France's Macron calls for overcoming rift to ensure Iraq’s security

DEAD SEA, Jordan

French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday called on Iraq and its neighbors to overcome any division needed to ensure both its own security and that of neighboring countries.

Macron’s remarks came during the opening session of the second Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership held in Jordan.

Iraq is "one of the victims of regional instability," Macron said, calling on its neighbors, especially Syria and Lebanon, to prepare “an agenda of honest cooperation to resolve security problems."

He added that all countries taking part in the conference should "seek to establish security and stability in Iraq and the region."

Macron also praised the pivotal role Jordan plays in supporting dialogue and promoting diplomacy in the region and the world.

"The region is turning into a diplomatic center of gravity and is now consolidating its role in global stability," he added.

Co-hosted by Iraq and Jordan, 12 countries are taking part in the conference, including France, Türkiye, Egypt, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Iran.

The conference aims to help Iraq provide security, stability and prosperity and to discuss other pivotal regional issues.

The first edition of the conference was held in the Iraqi capital Baghdad in August 2021.

* Writing by Mahmoud Barakat