Al-Sudani Engages in Comprehensive Talks with Dutch Counterpart

Baghdad-INA

Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani agreed today, Thursday, with his Dutch counterpart, Mark Rutte, to form a comprehensive bilateral cooperation council.

The Prime Minister’s Media Office stated in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), that “Today, Thursday, Prime Minister Muhammad Shia’ al-Sudani held bilateral discussions with his Dutch counterpart, Mark Rutte, related to enhancing cooperation and partnership between the two countries, at the beginning of his official visit to The Netherlands, which he arrived this morning, in the presence of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Agriculture.”

Following the discussions, a luncheon was hosted in honor of the Prime Minister's official visit. Subsequently, a meeting took place between the delegations of both countries, delving into various topics of mutual interest and concern.

During the discussions, an agreement was reached to establish a comprehensive bilateral cooperation council between Iraq and the Netherlands. This council will oversee specialized committees in various sectors, notably agriculture and its development, as well as water management and irrigation technologies. These committees will address Iraq's needs, particularly in light of water scarcity, and leverage the extensive expertise of Dutch companies in this domain.

Prime Minister expressed his gratitude for the Dutch support to Iraq within the international coalition during the fight against ISIS. He reiterated Iraq's commitment to transitioning towards bilateral relations to uphold cooperation and stability efforts. Furthermore, he reaffirmed Iraq's stance on the unnecessary presence of the international coalition in Iraq, given the enhanced capabilities of Iraqi security forces.

Al-Sudani underscored the importance of international duty to halt the aggression in Gaza. He emphasized the need for European countries to fulfill their role in safeguarding the Palestinian people from the ongoing genocide perpetrated against them on their land.

For his part, the Dutch Prime Minister emphasized his country's commitment to strengthening its partnership with Iraq, aiming to transition cooperation relations from the security domain to economic and developmental sectors. He also expressed appreciation for Prime Minister Al-Sudani's invitation to Dutch companies to engage in Iraq economy, extending opportunities to participate in infrastructure construction, development initiatives, and significant strategic economic projects.