Iraqi PM adviser Ihsan al-Shammari said that the fact that Custodian of Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi signed an agreement to establish a coordination council between the two countries builds a foundation for business and accelerates bilateral cooperation between Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
During a phone-call with Asharq Al-Awsat, Shammari said that the council will take into consideration that mutual relations meet the highest levels of understanding, and he pointed out that there are other memorandums of understanding between Riyadh and Baghdad related to education.
Expertise will be exchanged in universities, students will be granted sponsorship and cooperation will take place in agricultural sectors.
Shammari reported that the two countries are adopting a unified policy in OPEC, adding that Aramco will work on investments in oil fields south Iraq and will establish petrochemical and refining factories.
He added that efforts will be joined via combining the successful operations of the Iraqi security forces and the huge amount of information by the Saudi security authorities.
The Iraqi official stressed that establishing this coordination council affirms a renaissance in ties between Saudi Arabia and Iraq along with an intention to develop it and build it on firm bases.
Shammari mentioned that the second visit of Abadi to the kingdom within months asserts that his political approach is not sectarian and that he considers interests of Iraq as a whole. This second visit also reveals a Saudi wish that Iraq returns to the Arab side and cements its ties, knowing that Saudi Arabia represents the depth of both Islamic and Arab worlds.
