Iraqis target Prince Andrew at arms fair

Staff and agencies
Thursday October 17, 2002

Prince Andrew had an embarrassing encounter with an Iraqi delegation in Jordan yesterday while attending an arms fair to promote British exports.
A group of 10 Iraqi representatives carried out what Radio 4's Today programme described as a "strategic jostle" into the Prince's party, forcing him to look away.

An aide of the prince told him: "It's the Iraqis, Sir." Prince Andrew's response was: "God, the Iraqis," and quickly looked in the opposite direction.

The prince, along with the defence minister, Lord Bach, was attending the Special Operations Forces Exhibition (Sofex) in Amman this week to support British companies.

Prince Andrew's equerry, Major Rob Olney, today said today that he was not at the fair to meet the Iraqi delegation. "He's here to promote British investment and trade in the Middle East," Major Olney said.

The British army and British arms companies are at the fair to showcase a range of weapons, including landmines, tanks and fighter jets. The countries there to buy arms include Syria, Sudan, Libya and Iran.

Lord Bach said British sellers at the fair were not targeting Iraqi delegates. "Anyone can come and look, but I think looking won't help them very much. There is a United Nations resolution that embargoes defence exports to Iraq.

"We have close relations with many of the Arab states and I am delighted that we do. They are a force for stability in this troubled region. Many of them are moving towards democracy in their own way, in their own time."