Abadi and Araji .. and strengthening relations between Iraq and Saudi Arabia

Abadi and Araji .. and strengthening relations between Iraq and Saudi Arabia


Author: Abdel Halim Rahimi

05/8/2017 12:00 AM

Abdul Halim Rahimi,
the rapid and important development achieved during the last period in the relations between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, which represents the visit of Prime Minister Haider Abadi and Interior Minister Qassim Araji to Riyadh, resulting in agreements and pledges of joint work in various levels between the two countries, The deadlock or the cold relations between the two countries since 2003, despite the overthrow of the regime of Saddam at the time, which was one of the main reasons for the obstruction to improve those relations and return to normal. These relations were characterized during that period cold and convulsions and the continued absence of representation Saudi diplomat in Baghdad, but began experiencing, with the formation of Dr. Abadi , his government in September 2014, a remarkable development of Iraq and by expressing his Prime Minister this desire a similar desire to a great extent and talk began preparing to open a Saudi embassy in Baghdad and the appointment of an ambassador. Despite the faltering achievement of this goal in a timely manner, the visit of Dr. Fuad Masum to Riyadh after his election as President of the Republic, and then the visit of Parliament Speaker Dr. Salim Jubouri to Riyadh and then meeting with the King of Saudi Arabia to help moisten the atmosphere between the two countries and achieve relative progress in relations, The transition to an advanced stage is a breakthrough for the situation of stalemate and tension sometimes in the run-up to the Abbadi government.
As an expression of Riyadh's desire to improve relations with Iraq, Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz sent an official invitation to Prime Minister Abbadi to visit the kingdom, which he accepted thankfully, leaving the history of its investigation to a later time.
With the continuation of the positive atmosphere and the opening of the Saudi embassy in Baghdad and the appointment of an ambassador, and after more than a year of official invitation to visit the Kingdom, Prime Minister Abadi decided at the beginning of this year the subject of the visit, without affecting the issue of Ambassador Sabhan and request Riyadh to replace it as unwanted . Abadi has been preparing to send the Saudi leadership to Foreign Minister Adil Jubeir to Baghdad on February 25 to prepare for Abadi's visit and its agenda, which put the points on the letter of the first meeting between Prime Minister Abbadi and the Saudi King at the end of last March on the sidelines of the Arab summit held then In Amman .
On June 19 and 20, Dr. Abbadi made his historic visit to Riyadh where he held lengthy and fruitful talks, as indicated by the concerned parties on both sides, with Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other senior officials. The Iraqi delegation, as well as the Prime Minister, included five ministers and a number of senior specialists in various security, military, economic, commercial and transport affairs. At the end of the meetings and the meeting, a joint statement was issued on June 20, focusing on the agreement between the two sides to combat extremism and fight terrorism, especially as well as rejecting the spirit of hatred, violence, sectarian discrimination and sectarian strife. Both sides declared that they had achieved a "qualitative leap" in their relations.
The important issue of the statement was the agreement of the two sides to form a (Saudi-Iraqi coordination council) with the aim of enhancing political, security and economic cooperation to upgrade their relations to the strategic level and to open new horizons at all levels
and activate the partnership between the private and public sectors.
The visit was followed by the visit of the Minister of the Interior to Riyadh, where he was received with a remarkable welcome and willingness to discuss security, political, border issues, pilgrims, pilgrims and visitors. Al-Araji confirmed his desire to open a new chapter of brotherly relations between the two countries. The two countries and the two peoples and pointed out that the Saudi officials told him the need to contact and direct dialogue between the officials of the two countries away from the mediators who do not transfer the truth, but distort them.
In order to maintain the momentum and pace of the development and strengthening of the relations between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, the Council of Ministers decided in its meeting on July 25, the formation of a committee headed by Interior Minister Qassim Araji and the membership of four ministers and a large number of specialists and the Chairman of the Investment Authority, to follow up talks with the concerned authorities in Saudi Arabia To promote economic and investment relations in the commercial, agricultural and industrial fields in the public and private sectors. At the same time, he decided to authorize the head of the National Investment Authority to negotiate and sign a draft agreement to
encourage and protect investors in both countries.
In fact, what has achieved this important breakthrough in the relations between Iraq and Saudi Arabia and the role of Prime Minister Abadi and Interior Minister Qassim Araji in his achievement and seek to move it to the stages of a higher strategy and further, but refers to the importance of this achievement for the two countries, Iraq and Saudi Arabia and their people, despite some of the adverse conditions, The prime minister said that this visit came to Riyadh amid attempts to obstruct the rapprochement with Saudi Arabia and the countries of the region. Of course, the success of this visit in consolidating and strengthening the rapprochement with the important breakthrough achieved in the relations between Iraq and Saudi Arabia has thwarted attempts to Obstructing efforts unfruitful useless to their owners !.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]