Iraqi president Saddam Hussein wanted Taoiseach Charles Haughey to pay an official visit to Baghdad as part of a drive to foster trade links between the countries. Iraqi president Saddam Hussein wanted Taoiseach Charles Haughey to pay an official visit to Baghdad as part of a drive to foster trade links between the countries. Confidential documents, released as part of the 1989 State Archive, revealed that the Iraqi leader had personally asked, via An Bord Báinne (ABB), the Irish Dairy Board, whether Mr Haughey would pay an official visit to Iraq. In a letter to foreign affairs minister Brian Lenihan dated July 14, 1989, ABB secretary Peter McKimm said such a visit could help Irish exports to the country. "Just a reminder of our discussion regarding the query which came from Mr Saddam Hossain (sic), prime minister of Iraq, regarding the possibility of the Taoiseach accepting an invitation to that country," he wrote.

Source: Irish Independent December 30, 2019 02:26 UTC