Iraq – Telephone conversation between Mme Catherine Colonna and her Iraqi counterpart (24 May 2023)

Published: Wed May 24 2023


Mme Catherine Colonna, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, spoke on the telephone today to her Iraqi counterpart, Mr Fuad Hussein.

Following the signature of the strategic partnership treaty between France and Iraq during Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al-Sudani's visit to France in January 2023, the two ministers reaffirmed their determination to strengthen their bilateral relationship in every field.

The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs paid tribute to Iraq's constructive role in the region and reiterated France's commitment to the security and stability of Iraq and of the autonomous region of Kurdistan within it.

The Minister and her counterpart emphasized the need to foster dialogue in the region, building in particular on the momentum started by the two summits held in August 2021 and December 2022 in the so-called Baghdad format. The ministers discussed prospects for the next summit in this format, which will be held before the end of the year at the level of heads of State or government; in the run-up to it, the ministers agreed to intensify and speed up joint work in the coming months. Regional integration, economic development and a common response to climate change are among the areas of shared interest on which France, Iraq and the other Baghdad-format partners will focus their efforts, for the benefit of all.

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