Iraqi FM discusses refugees issue with Austrian counterpart
The Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein and the Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg. Photo: Iraqi Foreign Ministry
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Iraqi Foreign Minister, Fuad Hussein, discussed the issue of Iraqi refugees in the European Union with the Austrian Foreign Minister, Alexander Schallenberg, during a meeting on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum held in the Swiss city of Davos, according to a press statement issued by the Iraqi Foreign Ministry.
The statement mentioned that Hussein and Schallenberg discussed the bilateral relations between Iraq and Austria in addition to international and regional issues of common interest.
Hussein indicated that Iraq will discuss the issue of immigration at the level of the European Union during his next visit to Brussels, the statement explained.
Hussein also thanked Schallenberg for reopening of the Austrian embassy in Baghdad, and invited him, Austrian businessmen and investors to visit Baghdad to hold discussions with their Iraqi counterparts.
Hussein confirmed that the new Iraqi government is seeking to rebuild the economic infrastructure and to present the draft general budget during the next few weeks, noting that Iraq is financially strong because of the rise in global oil prices.
The Iraqi minister pointed out that the security situation in Iraq is good, despite the existence of some militants belonging to ISIS groups, who do not pose a threat, the statement clarified.
Schallenberg elaborated that Austria suffers from a refugee crisis, especially with the increasing number of Ukrainian refugees.
Schallenberg indicated that Austria expects an increase in the number of refugees during 2023, and expressed his country’s desire to conclude an agreement in this regard with Iraq.