Baghdad: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein engaged in discussions with Catherine Bomberker, Director-General of the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP), to explore ways to enhance cooperation between Iraq and the committee.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the meeting took place on the sidelines of the regional expert meeting on missing persons for the Middle East and North Africa, held in Baghdad. The focus was on enhancing cooperation between Iraq and the ICMP, particularly in addressing the issue of missing persons, which remains a significant humanitarian concern in Iraq.

Minister Fuad Hussein emphasized the importance of formalizing the committee’s legal status in Iraq. The discussions also included the potential signing of a memorandum of understanding to ensure the committee can effectively execute its duties.

Bomberker expressed her appreciation for the ongoing collaboration with the Iraqi government, praising the progress made by Iraq in addressing the missing persons issue. She highlighted the committee’s interest in strengthening its partnership with Iraq by joining the treaty that established the ICMP, which is an international organization founded on a multilateral treaty.

The dialogue also covered the challenges the commission faces in Iraq and the necessity of implementing measures to facilitate its mandate. Hussein confirmed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will maintain coordination with relevant Iraqi authorities to develop appropriate legal solutions, enabling the commission to continue its crucial work in pursuit of shared humanitarian objectives.