Iraq reiterates support of the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Morocco.

At a joint press conference with his Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita, on 28th January in Baghdad, Iraq’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Fouad Hussein, has expressed his country’s support for Morocco’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over the Sahara.

The Iraqi foreign minister voiced his country’s support for the United Nations’ efforts to reach a peaceful, long-lasting solution for the Sahara conflict. Mr. Fouad Hussein also stressed the importance of resorting to peaceful means through negotiations to resolve this dispute, preserving Morocco’s territorial integrity and ensuring security and stability in the Maghreb region.

For his part, the Moroccan foreign minister said that his visit to Iraq reflects King Mohammed VI’s vision to strengthen Moroccan-Iraqi bilateral relations in all fields and confirms that Morocco has always supported and will support the choices of the Iraqi people and its national institutions, while emphasizing respect for sovereignty, the unity and stability of Iraq.

It should be remembered that the two countries had issued a Joint Declaration during the official visit of the Iraqi Minister of Foreign Affairs to Morocco, on May 13, 2022, in which Iraq affirmed its «support for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom and the efforts of the UN and its central role in reaching a political solution ».

In addition, two memorandums were signed during this the meeting: 1/the creation of a mechanism for political consultations and 2/ a MoU on diplomatic training.

The Iraqi declaration of support came as the Moroccan foreign minister attended the reopening of Morocco’s embassy in Baghdad after an 18-year absence. The Moroccan embassy closed in 2005 and the chancellery was transferred to Jordan due to « deteriorating security conditions » in Iraq, according to Morocco’s foreign ministry.