Foreign Ministry: Dutch PM to visit Baghdad next February

Baghdad /NINA/ -The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Saturday that Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof will visit Baghdad next February to sign several memoranda of understanding in the fields of energy, water, and agriculture.

A ministry statement indicated that "Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein met with the Dutch Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, Marcel de Vink, on the sidelines of the 23rd Doha Forum, and discussed with him bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to strengthen them in areas of common interest."

The statement added that "Vink offered his congratulations on the successful electoral process in Iraq."

For his part, Hussein noted that "the elections proceeded very smoothly," emphasizing their "precision and organization," which reflects the progress of the democratic experience in the country.

The statement continued, "The Foreign Minister reviewed the ongoing political activity in Iraq to form the next government," stressing "the commitment of all parties to strengthening political stability."

The statement explained that "the meeting also addressed the upcoming visit of the Dutch Prime Minister to Baghdad in February, which will witness the signing of several memoranda of understanding in the fields of energy, water, and agriculture, and an inspection of the ongoing work at the Grand Faw Port in Basra, where Dutch companies are participating in a joint project to construct berths and develop infrastructure." It indicated that "the two sides discussed developments in the region, particularly the Iranian issue," and emphasized "the necessity of adopting dialogue as the best option for achieving regional stability."

The statement clarified that the importance of Iraq's role in strengthening regional security and maintaining balance in the region was also highlighted./ End