Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Opens Embassy of Republic of Iraq in Zagreb

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mr. Fuad Hussein opened on Monday, October 21, 2024, the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in Zagreb, in a step aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between Iraq and Croatia, and consolidating the foundations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

The opening ceremony was attended by the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia Dr. Gordan Grlić Radman, the Croatian Ambassador to Iraq Mr. Ivan Jurić, the Director General for Economic Affairs Ms. Irena Alajbeg, the Head of Sector of Africa and the Middle East Ms.Tamara Krupski, in addition to a number of Arab ambassadors accredited to Croatia.

In his speech at the ceremony, the Minister underlined that the opening of the Embassy reflects the depth of relations between the two friendly countries, and comes within the successes of Iraqi foreign policy at the regional and international levels, as well as the progress made in multilateral cooperation.

Minister Fuad Hussein, indicated that Iraq aspires to develop its relations with Croatia, taking into consideration that expanding Iraqi diplomatic representation abroad is a fundamental pillar for achieving the goals of foreign policy, stressing Iraq’s commitment to strengthen its relations with Croatia across various political, economic, scientific and cultural fields. 

Minister Hussein stressed that deepening friendly relations between the Republic of Iraq and the Republic of Croatia aims to strengthen cooperation ties in various sectors, which brings positive gains for both parties, as well Minister Hussein pointed out that relations between the two countries are on an upward path to achieve common goals, and this opens the doors to broader cooperation, especially with Croatian companies operating in Iraq in the fields of construction and energy.

The Minister added that the Iraqi Government supports foreign companies from friendly countries seeking to invest, including the Croatian companies, affirming that Iraq has rich natural resources and a strategic location that makes it a link in global trade, which enhances its pivotal role in the Middle East and beyond.

The Minister, indicated that Croatia, had an active role in supporting Iraq during its war against terrorist groups, through the participation of its military advisors within the Global Coalition forces and providing military advice, in addition to contributing to attracting the most prominent international companies to work in Iraq.

At the end of his speech, Minister Fuad Hussein stressed the importance of the role of the Iraqi and Croatian communities in strengthening relations between the two countries.

On the sidelines of the opening ceremony, the Minister held a meeting with the staff of the Iraqi Embassy in Zagreb, where he urged them to exert efforts to enhance bilateral relations and serve Iraq’s interests on the international arena.