan to help credit marketsAP -  37 minutes ago
 
 
 
 
Most Popular – World
 
 
 
 
 
 Viewed
 
 
 
 
Taliban video of Polish hostage beheading
 
 
Nissan to shed 20,000 jobs as recession woes mount
 
 
Swiss banks to announce massive losses: report
 
 
Indian woman has football-sized tumour removed from jaw
 
 
Unnatural selection: How far will parents go?
 
 
View Complete List »
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy 
- Terms of Service 
- Community 
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy 
- Help
        
    
 
   
 
Other News on Tuesday, 10 February 2009 "The Biggest Loser" Fitness Trainer Jillian Michaels Sues Home Video Company Over Payment Deals  
U.S. seeks assurances from Pakistan over A.Q. Khan
| International
|  
Suicide bomber kills 4 U.S. soldiers in Iraq
| International
|  
Karadzic seeks to quiz U.S. diplomat over immunity
| International
|  
Cuba rejects Western calls to free jailed critics
| International
|  
Woman in Italian right-to-die case dies
| International
|  
UK Muslim tells court he fabricated Islamist past
| International
|  
U.S. says Iran still supporting Iraq militants
| International
|  
Bernard Madoff And SEC Reach Agreement On Fraud Case  
General Motors May Buy Back Some Delphi Plants  
Las Vegas Downtown Gets Face Lift Despite Recession  
Gallup: 67 Percent Of Americans Approve Of Obama's Handling Of Stimulus  
Grammy TV audience booms with mix of stars, scandal
| Entertainment
|  
Woody Harrelson discovers the good in soldiering
| Entertainment
|  
Free market under fire in topical new documentary
| Entertainment
|  
Slumdog sweeps British film awards
| Entertainment
|  
Canada Revenue Agency Paid $3 Million To Ex-Employees By Mistake  
Internet Will Be Standard Feature On New TV Sets  
Frozen, Plague-Infested Mice Missing From New Jersey Research Lab  
Smoking Pot May Double The Risk Of Testicular Cancer  
US, Canada to focus on Afghan mission  
Australia declares bushfire disaster a crime scene
| International
|  
French president arrives on first trip to Iraq  
Beijing blaze caused by unlicensed fireworks
| International
|  
Jazz Singer Blossom Dearie Dies At 82  
Israeli voters cast ballots in general election  
Israel votes in tight election
| International
|  
British minister says crisis worst for 100 years  
Israel votes in tight election  
France's Sarkozy flies into Iraq
| International
|  
Baseball star Rodriguez confesses taking steroids to ESPN  
Don't send Guantanamo inmates here: U.S. politicians
| International
|  
Al-Qaeda, Taliban will not act 'with impunity:' Obama  
Obama economic stimulus clears Senate hurdle  
Iran marks 30 years of Islamic revolution  
Canada defends rising Afghan costs as crisis bites
| International
|  
Atom-smasher relaunch delayed to September: official  
Obama: no safe haven for terrorists in Afghanistan  
China tells United Nations it protects human rights
| International
|  
French car industry gets 7.8 billion euros in aid  
US envoy conducts policy review in Pakistan  
U.S., France discuss Afghan war, avoid troops issue
| International
|  
Nine gene clues found in risk of heart attack  
Q&A on what to look for in Israel's election  
Mexico arrests police chief over general's murder
| International
|  
Obama warns of catastrophe if no stimulus bill this week  
Khatami energizes Iran's ailing reformist camp  
State list of birds becoming more, less common  
Official: Wagoner to meet with House leaders  
Browner stimulus for green jobs  
Amazon unveils slimmer Kindle reader
| Technology
|  
Chicago River Reopens To Traffic As Oil Spill Cleanup Continues  
US, Russia must work to halt nuclear proliferation  
Mexico to fingerprint phone users in crime fight
| Technology
|  
Judges Order Release Of 55,000 California Inmates From Overcrowded Prisons  
U.S. Turns Over 4 Ex-Gitmo Prisoners To Iraqi Authorities  
US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,243  
Scalping suit filed against Ticketmaster in Canada
| Technology
|  
