Baghdad: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein affirmed on Monday that Iraq plays a pivotal role in easing tensions in the region through a balanced foreign policy based on the principles of dialogue and mutual understanding.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Ministry stated in a statement: “Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein met with representatives of a number of international media outlets on the sidelines of his participation in the Antalya Diplomatic Forum. During the meetings, they discussed the most prominent international and regional issues, reviewing Iraq’s foreign policy positions on them.”
The Minister highlighted “the major shifts in the balance of power in the region, across multiple tracks, both military and security-related and at the international level, and their impact on geopolitical conditions.” He emphasized that “the stability of Syria is a crucial factor for the stability of the entire region,” noting that “foreign interventions, particularly repeated Israeli attacks on Syrian territory, complicate the situation and increase tensions.”
Regarding the Zionist aggression on the Gaza Strip, the Minister expressed his strong condemnation of the ongoing Zionist attacks, describing them as “blatant violations of international law,” and affirmed Iraq’s support for the rights of the Palestinian people.
The statement explained that “the Foreign Minister addressed the situation in Lebanon, calling for “strengthening internal dialogue between the various Lebanese parties,” stressing the need to “resolve regional crises through dialogue, not through military escalation.”
Regarding Iraqi-Turkish relations, the Minister noted “the development of bilateral relations with Turkey, particularly in the security and economic fields, noting that “Iraq is working to strengthen cooperation to confront common challenges, including combating terrorism and regulating border movement.” He added that “Ankara is an important partner in efforts to achieve regional stability.”
Hussein welcomed the resumption of negotiations between Iran and the United States, expressing his hope that the dialogues would continue to lead to a preliminary agreement that would avert the specter of war, because the alternative would be disastrous for the region and the world. He emphasized that “both the Iranian and American sides have expressed a willingness to continue negotiations, and we consider this a positive step,” emphasizing the importance of “cooperation between neighboring countries in the fight against terrorism.”
The Minister warned that “chaos and instability pave the way for the spread of extremist organizations, as happened with ISIS in Syria.” He pointed to “the need to establish a high-level joint working mechanism to prevent any future terrorist threat,” emphasizing that “Iraq plays a pivotal role in extinguishing hotspots of tension in the region through a balanced foreign policy based on the principle of dialogue and mutual understanding.”