Jordan's King Abdullah II met Saturday with Iraqi Vice President Taha Yassine Ramadan to look at the countries' economic relationship and the embargo against Baghdad, the official Petra news agency said.
"Ways to strengthen bilateral relations, notably in economic areas, and ways to alleviate the fallout of the embargo" were the focus of the talks, Petra said.
The king, who has regularly spoken out against the embargo, said he hoped for "an end to the Iraqi people's suffering."
Ramadan, on a two-day visit to the kingdom, expressed "Iraq's appreciation toward Jordan's positions."
The embargo has been in force against Iraq since its 1990 invasion of Kuwait, although a UN program launched in 1996 lets Iraq sell limited amounts of oil to buy food, medicine and other necessities.
Jordan and Baghdad have signed contracts totaling one billion dollars since the start of the program, making Jordan the fourth largest exporter to Iraq after France, Russia and China -- AMMAN (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
