August 23, 2002	Friday	Jamadi-us-Saani 13,1423

DUBAI, Aug 22: Iraq is ready to restore relations with Saudi Arabia when Riyadh judges fit, Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan said in an interview published on Thursday.

“When our brothers in Saudi Arabia judge the time is right to re-establish full diplomatic relations, they will find that Iraq is ready,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Ramadan voiced satisfaction at the refusal of Saudi Arabia, which broke off ties with Iraq in 1991, to take part in any new US-led assault on Baghdad.

“We appreciate the kingdom’s stance on this and believe it shows our brotherhood and our common destiny,” he said.

Ramadan warned that Saudi Arabia would in turn become a US target if Washington goes ahead with threats to overthrow President Saddam Hussein.

He told the daily that US plans to attack Iraq were not linked to the disarmament issue or Saddam Hussein himself but “to the programme, objectives and line of conduct” followed by the Iraqi president.—AFP