“We look forward to a stable political environment in Iraq that will be a fertile environment to build on,” said Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis in his statements after his meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iraq Fouad Hussein (Fuad Hussein) in Baghdad, where he is.
As he pointed out Mr Gerapetritis, the relations between our countries and peoples go back to ancient times. “Greece and Iraq are pillars of ancient civilizations that have profoundly influenced the entire world. The legacy of Alexander the Great is the most powerful element of our shared history and I believe we can rely on this great legacy of our ancient civilizations.”
He noted that “Iraq is one of Greece’s most important trade partners” and during the meeting the prospects for further promotion of economic cooperation were discussed, especially in the fields of investment, energy, academia, tourism, agriculture, construction and water management technology.
The two sides agreed to exploit the unexploited potential of the further development of economic relations, with the aim of increasing the volume of bilateral trade. “The 9th Meeting of our Joint Interministerial Committee, which took place 10 days ago, between the two deputy ministers, here in Baghdad, was a promising step in this direction”, said Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis.
In addition, direct flights between Athens and Erbil by the Greek airline, Aegean Airlines, will start in December, which “will significantly strengthen the ties between our peoples, our economic, but also our cultural ties. I am very proud that Greece will be the first country among the states of the European Union to have a direct air connection with Baghdad”, noted the minister.
He pointed out how “as an elected member of the UN Security Council for the period 2025-2026, Greece remains a firm supporter of International Law, including the Law of the Sea, and is committed to the rules and principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter: respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and the peaceful resolution of disputes.”
He called Iraq “one of the most influential countries in the region.” “Your efforts to promote peace are enormous, given the unstable and turbulent nature of the times and the region,” he said and pointed out that “Greece, as an honest interlocutor with all Arab countries, attaches particular importance to contributing to regional stability and prosperity in the wider Middle East.”
For Gaza, Mr. Gerapetritis stated that “the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit it offers a glimmer of hope and allows us to maintain a cautious optimism for an end to hostilities and the establishment of a lasting and sustainable ceasefire in Gaza.”
“Greece aspires to play an active role in the next day in Gaza, through its contribution to the reconstruction of the area and the provision of humanitarian aid to alleviate the humanitarian disaster in the area,” he emphasized.
During the meeting, the situation in Syria was also discussed with Mr Gerapetritis reiterating longstanding support of Greece in the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria.
“I underlined that the Syrian transitional government must fulfill its commitments to an inclusive governance, ensuring the representation of all ethnic and religious communities, including Syrian Christians,” he stressed.
He noted that “Greece is ready to support the strengthening of relations between the European Union and Iraq and the promotion of economic development in the wider region”.
Finally, he reminded that Greece holds the presidency of the Forum of Ancient Civilizations for 2025 and invited his Iraqi counterpart to the upcoming 9th Ministerial Meeting next December in Athens. “This will be an additional opportunity for us to discuss the important dynamics of our bilateral relations,” he concluded.