Saudi Arabia is ‘true partner’ of Iraq: PM Kadhimi

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi hailed his country’s good relations with Saudi Arabia in a meeting with a visiting delegation from Riyadh on Thursday.

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud headed the delegation that arrived in Baghdad on Thursday and met with Kadhimi and Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein. Saudi Arabia is “a true partner to Iraq,” said Kadhimi, adding that Baghdad is “looking forward to building excellent relations… in a way that achieves a better future for both countries.”

The Saudi minister tweeted that they “discussed bilateral relations, which are growing increasingly, and common challenges.”

Riyadh and Baghdad have worked in recent years to repair ties broken in 1991 when then-Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. Relations were further damaged under former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s tenure.

Saudi Arabia was the planned destination for Kadhimi’s first foreign trip as prime minister, but the visit was delayed when Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz underwent surgery.

“There will be a visit soon to Saudi Arabia and we stress the brotherly ties there,” Kadhimi told the National on Wednesday.

At the beginning of their rapprochement in 2018, Saudi Arabia reopened its embassy in Baghdad, 25 years after shutting its doors. The neighbours signed an agreement in October 2019 to reopen the Arar border crossing to bolster trade, but the spread of the coronavirus has delayed the move.

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