Obama: Lawmakers Must Act On "Full-Blown Crisis" Facing American Economy  
Oil prices fall despite OPEC project postponements  
NJ man finally gets to see his son in Brazil  
Four U.S. Soldiers Die In Suicide Car Bomb Attack In Iraq  
Google syncs online contacts and calendar with smart phones  
Poll: US, allies, Kabul government losing ground  
Obama orders US cybersecurity review  
Wall Street Ends Flat As Investors Await New TARP Outline  
Four Guantanamo prisoners handed over to Iraq: ICRC  
Service reins in Twitter spammers  
Kazakhstan helps out US on Afghanistan  
Italian at centre of euthanasia furore has died: minister  
Free Google email synchs with mobile telephones  
Wrigley suspends Chris Brown, Rihanna silent
| Entertainment
|  
Jonas Bros blown away singing with Stevie Wonder
| Entertainment
|  
Grammy TV audience booms with mix of stars, scandal
| Entertainment
|  
US woman wins approval to file 2nd appeal in HK  
Actors ready to resume talks with producers
| Entertainment
|  
Company fireworks set Beijing hotel on fire  
Rapper Lil' Kim joins Dancing with the Stars
| Entertainment
|  
Nepalese prime minister's aide wounded in shooting  
Slumdog takes on underdogs at Oscars
| Entertainment
|  
Beijing blaze caused by "unlicensed" fireworks  
German scribe lays into Berlin fest press office
| Entertainment
|  
Actor-comedian Faizon Love charged with assault  
Rights group says UN should rebuke Malaysia  
Berlin film fest honors can be a career boost
| Entertainment
|  
Malaysia government faces by-elections amid anger  
Olympic sprinter Maurice Greene swaps spikes for dancing shoes
| Entertainment
|  
China's drought eased by irrigation  
Scalping suit filed against Ticketmaster in Canada
| Entertainment
|  
Investigators blame China's state TV station for fire tragedy  
Amnesty condemns Sri Lanka suicide bombing  
Australia fire death toll passes 170  
G7 to discuss 'Buy American' stimulus clause: Japan  
Actors ready to resume talks with producers  
SKorean economy likely to shrink two pct this year: new minister  
Dreams of gold turn to dust in Moscow crisis  
Deflation alarm as prices weaken further in China  
New York subway entertainers play the economy blues  
China wheat crop at risk if no rain soon  
Women breaking into Bollywood backstage  
Seoul shares retreat on bearish econ outlook  
Kevin Bacon touts new HBO film at DC premiere  
Panasonic orders families return home on flu fears  
Original Village People member sues new group  
Sanyo says it will build new solar cell plant  
'Shipwrecked!' salutes the power of imagination  
Islamic bonds to help Indonesia fund crisis spending  
Diane Keaton writing memoir about her mother  
China's January inflation down to 1 percent  
Rapper Lil' Kim joins "Dancing with the Stars"  
Philippine exports plunge 40 pct in Dec  
German scribe lays into Berlin fest press office  
Judges Order Release Of Prisoners To Decongest California Prisons  
Ticketmaster Sued For $500 Million Over Ticket Scalping  
US bank rescue to include private sector: Geithner  
Iran says ready for fair talks  
Iran says ready for fair talks, wants real U.S. change
| International
|  
Israel votes in tight election race  
Acute psychosis more common in older mums: study  
Pakistan advises Holbrooke talk to Taliban moderates
| International
|  
Chris Brown Pulls Out Of NBA Weekend, Rihanna Expected To Scrap Malaysia, Indonesia Tours  
Iranian president says talks with US possible  
US Senate set to vote on stimulus  
Blast kills two NATO soldiers in Afghanistan
| International
|  
Sri Lanka rebels gun down 19 fleeing people: military
| International
|  
Sarkozy gives go-ahead for French business on Iraq visit  
Zimbabwe's new finmin to focus on stability
| International
|  
Oil tanker in collision and burning off Dubai  
Berlusconi accuses rivals over coma woman's death
| International
|  
UN official slams Israeli block of paper shipments  
German student charged for throwing shoe at Wen
| International
|  
