Supervisor Elham AbolFateh
Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

Greek FM in Baghdad for First Time in 2 Decades


Wed 14 Oct 2020 | 08:39 PM
H-Tayea

In his first visit to Iraq since 1998, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias arrived in Baghdad on Wednesday and held talks with senior officials, headed by President Barham Salih and Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi.

He also met with his Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein to discuss enhancing bilateral relations and the latest regional and international developments.

In a joint press conference after his meeting with the Iraqi foreign minister, Dendias said that Iraq is "Greece's partner" and the two sides have signed two memoranda of understanding to be a basis for developing relations between the two countries.

Dendias told reporters that he exchanged views on bilateral relations and regional affairs, and relations between Iraq and Greece are at a good level. "We aspire to boost development and relations at the economic level," he noted.

"Finally, I had the opportunity to update my colleague on developments in the Eastern Mediterranean with Turkey’s gunboat diplomacy, a practice, I have to say, of previous centuries, that unfortunately continues. Particularly, regarding the illegal activities of Turkey on Greece’s continental self, as well as its decision to open the Varosha coastal front in the occupied part of the Republic of Cyprus."

Greece has repeatedly stated at the highest level its readiness to engage in a dialogue with Turkey, on the basis of respect of international law and the principle of good neighbourly relations. 

On his part, the Iraqi minister said "We have touched on, and we confirmed that peaceful dialogue is the only way to solve problems on the basis of international law, respecting states' sovereignty, and non-interference in the internal affairs of states."

Hussein also expressed thanks to Greece for its stance in assisting Iraq in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) group through its role as part of the international coalition, saying that Greece provided support and military training to the Iraqi army in its war against the extremist ISIS organization.

After Baghdad, Dendias will visit Erbil where he will meet with the President and the Prime Minister of Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani and Marsour Barzani, respectively, as well as with former leader Masoud Barzani.