Baku, 8 July 2023 (TDI): Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fuad Hussein, met with the diplomatic and administrative staff of the Iraqi embassy on July 7, concluding his official visit to Baku after attending the ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
The Acting Chargé d’Affairs ad Interim of the Republic of Iraq in Baku, Makki Risan Al-Mamouri, warmly welcomed the Iraqi foreign minister and guided him to the embassy building.
The minister held a meeting with the diplomatic staff and appreciated the efforts of the consular section in efficiently providing services to the Iraqi community and the students studying in Azerbaijani universities. He highlighted the significance of addressing the community’s issues and problems as a priority.
Moreover, the minister took his time to hear the embassy staff’s perspectives on the nature of their mission work and the issues they face while performing their duties. The staff also underlined the importance of the adoption of values such as political openness and international integration, noting their positive impacts on Iraqi diplomacy.
Baku Declaration and Iraq’s Efforts
The ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement was held from July 5–6, 2023, in Baku, and the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramo, chaired the meeting.
The two-day event ended with the adoption of the Baku Declaration under the title “United and steadfast in facing emerging challenges.”
The Iraqi minister also attended the closing ceremony of the ministerial meeting before his visit to the embassy. The Baku Declaration confirmed the commitment of the non-aligned states to the principles and values of the Non-Aligned Movement, as inspired by the Bandung Conference of 1955.
While addressing the closing session of the ministerial meeting, the foreign minister, Jeyhun Bayramo, denounced the shameful act of Holy Qur’an burning in Stockholm, Sweden, and expressed his deep regret for the incident.
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He noted the efforts of the Iraqi delegation, working tirelessly to include a paragraph in the Baku declaration condemning the incident of the Qur’an burning and gaining the support of many member states in their endeavours.
On the sidelines of the ministerial meeting, the Iraqi foreign minister also had conversations with his counterparts from different countries, including Iran, Turkey, and Palestine.
