FM: Drought threatens the economy and agriculture in Iraq

INA - BAGHDAD 

Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein stressed on Tuesday, during joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, attended by the correspondent of the Iraqi News Agency - INA, that drought threatens the Iraqi economy and agriculture, while pointing out that the Iraqi constitution does not allow any organization to use Iraq as a launching area for attacking neighboring countries.

"This is the first visit of the Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, to Baghdad. Holding a practical and important meeting with the Turkish Foreign Minister on the Iraqi-Turkish relations," said Hussein.

He added that "the meeting touched on the water file, since the two countries are affected by climate change. He discussed with the Turkish minister that Iraq would obtain a fair share of water, and the Turkish minister suggested the formation of a permanent joint committee to address the issue."

"Drought threatens the Iraqi economy and agriculture. The meeting dealt with the file of the Turkish military presence in Iraq," he added.

He indicated that "the Iraqi constitution does not allow any organization to use Iraq as a launching area for attacking neighboring countries," stressing that "the meeting also discussed facilitating granting Iraqis visas to Turkey, as there are about 700,000 Iraqis living in Turkey."

"The meeting touched on the need to hold a meeting of the joint economic and trade committee, and also discussed the need to speed up the agreement on memorandums of understanding and bring them into action."