Baghdad (NINA) – Foreign Minister, Hoshyar Zebari discussed with foreign ministers of Sweden, Carl Bildt, Poland, Radoslaw Sikorski, and Bulgaria, Nickolay Mladenov, Iraq's relations with the European Union and developments of the Syrian crisis.
A statement issued on Saturday, June 23, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "The three European ministers arrived in Iraq on a joint initiative to support Iraq's democracy and the Iraqi-European Cooperation and Partnership Agreement to get acquainted with Iraq's opinion on the Syrian crisis and means to overcome it to realize regional security and stability."
The statement added that during a joint press conference held on Saturday afternoon, Zebari pointed out that the Iraqi government supports achieving economic, commercial and political partnership between Iraq and the European Union, and that the Agreement drew legal frame for fruitful relations between the two."
As for Iraq's opinion on the Syrian crisis, Zebari clarified that Iraq seeks national reconciliation, though it supports peoples' demand for freedom and right of self-determination and gradual democratic political change, yet, it believes that Iraq must be a party in any international or regional talks on the Syrian crisis.
The statement added that the three European ministers met with Speaker of Parliament, Usama al-Nijiafi, discussing Iraqi-European relations and Parliament's role in consolidating the country's political process; they also touched on the Syrian crisis.
The Ministers met also with Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Affairs, Hussein al-Shehristani, discussing Iraq's readiness to supply the European Union's countries with oil and gas, as well as the possibilities of cooperation in the field of energy. / End.
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