Iraq's Hussein holds talks with Jordan, Egypt and Algeria on regional cooperation

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein held separate meetings on the sidelines of the 165th extraordinary session of the Arab League Council of Foreign Ministers in Amman with his counterparts from Jordan, Egypt and Algeria, Iraq's Foreign Ministry said. Hussein met with Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf to discuss addressing regional challenges through dialogue and cooperation. The talks covered strengthening economic, trade and investment partnerships under the trilateral cooperation mechanism between Iraq, Jordan and Egypt, accelerating joint projects and supporting sustainable development efforts, according to the ministry. The ministers also exchanged views on ongoing US-Iran negotiations in Switzerland, with Hussein reiterating Iraq's support for the talks and emphasis on a diplomatic solution. In his meeting with Abdelatty, Hussein reviewed the electricity interconnection project, arrangements for storing Iraqi crude oil and the outcomes of a four-country regional meeting held in Cairo. The talks with Attaf focused on cooperation in the oil and gas sectors between the two OPEC members, electricity generation and opportunities to draw on Algerian expertise in turbine manufacturing. The two ministers agreed to convene the Iraq-Algeria Joint Commission in the final quarter of the year at the level of energy ministers and to accelerate the process of signing a visa-exemption agreement for diplomatic passport holders, the ministry added.