President Receives Norwegian Foreign Minister

BAGHDAD / NINA / -President Barham Salih said that moving from the stage of defeating terrorism to the stage of construction requires ending the crises experienced by the country, building the political system, reforming it and restoring the citizen's confidence in his government. "Saleh met today at al-Salam Palace in Baghdad, Norwegian Foreign Minister Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide, and stressed during the meeting the importance of upgrading relations between Iraq and Norway to serve the common interests," a presidential statement said. He pointed out that "Iraq is keenly looking forward to opening up its Arab and international environment and developing its bilateral relations in order to achieve its growth and prosperity and rebuild its affected cities, especially after the victory over terrorist gangs." "The transition from the stage of defeating terrorism to the stage of construction requires ending the crises that the country is experiencing, building the political system, reforming it and restoring the citizen's confidence in his government," he said. He expressed "thanks for Norway's contribution to the international coalition against terrorism, which had clear support for Iraq." For her part, the Norwegian foreign minister re-affirm her country's support for the people and government of Iraq and to seek to develop relations between the two countries in the political, economic, oil and energy fields, expressing the willingness of Norwegian companies and businessmen to contribute to the reconstruction of the country./End