Speaking of the issue of developing economic relations between Iraq and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, we believe that this cooperation will have good returns for the economy of both countries, particularly as Iraq has a common border with the Kingdom. Given that, we can say that the Trebil Port on the border is one of the most important ports that Iraq needs for it exports and imports, or even it serving as means of travel.

Most of the countries of the world, including the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, are in dire need of Iraq's oil and trade wealth. If we want to give some privileges to the Jordanian government, it should be based on mutual interests between the parties. When we give concessions to Jordan, what benefit will we receive in turn? Can the Jordanian government pay back this concession?

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is one of the most important countries in the region, especially since it has a border with Iraq. It is one of the neighboring Arab states that have important border crossing points to Iraq that are indispensable. Hence, the government should work to develop bilateral relations with Jordan, especially in the economic area, as this will be of great importance in improving the Iraqi economy. We can say that the two countries can cooperate in developing bilateral relations in the field of economics and development, because of its benefit in the service of the two neighboring countries. The Iraqi-Jordanian border crossing point is very important, as it will help Iraq to import foreign goods, which the Iraqi market needs, and a border crossing point could be considered one of the most important ports for exporting local Iraqi goods to reach to the rest of the world’s markets. The most important of these are the oil products exported by the state by land. The development of economic relations with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is one of the very important things that the state should pay attention to, because the economic aspect is usually the most important aspect that helps the country promote the economic reality, as it has positive effects on improving the country's exports.

Economic cooperation and development between the two countries is also of great importance, in the field of investments between the enterprises of both countries in various fields, especially since Iraq is undergoing a process of reconstruction in the aim of developing the country.

Iraq is characterized by its oil reserves among the countries of the world, as it owns great oil wealth, which the world market urgently needs. We must take advantage of this important oil wealth in a way that will improve the economy of Iraq and place it in the ranks of economically developed countries. As for the importance of other sectors, in terms of managing things and how to invest in them, the oil or business sectors in Iraq should be the responsibility of certain authorities to manage them and draw up special policies in terms of imports and exports, or even granting oil or business concessions. Today, when we talk about the issue of concessions granted to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, we believe that Iraq has many cooperative dealings with the Kingdom of Jordan. First, Jordan is an Arab country, and it should be helped. Second, the geographical map and the common border link Iraq and Jordan, and this is important for Iraq as one of the most important main ports through which Iraq can export all goods to the world market, especially the oil wealth and its derivatives, which are the lifeline for Iraq and one of the most important resources relied upon in the course of the economic process, because it is the primary wealth of the country. So the state should work to give the Kingdom of Jordan more privileges than other countries in the area of trade exchange, or through the export of oil to Jordan at lower prices than the world market prices, because this work and these concessions will have a positive impact on the Iraqi market and its relation to the major global market.

There are many Iraqi traders and investors living in the Jordanian Kingdom, who will play an important role in improving the economic and trade conditions in Iraq and Jordan, because they have considerable expertise in this area.

The relations between the Jordanian government and Jordan in general on the one hand, and the past criminal tyrant and the biggest dictator in the world, Saddam Hussein on the other hand, were tight. We know that this relation developed because of the dictator’s support for Jordan, his donation of oil to it for free, and by his giving Jordan the money of the poor people, at a time when Iraqis suffered from hunger and poverty during the siege which was imposed over Iraq because of the fool, Saddam. I do not want to sever relations with Jordan completely here, because this was in the past, and it has already passed. However, we want Jordan to have a specific stance without demanding that Jordan have a special status, reductions and exceptions. Jordanians and their government must recognize the legitimacy of the elected national Iraqi government, and work on restoring relations with Iraq in all fields, as an initiative to prove that it has forgotten the past and to admit that Iraq is now living a new life with an elected government, which represents all of the Iraqi people, and which cares for its rights and interests and for the interests of the country.

It is the right of Jordan to benefit from the exchange being made on its land between Iraq and the United Nations. That is why I do not want the past to be recalled. New, positive and good relations must be looked for, especially given that Iraq is a new country today, led by a patriotic Iraqi government elected by the people. There is no fear, either from Jordan or from any other entity, that the political leaders of the country could be persuaded to give special benefits and privileges to Amman at the expense of the Iraqi economy and the rights of the people.

It is not necessary to develop economic relations with Jordan on the condition that Jordan be given oil at somewhat reduced prices, because this will be a positive step for the Jordanian economy, but negative for the Iraqi economy, which we seek to see become stronger, tougher and better than it is now. It is true that we need these economic relations to be developed with Jordan, and we need Iraq to export a larger quantity of oil. However, this does not give Jordan the right to exploit the disposition of Iraq and its conditions, as it did before, during the days of the ousted regimes when the international Oil-for-Food Program was in place. Jordan benefited a great deal and built a developed country and a strong economy, thanks to Iraqi oil which was given to it almost for free. But the situation is different now, as Iraq suffers now, has an economy that is not up to the required standard and requires reconstruction of its infrastructure, after the destruction which it suffered. All this is happening in Iraq while Jordan is only looking on, and purely for its own benefits.

May God extend love between Iraq and Jordan because we are brothers at the end of the day, whether we are Iraqis or Jordanians. This love will be furthered by developing relations with Jordan, which will serve as a passage for goods, imports and exports through it to other Arab countries close to Jordan on the other side. That is why I stress the necessity of developing these relations, and because Iraq needs to make good use of good bilateral relations with Jordan.

May God’s peace and mercy be upon you. Jordan is now a developed and advanced country which has a good economy in spite of its small size. I believe that developing and improving economic relations with Jordan will play a great role in connecting Iraq to many companies that invest in Jordan and which could extend their activities to Iraq as well. Consequently, there will be benefits for both parties, by developing the economy of Iraq and Jordan and developing common relations between the two countries, as they are both connected together with many bonds and with the links of neighborhood.