Скачать или смотреть Ceremony for opening of new British consulate

(15 Jul 2004)

1. Bagpipe player
2. Exterior of consulate and bagpipe player
3. Various of bagpipes
4. Official beside flagpole
5. Dignitaries watching ceremony
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Edward Chaplin, British Ambassador to Iraq:
"I presided over a flag raising ceremony to mark the official opening of the British embassy in Baghdad following the assumption of sovereignty by the Iraqi interim government on the 28th of June. And that marked, that same day, the formal resumption of diplomatic relations between Britain and Iraq which had been broken off 13 years ago for reasons I think everyone here knows. And it was, therefore, a particular honour, to preside over that ceremony as the first British ambassador to Iraq since 1991, just as it is a great honour to preside over the opening of our offices in Basra today."
7. Officials watching ceremony
8. Chaplin watching British flag being raised
9. Official securing rope for the flag

++NOTE: SOUND QUALITY AS INCOMING++
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Simon Collis, British Consul General in Basra:
"I am delighted that we've been able to celebrate the opening this afternoon of the Consulate. Britain has been trading with Basra for 400 years. We've had a consulate here for a period of 200 years, in recent years there was a break for reasons which are known. It's good to be back. The British government will continue its support of the independent sovereign government of Iraq in terms of the political process, economic reconstruction and for the assurance of security."
11. Cutaway flag

++NOTE: SOUND QUALITY AS INCOMING++
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Simon Collis, British Consul General in Basra:
"A very positive future. It will take time to build up the momentum of relationships. But there are many, many Iraqi nationals who have visited Britain, who have studied in Britain, who have acquired professional qualifications in Britain. We are looking to renew various links and to build on them again. Equally when circumstances permit, to encourage British businesses to return to Iraq."
13. Flag and flagpole

STORYLINE:

With bagpipes playing, British ambassador Edward Chaplin presided over the re-opening of the consulate in Basra on Thursday, some 13 years after Britain broke off relations with Iraq.

Chaplin promised Britain's support to aid Iraq's interim government in economic reconstruction and security.

Simon Collis, Britain's consul in Basra, said he hoped to re-establish ties with Iraqi nationals who had visited and studied in the UK, and to promote economic links with British companies.

Restoring relations with Iraq will be a challenge, however.

Security concerns have deterred many foreign nationals and companies from considering a base in Iraq.

Foreign workers and infrastructure have been prime targets for militants.

While British officials presided over a flag-raising ceremony on Thursday, the head of the Iraqi border police was telling reporters that saboteurs drilled holes in an oil pipeline southwest of Basra.

Staff Brigadier General Ali al-Mousawi said that officials suspected that the damage was caused by smugglers.

It was not immediately clear if oil exports were affected.

More than a week ago, exports were cut in half by damage to the smaller of the two export pipelines which, together, transport about 90 percent of the country's exports.

Iraq's interim prime minister, Iyad Allawi, has said that attacks over the past few weeks have cost the country about US$1 billion (b) in lost revenue.

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