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Iraq
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi (left). Photo: AFP; Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani (right). Photo: AFP; Graphic: Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq’s prime minister on Tuesday discussed bilateral relations in a phone call with the Emir of Qatar, as the prime minister of the Kurdistan Region continues his visit to Doha to discuss cooperation and energy.
In the phone call between Mustafa al-Kadhimi and Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, both sides discussed “bilateral relations between the two countries, and other issues of common interest,” according to a statement from Kadhimi’s office on Wednesday.
During the call, both sides emphasized the need to "strengthen joint cooperation between Iraq and Qatar at various levels, in a manner that achieves the interests of the peoples of both countries,” the statement added.
Kadhimi’s phone call with the Qatari Emir comes as Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani is on a trip to Qatar.
According to a statement from Barzani’s office, the aim of the trip is “to talk about bolstering bilateral relations, especially in terms of trade exchange, investment, energy and agriculture,” adding that the visit follows an official invitation by the Emir of Qatar.
On the first day of his visit, Barzani visited the Qatar Foundation, which he said he was impressed with due to their “capacity to bridge cultural heritage with modernity,” in a tweet.
First stop in Qatar: @QF to see their impact on research, education, and grass-root community initiatives. I’m impressed by QF’s capacity to bridge cultural heritage with modernity.
— Masrour Barzani (@masrour_barzani) February 15, 2022
Our biggest untapped resource is our people — young Kurdistanis. I want to help unlock that -mb. pic.twitter.com/db8ceCxwge
Qatar was under a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) blockade between 2017 and 2021, imposed by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, and Egypt, who accused Doha of supporting terrorism, destabilizing its neighbors, and fostering ties with Saudi rival Iran. The blockade was lifted under a Saudi-led initiative in January 2021.
Doha, which will host the 2022 football World Cup, has maintained and improved its relations with Iraq and the semiautonomous Kurdistan Region, even discussing a free trade agreement with Baghdad earlier this year.
Qatar reopened its Baghdad embassy in 2015 for the first time since the Gulf War (1990-91) when several regional and world powers suspended diplomatic relations.
Its national carrier, Qatar Airways, began operating direct flights to Erbil and Baghdad in 2012.
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