Baghdad Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein met today, Sunday, with the Ambassadors of the European Union, Canada, Norway and Britain, the charge d’affaires of the Japanese Embassy and the representative of the US Embassy in Baghdad.
During the meeting, they discussed a US-Albanian draft resolution submitted to the United Nations General Assembly related to the referendum in Zarporozhye, Khrichno, Lugansk and Donetsk in Ukraine and their annexation to the Russian Federation.
The guests indicated the importance of the draft resolution as it addresses the attempts of the Russian Federation to change the recognized political borders of the state (Ukraine), and that it constitutes a clear and explicit violation of the Charter of the United Nations, and they stressed their position in support of the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine within the internationally recognized borders. They also indicated that Russia will present the request that the vote be kept secret and that they would reject it in the interest of transparency in the procedures, and they asked Iraq to support the draft resolution in order to preserve the right of the Ukrainian people to self-determination.
The Minister stressed that Iraq’s position has been clear since the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war, which is the need to find a peaceful solution to the crisis, avoid escalation, rely on negotiations, exercise restraint, and call for dialogue between the parties, as Iraq is a country that has suffered from the scourge of wars.
The Minister also stressed that the economic repercussions of this war had affected countries in Europe and the Middle East, and he also expressed his concern over its continuation.
He explained that Iraq is part of the Arab Contact Group, which seeks to find ways to resolve the crisis through dialogue and diplomacy, in a manner that preserves the security and safety of peoples in this important region of the world.
With regard to the draft resolution, the Minister indicated that he will discuss this with the Prime Minister in light of the principles of Iraqi foreign policy that emphasize resorting to peaceful means in resolving disputes and in light of Iraq’s commitment to the United Nations Charter. He will also communicate with his counterparts in the Arab Contact Group to see their positions on the project under research, as well as communication with the permanent representative of Iraq in New York in this regard.
Source: National Iraqi News Agency