Difference
(minor diff, author diff)
Added Changed Deleted

  • Prior major revision
  • Current Revision



    This ministry cable provides a record of conversations in May 2003 between the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, several executives of Australia’s biggest company and former UK Foreign Minister Sir Malcolm Rifkind. At issue was control of a large oilfield in Iraq. According to these minutes, the Anglo-Australian mining company was planning to “register an early bid” with the US government to “secure the Halfayah field investment” in partnership with Anglo-Dutch oil giant Shell. The cable refers to other negotiations by major oil companies for Iraq’s biggest fields. The talks, which occurred in London, took place just two months after the Australians joined the UK and the US in the invasion of Iraq and shortly before the US president prematurely declared “victory.”