Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein extended an official invitation to Venezuelan Foreign Minister Ivan Gil Pinto to visit Baghdad. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a statement: "The Foreign Minister met his Venezuelan counterpart, on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, and discussed with him relations between Iraq and Venezuela and the importance of strengthening them after 75 years of its establishment. The commonality in the fields of oil production and gas reserves were also discussed, stressing the need for continuous coordination in these important areas." The two sides also discussed international issues of common interest, most notably the Palestinian issue. Fouad Hussein thanked Venezuela for its honorable and supportive stances towards the Palestinian cause. Within the framework of strengthening bilateral relations, opportunities for developing cooperation in the fields of agriculture and oil expertise were dis cussed. The two ministers focused on the importance of exchanging expertise in exploiting associated gas and enhancing cooperation in this field. They also emphasized following up on the work of the joint committee between the two countries, activating the signed memoranda of understanding, and moving forward to complete the procedures for signing the memoranda that are still under completion. At the end of the meeting, Fouad Hussein extended an invitation to his Venezuelan counterpart to visit Baghdad, to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries. Source: National Iraqi News Agency