Region | Iraq
Lebanese prime minister Siniora in Iraq for talks
Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora called for Iraq to be "reintegrated into the Arab world" in talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Malike on Wednesday.
- Agencies
- Published: 12:00 August 20, 2008
- Image Credit: Iraqi Government Handout
- Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki (right) talks to Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora during a meeting in Baghdad.
Baghdad: Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora called for Iraq to be "reintegrated into the Arab world" in talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki on Wednesday.
Siniora became the second Arab leader to visit since the fall of Saddam Hussain, just nine days after a flying visit to Iraq by Jordan's King Abdullah.
"The reintegration of Iraq into the Arab world is the principle objective that we should all work for," Siniora told a joint news conference with Maliki in Baghdad after talks in the Iraqi capital.
Washington has been pressing Arab states to embrace the government in Baghdad, which has complained of being spurned by the rest of the Arab world.
The two leaders discussed ways to boost trade ties and strengthen relations.
"We discussed the details of how Lebanon could cooperate with Iraq in the oil sector ... and on oil investment, including (Lebanese) investment in (Iraqi) oil fields," Siniora said.
Lebanon's finance and foreign affairs ministers and other top government officials also made the trip.
Maliki said both countries would seek to form concrete agreements on trade and oil soon. He invited Lebanese investors to help reconstruct Iraq.
News Editor's choice
-
Kuwait condemns Houla massacre
Arab League urged to put end to oppression of Syrian people
-
Road crashes main cause of child death in UAE
Death rate among children in car accidents in the UAE is three times higher than global average
-
Last minute ID rush is on
Expatriates in Dubai have thronged typing centres and Emirates ID registration offices to meet the May 31 registration deadline
