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United Arab Emirates cancels Iraqi debt, names ambassador
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - The United Arab Emirates canceled all its Iraqi debt Sunday and moved to restore a full diplomatic mission in Baghdad by naming a new ambassador. It's part of a recent warming between Iraq's Shiite-led government and its mostly Sunni Muslim neighbors. Washington has pushed Gulf states like the UAE to restore ties with the war-torn country. Jordan named an ambassador last week, and Kuwait and Bahrain say appointments are imminent.The Emirates' official news agency quoted the country's president Sunday as saying the UAE was canceling all $4 billion in debt owed by Iraq. The announcement came as Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was visiting the Emirates. An Iraqi government spokesman, Ali al-Dabbagh, confirmed his government was notified of the debt cancellation. Al-Dabbagh also said Abdullah al-Shehi, the UAE's former head of mission in India, was named ambassador to Iraq. The country said last month that an appointment was upcoming. Posted by: Steve White 2008-07-06 |
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