Crown Prince welcomes Iraqi foreign minister
Iraq’s foreign minister arrived in Abu Dhabi yesterday to seek stronger ties with the UAE, as Baghdad looks to rebuild after years of violence. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, received Ibrahim Al Jaafari at Al Bahr Palace in the capital.
Mr Al Jaafari’s visit aims to establish security co-ordination with the UAE and develop an investment fund to reconstruct cities recently liberated from ISIL, including Mosul and Tel Afar.
He was expected to chair a joint UAE-Iraqi committee looking to urge Emirati officials to support the reconstruction of cities battered by Iraq’s battle against ISIL.
UAE’s Ambassador to Iraq, Hassan Ahmed Al Shehhi, yesterday renewed his country’s support for Iraq and its efforts to rebuild.
“The meeting of the joint UAE-Iraqi committee will lead to projects that serve the interest of both states and will enhance joint co-operation in various fields,” the Ambassador said.
Mr Al Jaafari’s visit to the UAE came after the Ministry of Economy last month announced a bilateral business council to increase investment and trade. It is not clear if this is the same body that Mr Al Jaafari was expected to chair during his visit.
“The two parties agreed to form a joint working team or technical committee to enhance investment co-operation and to identify related priorities in vital sectors of the republic of Iraq as it undergoes reconstruction,” the Ministry of Economy said at the time.
In May, Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and Mr Al Jaafari discussed ways of developing Iraqi-Emirati relations and the common risks that both countries face.
Mr Al Jaafari’s visit to Abu Dhabi is the latest in a series of visits by high-level Iraqi officials to Arab Gulf countries, and follows a surprise visit by Iraqi cleric Moqtada Al Sadr to the capital in early August.
That trip had followed a visit by Mr Al Sadr to Saudi Arabia, as well as a number of other meetings between Iraqi and Saudi officials.
Riyadh and Baghdad only restored diplomatic relations in 2015 after 25 years, and their recently improved relations have surprised many observers given the extent of Iranian influence in Iraq.