(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) BRUSSELS, Sept 17 (KUNA) -- The new foreign minister of Iraq Fuad Hussein Thursday underlined his country's commitment to continue on the path of developing good relations with Kuwait and other Gulf countries.
"We have good relations with Gulf countries and we want to continue this," he told a press conference in the Brussels Press Club today.
Hussein noted that the first foreign minister to visit Baghdad when he was appointed was from Kuwait followed by the Saudi foreign minister, and an Iraqi delegation visited Kuwait and Riyadh recently.
"We have an excellent relationship and we are also cooperating on how to face the COVID-19," he said.
There is support from Kuwait, from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries to the Iraqi health sector, he added.
On his first official visit to Europe as the Iraqi foreign minister, Hussein said he started his trip from Berlin, then to Brussels and from then will go to Paris. Germany holds the current EU Presidency.
"It is important for us to inform our European colleagues, friends and the public opinion about what is going on in Iraq and the region," he said.
Yesterday, the Iraqi foreign minister met NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg as well as EU High Representative Josep Borrell and EU parliamentarians and later today he will meet with the Belgian foreign minister.
He said that NATO can play an important role by training the Iraqi forces and discussions about ties with the Alliance will continue.
He said that Iraq is facing several challenges including the COVID-19 crisis and collapse of the oil prices.
Hussein noted that another major challenge Iraq faces is the fight against the so-called Islamic state, IS.
He said IS has collapsed due to the militarily defeat but yet "we see ISIS here and there and they are trying to reorganize themselves inside Iraq and Syria. Their ideological threat remains."
He said that the main task of the new government in Baghdad is to plan and have early elections next year.
"This democratic process is continuing in Iraq," he said.
The Iraqi foreign minister said with the neighbouring countries including Iran "we want to have a balanced relationship and we are asking them to respect the sovereignty of Iraq and not to intervene in Iraqi internal affairs.
"The decision in Iraq must be in the hands of the Iraqi people," he said and stressed that Iraq is trying to keep away from regional and international tensions.
Meanwhile Josep Borrell's official in a statement today said he discussed with Hussein issues of common interest, including EU-Iraq bilateral relations, domestic reforms and plans for early parliamentary elections in Iraq, the work of the Global Coalition against Da'esh, as well as recent regional developments.
Borrell reiterated the EU's firm intention to further strengthen bilateral engagement and intensify dialogue and cooperation with Iraq and to carry out diplomatic efforts with all parties to contribute to de-escalation in the Gulf region, support political dialogue and promote a regional political solution. (end)
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