Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein Participation in Antalya Forum: Fruitful Meetings for Enhancing Cooperation, Strategic Partnership and Maintaining Regional Security

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, participated in the Third Antalya Diplomacy Forum, which took place for the period 01-03 March, 2024, under the theme “Advancing Diplomacy in Times of Turmoil”, under the auspices of Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of the Republic of Turkey, and with the attendance of heads of states and governments, ministers from more than 100 countries.

During the Forum Minister Hussein held Twelve bilateral meetings aimed at strengthening and developing Iraq’s relations, including meetings with his counterparts, ministers of Turkey, Lebanon, Palestine, Azerbaijan, and Mali, in addition to the Malaysian Minister of Higher Education, the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, and the Speaker of National Assembly of Tanzania, and the Secretary General Of Conference On Interaction And Confidence Building Measures In Asia.

The Palestinian cause was the center of the discussion in most meetings, to which the Minister stressed Iraq’s firm stance on the necessity of a ceasefire, facilitating procedures for delivering aid to the Palestinian people, and supporting UNRWA.

In addition to, discussing regional and international issues of common concern, conflicts in the region, and seeking appropriate ways to reach effective diplomatic solutions.

The Minister also participated in a dialogue session held by the Vice President of Turkey Mr. Cevdet Yilmaz, entitled “International Trade, Connectivity and Interdependence”. during his Speech Minister Hussein reviewed Iraq economic situation, which was represented by, emerging from economic isolation that Iraq suffered during the era of the former regime, indicating the efforts exerted by the current government to diversify sources of income, in addition to the plans of making Iraq a gas exporter during the next three years, in addition to the importance of strengthening trade cooperation with different countries of the world.

In addition to the political meetings and dialogue sessions, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein held private press interviews in Antalya, with media including a television interview with CNN Turk, in which he talked about the latest developments in the region, another interview with the Russian Sputnik agency, an interview with the Turkish Anadolu agency, a television interview with the Turkish TRT channel, and a press interview with the Bloomberg, in addition to press statements to the Al Arabiya channel during the forum .

Through these meetings, Minister Hussein emphasized the fundamentals of Iraq’s foreign policy, most important of which is preserving the country’s sovereignty and rejecting to let Iraq be a place for settling scores. He also pointed out the necessity of ending the conflict in the region, and abandoning military options to avoid escalation, stressing that Iraq is moving in the direction of openness towards all countries.