Iraq and the Czech Republic on Thursday signed an agreement on business
cooperation. It is the first such agreement between the two countries since
the fall of the Saddam Hussein regime in 2003. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri
al Maliki, who is heading a government delegation to Prague, said after
talks with the Czech prime minister that Iraq was still interested in the
purchase of Czech L-159 fighter jets for the army. The sales transaction is
to be debated at a meeting between the two countries defence ministers on
Friday. The Czech Republic has moreover expressed interest in investing in
Iraqi infrastructure, agriculture and the oil industry.