Iraqi Prime Minister begins European tour with three crucial agreements in France
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi began a fourday tour of Europe yesterday where he will meet top officials in France, Germany and the UK.
Mr Al Kadhimi, who took office in May, is expected to discuss the removal of Iraq from the EU’s list of high-risk countries, economic co-operation, ways to combat the coronavirus pandemic and the war against terrorism, his office said.
The Iraqi leader met French President Emmanuel Macron and top officials yesterday.
“Mr Al Kadhimi pointed to the importance of strengthening co- operation between the two countries in many sectors, as Baghdad is seeking to strengthen relations with the international community on the basis of common interests and to restore Iraq to status in the world,” the prime minister’s office said.
Baghdad and Paris signed agreements in the fields of transport, agriculture and education.
The Iraqi leader was heading to Germany for talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel late yesterday and was scheduled to speak before today’s meeting.
His last stop will be London to meet British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
The Iraqi prime minister is accompanied by a top delegation, comprising the finance,
oil, defence and foreign ministers, as well as governor of the central bank and the head of the investment commission.
Mr Al Kadhimi’s adviser Hisham Dawood said Iraq was
seeking political and economic support from the EU.
Baghdad has been appealing to the international community for financial help after it emerged from a three- year war against ISIS, which left large parts of the country destroyed.
Mr Macron was the first foreign leader to visit Baghdad since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and the appointment of Mr Al Kadhimi.
During the visit in September the French president said Iraq should reassert its sovereignty despite an increase in tensions between the US and Iran, its two biggest allies.
Mr Macron said he visited Baghdad “to launch an initiative alongside the United Nations to support a process of sovereignty”.
He offered to help Iraq fight ISIS sleeper cells and resist foreign interference.
Earlier this month, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian reaffirmed France’s support for Iraq’s “stability, sovereignty and integrity” in the face of attacks on diplomats, foreign forces and civilians.
Armed militia violence against the US- led coalition fighting ISIS has been going on for months in Iraq, although only a few of the attacks have claimed lives.
The US threatened to close its embassy in Baghdad if the attacks continued and the government did not rein in the militias.
Mr Al Kadhimi’s visit to Europe comes at a time where Iraq is facing many internal challenges, including an economic crisis that is heightened by the drop in oil prices and the pandemic.