Round of Political Consultations Between Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and his Finnish Counterpart in Helsinki

Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry for Bilateral Relations Ambassador Mohammed Hussein Bahr Aluloom, held a round of political consultations with Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Security Policy Ambassador Outi Holopainen, in Helsinki on 27 February 2025.

Under-Secretary Holopainen welcomed the convening of this round, affirming her country’s commitment to strengthening relations with Iraq across various areas. On his part, Undersecretary Bahr Aluloom commended Finland’s support for Iraq, noting Iraq’s interest in developing bilateral relations as well he reviewed the long-standing historical dimension that unites the two countries.

During the consultations, Undersecretary Bahr Aluloom stressed that the Iraqi government was able to manage the internal and regional situations wisely, avoiding the repercussions of escalating crises by adopting a policy of dialogue, in addition he pointed out that Baghdad has become an important diplomatic center in light of major strategic projects, such as the “Development Road” project, and Iraq’s pivotal role in mediation efforts to resolve regional conflicts.

On the Syrian issue, Undersecretary Bahr Aluloom touched on recent developments, indicating to the similarities between what Syria has recently witnessed and what Iraq went through in 2003, and stressing the need to respect the will of the Syrian people in determining their political future, as well he warned of the growing threat of Da’esh terrorist organization, underlining the importance of intensifying regional and international cooperation to confront this common threat. In a related context, the Undersecretary reiterated Iraq’s firm position and support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

The two sides agreed on the need to continue efforts to reduce tensions in the region, and enhance relief and humanitarian support, in addition to the vital role of diplomacy in addressing regional issues, they also highlighted the importance of enhancing cooperation in combating terrorism, and working to support the building of a democratic system in Syria that reflects societal diversity and respects human rights and women’s rights.

on her part, Ambassador Holopainen appreciated the significant improvement witnessed by Iraq on the security and economic levels, and expressed Finland’s desire to enhance economic cooperation with Iraq. In this context, the Undersecretary called on the Finnish side to reconsider its assessment of the security situation in Iraq, noting that the current travel warnings do not reflect the positive developments witnessed by the country, he also called for holding meetings of the Iraqi-Finnish Joint Committee, and urged the Finnish government to encourage Finnish companies to expand their investments in the promising Iraqi market.

 At the end of the meeting, the two sides stressed the importance of continuing coordination and follow-up to implement what was agreed upon, and enhancing joint dialogue in a way that contributes to achieving the mutual interests of the two friendly countries.