Polish president praises efforts to restore peace in Iraq
PR dla Zagranicy
Paweł Kononczuk
06.11.2017 14:55
Polish President Andrzej Duda on Monday praised efforts by the Iraqi authorities to restore peace and combat the threat of terror.
Andrzej Duda (right) and Fuad Masum at the presidential palace in Warsaw on Monday. Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka
He was speaking at a joint press conference with Iraqi President Fuad Masum, who was on a two-day visit to Warsaw, with talks on trade and security high on the agenda.
"Today, we are all watching with great appreciation the efforts that both the Iraqi authorities and the Iraqi army are undertaking to restore peace, fight Daesh [the so-called Islamic State] and the terrorist threat," said Duda.
"The fact that Daesh is being overcome, that peace is at this moment being restored over such a large area, that people can again live normally, is to the great credit of both the Iraqi authorities and the Iraqi army," he added.
Duda said that Poland and Iraq had diplomatic relations dating back to the 1930s, adding that the visit by the Iraqi president "builds and rebuilds" the potential for mutual relations.
Trade, particularly Polish food exports, and rebuilding the Iraqi economy were also to be discussed by the Polish and Iraqi presidents, senior Polish presidential aide Krzysztof Szczerski said ahead of Masum’s visit.
Trade between Poland and Iraq was worth some USD 500 million (EUR 430 million) last year.
Szczerski said the presidents were also to talk about humanitarian aid to Iraq, and scientific and cultural partnership.
(pk)
Source: PAP