December 15 2014

PM Al-Abadi met this evening with H.H Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
During the meeting, both countries emphasized their common desire to expand cooperation in various areas and stressed the importance of strengthening the bonds of fraternal relations between the two countries and the two peoples.
PM Al-Abadi stated that: “we look forward to the establishment of strategic relations with the UAE”, adding that “the existing friendship between the two peoples of Iraq and the UAE will contribute in the creation of broad fruitful cooperative relations which serve the interests of the two peoples, two countries, and the entire region.
H.E. further added that: “there are great prospects for joint cooperation in security, military, economic and commercial areas, which we noticed after meeting with high officials in the UAE, and through the meetings that were held with the ministers of the Iraqi delegation”.
H.E. Al-Abadi also said that the Iraqi government’s approach is leaning towards the reliance on the investment sector and its revitalization, and that the government has taken serious steps on the path of reform. Al-Abadi further added that the Iraqi people of all components see that they are well represented by the government and that the government is meeting their aspirations.
For his part, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum reaffirmed the desire of the UAE to increase cooperation with Iraq, and affirmed: “we are looking forward to establish special relations and the UAE is a typical partner with Iraq. We are concerned about the interest of the Iraqi people and we expect that Iraq will witness progress in security and stability in the coming years, and we are working on opening a new page in the relations between the two countries”.