BRUSSELS, March 19 (KUNA) — The European Union praised on Sunday the role of Iraq as “constructive” linked with the recent Saudi-Iranian agreement to normalize their relations.
“We appreciate Iraq’s constructive role in the region.
We have seen recently Saudi Arabia and Iran normalizing their relations,” EU High Representative Josep Borrell told journalists ahead of the EU-Iraq Council meeting in Brussels this evening.
“Let us not forget that the first round of negotiations leading to this positive outcome took place in Baghdad. We also welcome your policy of good neighborly relations, ” he said.
“It will contribute to the stability of the region and to ease tensions,” said Borrell adding that “at the same time, we condemn attacks on Iraq’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.” The third EU-Iraq Cooperation Council is chaired by Borrell from the EU side and Fuad Mohammed Hussein, Iraqi foreign minister is leading his country’s large delegation.
They will discuss developments in Iraq and in the EU, regional affairs and security, and topics such as migration, democracy and human rights, trade and energy, said the EU foreign policy chief.
“After a difficult post-Dae’sh period, Iraq now has a government with an ambitious domestic agenda including reforms,” he noted.
On his part, Fouad Hussein said “this meeting will be a historical meeting because we are going to discuss some matters which are very serious and some matters which are very important for Iraq and the EU.” “We will discuss bilateral relations with the EU,” he said adding that ties between the two sides are “very good”.
“Iraq is going to be a gas country and we will invest in this field so that we can use gas for internal benefit but also to export gas to other countries including Europe,” he added.
The Iraqi minister expressed his happiness about the Saudi-Iranian agreement saying this agreement and better relations in the area means there will be less tensions and we are going to pay more attention to build our economy and to build security not only inside Iraq but also in the region.
The Iraqi foreign minister is to meet NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Monday. (end) nk.mb
Source: Kuwait News Agency