Iraq inaugurates a new phase in relations with the Czech Republic.. Joint statement after the meeting of Al-Sudani – Fiala
Iraq inaugurates a new phase in relations with the Czech Republic.. Joint statement after the meeting of Al-Sudani – Fiala
2025-02-13 06:05
Shafaq News/ Iraq and the Czech Republic issued a joint statement on Thursday after a meeting between Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and his counterpart, Peter Fiala, as part of the former’s official visit to the Czech Republic earlier today.
Relations and cooperation
At the beginning of the statement received by Shafaq News Agency, the two presidents praised the long history of friendship and fruitful and multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries. Prime Minister Fiala expressed his appreciation for the recent achievements made by the Iraqi government on its path towards establishing lasting peace, stability and economic prosperity, including Iraq’s pioneering and leading role in the war against terrorism.
For his part, the Sudanese Prime Minister praised the Czech Republic’s important contribution to international efforts within the international coalition to eliminate the terrorist entity ISIS, as well as its support for reconstruction and humanitarian development efforts in Iraq following the field defeat of ISIS.
Security and Counter-Terrorism
In light of the ongoing transformation of the multilateral security partnership within the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, the two sides stressed the importance of continuing cooperation against terrorism in this framework, both bilaterally and multilaterally within relevant international organizations. The Iraqi side also commended the important contribution made by the NATO Mission in Iraq and the European Union Advisory Mission in Iraq, to which the Czech Republic contributes.
Economic cooperation
Based on the Agreement on Economic Cooperation and Trade Promotion between the Governments of the Republic of Iraq and the Czech Republic, the two sides affirmed their commitment to enhancing the role and effectiveness of the Joint Committee for Economic Cooperation between the two countries, which is jointly managed by the Iraqi Ministry of Industry and Minerals and the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade, with the aim of providing recommendations for measures that would unlock new opportunities in the fields of trade, investment, energy and industrial cooperation, and seeking to achieve higher levels of trade and mutual investment between the two countries.
The two sides expressed their willingness to continue efforts to create favorable conditions for businesses and investors to operate in each other’s markets, through cooperation and support for trade promotion activities. The two sides also expressed their desire to enhance economic, trade and investment cooperation in areas including crude oil refining, chemical industry, mining and mineral processing, geological surveying, environmental technologies (especially sustainable waste management and circular economy, air quality monitoring, and water resources management), infrastructure development, transportation, civil aviation, railway industry, construction equipment and materials, energy engineering and renewable energy, medical industry and medical equipment, as well as machinery and equipment for agriculture and food processing.
The two sides welcomed the signing of the air transport services agreement between the governments of the two countries, as it has a positive impact on tourism and mutual trade.
The two sides also welcomed the letter of intent for cooperation in the field of environmental protection, which was signed between the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Iraq and the Ministry of Environment of the Czech Republic. The Czech Ministry of Environment and its relevant institutions expressed their readiness to share their expertise in the field of air and water quality protection, disaster risk management, biodiversity conservation and management of protected natural areas. The Czech side also expressed its readiness to share information on the strategic and legal foundations for air and water protection, and to introduce the Iraqi side to the national monitoring and observation network for the relevant areas.
Recognizing the importance of providing an appropriate legal framework to create favorable conditions for businesses and investors to operate in the markets of the two countries, the two sides announce the continuation of negotiations with the aim of reaching an agreement to avoid double taxation and prevent evasion of taxes imposed on income and capital, due to its importance in order to sign it in the near future, recognizing the importance of the appropriate legal framework to create favorable conditions for businesses and investors to operate in each other’s markets, and they also agreed to provide the necessary cooperation and support to continue negotiations on an agreement to encourage and protect mutual investments.
The Sudanese Prime Minister stressed the Iraqi mega-project for infrastructure development – especially the “Development Road” vision, which aims to create a strategic corridor linking the south to the north to efficiently transport energy, passengers and goods – as an important investment opportunity for Czech suppliers, and the two Prime Ministers tasked the Joint Committee for Economic Cooperation with identifying sectors and projects with specific opportunities in this regard.
In this context, the two sides welcome the negotiations between the Iraqi Sovereignty Guarantees Committee and the Czech Export Guarantee Agency (EGAP) on the formula of an agreement that allows the possibility of providing sovereign guarantees by the Federal Ministry of Finance for investment projects implemented by Czech companies in Iraq. This step will facilitate the entry of Czech companies into the Iraqi market, increase the volume of trade exchange, and support the development of the private sector in Iraq, especially in infrastructure projects.
Energy cooperation
The two sides expressed their desire to enhance cooperation in the fields of oil and gas, and to benefit from the great potential for exporting crude oil, petrochemical products and other resources from the Republic of Iraq to the Czech Republic. They also stressed the importance of enhancing bilateral cooperation in the petrochemical industry and the energy sector, especially joint projects to expand oil refining capacities, as well as developing traditional and renewable energy production in Iraq. In this context, the two sides welcome the signing of a memorandum of understanding for this purpose between the Ministry of Oil of the Republic of Iraq and the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic.
Defense cooperation
The two sides stressed the importance of continuing bilateral cooperation in the military field and defense industries. The Czech side expressed its readiness to provide continuous technical support to enhance the combat readiness of the Iraqi Air Force, while the Iraqi side confirmed its interest in continuing this cooperation.
Cooperation in the fields of migration and security
The two sides expressed their readiness to enhance cooperation on migration issues between the competent authorities in the Republic of Iraq and the Czech Republic and the diplomatic missions of both countries. The two sides also expressed their determination to enhance cooperation in preventing and combating all forms of organized crime, and to intensify the exchange of information and expertise with the aim of ensuring the protection of individuals in both countries.
In this context, the two sides welcome the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on security cooperation between the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Iraq and the Ministry of Interior of the Czech Republic.
shafaq.com
