Iraq calls on the Saudi side to reactivate the Baghdad-Riyadh air line

INA - BAGHDAD 

The Minister of Transport, Razzaq Muhaibas Al-Saadawi, called on the Saudi side to reactivate the Baghdad-Riyadh air line, while the Minister of Transport and Logistics, Salih bin Nassir Al-Jassir, affirmed his country’s keenness to implement the railway connection project with Iraq to transport pilgrims, Umrah performers and travelers.

Al-Saadawi, met on the sidelines of the meetings of the Maritime Industry Sustainability Conference held in Jeddah, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with the Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics, Salih bin Nassir Al-Jassir, in the presence of the Iraqi Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Safia Al-Suhail, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport for Technical Affairs, Talib Bayesh, and a number of ministry officials, indicating that “projects and agreements in the transport sector between the two countries were discussed.”

During the meeting, Al-Saadawi conveyed the greetings of PM Muhammed S. Al-Sudani to King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince Muhammed bin Salman, and officials of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

They discussed several files, focusing on the railway connection project between Iraq and Saudi Arabia to transport pilgrims, Umrah performers, and travelers between the two countries. They also discussed in detail the development road project initiated by the Iraqi government, and the Saudi side expressed great support for the project, the next few days will witness the visit of a Saudi technical delegation to Baghdad to discuss the details of the project.

The statement pointed out, "The maritime transport agreement between the two countries was discussed, which aims to increase the traffic of intra-trade ships, in order to increase trade exchange and facilitate procedures for access to the ports," explaining, "The meeting reviewed the work of the Transport, Border Crossings and Ports Committee of the Iraqi-Saudi Coordination Council."

Regarding air transport, Al-Saadawi called on “the Saudi side to reactivate the Baghdad-Riyadh line, which has stopped operating since the 1990s,” as the Saudi side expressed its readiness to cooperate and discuss the issue of air transport.

In turn, the Minister of Transport and Logistics, Salih bin Nassir Al-Jassir, expressed his thanks and gratitude for Al-Saadawi’s response to the invitation to attend the Maritime Industry Sustainability Conference held in Jeddah, pointing out that “the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia supports strengthening joint cooperation with Baghdad.”

"The Kingdom has an integrated transportation network near the Iraqi border, and it can be connected and connected with Iraqi transportation networks," he stated, explaining, "Riyadh is interested and ready to support Iraq's strategic projects."

He pointed out that "Iraqi Airlines is welcomed at the airports of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," pledging "to overcome any obstacles facing the process of resuming flights between Baghdad and Riyadh."