Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum led a UAE delegation to the Republic of Iraq to participate in the Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership, reports Asian Lite News
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, met today with H.H. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the sisterly State of Qatar, on the sidelines of the “Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership”, held in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sheikh Tamim exchanged views on the conference and its expected results in a way that serve the security and stability of brotherly Iraq. They wished success for the conference and progress and prosperity for the Iraqi people.
The parties tackled ways to enhance bilateral relations that serve the process of construction, development and progress, and achieve the common interests of the two fraternal countries.
Among those who attended the meeting were H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs; Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs; Dr. Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Advisor to UAE President, Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure; Khalifa Saeed Sulaiman, Chairman of Protocols for the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Salem Issa Qattam, UAE Ambassador to Iraq.
Yesterday, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, today led a UAE delegation to the Republic of Iraq to participate in the ‘Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership’.
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.
In a speech during the opening of the Baghdad Summit for Cooperation and Partnership, Iraqi Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kadhimi said, “Terrorism represents a common threat to all, and Iraq refuses to use its territory as an arena of conflict.
He added that Baghdad Conference embodies Iraq’s vision for cooperation, saying that there will be no foothold for terrorism in Iraq, no return to undemocratic routes and no absurd wars. What unites peoples is more than what separates them.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid was accompanied by a high-profile delegation including H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs; Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs; Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure; Dr. Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Advisor to UAE President; Khalifa Saeed Sulaiman, Chairman of Protocols for the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Salem Issa Qattam, UAE Ambassador to Iraq.
Shaikh Mohammad said in a tweet he wished Amirabdollahian success in developing positive relations with neighbouring countries.
Saudi Arabia was represented by its foreign minister, Prince Faisal Bin Farhan, and Iran with its foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian.
Arab solidarity The high-level meeting in Baghdad sent a message of Arab solidarity with Iraq, which has increasingly been pulled into Iran’s orbit in recent years.
“This summit marks the return of Iraq as a pivotal player in the region,’’ said political analyst Ihsan Al Shammari, who heads the Iraqi Political Thinking Center in Baghdad. “Having rival parties be seated at the same table is a significant step in that direction.’’
Iraqi special forces deployed in Baghdad, particularly around the Green Zone, seat of the Iraqi government, where the meeting was held. Participants were expected to discuss a regional water crisis, the war in Yemen and a severe economic and political crisis in Lebanon that has brought the country to the point of collapse.
Lebanon, which has been without a functional government for the past year, and Syria, which has been suspended from the Arab League since 2011, were not represented at the meeting.
Historic moment
Macron, whose country is co-organising the meeting, described yesterdays meeting as “historic,” showcasing Iraq’s return to stability following the ruinous war against the Daesh group, which was defeated in 2017. The meeting was a chance for Iraqi leaders to underscore their recent efforts to portray Iraq as a neutral mediator in the region’s crises and re-engage with the world after decades of conflict.
“Iraq, which for years has been a headline for war and conflicts, is hosting leaders and representatives of the region today to affirm their support for Iraqi sovereignty and prosperity,’’ said President Barham Salih.
Earlier this year, Iraq hosted several rounds of direct talks between regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran, with mid-level officials discussing issues related to Yemen and Lebanon, according to Iraqi officials.
The talks, while significant, fell short of a breakthrough in relations given the deep strains, historic rivalry and continued sporadic attacks on Saudi oil targets by Iran-backed Houthis from Yemen.