During his first official visit to India, Foreign Minister of Iraq, Dr. Ibrahim al-Jaafari met with External Affairs Minister, Smt. Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi on 24 July, 2017. During that day, the Iraqi Foreign Minister called on Hon’ble Vice-President and met with Minister of State (IC) for Petroleum & Natural Gas. He also visited Mumbai.

The two Foreign Ministers discussed matters of mutual interest pertaining to bilateral, regional and international affairs. The talks were held in constructive and friendly spirit.

EAM congratulated the Iraqi Foreign Minister over the recent liberation of the strategic city of Mosul on 9 July by the Iraqi forces from the control of the terrorist organization ISIS. She expressed India’s support for the people and the Government of Iraq in their ongoing war against terrorism and their efforts to uphold their country’s sovereignty and preserve its territorial integrity. She assured the visiting dignitary that India had always been, and remained strongly committed to a stable, peaceful, united and democratic Iraq. The Iraqi Foreign Minister thanked EAM for her letter of congratulations and for the visit of MOS Gen (Dr) V.K. Singh (Retd.) as the first senior foreign dignitary to visit Iraq after the liberation of Mosul.

In the wake of Mosul’s liberation from ISIS by the Iraqi Forces, EAM reiterated Indian Government’s request for tracing the 39 Indians who were abducted in Mosul in June 2014 and for Iraq’s continued assistance in this regard. The Iraqi Foreign Minister assured cooperation in all earnestness from the Iraqi side and informed EAM of the efforts being undertaken. EAM requested Iraqi Foreign Minister to facilitate the visit of MOS Gen (Dr) V.K. Singh (Retd.) to Badush, to which Dr. Ibrahim al-Jaafari readily agreed.

EAM thanked Iraq for contributing significantly to India's energy security, being the second-largest supplier of crude oil to us. The visiting Minister appreciated India’s steadfast support to Iraq during its difficult times, including through capacity-building under the ITEC programme. He highlighted that India continued to welcome Iraqi nationals, especially for higher studies and medical treatment. Iraqi Foreign Minister invited Indian companies to participate in the reconstruction and rebuilding of Iraq, which EAM welcomed.

New Delhi
27 July 2017