Iraq, Egypt have common challenges, interests

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al Abadi asserted on Thursday that Iraq and Egypt share common challenges and interests, notably the deeply-rooted interests in the fields of trade exchange, energy and petroleum.

Speaking to MENA, the Iraqi premier said that his government seeks to increase trade exchange with Egypt via building a gas pipeline passing through Jordan and Egypt after purging the Iraqi governorates from Daesh terrorist group.

Development in the region could be achieved through economic integration among all regimes and peoples in the Middle East, he added.

He went on to say that terrorism spreading in the region is dangerous phenomenon needing further cooperation among countries to be eradicated.

Al Abadi called for uniting efforts to face extremist doctrine seeking to tarnishe the image of Islam, hinder development and undermine the freedom of religion.

Also, he urged cooperation to reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis through allowing the Syrian people to decide its fate.

Asked about the current situation in Iraq, he responded that Iraqi security forces managed during the past year to drive out Daesh militants from Diyala and Salahuddin governorates and are now struggling to force Daesh fighters out of Anbar city.

He called on the international community to prevent Daesh militants from sneaking into Iraq or Syria and cut off their supply lines and all funding resources.

Asked about the the withdrawal of Turkish troops from Zalkan camp in Bashiqa on the borders of Mosul, northwest of Iraq, he said the Iraqi government did not ask the Turkish government to send military advisers or ground forces to train Iraqi forces.

Tensions between Baghdad and Ankara have been running high since December 4, when Turkey deployed heavily armed soldiers backed by two dozen tanks to the Bashiqa base.

Turkey has deployed about 150 troops and 25 tanks to the Bashiqa camp in the northern Iraqi province, without Baghdad’s approval, allegedly as part of an international mission to train and equip Iraqi forces to fight Daesh.

Source: MENA