Tunisia FM visits Baghdad for talks with Iraq officials

By Ali Jawad

BAGHDAD

Tunisian Foreign Minister Khemaies Jhinaoui on Wednesday visited Baghdad to discuss regional developments -- especially the fight against terrorism -- with Iraqi officials.

Jhinaoui was received upon his arrival by Iraqi President Fuad Masum, according to a statement released by Masum’s office.

“Our two countries have a number of common concerns, which can be used to step up bilateral cooperation,” Masum told Jhinaoui at a subsequent meeting, according to the statement.

This was especially necessary, the Iraqi president said, “given that many states of the region still face the scourge of terrorism”.

“The terrorist presence in Iraq is close to being eliminated after the recent victories registered by Iraqi army forces," Masum added, referring to the Daesh terrorist group.

During his visit to the Iraqi capital (the duration of which has not been made public), the Tunisian FM is also slated to meet with Iraqi counterpart Ibrahim al-Jaafari and Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, according to an Iraqi Foreign Ministry source.

The same source said the agenda of Jhinaoui’s visit would be topped by “Tunisia-Iraq economic and political cooperation and the fight against terrorism and extremism”.

Jhinaoui’s visit to Baghdad is the first such trip to Iraq by a Tunisian FM since the U.S.-led invasion of the country in 2003.