Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi met, on Monday, with Iraq’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein to discuss boosting bilateral relations. Hussein arrived in Cairo, on Sunday evening, for an official three-day visit.
Al-Sisi said that Egypt is keen to enhance cooperation with Iraq, and that it supports all methods of achieving Iraq’s interests at various levels. This support extends to helping Iraq overcome all challenges, combat terrorism, and maintain its security and stability.
Al-Sisi and Hussein also discussed the agenda for the two countries’ upcoming trilateral summit with Jordan.
During the meeting, Hussein delivered a message to President Al-Sisi from Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, in which Al-Kadhimi made note of Iraq’s appreciation for Egypt’s efforts to support Iraq at all levels.
Al-Kadhimi also expressed his desire to increase cooperation with Egypt, whilst benefiting from the Egyptian experience in development projects, especially relating to infrastructure and energy projects.
The meeting also tackled a number of Arab and regional issues of mutual interest. The two sides confirmed the need to intensify coordination against regional challenges to fulfil the Egyptian and Iraqi peoples’ aspirations, and ensure security, stability and development in both countries.
Also on Monday, Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry met with his Iraqi counterpart to discuss ways to strengthen the cooperation between Egypt and Iraq in various fields. Whilst noting the depth of ties between the two countries, Shoukry said the cooperation is aimed at serving the interests of the two countries’ citizens.
At a press conference following the meeting, Shoukry emphasised that restoring the Iraqi state’s role and eliminating terrorism and the Islamic State (IS) is also in Egypt’s interests. He confirmed that the two countries are working to strengthen Arab solidarity.
Meanwhile, Hussein is expected to hold a tripartite meeting, on Tuesday, with his Egyptian and Jordanian counterparts. It is anticipated that Tuesday’s ministerial meeting will discuss the implementation of agreements reached during the previous top-level trilateral summit, which was held in the Jordanian capital, Amman, on 25 August.
At the Amman summit, Al-Sisi, Al-Kadhimi, and Jordan’s King Abdullah II agreed to boost cooperation in economic, political, energy and security affairs amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) related aftershocks.
During the visit to Cairo, the Iraqi delegation also met with Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, during which the two sides discussed the latest developments in the Arab region. At the meeting, Hussein asserted that Iraq is facing multiple challenges, and said that by joint action, challenges can be overcome.
Meanwhile, Shoukry said that Egypt remains ready to provide full cooperation and assistance to the Iraqi government, with the country supportive to restore Iraq’s role in the Arab region.
