Baghdad: National Security Advisor Qasim Al-Aboudi affirmed to the Romanian Ambassador to Iraq, Radu Octavian Dobre, on Sunday, that the Iraqi government is working to end the foreign presence and restrict the possession of weapons to the state.

According to Iraqi News Agency, the Media Office of the National Security Advisor stated in a release that “National Security Advisor Qasim Al-Aboudi received the Romanian Ambassador to Iraq, Radu Octavian Dobre. The meeting addressed ways to strengthen bilateral relations between the two friendly nations and discussed continued joint cooperation across various fields.”

“Al-Aboudi emphasized that Iraq pursues a balanced policy in its relations with countries worldwide, grounded in the principles of mutual interests and mutual respect,” according to the statement.

He noted that the Iraqi government-led by Prime Minister Ali Falih Al-Zaidi-is working to end the foreign presence in Iraq and restrict arms to state control. These efforts aim to consolidate security and stability, create an environment conducive to attracting foreign companies and investments, and support the development process and the advancement of the economic and service sectors.

For his part, the Romanian Ambassador affirmed his country’s commitment to strengthening relations with Iraq and expanding areas of cooperation between the two nations-particularly in the security sector-by developing mechanisms for the exchange of information and expertise, and enhancing joint counter-terrorism cooperation.