The Iraqi Foreign Ministry announced its welcome of the United Kingdom’s decision to lower the country’s security rating, while calling on other Western countries to take similar steps.
The ministry said, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes the UK’s decision to reclassify the security level in Iraq, and considers this step an important achievement that reflects the significant improvement in the security situation and the Iraqi government’s ongoing efforts to achieve stability and promote a safe and encouraging environment for investment and work.”
She added, “Reducing the security classification will open the way for British companies to enter the Iraqi market, and the decision will contribute to reducing the costs of travel and work insurance, which will enhance opportunities for economic and investment cooperation between Iraq and the United Kingdom.”
She added, “In this context, the ministry calls on other Western countries, including the United States of America, Canada, and the European Union countries (Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, Austria, and the Netherlands), to reconsider their security classifications of Iraq, and the ministry encourages these countries to take similar steps that support Iraq’s efforts to enhance economic cooperation.”
She stressed that “Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein will work to send official messages to the concerned countries, urging them to review their security classifications of Iraq in line with the positive developments and the noticeable improvement in the security situation,” renewing “her commitment to work with her international partners to strengthen bilateral relations and provide an appropriate environment to expand cooperation in various fields, in a way that serves common interests and enhances stability and development in Iraq and the region.”
