After 19 months of failure, Iraqis ask Russian workers to return...

[nascarblue]

After 19 months of patiently waiting for the U.S to make good on promises of reconstruction, Iraqi's are pleading with Russians to come to their aid. After an especially cold two weeks that found 26 refugee children freeze to death, Iraqi citizens have pleaded with the Minister of Electricity Ayham al-Samarrai. al-Samarrai has held talks with Russian contractors to resume activities in Iraq, according to a statement by the Ministry of Electricity.

Samarrai visited Russia as part of a European tour to seek help in reviving the country’s rickety power infrastructure after a year of frustration behind broken U.S. promises.

His talks in Moscow included meetings with the representatives of the companies which worked in Iraq as well as government officials.

Russian contractors pulled out of Iraq in May after two of their colleagues died in an ambush.

Samarrai’s talks were aimed at persuading the Russians to return and contribute to the country’s post-war reconstruction, the statement said.

Several Russian companies and hundreds of Russian experts were working in Iraq despite mounting insecurity.

“Samarrai discussed the hurdles that prevent the Russians from returning to Iraq,” the statement said. It said the minister urged the contractors to return and complete the projects they left unfinished.


The statement did not say whether any of the Russian companies that pulled out of the country had agreed to return. Russian experts played a major role in reviving the energy industry and other infrastructure before their government’s decision to evacuate them.

Left uncompleted by the Russians is the giant Yousifiya power plant which was expected to add hundreds of megawatts to the national grid by the end of the year.

[Maple]

1. Link please

Important story, so I'd like the link