Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi’s visit to Paris on Friday resulted with the signing of a new strategic roadmap for partnership, which the PM said could constitute a general framework for the two sides to build on in their future relations.
In a joint press conference with Abdul Mahdi prior to their meeting, French President Emmanuel Macron set his country’s three priorities on Iraq. He stressed the ongoing fight against terrorism, saying “this war has not yet finished," the reconstruction of Iraq, and finally the support of a regional agenda that Iraq adopts to safeguard stability in the Middle East.
According to Macron, those priorities are based on a decision made by Paris to back a unified, federal and democratic Iraq.
France seeks to contribute to stability in Iraq, which is considered a “milestone” for the region’s stability, he said.
“Paris agrees with Iraq on a balanced policy and efforts to dissipate regional tension,” Macron said, praising Abdul Mahdi for his efforts to build “dialogue” with neighboring countries, in reference to the Iraqi PM’s visits to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and Iran.
Macron also said in a press conference alongside Abdul Mahdi that the French development agency will soon set up in Baghdad with increased resources to help with reconstruction.
Abdul Mahdi said he and Macron discussed opportunities to increase security cooperation noting that ISIS has been defeated militarily, but remains a threat.
Asharq Al-Awsat received a copy of the strategic roadmap signed Friday between Paris and Baghdad. It includes five principle frameworks: Determining the structure of political dialogue between the two countries and its types, advancing military and security cooperation and adjusting it based on future requirements, building economic partnership, expanding educational cooperation and finally following up with cultural and dialogue exchange.