US Senate set to vote on massive stimulus  
Social web sites sign EU pact vs. cyber-bullying
| Technology
|  
Internet firms move to protect European children online  
US looking for Iran talks 'in coming months': Obama  
Senate Judiciary Panel Chair Wants 'Truth Commission' To Investigate Bush Administration  
India's TCS and Cisco form strategic alliance  
Obesity Among American Troops Doubles Since 2003  
Chip maker Qimonda says must find buyer by April  
Web-Based Research Products Maker NewsBank Announces 25 Job Cuts; Largest Employer In Chester, VT  
Losses On Private Label Credit Cards Up 44 Percent In January  
O'Hare International Airport Had Worst On-Time Performance Among U.S. Airports  
Sarkozy arrives in Oman after Iraq visit  
Federal Law Banning Sale Of Children's Toys With Toxic Chemicals Takes Effect Tuesday  
Michigan's John Dingell To Be Honored Tuesday As Longest-Serving Member Of U.S. House  
Berlusconi says right-to-die woman was 'killed'  
Applications For Section 8 Housing Vouchers Outstrip Demand In Delaware  
Treasury Dept. To Announce Plans On Remaining TARP Funds Tuesday  
In Interior Dept. Visit, First Lady Announces Adviser For Tribal Issues  
Reeves shakes up suburbia in star-studded film
| Entertainment
|  
Red Cross evacuating wounded from Sri Lanka war  
Delpy revives bloody Countess Bathory in new film
| Entertainment
|  
Qaeda commander warns India of Mumbai-like attacks  
Italy reaffirms it 'strongly supports' China  
Chinese officials begin Latin America trips  
Student denies charge over Chinese PM shoe protest  
Phoenix insists he's jilting Hollywood for hip-hop  
Sri Lankan rebels kill 19 civilians: military  
NATO: 2 soldiers killed in Afghan bomb attack  
Cambodia seeks help to bring up ancient shipwreck  
Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman Enters California Gov. Race  
Hong Kong bird tests positive for bird flu  
Asia shares mixed as China CPI slows, Congress votes  
Phoenix insists he's jilting Hollywood for hip-hop  
Taiwan's UMC posts quarterly loss  
Soap actor Phil Carey dies at age 83 in NYC  
China overtakes US as largest auto market: state media  
London terror drama at Berlin festival  
Hong Kong phone technicians strike  
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary  
China auto sales overtake US in January  
Reeves shakes up suburbia in star-studded film  
Taiwan dollar falls to fresh 4-1/2-yr low on c.bank  
Beauty beasts strut stuff in US dog show  
Delpy revives bloody Countess Bathory in new film  
NEWSMAKER-S.Korea's fin min: time to admit depth of downturn  
Nissan shares jump on restructuring optimism  
Lebanon refugees bitter over camp rebuilding plans  
Russia denies request for 400 bln dlr loan rescheduling  
Rihanna delays Malaysia show after alleged attack  
Money sweeter than chocolates for SKorean Valentines  
Obesity Among American Troops Doubles Since 2003  
Study Finds Multi-Vitamins May Offer No Health Benefits To Women  
Michigan's John Dingell, 82, To Be Honored As Longest-Serving Member Of U.S. House  
Over 300 Stranded Dolphins Lead To Open Seas  
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro  
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found  
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever  
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production  
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time  
AMD to Start Production of piledriver  
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs  
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia  
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air  
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch  
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent  
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up  
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform  
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis  
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets  
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights