PM reiterates support for Baghdad during meeting with Iraq lower house speaker

AMMAN — Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Bisher Al Khasawneh on Tuesday met Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mohammed Al Halboosi.

Khasawneh, during the meeting, reiterated the Kingdom’s support for Iraq, highlighting the deep-rooted bilateral relations and expressing keenness on advancing them in all fields for the best interest of the two peoples and nations, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

The premier also reaffirmed Amman’s support for Baghdad’s efforts towards maintaining its security and stability, as well as in countering terrorism.

Halboosi, who is visiting the Kingdom, expressed appreciation of His Majesty King Abdullah’s supportive stances for Iraq, commending the Kingdom’s key role at the regional and international levels. 

Iraqi legislative authority supports all Iraqi-Jordanian efforts to enhance bilateral ties and partnerships, he said.  

The two sides also stressed that the Jordanian-Iraqi-Egyptian trilateral summits have given momentum to cooperation, emphasising the need to build on the outcomes of these summits to enhance the three countries’ partnership and integration.

Talks also went over the joint strategic projects to be implemented between Jordan and Iraq, notably the economic city on the border between the two countries, the extension of the Iraqi oil pipeline to Aqaba and the connection of two countries’ electric power grids, Petra added.  

Also on Tuesday, Senate President Faisal Fayez and Halboosi discussed means to further enhance Jordanian-Iraqi relations and went over various regional developments. 

Fayez highlighted the importance of increasing cooperation, mainly at the political, economic and investment levels, as well as activating bilateral agreements. He stressed the importance of sustaining coordination and consultation, especially in the war on extremism and terrorism, Petra reported. 

The Senate president stressed that the Kingdom believes that the security and stability of Iraq is a Jordanian interest, reiterating Jordan’s refusal to any interference in Iraq’s domestic affairs and the Kingdom’s support for safeguarding Iraq’s territorial integrity. 

Fayez also described the fourth trilateral Jordanian-Iraqi-Egyptian summit, which was recently hosted by Baghdad and saw the participation of His Majesty King Abdullah, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi, as an “advanced step towards enhancing joint Arab action”. 

Halbousi expressed Iraq’s appreciation of the Kingdom’s supportive stances towards Baghdad, especially in the war against terrorism and restoring security. 

The speaker also highlighted the importance of enhancing existing relations and investing in the available potential and human and natural resources in both countries.