Baghdad: President Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid stressed the importance of adhering to United Nations recommendations in the field of water management and reducing waste. A statement from the Presidency’s media office said: “The President of the Republic received, today, Sunday, at Baghdad Palace, the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Qu Dongyu, and his accompanying delegation.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Rashid emphasized the need for cooperation between neighboring countries to preserve water resources and protect the environment. He highlighted that climate change poses a significant challenge to the region, particularly in Iraq, due to declining water levels in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, worsening drought and desertification conditions, and their severe impact on the agricultural sector.

Rashid pointed out the necessity of cooperation and joint coordination with neighboring countries to address the water crisis and utilize international
legislation to manage and distribute water resources effectively. He emphasized that Iraq is currently focused on securing its fair share of water.

Dongyu expressed his appreciation for Iraq’s development progress in urban and agricultural resources and affirmed FAO’s commitment to continuing bilateral cooperation in various fields within its mandate.

The meeting was attended by Abdul Hakim Al-Waer, Assistant Director-General, Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa, and Salah Hajj Hassan, FAO Representative in Iraq.