President Rashid returns to Baghdad after participating in the UN Climate Summit

INA - BAGHDAD

President of the Republic, Abdul Latif Rashid, returned to Baghdad on Friday after concluding his participation in the United Nations Climate Summit COP29, which was held in Baku, Azerbaijani.

The United Nations Climate Summit COP29 was held in Baku, Azerbaijani from November 12 to 13, which was attended by a large number of member states of the United Nations in addition to governmental and non-governmental organizations, according to a statement by the Presidency of the Republic - received by the Iraqi News Agency - INA.

The President of the Republic met with the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, to discuss the nature of the close relations between Iraq and Azerbaijan at various levels, and President Rashid stressed the importance of expanding the horizons of cooperation to include the fields of economy, industry, investment, tourism, environment and energy in a manner that serves the interests of the two countries.

In a speech for President Rashid during the main session of the summit stressed "Iraq's position rejecting the aggression on Gaza and Lebanon and the victims it left behind," calling on "the international community to assume its responsibilities in imposing a ceasefire and recognizing the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination."

"Within the framework of his participation in the COP29 Climate Summit, the President met with several heads of state, including Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, heads of government such as Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, and Belgian PM Alexander De Croo, as well as crown princes and princes, including the Crown Prince of Kuwait, His Highness Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah. 

During these meetings, "the President discussed bilateral relations and enhancing joint cooperation, reviewing the latest developments in the region, as well as the efforts made to consolidate security and peace at the regional and international levels, in addition to discussing the work of the Climate Summit and the desired results from it, what was proposed by the participating countries, the problems they face and the solutions to overcome them, as well as mechanisms for expanding the horizons of constructive cooperation to confront the dangers of climate change and its negative effects on all aspects of life." 

The President of the Republic met with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, and discussed "ways of cooperation with the United Nations and its various components."

Rashid also participated in a discussion panel sponsored by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations - FAO and attended by its Director, Qu Dongyu, during which mechanisms were discussed "to accelerate financing of climate action for resilient agricultural and food systems in fragile and conflict-affected countries."

The President of the Republic also received the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol, where he stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation between Iraq and the International Agency in the field of energy use and supporting Iraq's efforts in this path to revive its economy and sustainably benefit from its wealth. 

He also received the President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Odile Renaud-Basso, and the Director of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva, each separately. 

In the two meetings, "bilateral cooperation relations and ways to enhance them were reviewed in the context of supporting the development path in Iraq, where the President of the Republic stressed Iraq's endeavor to implement integrated programs and plans to stimulate the economy and support the process of financial and banking reform and finance and implement infrastructure and reconstruction projects in the fields of health, energy, agriculture and electricity, as well as the education sector." 

The statement concluded that "the President of the Republic conducted press interviews with several Azerbaijani and foreign media channels during which he spoke about the COP29 climate summit and the situations in Iraq and the region from the political, security, economic and environmental aspects," pointing to "the means to consolidate regional and global security, peace and stability in various fields."