Synopsis
On March 15, Iraqi leaders met with Syria's Asaad al-Shaibani to discuss enhancing bilateral relations and collaboration against terrorism, emphasizing the need for regional stability and joint efforts in countering threats.Key Takeaways
- Iraqi leaders and Syria's Asaad al-Shaibani meet to strengthen ties.
- Emphasis on Iraq's support for Syria's sovereignty.
- Importance of combating Islamic State discussed.
- Joint operations room proposed for regional cooperation.
- Syria and Iraq aim for enhanced security collaboration.
Baghdad, March 15 (NationPress) Iraqi officials convened with Syria's top diplomat, Asaad al-Shaibani, to deliberate on enhancing bilateral relations and cooperation against terrorism.
In a meeting on Friday with the visiting al-Shaibani, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani reiterated Iraq's unwavering commitment to respecting the aspirations of the Syrian populace. He emphasized the necessity of an inclusive political framework that upholds Syria's diversity and social unity, as reported by the Xinhua news agency citing a release from al-Sudani's media office.
He also reiterated Iraq's backing for Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity, firmly opposing any outside interference in Syrian domestic matters, especially in light of the ongoing Israeli occupation of significant Syrian territories.
Moreover, al-Sudani underscored the importance of close collaboration between the two nations in the fight against terrorism as a vital step toward achieving stability.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein stressed the need for enhanced cooperative efforts in combating the terrorist organization Islamic State.
During discussions with al-Shaibani, Hussein highlighted the necessity of establishing a joint operations center consisting of representatives from Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Turkey, and Lebanon to tackle the IS group, according to a statement from the Iraqi Foreign Ministry.
Hussein emphasized the significance of military and intelligence collaboration, along with comprehensive regional security cooperation.
He also expressed Iraq's support for the recent landmark agreement between Syria's interim government and the Syrian Kurds to unify all civil and military institutions in the Kurdish-controlled areas under the governance of the central government in Damascus.
In response, al-Shaibani conveyed Syria's willingness to establish joint security committees and to gain insights from neighboring countries' experiences in combating terrorism.
The Syrian official further asserted Syria's political determination to fortify relations with Iraq, noting that the recent understanding with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces would enhance border control between the two nations.
