FM and the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation discuss bilateral relations and ways to strengthen them

Baghdad / NINA / -Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fuad Hussein, discussed with the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, Jose Manuel, bilateral relations and ways to enhance them in a way that serves the interests of the two friendly peoples.

 During the meeting at the Ministry's headquarters in Baghdad, the two sides stressed the necessity of stopping the fire in the Gaza Strip and providing humanitarian aid to the people of the Strip.

 During the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs reviewed the historical relations between the two countries, expressing his appreciation to the Kingdom of Spain for its support for the democratic regime in Iraq after 2003, praising its participation in the international coalition during the liberation operations from ISIS terrorist gangs from 2014 until now.

 The Minister called on Spanish companies and capitals to invest in Iraq and rebuild infrastructure, and to contribute to the development of the higher and cultural education sector by granting fellowships, scholarships and cultural exchange between Iraqi and Spanish universities, as well as accelerating the opening of a branch of the Spanish Cervantes Institute in Baghdad to provide courses for learning the Spanish language for the Iraqi student and cultural circles, and activating the memorandum of understanding signed between the Iraqi Foreign Service Institute and the Spanish Diplomatic School in 2017.

 For his part, the Spanish Foreign Minister stressed that his country believes in the unity and sovereignty of Iraq, noting that his visit aims to develop bilateral cooperation,

 He renewed his country's support for the Iraqi government through its contribution as an active member of the NATO mission and its participation in the international coalition to fight ISIS terrorist gangs in Iraq./End