Baghdad: Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein and his Somali counterpart, Abdulsalam Abdi Ali, have underlined the necessity to leverage the Baghdad Summit as a platform for launching joint initiatives aimed at addressing the political and economic challenges in the region. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement noting the meeting between Hussein and Ali, which took place on the sidelines of preparations for the Arab Summit in Baghdad.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Fuad Hussein highlighted the deep-rooted fraternal ties between Iraq and Somalia and expressed the Iraqi government’s commitment to fostering cooperation with Arab nations. This reflects Iraq’s dedication to enhancing Arab solidarity and strengthening political and diplomatic communication with member states of the League of Arab States.

During the meeting, the ministers explored ways to bolster collaboration in political, security, and economic domains and discussed activating joint mechanisms to support mutual interests. They also emphasized the importance of convening the Iraqi-Somali Joint Committee promptly, recognizing its significant role in advancing bilateral relations at various levels.

The ministers underscored the significance of the upcoming Arab Summit in Baghdad as an opportunity to reinforce joint Arab action and highlight Iraq’s central role in supporting Arab issues. They emphasized the need to utilize the summit to launch initiatives that address the political and economic challenges confronting the region.

The discussions also covered the latest regional developments, particularly in Syria and Lebanon. The ministers stressed the importance of enhancing Arab coordination in addressing regional crises and the need for sustainable political solutions that ensure the stability, security, and territorial integrity of these countries. Both Iraq and Somalia reiterated their support for dialogue as the primary means of resolving crises.

Abdulsalam Abdi extended a formal invitation to Fuad Hussein for a visit to Somalia, noting that such a visit would further strengthen bilateral relations and elevate cooperation and coordination to new heights.