Iraqi Government: Damascus visit premature, Ankara trip planned

Shafaq News-Baghdad

No date hasbeen set for Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi to visit Syria, governmentspokesperson Haidar al-Aboudi said Wednesday, describing the scheduling of sucha trip as premature.

Speaking at anews conference, al-Aboudi said al-Zaidi will instead travel to Turkiye at theend of this month at the head of a high-level delegation, with water resourcesleading the agenda.

Iraq remainsopen to all parties, the spokesperson said of relations with Damascus, withoutindicating when a visit might be arranged.

The Ankara tripwill follow al-Zaidi's departure Thursday for an official visit to Iran, wherea government delegation will meet Iranian counterparts on the energy file,al-Aboudi said, specifically the continued flow of Iranian gas supplied toIraq. Bilateral and regional matters, including cooperation in energy andagriculture, are also on the agenda.

Regionalstanding and Washington agreements

Iraq now drawsthe attention of regional and international states owing to its strategicposition and its non-involvement in conflicts, al-Aboudi said, adding that thegovernment pursues a policy of openness toward all countries. He said a visitto Washington produced 48 agreements and memoranda of understanding.

Weapons andinvestment fund

Confiningweapons to state control is an Iraqi sovereign matter carried out within thegovernment program and applies to Iraqis only, al-Aboudi said.

Thespokesperson said the Central Bank of Iraq will take part in establishing theinvestment development fund by depositing a sum of money, and that a number ofregional and friendly states will also contribute.

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