Azerbaijan, Iraq explore prospects for development of relations

Discussions on the potential development of Azerbaijani-Iraqi relations were held as the Azerbaijani Ambassador to Iraq, Nasir Mammadov, met with the Prime Minister of Iraq, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.

During the meeting, Prime Minister al-Sudani extended greetings to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and conveyed his wishes for the continued progress and prosperity of the friendly Azerbaijani people, per Azertag.

Al-Sudani highlighted the significance of leveraging existing opportunities to bolster bilateral ties and enhance collaboration across various sectors including energy, economy, investment, tourism, education, and infrastructure.

He underscored the positive trajectory of relations between the two nations over the past couple of years, noting that the official visit of Iraqi President Abdel Latif Jamal Rashid to Azerbaijan in November of the previous year marked a milestone in bilateral relations. Additionally, reciprocal high-level visits have further catalyzed the advancement of relations.

The Prime Minister mentioned that discussions during the visits of Azerbaijan's Minister of Digital Development and Transport, Rashad Nabiyev, in December 2023, and Economy Minister Mikail Jabbarov in March of the current year, were productive in identifying areas for cooperation.

In response, Ambassador Nasir Mammadov expressed gratitude for the warm reception and conveyed President Ilham Aliyev's greetings to Prime Minister al-Sudani. Highlighting the robust cooperation within international organizations, the ambassador stressed the diverse avenues through which Azerbaijani-Iraqi relations evolve, emphasizing the substantial potential for deeper collaboration.

Mammadov also mentioned Azerbaijan's upcoming hosting of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in November, expressing confidence in Iraq's constructive contribution to the event.

Prime Minister al-Sudani, underlining the urgency of addressing climate change issues such as global warming, desertification, and drought, affirmed Iraq's commitment to participate actively in COP29 with a sizable delegation.

Furthermore, the meeting facilitated an extensive exchange of perspectives on other mutual concerns and interests.