Ambassador of Iraq to Bulgaria Meets Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Policy and the Bulgarian Minister of Tourism

On 26 March 2021, the Ambassador of Iraq to Bulgaria, Mrs. Lina Jalal Omar, met with the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic and Demographic Policy and Minister of Tourism H.E. Mrs. Mariyana Nikolova in Sofia.

The two sides discussed issues of common interest and ways to promote bilateral relations between the two countries, such as reactivating the work of the joint Iraqi-Bulgarian Committee and ways to strengthen and consolidate sustainable commercial and economic ties between Bulgaria and Iraq, and invited Mrs. Nikolova to visit Iraq, stressing the need for official reciprocal high-level visits to ministries and official bodies as well as inviting Bulgarian businessmen and companies to visit Iraq and contribute to its reconstruction projects after its war against ISIS terrorist groups.

The Ambassador also suggested that there should be cooperation with the Iraqi Ministry of Health and provide the Iraqis with the opportunity to receive health or medical treatment known in Bulgaria and provide possible facilitations for patients in need.
The Ambassador also called for the establishment of a forum for businesswomen and professionals in both countries to exchange cultures and perspectives and work together to raise the level of women’s performance in various professions and jobs, and to encourage women to assume their responsibilities in society in a way that supports the economic, social, political and cultural development.
The Ambassador affirmed the Iraqi government and people’s appreciation for the position of the Republic of Bulgaria refusing to include Iraq on the European Union’s list of high-risk countries in the field of combating money laundering and terrorist financing, and expressed hope that this Bulgarian support would continue.

The Ambassador thanked Mrs. Nikolova for the warm reception and her explanation of the Mesopotamian civilization (the cradle of civilizations), stressing the need to continue joint work to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries, as well as the position of Bulgaria in supporting the political process in Iraq after 2003 by sending military aid to Iraq and training Iraqi security forces in Bulgaria.