The following is an archived copy of a message sent to a Discussion List run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
Views expressed in this archived message are those of the author, not of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
[Main archive index/search] [List information] [Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq Homepage]
[ Converted text/html to text/plain ] Francis Sealey the a reply from Joan Ryan regarding the question about reconstruction in Iraq: The Government wants to see UK companies play a substantial role in the redevelopment of essential infrastructure in post-conflict Iraq. For the immediate future, major contracts are being issued through USAID, the US Agency for International Development, using US taxpayers money. Although they have a policy that only US companies can qualify as prime contractors, the US Administration have agreed that British and other foreign companies can be used as sub-contractors. The largest prime contract has been awarded to Bechtel for major infrastructure rehabilitation and they are committed to using Iraqi companies wherever possible. On 30th May they announced they had signed their first subcontract with an established Iraqi construction company to build a vital bridge bypass in the western part of Iraq. However these USAID funded contracts are a very small beginning on the road to rebuilding Iraq. This is why oil revenues are going to prove so vital to the future of Iraq. All these revenues will be paid into the development fund for Iraq. UN Resolution 1438, adopted on the 22nd May, sets out the main parameters of the operation of the development fund. Responsibility will initially lie with the coalition partners but will pass to Iraqi ministries as soon as possible. The British Government wants to help the people of Iraq to re-build their country as quickly as possible. We aim to ensure that proceeds from Iraqi oil are used to benefit all the people of Iraq. The first task will be to repair and renovate existing oil fields. That could be a huge job depending on the number of oil wells Saddam has sabotaged. In any event, Iraq's oil fields will require considerable investment to bring them up to international standards. Long-term decisions about the oil sector, such as privatisation or the exploitation of new fields, will be for a new Iraqi government to address. Anai Rhoads ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection[1] with MSN 8. ===References:=== 1. http://g.msn.com/8HMEENUS/2734??PS= _______________________________________________ Sent via the discussion list of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-discuss To contact the list manager, email casi-discuss-admin@lists.casi.org.uk All postings are archived on CASI's website: http://www.casi.org.uk