Fuad Hussein, Iraq's Foreign Minister, announced today - Sunday - that consultations between Baghdad, Tehran, and the Gulf countries to reduce differences and bring positions closer together are ongoing. In this context, Iraq is pursuing the holding of a joint meeting in Baghdad.
Efforts to Align Views
On the sidelines of the conclusion of the fifty-second meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Baghdad, Hussein told reporters: "Continuous contacts between Iraq, the Gulf countries, and Iran to align views are underway." He added that Baghdad is seriously working to hold this meeting, but the date and level of participants have not yet been determined.
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The Necessity of Dialogue and Understanding in the Region
These efforts continue as the repercussions of the recent war on regional security and shipping conditions in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz have made the necessity of dialogue and understanding among regional countries more evident. Oman and Iran also, in a joint statement on August 25, considered the shipping situation in the Strait of Hormuz as a consequence of the recent war and emphasized the need for dialogue with the coastal Gulf countries.
In this context, Iraq's Foreign Minister met with Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran's Foreign Minister, on the sidelines of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation meeting. The two sides discussed regional developments and ways to advance the peace process. Hussein emphasized the necessity of resolving regional crises through peaceful means and dialogue and diplomacy during this meeting.
The conclusion of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation meeting with the adoption of the "Baghdad Declaration" was another news from this conference. Hussein announced the conclusion of the fifty-second meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation with the presence of representatives from 55 countries and the adoption of the "Baghdad Declaration." He expressed satisfaction that the Palestinian issue was the main focus of discussions at this meeting and that Baghdad hosted this conference.
Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, also emphasized cooperation with Iraq to follow up on the results of the meeting and stated that the organization would pursue the implementation of the resolutions from the fifty-second session in cooperation with Baghdad. Activating Iraq's presidency of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and strengthening the role of this organization in addressing the political and economic challenges of Islamic countries were also other focal points of this meeting.
Iraq hosted the fifty-second meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on October 17 and 18 (25 and 26 Mehr) under the slogan "Dialogue and Solidarity; Two Essential Pillars for Strengthening Peace and Sustainable Development."
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