Undersecretary for Political Planning Receives Yemeni Ambassador to Baghdad

Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry for Political Planning Ambassador Dr. Hisham Al Alawi received in his office the Ambassador of the Republic of Yemen Mr. Alkhader Ahmed Marmash.

After exchanging welcoming remarks, the Undersecretary provided a detailed explanation of the extensive preparations and arrangements being made by the Iraqi government to host the Arab Summit in Baghdad next May, referring to Iraq’s presidency of the next session and the possibility of intensifying efforts to address current regional crises, given its important and influential role in the region. As well he addressed Iraq’s rich experience in democratic transition and Iraq’s vision for achieving development and economic integration with Arab and regional countries.

On his part, Ambassador Marmash commended Iraq’s key and important role in the region and emphasized the historical relations between the two countries. He also conveyed the Yemeni Foreign Minister’s desire to visit Iraq and meet with his Iraqi counterpart Minister Fuad Hussein, ahead of the summit, in addition he referred to the meeting between the Iraqi Prime Minister and the Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, during which an agreement was reached to meet Yemen’s need for Iraqi wheat, given Iraq’s self-sufficiency in growing this crop. In this context, the Ambassador asked the Undersecretary to follow up on the implementation of this agreement, especially after the Iraqi Council of Ministers approved the export of sufficient quantities of wheat to Yemen.

Ambassador Marmash also proposed strengthening academic cooperation between the two countries’ foreign ministries by holding training courses for Yemeni diplomatic staff at the Iraqi Foreign Service Institute.

On his part, Dr. Al Alawi welcomed these initiatives and expressed his willingness to cooperate in organizing training courses for Yemeni diplomatic staff and providing the necessary support to the Yemeni Foreign Ministry in this field, he also affirmed his willingness to convey the Yemeni Foreign Minister’s willingness to visit Iraq and to work on extending an official invitation in this regard from the Iraqi Foreign Minister.

The meeting discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries across various areas, in addition to coordinating the signing of a memorandum of understanding regarding the exemption of holders of diplomatic and service passports from entry visas between the two countries.

The two sides also discussed current regional developments, stressing the importance of intensifying diplomatic efforts to enhance security and peace in the region and finding solutions to current crises through dialogue and joint cooperation.