Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP) received his Iraqi colleague Fuad Hussein in Vienna on Sunday. Relations between the two countries have intensified since the opening of the Austrian embassy in Baghdad, the report said.
The closer relationship brings “more security, especially when it comes to combating illegal migration,” said Alexander Schallenberg. That is why the cooperation sometimes also pays attention to “assistance with return and reintegration” and to “measures to increase awareness about the risks of illegal migration”. Potential migrants are already being warned of the dangers “that lurk if you put yourself in the hands of unscrupulous people smugglers,” according to a press release.
Hussein: Memorandum of Understanding signed
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein posted photos of his reception in Schallenberg on Sunday. Both the Austrian and Iraqi flags can be seen. On Platform X it is said that the two politicians have signed a letter of intent for future cooperation.
Here is a photo of the document being signed.
The politician did not reveal exactly what it was about. It is an “important step” that would strengthen the bilateral relationship. The conversation discussed, for example, historical relationships, security and economic challenges. They would look forward to “further developing cooperation in the interests of our peoples.”
More and more companies want to invest
According to Schallenberg, who visited Iraq in September, more and more Austrian companies want to invest in the country. “A stable, peaceful and prosperous Iraq is our common concern,” he said. During the meeting, the Foreign Minister also condemned “Iran’s missile attacks on the city of Erbil. Any violation of Iraqi sovereignty by neighboring states is unacceptable (…).” Erbil is the capital of the oil-rich Autonomous Region of Kurdistan. The Austrian mineral oil company OMV has been active in the region since 2007, and the airline Austrian Airlines (AUA) is there too.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) attacked targets in northern Iraq and Syria with ballistic missiles on January 15. The shelling is said to have targeted an alleged spy center of the Israeli secret service Mossad in Ebril.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
