President Salih discusses relations with Egyptian, Qatari heads of state

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi President Barham Salih on Sunday discussed bilateral relations with Egypt and Qatar in phone calls received from the respective countries' heads of state, according to a statement from Salih's office.

The president discussed "security and stability" in separate phone calls with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, the Emir of Qatar, alongside other issues of common interest in the region.

The two leaders also "expressed their blessings to President Barham Salih on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, and their good wishes to the Iraqi people for peace, prosperity, and progress."

Salih expressed his hope that "security and stability would prevail throughout the region," and that challenges would be overcome through "cooperation and joint coordination."

In February, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi held a phone call with Sisi, and the two discussed the improvement of cooperation between the "brotherly" countries.

Kadhimi also held a phone call with the Qatari Emir in February, discussing the strengthening of ties between the two countries.

Iraq and Egypt share strong relations. Last year, a tripartite meeting was held by Iraq, Egypt, and Jordan in Baghdad, during which they discussed cooperation in the fields of security, military, and intelligence.