(Bumped)
(photo feb. 2009 w/article at bottom of page)
Wednesday November 11, 2009
Talabani meets Sarkozy at the Elysee Monday November 16, 2009
Movement of an Iraqi diplomat widely to clarify the image of the situation in the country
بغداد - الصباح BAGHDAD - morning
Meet with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy in the French Presidential Palace (the Elysee) next Monday.
The announcement coincided with the visit of President Talabani's assertions that Iraq sought to strengthen relations and expand mutual cooperation with countries of the world
To ensure common interests, and with visits to the Kurdish regional leader Massoud Barzani to Brussels and the President of the Supreme Council of the Islamic al-Hakim of the dormitory, in the national steps aimed at clarifying the image of the situation in the country away from what promoted by some media outlets.
The President of the Republic to Baghdad's interest in strengthening relations with the countries of the world.
This came when he received credentials from ambassadors of countries of Egypt, Austria, Finland, Belgium and Norway at the Peace Palace in Baghdad yesterday, attended by Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and President of the Office of the Presidency of the Republic Naseer al-Ani.
At the start President of the Republic decrees recognizing the credentials of the Ambassador of the Republic of Austria Franz Holberger, who stressed his country's strong desire to consolidate relations with Iraq in all fields.
Talabani welcomed the Austrian Ambassador, referring to Iraq is looking forward to building a solid base of close ties between the two countries in all fields of political, economic and other areas of bilateral cooperation.
He pointed out that Iraq was looking forward to the contribution of Austrian companies in reconstruction and other areas of investment, particularly in Kurdistan, Basra, an initial step, and then expand to the rest of Iraq.
For his part, Ambassador Holberger renewed his country's support for the political process in Iraq, expressing his country's full readiness to expand bilateral cooperation, especially economic and cultural fields.
After receipt of Talabani said in a statement received "morning," a copy of it, the credentials of the Ambassador of Finland Harri Maki-Reinikka, as first stressed the importance of developing bilateral relations between Iraq and Finland to serve the higher interests of the two countries.
For his part, the new Finnish Ambassador said his country sees Iraq with interest, adding that the Helsinki seeks to deepen ties of friendship and promote communication with Iraq in all fields.
And while receiving the credentials of Ambassador Sheriff Mohamed Kamal El Din Shahin, Talabani stressed the importance of strengthening strategic relations between the two countries at all levels, considering that this is a national duty and national.
The President of the Republic to Iraq is looking forward to activate the relations which he described the document and comprehensive with Egypt, adding that this step is a step blessing of Cairo, adding that "Egypt's presence in Iraq is important to us, and we are confident that President Hosni Mubarak is very keen to expand and develop relations between the two countries.
Talabani said Ambassador Sharif Shaheen, said that the new Iraq is a friend of Egypt, stressing that the existence of the Convention signed between the two countries strategy for the interest of the Arab nation and in favor of good, peace and progress in the region.
For his part, praised the new Egyptian ambassador to the role of President Talabani to strengthen Iraq's relations with its Arab, reiterated the strong desire of his country in support of the democratic process of the country, he said: "We are here to serve you and brothers, this is a commitment and duty to us, because we believe in the unified and democratic Iraq will do our best to help all factions of the Iraqi people in building a diverse country. "also received the President of the Republic yesterday, the credentials of the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium Johan Ondkh, reiterated Iraq's willingness to strengthen friendly relations and cooperation with the Kingdom of Belgium.
He noted that Iraq was looking forward to establish strong relations with Belgium because of its role and place of major within the European Union, adding that it is a successful model model for a democratic federal system.
For his part, through the Belgian ambassador for his country's readiness to expand the framework of cooperation and coordination with Iraq on all levels of political, economic and cultural rights.
And President Talabani also received the credentials of the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway, Peter Olberg, explaining the importance of working together to develop the bonds of friendship between the two countries so as to ensure common interest and popular paper the two countries.
In turn, the new Norwegian ambassador said his country's desire to promote all kinds of cooperation with Iraq, especially in the economic field to support the growing investment process in Iraq.
And during the ceremony the President expressed full readiness to provide all kinds of support and facilities for the new ambassadors accredited to Iraq for the success of the tasks entrusted to them and to deepen their relations with Iraq, while emphasizing the new ambassadors of their countries to support the political process and the experience of growing democracy in Iraq.
In the meantime, Talabani, sent a congratulatory message to Lebanese Prime Minister Sheikh Saad al-Hariri on the occasion of announcing the formation, the Lebanese government sent a telegram of thanks to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, the answer to a telegram sent by the condemnation after the latest terrorist bombings in Baghdad, while congratulated the Polish President Lech Kaczynski on the occasion of National Day of his country. In another window, said French Foreign Ministry that the President will be between 16 and 19 of this month to visit Paris.
