Iraqi parliament speaker to visit France and Germany in mid-September

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani will make official visits to France and Germany in mid-September, parliamentary sources said. Preparations on the dates and program of the trip have reached their final stage, according to the same sources. During the visits, al-Mashhadani is expected to meet with his French and German counterparts to discuss bilateral parliamentary relations and matters of mutual interest. The sources said the trip is also intended to strengthen Iraq's parliamentary-level dialogue with the European Union. The program is set to include meetings with officials in both countries, the sources added. No further details on the schedule or agenda were immediately available.