Iraq and Belgium held today, Monday, the third round of political consultations meeting, in the Belgian capital, Brussels, and agreed to follow up on activating agreements and memorandums of understanding between the two countries.

The Spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Al-Sahhaf, said in a statement: Today, Monday, the third round of the political consultations meeting between the Republic of Iraq and the Kingdom of Belgium was held in the Belgian capital, Brussels.

The meeting was attended on the Iraqi side by the Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to Brussels, the deputy head of the mission and officials of the file in the mission and the Ministry's center, and on the Belgian side, the head of the Middle East and North Africa Department, and the official in charge of the Iraq file in the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Al-Sahaf added, "During the meeting, a number of issues of common interest were discussed, and views were exchanged regarding the development of relations between the Republic of Iraq and the Kingdom of Belgium. During the meeting, bilateral issues were also discussed, and the importance of strengthening cooperation in various political, economic and security fields was emphasized. It also agreed to follow up and activate agreements and memorandums of understanding between the two countries.

He continued, "During the meeting, the two sides discussed Iraq's relationship with the European Union and its institutions and its role in supporting Iraq, providing assistance at various levels, and cooperation in the field of human rights through international and regional missions in Iraq."

The Belgian side praised "Iraq's pivotal role in the region in converging views and easing tensions, especially its role in the Saudi-Iranian rapprochement, the Iraqi-Egyptian-Jordanian tripartite cooperation, and the third Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership to be held in Baghdad at the end of this year."

Source: National Iraqi News Agency