| 2008: UAE to name Iraq envoy soon |
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June 5, 2008 United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed al-Nahyan on Thursday revealed his country's plans to reopen its embassy in Iraq and to name an ambassador in the coming few days. "Talks are underway between the United Arab Emirates and the Iraqi government to name its ambassador to Iraq and reopen its embassy…," Sheikh al-Nahyan said during a joint press conference with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zibari in the Iraqi capital Baghdad. "We look forward to having Iraq as an active member in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)," Sheikh al-Nahyan added, praising the Iraqi government for what he described as its national reconciliation and security efforts. Reiterating his country's willingness to maintain sound relations with Iraq, the minister said that the issue of Iraqi debts will be dealt with in a timely, efficient and effective manner. On Thursday morning, Sheikh al-Nahyan arrived in an unannounced visited to the Iraqi capital and discussed with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki means of boosting diplomatic relations between the two countries. The visit is the first by a United Arab Emirates minister to Iraq since the collapse of the former regime in 2003. Source: Voices of Iraq |