Iraq summit leaders pledge co-operation on boosting Mideast stability
BAGHDAD, August 28, 2021
Iraq's Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership on Saturday ended on a positive note with the participating countries agreeing to unify efforts to stabilise the region.
The conference discussed a number of security, political and economic dossiers, in addition to emphasising support for the Iraqi government and the fight against terrorism, said the SPA report.
It was attended by several Middle Eastern leaders and also French President Emmanuel Macron.
Iraq had invited regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran to the summit in bid to calm tensions which have brought these countries closer to open conflict in recent years, reported Reuters.
The Baghdad summit comes as part of Iraqi government's efforts to make them talk to each other instead of settling scores on its territory, it stated.
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, took part in the summit along with his delegation.
Besides Macron, the heads of state who attended included Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, King Abdullah of Jordan and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
Kuwait and the UAE sent their heads of government, while Turkey sent its foreign minister.
Macron was due to stay an extra day to meet Iraqi leaders and visit French special forces fighting Islamic State insurgents.
Speaking at a regional summit in Iraq, Macron said his country would continue to deploy troops there to battle terrorism even if the US were to withdraw.
The comments come in the wake of a deadly attack claimed by the Islamic State in Afghanistan, a country which has come under Taliban control.
"Given the geopolitical events, this conference has taken a special turn," Macron said at the summit convened by Iraq as it seeks to play the role of regional mediator.
"No matter what choices the Americans make, we will maintain our presence in Iraq to fight against terrorism," Macron told a news conference in Baghdad.
The opening session of the conference began in the afternoon with the participation of nine countries and several regional and international organizations to enhance security and economic cooperation in the Middle East.
Kuwait Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al Khaled Al Hamad Al Sabah said the convention was held at critical and crucial time in the region.
Sheikh Sabah emphasized that the region could never witness stability as long as Iraq remained unstable, reported Kuwait Times.
"Iraq is one of the basic security and economic foundations in the region," he said, lauding the nation’s success in overcoming and tackling majority of the problems it had encountered since years back.
Iraq will experience a pivotal phase in its political process that is the parliamentary elections due on October 10 (2021), said the Kuwait Premier, adding that the nation would need support from the regional states and the international community to back up the scheduled polling process.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi said in his speech that the convening of the conference embodies Iraq's vision of establishing "the best relations," voicing his hope that economic partnerships will be achieved through the gathering.
Later in the day, the final conference statement welcomed the Iraqi diplomatic efforts to "reach a common ground at the regional and international levels to strengthen political, economic and security partnerships, adopt constructive dialogue, and consolidate understandings on the basis of common interests."
The participants acknowledged that the region "is facing common challenges that require the regional countries to deal with them on the basis of cooperation and mutual interests," the statement said.
They also renewed "rejection of all types and forms of terrorism and extremist ideology," the statement said.
The conference also stressed the need to continue "cooperation in confronting the Covid-19 pandemic through sharing expertise and exchange of successful experience," it added.
Meanwhile, Iraqi Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein told a press conference that the conference, which he described as an "important historical event," will have influences on the Iraqi and regional situations in the future.
He said that the conference will ease pressures and tensions in the region, and there will be more such conferences later.
