|
|
|
Wheat deals secured but Iraq sets conditions
21 Aug 2002
Iraq has agreed to resume all of its imports of Australian wheat for 2003 and beyond, on the condition that the Howard Government seeks diplomatic solutions to the current political situation. The managing director of AWB, Andrew Lindberg, announced yesterday that an agreement has been reached with the Grains Board of Iraq which will safeguard the wheat trade worth $800 million to Australia next year. About two million tonnes of wheat is exported to Iraq every year under the United Nations' Oil for Food program.
Mr Lindberg has just returned from Iraq with an Australian delegation which sought to resolve the impasse brought about by the Australian Government's support for the US military stance on Iraq. He said that all current contracts can "now proceed with confidence" and the 2003 agreement is "very significant for Australian farmers". The AWB is not interested in politics, Mr Lindberg stated, it is an economic and humanitarian issue.
The Age, 21/8/02, page 4.
|
|
