Baghdad, Feb. 5 (SANA) Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein and his French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot said on Thursday that the agreement between the Syrian government and the SDF constitutes an important step toward strengthening stability in Syria and supporting joint efforts to combat ISIS.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Baghdad, Hussein said Iraq supports the agreement, noting that the absence of stability in Syria negatively affects the wider region. He explained that his talks with Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani in Damascus addressed mechanisms for implementing the deal, continuing operations against ISIS, and dealing with detained terrorists inside Syrian territory.
Hussein added that Iraq, which has suffered heavily from terrorism, will continue working within the international coalition against ISIS in coordination with Syria, stressing that Baghdad will be part of any regional effort aimed at eradicating terrorism wherever it exists.
For his part, Barrot said Iraq and France share a common vision in supporting a peaceful and inclusive political transition in Syria and in sustaining the fight against ISIS. He stated that the purpose of his regional visit was counterterrorism, remarking that France’s security is closely linked to developments in the Syrian-Iraqi theater, and noting that Paris conducted strikes against the group on Jan. 3 as part of the international coalition.
The French minister praised Iraq’s role in hosting thousands of detainees transferred from northeastern Syria, affirming that France would continue backing Baghdad on this file
Earlier today in Damascus, Minister al-Shaibani met Barrot in Damascus, where they reviewed regional developments, issues of mutual concern, and prospects for strengthening bilateral cooperation, while reaffirming Syria’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
