Kadhimi In Brussels to Activate Agreements Concluded with EU Countries

 Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi held talks Wednesday with President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels (AFP)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi held talks Wednesday with President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels (AFP)
TT

Kadhimi In Brussels to Activate Agreements Concluded with EU Countries

 Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi held talks Wednesday with President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels (AFP)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi held talks Wednesday with President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels (AFP)

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi visited the European Commission headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday where he held talks with President of the European Commission,Ursula von der Leyen.

According to PM al-Kadhimi's office, he is set to hold a series of meetings with officials in Belgium and the EU to boost ties.

Earlier, the Iraqi PM said his visit will focus on activating the agreements concluded with the European countries to expand the economic cooperation and help Iraq overcome the economic crisis.

"Iraq suffers from a seasonal shortage in power supply. The government acknowledges it and will take measures to tackle it, given that we inaugurated four grand power plants this year and we expect to inaugurate more in the next few months," he noted.

"The talks with the EU will also highlight other economic, security, and political aspects."



France Highlights Its Role in Brokering Lebanon Ceasefire Deal

 Lebanese soldiers ride in a convoy in Mansouri, as they head to southern Lebanon, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that went into effect on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP)
Lebanese soldiers ride in a convoy in Mansouri, as they head to southern Lebanon, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that went into effect on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP)
TT

France Highlights Its Role in Brokering Lebanon Ceasefire Deal

 Lebanese soldiers ride in a convoy in Mansouri, as they head to southern Lebanon, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that went into effect on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP)
Lebanese soldiers ride in a convoy in Mansouri, as they head to southern Lebanon, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that went into effect on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP)

France’s foreign minister underlined his country’s role in brokering an agreement that ended fighting between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah group alongside the US, saying the deal wouldn’t have been possible without France’s special relationship with its former protectorate.

“It’s a success for French diplomacy and we can be proud,” said the minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, speaking hours after the ceasefire went into effect Wednesday.

“It is true that the United States have a privileged relationship with Israel. But with Lebanon, it’s France that has very old ties, very close ties,” the minister added. “It would not have been possible to envisage a ceasefire in Lebanon without France being involved on the front line.”

France will be involved in monitoring the ceasefire, Barrot noted, with 700 French soldiers deployed as part of the 10,000-strong United Nations peacekeeping force, known as UNIFIL, that has been patrolling the border area between Lebanon and Israel for nearly 50 years.

The minister said France will also work to strengthen Lebanese troops that will deploy in the south of the country as part of the ceasefire, although he didn’t specify what that might include.