The cabinet decided at its 8 January meeting to return to Iraq all funds and other financial resources placed in Romanian banks by the former Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein, Romanian television and Mediafax reported. The decision also applies to funds belonging to Iraqi companies and to Iraqi citizens who served the previous regime. The funds are to be transferred to the Iraqi Development Fund.

At the same meeting, the cabinet lifted the ban on importing Iraqi goods, but maintained the interdiction on importing or exporting military equipment and ammunition to Iraq, with the exception of military equipment specifically solicited by the new Iraqi authorities.

Meanwhile, Romania, which recently became a nonpermanent member of the UN Security Council, took over the chairmanship of Security Council Committee 1518, which monitors the implementation of Security Council resolutions on Iraq.

(RFE/RL 09.i.04)