The Prime Minister, Muhammad Al-Sudani, received today, Monday, a number of ambassadors and representatives of diplomatic missions from the European Union and a number of friendly countries.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister stressed the need to reject hate speech and extremism, which is embodied in practices offensive to the sanctities and beliefs of peoples, including the incident of abuse and transgression of the sanctity of the Holy Quran and the Iraqi flag, pointing to the danger of such practices that threaten security and societal peace, in addition to being attacks unrelated to the concepts of freedom of expression, calling on the European Union countries to take their role in combating these racist acts, and everything that incites violence.
The Prime Minister affirmed the government's responsibility and its seriousness in protecting and achieving the security and safety of all diplomatic missions accredited in Baghdad, indicating that Iraq is committed to this responsibility in accordance with what was stated in the Vienna Convention on Regulating Diplomatic Relations.
He also reaffirmed the government's continuation of facilitating the work of foreign companies in Iraq, and its commitment to economic agreements and partnerships with countries of the world.
He pointed out that the government adopts the principle of balance in its foreign policy with the countries of the region and the world, and will not allow Iraq to be drawn into conflicts or be an arena for settling scores, but rather is keen to exercise its leading role in the region, and be a place for convergence and building partnerships, through the policy of balance in managing relations, or through the strategic projects that it has recently proposed, such as the Development Road Project and Energy Projects, which will work to achieve economic integration with the countries of the region, in a way that enhances regional and international security and stability.
For their part, ambassadors and representatives of diplomatic missions operating in Iraq renewed their countries' condemnation of the crime of burning the Holy Qur'an, expressing their welcome to the measures taken by the government to protect diplomatic missions, and conveyed their countries' readiness to continue economic cooperation with Iraq and expressed their satisfaction with the remarkable progress in the file of services, the fight against corruption and the clear progress in implementing the government program.
Source: National Iraqi News Agency