Meeting of Foreign Minister N. Kotzias with Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari (New York, 20.09.2016)

In the framework of the 71st Session and the high-level Week of the UN General Assembly in New York, Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias had a meeting, on Tuesday September 20th, with Iraqi Foreign Affairs Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari.

During this meeting, the two Ministers discussed ways to boost bilateral cooperation further, while particular emphasis was placed on historical and cultural ties between their two countries. Foreign Minister Kotzias highlighted the importance of Iraqi cultural heritage and the Mesopotamian civilization, and after having elaborated on his initiative to establish the GC10, an Organisation of the ten oldest world civilizations and peoples, he extended an invitation for his Iraqi counterpart to take part in the relevant upcoming Conference, which is due shortly in Athens.

Foreign Minister N. Kotzias then shared his intention to make a visit to Bagdad soon and also spoke of the need for stronger bilateral political dialogue as well as more intense political consultations between the two Ministries, pointing out the role Greece can play in promoting EU-Iraqi relations.

For his part, the Foreign Minister of Iraq touched on the significance the Greek Foreign Minister’s visit to Bagdad is going to have with regard to bilateral relations between the two countries and praised the Greek initiative to organise the GC10 Conference since, as he stated, culture is a soft power tool which can help boost global cooperation.