Iraq FM asks for Qatar’s reconstruction help, Doha to open embassy
Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) Iraq asked for Qatar’s help on Wednesday in the reconstruction of the war-torn country, while the Gulf kingdom promised to open an embassy in Iraq.
“Iraq has stood by Qatar, and it is Qatar’s turn to stand by Iraq”, Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari said during a press conference with Qatari counterpart, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman. “We expect our brothers to support efforts to rebuild Iraq,” Jaafari said.
During the conference, Jaafari said his country was “against besieging any country”, and that Iraq remains ready to engage in dialogue to find solutions to regional problems”.
Jaafari was referring to a regional diplomatic crisis that saw Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt severe diplomatic and transport ties with Doha on June 5, accusing Qatar of backing regional rival Iran and sheltering Islamist provocateurs, all denied by Qatar.
Jaafari, however, accused Qatar satellite channel, Al-Jazeera, of “stoking the sedition rhetoric” during the crisis.
On his part, the Qatar foreign minister reiterated his country’s support for dialogue to resolve Iraq’s crisis with Kurdistan Region. He pointed to “clear directives by Prime Tamim bin Hamad to reopen the Qatari embassy in Iraq urgently and to appoint an ambassador soon”.