France reaffirms support for Iraq's stability and partnership
The Frensh ambassador to Iraq reaffirmed his country's commitment to strengthening ties with Baghdad, highlighting diplomacy, cultural exchange, and defense cooperation.
In a speech marking France's National Day. Ambassador Patrick Durel praised Iraq's recent political and security stability and the scope of French-Iraqi cooperation across sectors.
'France and Iraq share a strong conviction that diplomatic solutions are always preferable to the use of force to overcome crises,' Durel said, citing France's support for the Baghdad Conference initiative backed by President Emmanuel Macron. The conference is intended to promote regional dialogue amid ongoing Middle East tensions.
Durel noted notable achievements over the past year despite regional instability, pointing to increasing collaboration between French and Iraqi businesses. 'We are working together to rebuild strong ties between the French and Iraqi private sector... for the sake of Iraq's economic diversification and sustainable development and at the benefit of the Iraqi people.'
The ambassador also highlighted cultural exchanges as a pillar of the bilateral relationship, with French archaeological teams resuming missions in Iraq and Iraqi filmmakers gaining international acclaim.
On defense cooperation, Durel underlined France's active role in supporting Iraq's security through its contributions to the International Coalition, NATO Mission in Iraq, and bilateral initiatives. 'We pursue the training of the Desert Battalions,' he noted, adding that France remains ready to support Iraq's military and equipment needs, including safeguarding its airspace.
Durel commended Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani for maintaining Iraq's neutrality amid regional conflicts, stating that the country is 'experiencing a period of stability' due to government efforts to steer clear of foreign entanglements.
Describing Iraq's population as its 'real wealth,' the ambassador stressed the importance of unity and inclusion, referencing his visits to cities across the country, from Faw in the south to Zakho in the north.
He also voiced support for continued dialogue between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to resolve internal disputes, saying France encourages both sides to overcome challenges through cooperation.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rudaw Net
44 minutes ago
- Rudaw Net
Two explosive drones intercepted southwest of Erbil
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Two explosive-laden drones targeting the Khurmala oil field, southwest of Erbil, were intercepted by US-led coalition forces on Monday night, a security source told Rudaw. No casualties were reported. The Khurmala oil field is located in the Makhmour district, approximately 60 kilometers southwest of Erbil city. According to a senior security official, the drones entered the Kurdistan Region's airspace and were shot down by forces from the US-led Global Coalition to Defeat the Islamic State (ISIS). The source added that a third drone also entered the airspace but later disappeared, noting, "It is believed to have returned to its base.' As of the time of publication, no information had been released regarding material damage caused by the attack. Following the incident, the Directorate General of Counter Terrorism (CTD), also known as Kurdistan CT, announced that around 08:25 pm local time, 'two explosive-laden drones were brought down over the Khurmala oil field,' adding, 'Fortunately, there were no casualties,' the statement said. Earlier on Monday, the CTD reported that another explosive-laden drone was intercepted and downed near Erbil International Airport at dawn. No injuries or property damage were reported in that incident either. Iraq's Security Media Cell confirmed the evening attack, stating that at 08:30 pm local time, 'the Khurmala oil field in Makhmour district, west of Erbil province, was targeted by two unidentified unmanned aerial vehicles (drones). No human casualties were recorded, and the damage was limited to material losses.' The Cell added that 'coordination is ongoing with the security and intelligence forces in the Kurdistan Region to investigate the circumstances surrounding this attack.' The Kurdistan Region has witnessed a sharp increase in drone attacks in recent weeks, particularly during and following the 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran that began on June 13 and ended on June 24 with a US-brokered ceasefire. While no party has claimed responsibility for the recent drone incursions, the Kurdistan Region's Interior Ministry earlier in July accused the Iran-aligned Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) of involvement - an allegation swiftly rejected by Baghdad as 'unacceptable.' The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has also accused the Iraqi federal government of failing to prevent or investigate the growing number of drone attacks targeting the Region.
Shafaq News
6 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Al-Sadr's demands challenge the Coordination Framework
Shafaq News – Baghdad Muqtada al-Sadr's latest proposal was a key focus of the Coordination Framework's recent meeting, where the Shiite political alliance reviewed developments in Iraq's electoral landscape and discussed the implications of al-Sadr's conditions. A source familiar with the meeting told Shafaq News that the discussions focused on the implications of al-Sadr's conditions, which include sweeping reform measures that directly challenge the policies of several Framework factions—most notably, the call to place all weapons under state control and to restructure the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) under a new legal and security framework. 'Some leaders within the Framework believe they have observed early signs of a quiet convergence between al-Sadr's agenda and the stance of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani on key issues,' the source revealed, adding that those leaders reportedly fear that al-Sadr may offer indirect support to al-Sudani in the upcoming elections. The Framework also emphasized the need to counter any shift in Shiite voter sentiment that could threaten its current dominance in parliament. Muqtada al-Sadr recently declared his disavowal of dozens of political and military figures linked to his movement for deciding to contest the upcoming elections—scheduled for November 11, 2025—in defiance of his formal call to boycott the vote.
Iraq Business
6 hours ago
- Iraq Business
PM Emphasises Citizen-Centric Design for New Cities
By John Lee. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani has underscored the importance of ensuring that new residential cities meet the needs of citizens, during a site visit to the under-construction Al-Jawahiri City (pictured), west of Baghdad. The Prime Minister inspected the project, launched in December 2023, as part of his government's housing initiative. He reviewed implementation progress, met with project workers, and issued directives to overcome logistical obstacles, praising the efforts of the New Cities Authority and the Ministry of Construction for facilitating work. Al-Sudani stated that the strategy to build integrated residential cities follows detailed analysis of Iraq's housing crisis, particularly addressing the needs of middle-income citizens, with a designated portion of housing allocated for low-income groups. Key remarks by the Prime Minister included: Comprehensive services-commercial, economic, and public-will be integrated into all new cities. The housing model is designed to be simple, accessible, and affordable in terms of layout, pricing, and instalment plans. Past housing projects have faced issues in securing land and coordination across ministries regarding ownership. Ministries and local governments are instructed to prepare unified service plans for electricity, telecoms, roads, and national utility networks. Emphasis was placed on adhering to approved technical specifications and urban planning standards. The implementing company must expedite progress and adopt advanced construction technologies. Environmental requirements and green space allocations must be respected. Residential units must be designed with accessibility in mind and conform to smart city standards, in line with a modern and forward-looking vision. Al-Jawahiri City is the first of several new planned urban developments aimed at alleviating the country's long-standing housing shortage. (Source: PMO) Tags: Al-Jawahiri Residential City, Baghdad, cg, construction, featured, Housing, Infrastructure, Muhammad Shia al-Sudani, new cities, New Cities Authority, real estate, urban planning
