75% of Russian companies' contracts in Iraq receive priority status

More than 75 per cent of the Russian contracts in Iraq concluded within the Oil for Food program have received the status of priority ones, says the report by the information and press department of Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs circulated on Wednesday.

"The U.S. representatives confirmed their readiness to ensure non-discriminating conditions for Russian companies and organisations which are interested in implementing long-term economic projects in Iraq," the report notes.

Russian-U.S. consultations on Iraqi settlement at which the Russian delegation was headed by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yuri Fedotov and the US' - by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State William Burns were held in Washington on September 30.

It was stated at the consultations that Russia and the USA agree with the necessity of earliest restoration of sovereignty of Iraq and its full reintegration in the regional and international community.

In the sides' opinion, the persisting differences between Russia and the USA on accomplishment of these tasks can be overcome in the course of the finalization of the draft of a new resolution of the UN Security Council on Iraq.

The sides also discussed the course of the preparation for the Madrid conference on rehabilitation of Iraq slated to be held this October.