Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Yalchin Rafiyev has paid a visit to the Republic of Iraq. As part of the trip, the second round of political consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq was held in Baghdad. The consultations were co-chaired on the Azerbaijani side by Deputy Minister Yalchin Rafiyev and on the Iraqi side by Mohammed Hussein Bahr Al-Ulum, Deputy Minister for Bilateral Relations.

During the consultations, an extensive exchange of views took place on the current state and future development prospects of bilateral political, economic, trade, energy, humanitarian, and inter-parliamentary relations. Opportunities to expand cooperation in multilateral formats—particularly within international organizations such as the United Nations, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the Non‑Aligned Movement—were also discussed. Cooperation under the framework of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change’s Conference of the Parties  was addressed.

The Iraqi side was briefed on the post‑conflict situation and the peace process, including restoration and reconstruction works in the liberated territories, demining of our lands, and the return of our citizens to their native homes.

The parties also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.

During the visit, Deputy Minister Yalchin Rafiyev met with Mrs. Hiyam Al‑Yasiri, Co‑Chair on the Iraqi side of the Joint Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation between the Governments of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Iraq. At the meeting, special emphasis was placed on the Commission’s contribution to developing economic, trade, and humanitarian cooperation between the two countries, and confidence was expressed that the next session of the Commission—scheduled to be held soon in Baku—will give fresh impetus to bilateral relations.

In a meeting with Mr. Qasim Abdulaziz Hamadi, Deputy Minister of Environment of the Republic of Iraq, Deputy Minister Rafiyev discussed Azerbaijan’s successful chairmanship of COP29 and avenues for cooperation on climate change.

During his visit to the Rewaq Baghdad Center for Public Policy, Deputy Minister Rafiyev met with the Center’s Director Abbas Al‑Anbari. At a roundtable attended by the Center’s leadership and researchers, he outlined Azerbaijan’s foreign policy, its COP29 chairmanship, its positions on regional and international developments, and prospects for future cooperation with Iraq, answering numerous questions from participants. At the roundtable, detailed information was also provided on the Azerbaijan‑Armenia peace agenda and reconstruction efforts in the territories liberated from occupation.

Madina Mammadova\\EDnews