Morocco reopens embassy in Iraq after 18-year hiatus

Morocco's embassy in Baghdad has been reopened after an 18-year hiatus, with the reopening ceremony attended by the Foreign Ministers of the two states, Nasser Bourita and Fouad Hussein.

As Iraqi News reported, the foreign minister of the North African Kingdom assured Iraq's minister of Morocco's "support for the unity and sovereignty of Iraq."

According to the publication, Bourita's visit is of great importance and opens a new phase in Morocco-Iraq relations.

"It is an important sign of Morocco's confidence in the new Iraq", Bourita stressed, referring to his visit and the opening of the embassy.

The visit marks the first by a Moroccan foreign minister in nearly 25 years, and the first by a Moroccan government official in at least two decades.

The publication recalled, that Rabat closed its embassy in Baghdad in the fall of 2005 after Al-Qaeda terrorists kidnapped two of the embassy’s employees and the deteriorating security situation in Iraq at that time.

According to the outlined plans, the two countries intend to develop relations in many areas, including consultations on political issues, trade and economic cooperation, combating extremism, strengthening security cooperation, and exchanging experiences in various fields.