2004 Public Statement
 
07/29/2004
Saudi Arabia and Iraq issue joint statement on economic cooperation
The following is the text of a joint Saudi-Iraqi statement issued today on the occasion of the visit to the Kingdom by Prime Minister of Iraq Dr Iyad Allawi.
  King Fahd receives Iraqi Prime Minister Dr Iyad Allawi

The Iraqi Prime Minister Dr Iyad Allawi paid an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from July 27 to July 29, 2004, accompanied by a high-level delegation. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd bin Abdulaziz and Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz welcomed this visit, which will help boost the close relations between the two countries and peoples. The Iraqi delegation held extensive official talks with King Fahd and the Crown Prince, attended by a number of senior Saudi officials. The two sides discussed the future of relations between the two countries in an atmosphere of brotherhood and commitment to their common interests, with the aim of serving the interests of the two fraternal countries and bolstering security and stability in Iraq and in the region.


The two sides welcomed the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1546 which addresses the end of occupation and Iraq's regaining of its sovereignty. They stressed the importance of the implementation of the political process contained in that resolution, and looked forward to enhancing that national sovereignty in order to preserve the unity of Iraq and restore its ties with the Arab and Islamic communities.

The two sides agreed to restore diplomatic representation between them, and to work to develop cooperation in all fields, notably that of security, with expertise exchanged in this regard.

In addition, the following was declared:

  1. Trade between the two countries will be expanded and the necessary facilities provided to achieve this goal.
  2. The Saudi side expressed its readiness to proceed with implementation of the one billion U.S. dollar program it had announced in support of the process of reconstruction in Iraq, with the Saudi Development Fund (SDF) providing $500 million in soft loans and another $500 million dedicated to financing and guaranteeing Saudi exports to Iraq as announced at the Donors Conference held in Madrid in October, 2003: in this respect, officials from both sides will meet to prepare the details of implementing the program, and agreement was also reached in principle on a multitude of other areas of cooperation such as oil, telecommunications, training, and services.
  3. It was agreed that a meeting be held in the Kingdom this coming fall for Iraqi and Saudi businessmen for the purpose of studying ways of enhancing and expanding the role of Saudi companies in the reconstruction of and investment in Iraq as part of developing cooperation in the economic and commercial fields.

The Iraqi Prime Minister thanked King Fahd and the Crown Prince for Saudi Arabia’s constant support for the Iraqi people in all fields.

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