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Iraq
Relations with Other Countries
In 1988 Iraq maintained cordial relations with Turkey, its non-Arab
neighbor to the north. Turkey served as an important transshipment
point for both Iraqi oil exports and its commodity imports. A
pipeline transported oil from the northern oil fields of Iraq
through Turkey to the Mediterranean Sea. Trucks carrying a variety
of European manufactured goods used Turkish highways to bring
imports into Iraq. There was also trade between Turkey and Iraq,
the former selling Iraq small arms, produce, and textiles. In
addition, Iraq and Turkey have cooperated in suppressing Kurdish
guerrilla activities in their common border area.
Outside the Middle East, Iraq maintained correct relations with
other countries. Iraq identified itself as part of the Nonaligned
Movement of primarily African and Asian nations, actively participated
in its deliberations during the late 1970s, and successfully lobbied
to have Baghdad chosen as the site for its September 1982 conference.
Although significant resources were expended to prepare facilities
for the conference, and Saddam Husayn would have emerged from
the meeting as a recognized leader of the Nonaligned Movement,
genuine fears of an Iranian bombing of the capital during the
summer of 1982 forced the government reluctantly to request that
the venue of the conference be transferred to New Delhi. Since
that time, preoccupation with the war against Iran, which also
is a member of the Nonaligned Movement, has tended to restrict
the scope of Iraqi participation in that organization.
Data as of May 1988
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