Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fuad Hussein, met today, Tuesday, with the Portuguese Minister of State and Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel, on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a statement that, during the meeting, bilateral relations between the two friendly countries and ways to develop them were reviewed, with a focus on the cultural and economic fields. The Minister of Foreign Affairs called on Portugal to take the necessary steps to reopen its embassy in Baghdad. The two sides discussed the latest developments on the international scene, especially the increasing escalation in the pace of violence in the Middle East region, and the danger of this to international peace and security. The Minister expressed Iraq's deep concern about this escalation, warning of the possibility of its expansion in a way that is difficult to control. For his part, the Portuguese Minister stressed that his country shares Iraq's concerns, expressing its concern about the continuation of violence and escalation in the Middle East, and the ineffectiveness of the international community in stopping this threat to global security. Source: National Iraqi News Agency