Iraq ready to reinvigorate bilateral, multilateral ties with Ethiopia – President

Addis Ababa, May 2, 2024 (FBC) – The President of the Republic of Iraq, Abdullatif Jamal Rashid, stated that his country is poised to reopen its embassy in Addis Ababa, which serves as a testament to its readiness to bolstering its relations with Ethiopia.

These remarks were made during the president’s meeting with Ambassador of Ethiopia to Kuwait Saeed Muhumed Djibril on April 25, 2024. In a ceremony held at the as-Salam Palace in Baghdad, Ambassador Saeed presented his letter of credentials to President Abdul Latif Rashid.

During his meeting with President Rashid, Ambassador Saeed affirmed his commitment to enhancing the long-established bilateral relations between Ethiopia and Iraq throughout his tenure.

He confirmed that the Ethiopian government is dedicated to strengthening relations with Iraq in various domains including politics, economy, energy, culture, tourism, and people-to-people connections.

Expressing gratitude to the Iraqi government for its move to reopen its embassy in Ethiopia, the ambassador acknowledged that the Ethiopian government has accepted the request and stands ready to offer the necessary assistance.

Subsequently, the ambassador conveyed the greetings and best wishes from President Sahle-Work Zewde of Ethiopia to President Abdul Latif Rashid.

In response, President Rashid affirmed Iraq’s ongoing efforts to enhance its bilateral and multilateral relations with Ethiopia. As a testament to this commitment, the Iraqi government has successfully completed the required preparations to reopen its embassy in Ethiopia, the President said. Furthermore, he expressed gratitude to the Ethiopian government for its positive response to Iraq’s decision to reopen its embassy in Addis Ababa.

In addition, President Rashid extended his message of good wishes to President Sahle-Work Zewde of Ethiopia.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Saeed also engaged in a separate discussion with Ghazi Al-Topy, the Head of the African Department at the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During their exchange, Ambassador Saeed and Ghazi Al-Topy deliberated on bilateral and multilateral relations, as well as explored avenues for sustained collaboration between their respective nations on shared concerns.

Ghazi Al-Topy affirmed his government’s readiness to collaborate closely with Ethiopia in safeguarding the mutual interests of both countries.

Following the reopening of its embassy in Addis Ababa, the Iraqi government is interested in initiating a Joint Ministerial Commission with Ethiopia, Ghazi Al-Topy added.