Moscow Agrees to Pay Iraq on Worker Pacts

Iraq today began processing exit permits for Soviet citizens, and Soviet officials said they are willing to discuss compensation for terminating the work contracts of more than 3,200 Soviet citizens.

“If there are going to be costs, we are prepared to bear those costs because we feel that the security and well-being of our citizens should come first,” Soviet Foreign Ministry spokesman Vitaly Churkin said in Moscow.

Iraq demanded the compensation as it announced the Soviet citizens would be freed.

Churkin said he did not know how much money the Soviet Union might have to pay to Iraq in compensation.

“We have had an extensive economic relationship with Iraq, and it will have to be seen what kind of balance there exists in our transactions with that country,” he said.

But Churkin praised the decision to release the Soviet citizens.

“Moscow expresses satisfaction with the Iraqi leadership’s decision and proceeds from the fact that our people can now leave Iraq and return home without hindrance.”

Still, Churkin said the Iraqi move did not lessen Moscow’s opposition to the invasion and annexation of Kuwait.

“Our attitude will not change at all,” he said.

When Iraq invaded Kuwait on Aug. 2, there were about 8,000 Soviet experts in Iraq, building pipelines, working on construction projects and advising the Iraqi oil industry.

A Soviet diplomat in Baghdad, speaking on condition of anonymity, said more than 200 exit visas were issued before the Interior Ministry closed for the day.

He said an Ilyushin IL-86 jet, which can carry up to 400 passengers, was expected to land in Baghdad on Thursday to pick up the first of the departing Soviets. Thursday’s flight will stop in Ankara, Turkey, to be checked for possible contraband in violation of U.N. trade sanctions.