The Iraqi government announced that it has reached an agreement with Saudi Arabia to reactivate deals signed between the two sides.
Iraqi Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Qahtan al-Janabi, meanwhile, said that Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi is expected to visit the Kingdom “very soon”.
He told Asharq Al-Awsat that the premier was keen on visiting Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom will be at the top of his travel itinerary, he stated without disclosing when such a visit may take place.
He stressed that it was “natural” for Saudi Arabia and Iraq to enjoy close relations given their geographic, historic and tribal ties, as well as their common interests.
“The Saudi leadership and Iraqi government are working hard to boost these relations,” he added.
Among the agreements Riyadh and Baghdad are seeking to revive are the reopening of the Arar border crossing and increasing trade and easing travel between the two countries. Other agreements tackle culture, education, health, investment, agriculture and energy.
Several files will witness a marked improvement very soon, pledged Janabi.
He said that the reopening of the Arar crossing has been delayed by the novel coronavirus outbreak, which has also led to the postponement of many issues.
“We must now coexist with the virus and carefully return to normal life,” he added.
Arar is the sole border crossing between Saudi Arabia and Iraq, but “we hope for more portals to be opened between them in the future,” he remarked.