Talabani's visit to France since his election as third President of the Republic of 2005, as it had been visited in the years 2006 and 2007.
It is scheduled to meet Talabani, also a large number of French officials in the headquarters of the National Assembly and the Senate.
The visit of the President of the Republic the culmination of a normalization of relations between Baghdad - French after Paris opposed the war in 2003.
And keep pace with political and economic return to France to Iraq, the gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, which seeks to diversify its base of partnership, to rebuild and reconstruct the country.
It is hoped that the Taliban and Sarkozy attend the signing ceremony of a joint memorandum of cooperation between the two countries.
Francois Fillon, French Prime Minister has visited Baghdad last July, as promised visit, the first Prime Minister of France to Iraq since 2003, accompanied by a delegation of about 30 members including a number of heads of institutions French economic and previously President Nicolas Sarkozy's visit to Iraq on the tenth of February, the first of its kind to the President of France.
The aim of Talabani's visit to Paris next week to win French support for the political and economic institutions in Iraq, and to contribute to the process of rebuilding and restoration of infrastructure During the urge and encourage French companies to work and invest in various sectors and fields of construction and reconstruction, in addition to the development of relations in the cultural, scientific and research, and cooperation in the military field and to modernize and equip the Iraqi army, according to sources in the Presidency of the "morning."
It is said that Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, visited Paris last May and met with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Prime Minister Francois Fillon, held talks with them, described Maliki as "productive," while Sarkozy said the support of Paris to Baghdad by abolishing the 80 percent of Iraq's debt amounting to $ 8 ر $ 4 billion, stressing that "Iraq no longer poses a threat to the region" and had to "regain their international status," saying at the same time that Iraq is "the pillar" in achieving regional stability.
In Brussels, he met the President of the Kurdistan region Massoud Barzani, Javier Solana, foreign policy in the European Union.
The talks focused on political and security challenges in Iraq last general and particularly in Kurdistan, Barzani also met with members of the Foreign Relations Committee in the European Parliament to explain the progress made in the region.
In Manama, the Chairman of mass Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, Mr. Ammar al-Hakim with the King of Bahrain, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, bilateral relations and ways of strengthening them.
A source at the Supreme Council in a press statement: "Mr. Hakim met yesterday with the first King of Bahrain, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, in the framework of his visit to the Kingdom."
He continued: "The two sides discussed ways to strengthen and develop bilateral relations between Iraq and Bahrain, noting that the King of Bahrain, the price of the leading role of Hakim's family in the promotion and consolidation of Islamic values and Islamic unity and foster a spirit of love between them," explaining that "the king of Bahrain said that the reference of Imam Muhsin al-Hakim The real start of such tolerant Islam. "
For his part, thanked Mr. Ammar al-Hakim King of Bahrain to the supervisory positions on Iraq and its people.
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and remember this? ...
Visit by President Sarkozy to Iraq (February 10, 2009)
The President’s visit was coordinated with the Iraqi authorities. A new phase of return to Iraqi sovereignty has begun, with the end of the mandate of the multinational force at the end of last year, and with the holding of regional elections, the first to restore Iraqi authorities in their own country.
The primary objective of this visit was to show France’s support for the process of the return to sovereignty and democratization taking place in Iraq. The provincial elections took place in a climate that can be characterized as very satisfactory. This visit follows two visits to Iraq by Bernard Kouchner, as Minister of Foreign and European Affairs. The point of these visits was to revive dialogue between France and Iraq, with a view to a new dynamic.
As a reminder, between 2005 and 2008 France cancelled 4 billion euros in Iraqi debt. France actively contributes to the European program EUJUST LEX, a program for judges, policemen, and penitentiary personnel. Since the program’s launch in 2005, 270 Iraqi officials were welcomed for training in France. We have also welcomed several hundred Iraqi students during the past several years.
We support Iraq’s full reintegration into its regional environment, and that is why Bernard Kouchner participated in a meeting of Iraq’s neighboring states in Kuwait last April.
The President of the Republic recalled that a second objective is to develop economic relations between Iraq and France. The willingness to revitalize economic relations between the two countries should be noted.
Finally, the question of welcoming Iraqi refugees in France is also important. On February 1, France welcomed 566 refugees of Iraqi nationality, as part of a program to receive refugees that we had launched following Bernard Kouchner’s first trip to Iraq in August 2007. The plan is to accommodate about 1,100 refugees.
http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/country-files_156/iraq_304/visits_2527/visit-by-president-sarkozy-to-iraq-10.02.09_12616.html
