Iraq’s top leaders – President Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid, Prime Minister Mohammed Al-Sudani, and Speaker of the House Mohammed Al-Halbousi – have expressed their country’s keenness to build substantial partnerships with neighbouring and friendly countries, revitalizing and activating the economy among countries in the region.
A presidential statement mentioned that President Rashid had received the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jasim Mohammed Al-Badiwi, and his accompanying delegation. During the meeting, they discussed relations between Iraq and the GCC, with Rashid emphasizing the importance of the robust relationships between the two sides.
Rashid added, “We are striving for strong political, social, administrative, and diplomatic relations with our brotherly and friendly countries,” stating that “Iraq is keen to expand diplomatic representation with countries worldwide. Our relations are good with neighbouring countries and we appreciate Iraq’s role in bringing viewpoints closer together.”
On his part, Al-Badiwi expressed “full confidence that the relations between Iraq and the Gulf states will witness positive developments at the level of electric linkage, commercial exchange, and other ties and commonalities.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Al-Sudani underscored the importance of continuing coordination with the Gulf Cooperation Council states in recovering looted Iraqi funds. A statement from his office detailed that the Prime Minister had received the Secretary-General of the GCC and his delegation and discussed various areas of mutual cooperation. Al-Sudani emphasized “Iraq’s keenness to build serious partnerships with the region’s brotherly and friendly countries and their peoples, striving to open up to the Arab, regional, and international environment.”
Al-Badiwi confirmed “the region’s satisfaction with the encouraging policies of the Iraqi government,” pointing to “the importance of the Iraqi-Gulf Business Forum to be held in Sharjah next September, which will reinforce economic partnerships between the Gulf and Iraq.”
Additionally, Speaker of the House Al-Halbousi discussed with the Secretary-General of the GCC “prospects of joint cooperation in various fields, including security, counter-narcotics, economic, investment, electric linkage, as well as cooperation in cultural, academic, artistic, and sports fields.”
Al-Halbousi pointed out Iraq’s openness to its Arab surroundings, confirming the council’s keenness to pass the necessary legislations to strengthen all relations, especially economic, between Iraq and its brethren in the Gulf states.
Furthermore, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein reviewed the electrical linkage with the Gulf and Saudi Arabia and encouraged the entry of Gulf companies into Iraq. The Foreign Minister, in a joint press conference with the GCC Secretary-General, stated that “Iraq’s foreign policy is based on strengthening and developing relations with brotherly and friendly countries.” He added that “the electrical linkage with the Gulf and Saudi Arabia was a main axis of the discussion, as well as encouraging the entry of Gulf companies into Iraq.”
