Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani received today, Tuesday, the Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Hamza Abdi Barre, on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly. During the meeting, according to a statement by the Prime Minister's Office, a number of international issues of common interest were discussed, as well as ways to enhance bilateral relations between the two countries, and consolidate mutual cooperation in various fields, especially economic, security and cultural, in light of Iraq's adoption of a policy of openness to its Arab and regional surroundings. The meeting also witnessed a discussion of what was agreed upon during Abdi Barre's visit to Baghdad last July, and the outcomes of that visit and its objectives, which focused on strengthening bilateral coordination mechanisms. The Prime Minister stressed the need to invest all available opportunities to push forward relations between the two brotherly countries, and congratulated his Somali co unterpart on Somalia's non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council, and the role it can play in supporting Arab issues. The meeting touched on the current events in Gaza and Lebanon, the Zionist entity's continued brutal crimes against peaceful civilians, and the importance of exerting international efforts at all levels to stop the aggression. In this regard, the Somali Prime Minister expressed his concern about the dire conditions in Lebanon and Palestine, and stressed support for Iraq's initiative announced yesterday, Monday, to hold an Arab and Islamic conference to discuss the repercussions of the aggression on Lebanon, and the need to take a unified position to curb the ongoing attacks of the occupying entity. Source: National Iraqi News Agency