site.btaForeign Minister Georgiev Holds Phone Call with Iraqi Counterpart Fuad Hussein

Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev held a phone conversation with Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, the Foreign Ministry reported on Thursday. This was the first direct contact between the counterparts. During the discussion, a range of topics from the bilateral agenda were addressed, with particular focus on the untapped potential for trade and economic cooperation between Bulgaria and Iraq.

Georgiev highlighted the long-standing tradition of friendship between the Bulgarian and Iraqi peoples, founded on mutual respect and trust. He expressed confidence that these positive traditions should be revived and further developed in the interest of both countries. He extended an invitation to his Iraqi counterpart to visit Bulgaria for talks aimed at boosting cooperation in areas of mutual interest. Iraqi Minister, in turn, invited Georgiev for an official visit to Iraq.

A key point of the conversation was the upcoming 26th session of the Bulgarian-Iraqi Joint Intergovernmental Commission for Trade, Economic and Technical Cooperation, to be held in Baghdad. The energy sector was identified as a priority area for mutually beneficial partnership, with further discussions planned on specific forms of collaboration.

The counterparts also discussed signing a Memorandum of Understanding to establish regular bilateral political consultations between their ministries. They agreed to maintain active dialogue and to outline a pragmatic framework for the sustainable development of bilateral relations.

Diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and Iraq were established on August 14, 1958, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The two countries maintain regular political contacts, with cooperation continuing despite fluctuating intensity. A process is underway to update the legal and contractual framework for cooperation in various areas.