São Paulo – The Brazil-Iraq Mixed Bilateral Committee should meet for the first time in two decades in October. This kind of bilateral group exists to discuss themes that are greatly relevant to relations between both countries, and it includes representatives forms several areas of the governments involved and of private initiative. Meetings are periodic, but in the case of Iraq, they have not taken place since the Gulf War, in early 1990.
Last week, the Brazilian Foreign Office (Itamaraty) invited government and non-governmental organisations to a preparatory meeting in Brasília, including the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, represented by CEO Michel Alaby. Current themes were selected for discussion at the meeting, to take place at the offices of the Foreign Ministry, in the Brazilian capital.
According to the Itamaraty, among the topics discussed are new demands by Iraq for the import of Brazilian meats, hydrocarbon trade (oil, gas and their products), investment, services and negotiation of a free trade agreement between the Arab country and the Mercosur, which includes Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.
In the latter case, according to the Foreign Office, Iraq called for the start of talks with the South American bloc, but they have not yet been concluded, as consensus is necessary among the four partners. There should be a diplomatic effort for consensus to be reached, including the promotion of the meeting of the commission.
Up to the late 1980s, Brazil and Iraq had strong trade relations, practically interrupted during the Gulf War. Trade returned again in recent years, but it is unstable and has not reached the same levels as in the past.
To have an idea, in 1982, bilateral trade among both countries, aggregate exports and imports, was US$ 2.9 billion, according to figures disclosed by the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade. Last year, it was little more than US$ 1 billion, well below the average for the 1980s. From January to August 2011, the trade flow has reached US$ 656 million.
“We are placing relations with Iraq in a new perspective,” said the future ambassador of Brazil to Baghdad, Anuar Nahes, who is currently responsible for the embassy of Doha to Qatar. “We were two authoritarian regimes when trade flourished in the 1970s. Both regimes changed, our regional surroundings have changed and the world has changed. It is therefore time to re-establish bilateral relations. A mixed committee, due to its coverage, is the best route for such,” he finished off.
*Translated by Mark Ament
