Iraqi, Estonian Presidents Declare Deepening Bilateral Relations

Iraq 11:03 AM - 2024-01-17

Presidents of Iraq and Estonia

The President of the Republic of Iraq, Abdullatif Jamal Rashid, has stated that Iraq intends to strengthen bilateral cooperation with Estonia in the areas of economy, environment, agriculture, and renewable energy.

At a joint press conference with the Estonian President on Tuesday at Baghdad Palace, President Rashid thanked Estonian military advisors for their contribution to the training of Iraqi forces within the multinational force. Iraq is now looking for investment opportunities as a result of the security and stability it has achieved in recent years.
His Excellency encouraged Estonian companies to work in Iraq and contribute to the country’s development and construction.

President Rashid strongly condemns any attack on Iraqi territory, emphasizing that such acts of aggression are a flagrant violation of international law and the principles of good neighborliness.
"We condemn the attacks that occurred several hours ago in Erbil and other parts of Kurdistan, resulting in the deaths of innocent civilians," he stated.

Regarding regional developments, President Rashid reiterated his opposition to the ongoing aggression against the Gaza Strip and other Palestinian territories. He called for an immediate and unconditional end to the war and the entry of urgent humanitarian aid to help those affected by this barbaric aggression. He reaffirmed Iraq's steadfast position on the Palestinian issue, as well as the Palestinian people's right to an independent state on their lands, with Jerusalem as its capital.

Estonian President Alar Karis thanked President of the Republic of Iraq Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid for the warm welcome, saying, "It is an honor to be the first Estonian president to visit Iraq."
President Karis stated that the Iraqis have a "special place in the hearts of the Estonian people."

He acknowledged Iraq's long history of culture and civilization, as well as the sacred texts and sciences that originated there.

"We have active bilateral relations with Iraq, and Iraq is one of our most important international partners," he said, adding that Estonia has contributed significantly to the establishment of security and stability in Iraq and the Middle East.

"We made sacrifices in this regard," he explained.

President Karis expressed his pleasure at witnessing firsthand the Iraqi security forces' efforts to maintain the country's security and stability. He acknowledged that Iraq now enjoys more peace, stability, and prosperity than it did previously. He stated that Iraqi stability is critical to regional stability and reaffirmed his country's support.

President Karis also condemned all forms of terrorism as a serious threat to global peace and security. Killing innocent people and spreading terror will not lead to international peace and stability. Estonia, he said, stands alongside Iraq in the fight against terrorism, and it has assisted Iraq through the international coalition and the EU.

"We discussed both the challenges facing Europe and the Middle East, as well as the humanitarian situation in Gaza, which is of great concern to all of us," said Estonia's President, adding that, by international law and United Nations resolutions, Estonia supports international efforts to end the fighting and resolve the humanitarian crisis. "We also discussed the Russian-Ukrainian war, emphasizing the importance of working toward peace so that everyone can live in peace and prosper," he said.


PUKMEDIA / Iraqi Presidency