• About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Saudia Times
Advertisement
  • Home
  • Africa
  • Business
  • Europe
  • Finance
  • latest news
  • Middle East
  • Politics
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Africa
  • Business
  • Europe
  • Finance
  • latest news
  • Middle East
  • Politics
No Result
View All Result
Saudia Times
No Result
View All Result
Home Middle East

Macron to reassert Iraq ‘sovereignty’ on first official Baghdad visit

admin by admin
September 2, 2020
in Middle East
0
Macron to reassert Iraq ‘sovereignty’ on first official Baghdad visit
0
SHARES
2
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Issued on: 02/09/2020 – 08:22

French President Emmanuel Macron touched down in Baghdad on Wednesday for his first official visit to the capital, where he hopes to help Iraq reassert its "sovereignty" despite simmering US-Iran tensions.

Advertising Read more

Coming straight from a two-day trip to Beirut, the capital of crisis-hit Lebanon, Macron will be the most significant leader to visit Iraq since Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi came to power in May.

The trip was not publicly announced until Tuesday evening, with officials in Paris and Baghdad keeping a tight lid on arrangements for security reasons.

On his final night in Beirut, Macron announced he was heading to Baghdad "to launch an initiative alongside the United Nations to support a process of sovereignty".

"The fight for Iraq's sovereignty is essential," Macron had told reporters on Friday, before departing for Lebanon.

He said Iraqis, who "suffered so much", deserved options besides domination by regional powers or Islamist extremism.

"There are leaders and a people who are aware of this, and who want to take their destiny in hand. The role of France is to help them do so," Macron said.

After a US-led invasion toppled dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003, Iraq was ravaged by waves of sectarian conflict that culminated in the Islamic State group capturing swathes of the country six years ago, before the jihadists were beaten back with international support.

At the same time, the country has been caught for years between its two main allies Iran and the US, a balancing act that has become increasingly tortured since Washington's withdrawal in 2018 from a multilateral nuclear deal with Tehran.

France is among European nations that remain key backers of the 2015 agreement.

'Great importance'

This year alone, a US drone strike killed top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad, prompting Iran to launch missiles against US troops in Iraq.

Tehran-backed groups are suspected of launching volleys of rockets on US diplomatic, military and commercial interests in Iraq in recent months.

As oil cartel OPEC's second biggest producer, Iraq has also been hit hard by the world price collapse and the coronavirus pandemic forced its fragile economy to sink even further.

France has signalled its support.

Top diplomat Jean-Yves Le Drian visited Iraq in July, insisting Baghdad "should dissociate itself from regional tensions".

On August 27, French Defence minister Florence Parly stressed the need for continued support to Iraqi forces in her talks with senior military and political leaders.

On Wednesday, Macron is set to meet both Kadhemi and President Barham Saleh, whom he met in Paris in 2019, and a host of other political figures.

The visit would be of "great importance, as it's the third by French officials in a single month," said Husham Dawood, an adviser to the Iraqi premier.

Unlike most foreign officials, the French president will not stop over in Arbil, capital of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region. Instead, Kurdish president Nechirvan Barzani is set travel to Baghdad for talks.

Soon after winning the presidency in 2017, Macron had tried to mediate between the autonomous Kurdish north and the federal government, but financial and security disputes between the two sides remain unreRead More – Source

france24
Previous Post

Family of arrested ‘Hotel Rwanda’ hero believe he was kidnapped

Next Post

Kabul releases nearly 200 Taliban prisoners ahead of peace talks

admin

admin

Next Post
Kabul releases nearly 200 Taliban prisoners ahead of peace talks

Kabul releases nearly 200 Taliban prisoners ahead of peace talks

Stay Connected test

  • 79 Followers
  • 93.2k Subscribers
  • 22.9k Followers
  • 99 Subscribers
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Coronavirus: Italy has highest daily death toll in six months, Hungary, Netherlands set new measures

Coronavirus: Italy has highest daily death toll in six months, Hungary, Netherlands set new measures

November 4, 2020
Ethiopian army claims control of Tigray city

Ethiopian army claims control of Tigray city

November 29, 2020

Pope expresses support for same-sex civil union laws in new documentary

October 22, 2020
‘The Flight Attendant’ serves up a fun trip thanks to Kaley Cuoco

‘The Flight Attendant’ serves up a fun trip thanks to Kaley Cuoco

November 25, 2020
Iraq’s Kurdistan offers to freeze independence referendum results

Iraq’s Kurdistan offers to freeze independence referendum results

0
Outcry over naming Mugabe WHO ambassador

Outcry over naming Mugabe WHO ambassador

0

Somalia bombings: Death toll climbs to 358

0

At least 16 Egyptian police officers killed while raiding hideout

0
Ethiopian army claims control of Tigray city

Ethiopian army claims control of Tigray city

November 29, 2020
Surrender deadline nears as Ethiopia prepares Tigray attack

Surrender deadline nears as Ethiopia prepares Tigray attack

November 25, 2020
‘The Flight Attendant’ serves up a fun trip thanks to Kaley Cuoco

‘The Flight Attendant’ serves up a fun trip thanks to Kaley Cuoco

November 25, 2020
Trump’s outcasts in the civil and foreign service may get a second chance under Biden

Trump’s outcasts in the civil and foreign service may get a second chance under Biden

November 25, 2020

Recent News

Ethiopian army claims control of Tigray city

Ethiopian army claims control of Tigray city

November 29, 2020
Surrender deadline nears as Ethiopia prepares Tigray attack

Surrender deadline nears as Ethiopia prepares Tigray attack

November 25, 2020
‘The Flight Attendant’ serves up a fun trip thanks to Kaley Cuoco

‘The Flight Attendant’ serves up a fun trip thanks to Kaley Cuoco

November 25, 2020
Trump’s outcasts in the civil and foreign service may get a second chance under Biden

Trump’s outcasts in the civil and foreign service may get a second chance under Biden

November 25, 2020
Saudia Times

We bring you the best Premium WordPress Themes that perfect for news, magazine, personal blog, etc. Check our landing page for details.

Follow Us

Browse by Category

  • Africa
  • Business
  • Europe
  • Finance
  • latest news
  • Middle East
  • Politics
  • Uncategorized

Recent News

Ethiopian army claims control of Tigray city

Ethiopian army claims control of Tigray city

November 29, 2020
Surrender deadline nears as Ethiopia prepares Tigray attack

Surrender deadline nears as Ethiopia prepares Tigray attack

November 25, 2020
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

© 2021 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.

No Result
View All Result

© 2021 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.