THE EUROPEAN UNION AFFIRMS ITS COMMITMENT TO EXPANDING COOPERATION WITH IRAQ
The European Union today affirmed its commitment to expanding cooperation with Iraq.
A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), stated that “the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Baghdad, Ambassador Mohammed Hussein Mohammed Bahr Al-Uloom, received the European Union Ambassador to Iraq, Clemens Zimmtner.”
He added, “At the beginning of the meeting, the Undersecretary welcomed the Ambassador, stressing the Ministry’s keenness to strengthen the partnership with the European Union and raise the level of cooperation in various fields, especially political, economic and developmental fields. ”
He explained that “Iraq views the European Union as a reliable partner and supporter of the paths of stability and growth.”
For his part, the European Union ambassador affirmed that “the Union sees Iraq as a strong and pivotal partner in the region,” stressing “the need for the continued development of the Iraqi economy and support for the stability that the country is witnessing, which contributes to enhancing its ability to play its regional and international role.”
He pointed out “the keenness of the Union countries to expand the horizons of cooperation with Iraq during the next stage,” indicating that the two sides discussed during the meeting the issue of ending the work of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), and the mechanisms for moving to a new stage of cooperation that focuses on technical and institutional support.
He added: “They also discussed the latest developments in the Syrian file, and stressed the importance of continuing coordination on regional developments of common interest.”
