Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto on Thursday held meetings with top Iraqi officials and discussed means to boost bilateral relations and the reopening of his country's embassy in Baghdad.
Finland is looking forward to economic cooperation between the European Union and Iraq and the reopening of its embassy there, said Haavisto during a joint press conference held with his Iraqi counterpart.
For his part, Fuad Hussein welcomed the reopening of Finland’s embassy in the country.
“We discussed the situation of the Iraqi community in Finland and means of joining efforts to resolve their problems,” he told reporters, adding that they also discussed inviting Finnish companies to invest in Iraq.
President Barham Salih also met with Haavisto and stressed the importance of bolstering friendship and bilateral cooperation in all fields to serve mutual interests.
In a presidential statement, Salih said Iraq relies on its foreign relations on the principle of balance and preservation of its sovereignty and stability, in addition to joint work with all parties to ensure regional stability and security.
He expressed his country’s interest and sincere desire for the “international efforts in the war against terrorism to continue and dry up its resources and sources of funding and attain international peace and security.”
Salih also stressed the importance of the international community’s concerted efforts to face the coronavirus pandemic and limit its spread to ensure the peoples’ safety.
Haavisto affirmed Finland’s commitment and keenness to bolster means of joint cooperation in all fields, highlighting the depth of bilateral relations.
During his meeting with the Finnish FM, Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi stressed that the international coalition’s role in Iraq shall be in line with its sovereignty principle and priorities.
According to a statement by Kadhimi’s office, Haavisto conveyed the greetings of Finnish PM Sanna Marin and welcomed the steps taken by Iraq’s PM since he has taken office.
Haavisto said his government “appreciates Iraq’s realistic and balanced stance in its relations with its neighbors, the region, and the world.”
Kadhimi welcomed the FM’s visit along with his accompanying delegation and hailed Finland’s positive stances that support Iraq in political, economic, and security fields.
The PM further expressed optimism over the future of bilateral relations and those between Iraq and the European Union in general.
