Iraqi foreign ministry denies inviting Syria’s Assad to Baghdad summit

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The Iraqi foreign ministry has denied having sent an invitation to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to attend the Baghdad regional summit at the end of this month, as Syrian state media reported that the head of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) delivered a message from the Iraqi prime minister on the summit to Damascus on Monday. 

“The Iraqi government is not responsible for this invitation. Official invitations are sent with an official letter and in the name of the Iraqi prime minister, and no other party has the right to give out an invitation on behalf of the Iraqi government. A clarification is required,” the Iraqi foreign ministry tweeted on Monday.

Syrian state media reported that the head of the PMF, Falih al-Fayyadh, had met with Assad on Monday and delivered a message on behalf of the Iraqi prime minister regarding the summit. 

“Fayyadh delivered a message from Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi to President Assad related to the neighboring countries conference to be held at the end of this month in Baghdad,” Syrian state media reported, adding that the letter also talked about the “importance of cooperation between Iraq and Syria regarding this conference.”

The leaders of Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and several other Middle Eastern countries will meet at the regional summit.

Kadhimi’s office confirmed the summit will be held in coordination with France.

French President Emmanuel Macron plans to attend the conference, he told Kadhimi in a phone call last Monday, and reiterated “his commitment in the fight against Daesh (Islamic State) and in favour of the stability and security of Iraq and the region.”