Thai team sent to solve rice issue in Iraq

BANGKOK, August 9 (TNA) - A Thai delegation, led by a top envoy in the Middle East, will be sent to Iraq to address a rice issue with Baghdad. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul told journalists on Friday that Thai Ambassador to Jordan Piriya Khempol will lead the Thai delegation to meet Iraqi authorities in Baghdad from August 17-21, 2013 to discuss Thailand's rice exports to the Gulf state. Surapong revealed that the Thai Commerce Ministry team's forthcoming trip to Iraq followed information sent by exiled ex-Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra that Iraq has suspended its imports of Thai rice for three years due to allegedly-low quality. Surapong said he discussed the alleged issue and possible solutions with Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisan, as Iraq had earlier bought as many as one million tonnes of Thai rice annually. (TNA)