» Home » Business News Iraq Directory Services Plans Subscription Contact us Site Map Help About Iraq Al-Najaf base to be international airport -- Iraqi Transportation Minister Baghdad August 11, 2005 Iraqi Minister of Transportation Salam Al-Maliki said here on Thursday that his ministry has been working to transform Al-Najaf Airport, which has been used as a military base, into an international airport. After meeting with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, Al-Maliki said in a joint press conference that his ministry has been trying to attract investors to convert Al-Najaf Airport to a huge international airport. Regarding the ability of the ministry to purchase new airplanes, Al-Maliki said that donor States did not allocate financial donations for his ministry; nevertheless, he would try to obtain some finance to develop the airport as well as Al-Basra port. The ministry, said Al-Maliki, would rent airplanes until Iraq could buy new aircrafts next year. Responding to a question, he denied that Multinational forces have been controlling Baghdad's Airport, stressing that his ministry has entirely supervised the airport. He noted that security circumstances forced the ministry to contract with foreign companies to manage security at Baghdad Airport. Regarding river navigation, he said that his ministry has been working to improve this form of transportation. From his side, Talabani stressed the importance of involving the private sector in the transportation domain to create an atmosphere of competition, which should accelerate development in Iraqi transportation. Source: Kuna © 2002-2004 Iraq Directory - All Rights Reserved