Iraq refutes US and British allegations

FROM: http://www.uruklink.net/iraqnews/eindex.htm

In this bulletin..
- Iraq refutes US and British allegations
- Aziz meets Chavez
- Foreign Minister meets Ivanov

Iraq refutes US and British allegations

Baghdad, September 3, INA

Director-general of the Iraqi National Monitoring Hussam Mohammed Amin refuted the false allegations released by US and British media and their allies concerning Iraq’s actions to reconstruct a banned project.

The media claimed that Iraq has being reconstructing a uranium extraction plant at Ukashat Phosphate Compound after 1998.

Amin told a news conference that the plant had been producing the yellow salt from which uranium could be extracted up to 1991.

He added that the amount in 1991 was about (168) tons of this yellow salt. This entire amount had been investigated by International Agency of Atomic Energy as well as the annual check.

He pointed out that the vast destruction of the project in 1991 leave nothing but ruins.

“There is no project for any banned materials especially for extraction of uranium neither in Ukashat nor at any place in Iraq,” Amin said, stressing “such US fabrications could never distort facts before the world public opinion.

Correspondents of Arab and foreign media and TV networks visited the site and saw firsthand that the site was destroyed since 1991 and there was no activity in the site.

ENDS

Aziz meets Chavez

Johannesburg, September 3, INA

Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz led the Iraqi delegation to the World Summit of Sustainable Development, which is currently held in Johannesburg.

Mr. Aziz met Monday President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez. The two sides reviewed bilateral relations.

In statements to reporters in Johannesburg, Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz said that the U.S administration did not present any evidence to prove its accusations against Iraq. Such accusations aim to mislead the world public opinion, he said. The return of the inspection teams did not solve the crises. The inspection teams, which worked in Iraq 7 years and a half, were used ultimately to launch aggression on Iraq in 1998.

ENDS

Foreign Minister meets Ivanov

Moscow, September 3, INA

Foreign Minister Dr. Naji Sabri arrived in Moscow on an official visit in reply to an invitation from Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov.

The Minister was received at the airport by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Vidotov, the Director of Middle East and North African Office at Russian Foreign Ministry, a number of officials and Iraq’s ambassador to Moscow.

During the visit Dr. Sabri will hold discussions with his Russian counterpart that deals with the latest US threats and Iraq’s recent initiatives as well as developing cooperation and friendly relations between the two countries. The two sides will also discuss issues of common concerns.

Mr. Sabri met Tuesday his Russian counterpart Egor Ivanov. They discussed bilateral cooperation between Iraq and Russia.

They also discussed U.S threats on Iraq and the dangers of Bush administration on international peace and security.

Moscow welcomes resuming dialogue between Iraq and Secretary General of the United Nations Kofi Annan to find solutions that lead to lift the embargo.

Mr. Ivanov expressed satisfaction for the growing economic cooperation between Iraq and Russia.

ENDS

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