Staff report CAIRO, Oct 3, 2018 - Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri on Wednesday stressed Egypt's firm support of the unity and sovereignty of Iraq and Cairo's keenness on backing all efforts aimed at restoring peace and stability there and preserving the unity of the Iraqi people. In a meeting with the newly-appointed Iraqi Parliamentary Speaker, Muhammad al-Halbusi, FM Shoukri expressed Egypt's full solidarity with the Iraqi government and people, and wished them success. Minister Shoukri praised the genuine fraternity that bound Egypt and Iraq, emphasising that Cairo fully supported the Iraqi state institutions and their efforts to restore security and stability in Iraq and achieve the aspirations of the Iraqi people. Minister Shoukri also called for fostering Egyptian-Iraqi ties in political, economic, commercial and cultural domains. In this regard, Speaker Halbusi praised the longstanding relationship between Iraq and Egypt. Mr Halbusi said that he had discussed with Minister Shoukri the latest developments in Iraq as well as the means of enhancing ties between Baghdad and Cairo in all fields. He asserted the attention his country paid to the enhancement of economic co-operation with Egypt. Mr Halbusi, who is on an official visit to Cairo to attend meetings of the Arab Parliament, praised Egyptian efforts in Iraq's reconstruction. Mr Halbusi said that he reviewed with Minister Shoukri the latest regional developments as well as Arab issues of bilateral concern. Later on, Mr Halbusi held similar talks with the Speaker of the House of Deputies (parliament), Dr Ali Abdel-Aal. Dr Abdel-Aal said that Egypt rejected all forms of foreign interference in Iraq, re-affirming to Mr Halbuso that the House of Deputies stood by the Baghdad government in combating all forms of terrorism. Dr Abdel-Aal said that combating these efforts would help maintain the unity and territorial integrity of Iraq and protect its national institutions and its people's potential. He also emphasised that Iraq was facing the real challenges of terrorism and extremism that demanded the joint efforts of all the Iraqis to confront and eliminate them. Mr Halbusi paid tribute to Egypt's efforts to combat terrorism and confront extremism. He also expressed the hope that his visit to Cairo would help foster Iraqi-Egyptian ties in all domains. Mr Halbusi said that his talks with Dr Abdel-Aal reflected the attitude of the two countries for the consolidation of bilateral relations in all fields.
