Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fouad Hussein, received today, Tuesday, Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Challenberg, in the Ministry building in Baghdad.

The two sides discussed aspects of bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to enhance them in various fields.

Minister Fouad Hussein expressed, according to a statement by the Foreign Ministry, Iraq’s keenness on bilateral cooperation for the benefit of the peoples of the two friendly countries, in addition to strengthening coordination mechanisms and political consultation on regional and international issues of common interest.

He touched on the work of Austrian companies in Iraq and the return of flights to Austrian Airlines, pointing out that the discussions included opening the way and helping Austrian Airlines to return its flights to Iraq.

He pointed out that Iraq's relations with Iran are strong and this relationship prevents the use of violence, noting that Iraq refuses to use its territory to attack Iran by some groups, and we also reject the threat to Iraqi sovereignty.

He pointed out that Iraq is committed to the agreement concluded with the Iranian side, which included removing armed groups from the border and transferring them to camps deep in the region and far from the border, stressing that he will visit Iran tomorrow to discuss the implementation of this agreement by both sides.

He pointed out that the security agreement with Austria does not mean adding foreign forces to Iraq, he pointed out that the security agreement with Austria is based on advice, training and mutual cooperation.

For his part, Austrian Foreign Minister Schallenberg said that his visit to Baghdad came at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein to reopen the Austrian Embassy in Baghdad and to discuss a number of political, economic and security files.

He stated that he signed an agreement in the field of internal security in Iraq, indicating that this agreement must take its proper role. /End

Source: National Iraqi News Agency