Iraq’s reluctant stance towards Russian-Ukrainian crisis
The National Security Adviser Qassim Al-Araji and the Norwegian Ambassador to Iraq Espen Lindbeck. Photo: Iraqi News Agency
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The National Security Adviser, Qassim Al-Araji, during his meeting on Tuesday with the Norwegian Ambassador to Iraq, Espen Lindbeck, affirmed Iraq’s eagerness to stay away from the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, according to a statement issued by the press office of the National Security Adviser.
The statement revealed that Al-Araji discussed with Lindbeck ways to strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries, as well as the political and security situations at the international and regional levels.
Al-Araji also stressed the need to dismantle the Al-Hol refugee camp near the Iraqi borders, according to the statement.
In regards to the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, Al-Araji stressed the importance of urging the conflicting parties to hold dialogue to reach peace in the region and the world, indicating that Iraq is keen to not be a part of this conflict, and that its stance is to persuade the parties to end the conflict through dialogue, the statement mentioned.
In relation to the Al-Hol refugee camp in Syria, Al-Araji explained that Iraq needs the support of the international community to dismantle this camp.
Al-Araji emphasized the need of the international community to remain cohesive in the face of terrorism to dry up its financial, human and media sources.
Lindbeck confirmed his country’s keenness to maintain the partnership with Iraq through the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), expressing Norway’s readiness to cooperate with Iraq in the areas of information exchange, combating terrorism and organized crime.