President Receives US Secretary Of State

BAGHDAD / NINA / -President Barham Salih stressed that Iraq is keen to build balanced relations with all friendly and allied countries. Saleh, during his meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, emphasized the need for a constructive dialogue among all parties to achieve security and peace, ease tension and instability in the Arab and regional arenas and promote international and regional cooperation to end extremism and defeat terrorism once and for all. Saleh stressed during the meeting that Iraq is keen to build balanced relations with all friendly and allied countries based on respect for sovereignty and constancy and independence of national decision. He pointed to the depth of the relationship between the two countries, stressing the importance of developing them to achieve the common interests of the two friendly peoples, and the importance of the American contribution to the reconstruction of Iraq and the advancement of its economy and the upgrading of all sectors. He praised the United States' support for Iraq politically and security, especially in its war against terrorism and the achievement of the great victory over Daesh gangs. For his part, the US Secretary of State retreated his government's keenness to establish special relations with Iraq at various levels, stressing his country's continued commitment to fight Daesh and terrorism. Pompeo said that America considers Iraq an important and strategic partner in the political, economic and security fields, expressing his country's readiness to invest and contribute to the reconstruction of Iraq, especially its liberated cities./ End