Opportunities for cooperation between Iraq and Ukraine

The Directorate-General for Rendering Services to Diplomatic Missions (GDIP) has published in its Diplomatic Ukraine Yearbook 2019 the article of H.E. Mr. Bakir Ahmed Al-Jaff, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Iraq to Ukraine. The article is as follows.

Diplomatic relations between Iraq and Ukraine were established more than a quarter of a century ago. On December 16, 1992 Non-Resident Diplomatic Mission of the Republic of Iraq was accredited to Ukraine, though the cooperation in various fields, in particular economic, cultural and scientific was established before that date.The relations between the two friendly countries – Iraq and Ukraine– reached a new level when Ukraine decided in 2000 to open its Embassy in Baghdad. Iraq in its turn opened its Embassy in Kyiv in 2002 marking a new stage in the bilateral relations between the two countries which witnessed thereafter the signing of several memorandums of understanding in numerous significant fields and the beginning of the Ukrainian-Iraqi Joint Commission’s first meetings.

After 2003 the level of relations with Ukraine has risen considerably that was positively reflected in different areas, including growth in turnover (in private sector also), increasing number of Iraqis studying in Ukrainian universities, exchange visits between officials from both countries, signing of agreements and bilateral memorandums of understanding, further consideration of draft agreements between the relevant ministries of both countries expected to be signed during the current year. Also in 2018 Iraqi Airlines began to operate Baghdad-Kyiv direct flights that made travelling for citizens and official delegations from both countries easier and more comfortable.

Basing on our experience of working in Ukraine (and not as a matter of courtesy) we would like to note that opportunities of cooperation between Iraq and Ukraine are vast and numerous and we closely cooperate with the Government of Ukraine to develop and diversify these opportunities seeking to raise relations between Iraq and Ukraine to a new level in correspondence with the potential of the two countries and in full compliance with norms of diplomatic and international interactions pursued by the Iraqi Government towards all the friendly and peace loving countries of the world.

We would also like to praise the lasting positive relations between the Iraqi Embassy and Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry reflected through the development of diplomatic cooperation in the mutual interest of Iraq and Ukraine.

In conclusion, the Embassy avails itself of this opportunity to express its highest appreciation and pride in the long-standing friendship between the two countries and their history. Also the Embassy extends its deepest gratitude to the Directorate-General for Rendering Services to Diplomatic Missions for providing the opportunity to write this article about the relations between Iraq and Ukraine and for the constructive and continuing cooperation over the years with the diplomatic missions, accredited to Ukraine, in particular organization of visits and trips for diplomats to explore the beautiful nature of Ukraine, including sightseeing of Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities as well as oldest universities in Ukraine.

Our best wishes for progress and prosperity to Iraq and Ukraine!