Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iraq supports the Language of dialogue and negotiation to find constructive and sustainable solutions that satisfy all parties

The Foreign Minister Mr. Fuad Hussein met the president of the Security Council, Permanent Representative of France for the month of July, Mr. Nicolas de Riviére. At the beginning of the meeting, the Minister thanked and appreciated France’s supportive stance for Iraq in the field of its request for electoral observation. The Minister stressed that the elections are very important for the stability and future of Iraq, and for consolidating the foundations of democracy through the confidence of the masses, and that the international role for election monitoring is very necessary to enhance the level of transparency and voter confidence in the electoral process. 

The future of the US military presence in Iraq was also discussed, as His Excellency clarified that the Iraq government is keen to cooperate with the international community in the field of combating terrorism, and from this standpoint, the outcomes of the fourth round of the strategic dialogue with the United States, were included the withdrawal of American combat forces from Iraq by the end of the current year. Provided that cooperation in the areas of training and advice will continue to enhance the capabilities of the Iraqi security forces in combating terrorism, especially since the threat of ISIS still exists in terms of ideology and organization, taking into account its presence in Iraq and Syria, with the existence of other terrorist organizations seeking to move across national borders, so we work in cooperation with the international community to eliminate ISIS, to confront the terrorist threat and end its existence and its sources of funding. 

The Minister touched on the Iraqi vision of a more stable region, referring to the orientations of the Iraqi foreign policy based on interaction and cooperation, and promotion of dialogue with neighboring countries. 

Adding that Iraq supports the language of dialogue and negotiation to find constructive and sustainable solutions that satisfy all parties, and considers it necessary to focus on the file of sanctions as a priority during the negotiations, and an important entry point for achieving progress towards a sustainable solution. 

For his part, the President of the Security Council, expressed his condolences to the Iraqi government and the families of the victims of terrorist attacks in Iraq stressing the continuation of the French role in support of Iraq, pointing to the visit of the French President to Iraq as evidence of the importance of Iraq and the level of progress achieved by relations at the bilateral level. It is a natural result of Iraq’s position and its importance to stability of the region in the efforts of the war on terrorism. 

Noting that the UN is working directly with the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) to secure the maximum possible role for the UN in the field of electoral observation, and they have provided a financial grant to UNAMI to enhance its role in the field of electoral assistance.