Iraq, Libya move to revive joint committee after 25 years

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zaydi received Libyan Foreign Minister Tahir Salim al-Bagur, who is serving in an acting capacity, and an accompanying delegation in Baghdad, his office said. Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah sent Zaydi an official letter inviting him to visit Libya at the earliest opportunity. The two sides launched preparations for the third session of the Iraqi-Libyan Joint Committee, which has not convened since 2001. Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein announced that the legal process had been completed on two properties belonging to the Libyan Embassy in Baghdad, and said the file on Iraqi properties in Tripoli had also been closed. Talks covered energy, security, intelligence sharing and coordination of positions within the OPEC+ framework. The Iraqi government has accelerated diplomatic contacts with Tripoli to revive political and economic ties and strengthen Arab coordination, according to officials. The visit is expected to set the groundwork for a more concrete partnership between the two countries, though no date has been announced for the prime minister's trip or the committee session.