Iraq urges French firms to invest, offers oil

[sabra]

Source: AFP

PARIS — Iraqi President Jalal Talabani on Wednesday promised major deals -- including large oil contracts -- to French business chiefs keen to restore their place as Iraq's top business partners.

To warm applause, the Iraqi leader gave Baghdad's strongest hint yet that it would grant French energy giant Total development contracts for two of its major oil fields at a rights auction next month.

"You need to be brave, you need to be courageous and to invest in all sectors," Talabani told a meeting with France's influential MEDEF employers' association. "Iraq is a very promising basket for investors, without risk."

The 75-year-old leader said he wanted to see the French energy giant Total working in his country's oil fields and would look favourably on its bids in an upcoming second round auction for exploration rights in Iraq.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gGwIUuRBbY26ingtWiFfbmDsJ2FA

[Crowman1979]

1. I guess France has the last laugh.

[yurbud]

2. and how many French troops and Iraqis had to die to get that invitation?

[sabra]

3. France was not part of the "coalition of the willing"

[yurbud]

4. exactly! and that's probably why Iraq is so eager to have them back