President Rashid: Increasing the Iraqi-Azerbaijani cooperation is important

INA - BAGHDAD 

President Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid stressed on Wednesday, the importance of increasing the joint cooperation between Iraq and Azerbaijan.

Rashid met the Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev in Baku, according to a statement by the Presidency of the Republic office, received by the Iraqi News Agency - INA.

During the meeting, they discussed the bilateral relations between Iraq and Azerbaijan and agreed on the necessity of upgrading and developing them. The President stressed the importance of increasing the joint cooperation in the economic, investment, tourism and energy fields, in a way that serves the interests of the two countries.

"Iraq, after overcoming many challenges and forming a government, is living in a state of distinguished stability at the political, economic and security levels," said the President.

He highlighted "the efforts to simplify and facilitate administrative procedures for investments within an integrated framework aimed at rehabilitating the country's infrastructure and advancing its economic situation in general, and to the volume of investment opportunities that will be reached after approving the budget."

The President pointed out, saying that "Iraq has changed for the better, and it is one of the founders of the United Nations. Its foreign relations are excellent. It has carried out important mediations at the regional level to bring points of view closer," stressing the seriousness of the current government in achieving comprehensive stability and the support of the majority of Arab countries to restore Iraq to its pivotal role.

Rashid indicated the importance of encouraging businessmen to invest, calling for lifting the visa ban on Iraqis, while expressing his wishes for "success for the Non-Aligned Movement summit to be hosted by Baku."

In turn, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev expressed his thanks to President Rashid for accepting the invitation and participating in the Non-Aligned Summit, stressing that "President Rashid's visit constitutes an opportunity to discuss strengthening and consolidating bilateral relations between the two countries on several levels."

Aliyev stressed the role of the Non-Aligned Movement and its influence in the world and the future plans to establish a representative for it in New York, pointing to his country's keenness to expand the area of cooperation and coordination with Iraq, especially in the areas of work, construction and industries.  "There are opportunities to expand economic relations further in a manner that achieves the aspirations of the two peoples in progress and well-being,” said Aliyev.

The Azerbaijani president expressed "his hope that the certificates granted to Iraqi students who obtain their degrees from Azerbaijan will be approved."

The meeting was attended by the Minister of Health, Salih Al-Hasnawi, and the Chargé d'Affaires of the Iraqi Embassy in Baku, Makki Al-Mamouri, according to the statement.