<h6><strong>Eduardo González</strong></h6> <h4><strong>The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, received this Thursday at the Moncloa Palace the Prime Minister of Iraq, Mohammed Shia al Sudani, with whom he agreed on the need to stop the escalation of violence in the Middle East and signed two memorandums of understanding on financial and judicial cooperation.</strong></h4> “The first visit to Spain by Mohammed Shia al Sudani, Prime Minister of Iraq, is a sign of the strong ties of friendship between our countries,” Sánchez declared through social networks. “During our meeting, we have addressed the shared desire to deepen collaboration in the economic, commercial and industrial fields, as well as in matters of security, justice, tourism and culture,” he continued. “We share our concern about the situation in the Middle East and agree on the importance of Euro-Arab cooperation to achieve lasting peace, stability and security in the region,” concluded the head of the Executive. According to Moncloa in a press release, Pedro Sánchez and Mohammed Shia al Sudani have addressed the situation in the Middle East and have shared their concern about the escalation of violence and the risk it poses for the entire region. In this regard, the two leaders have adopted a Joint Declaration in which, in addition to addressing the strengthening of bilateral relations and a framework of cooperation to face regional and multilateral challenges, both countries call on all parties to act with maximum restraint, end the violence immediately and fully respect International Law, including International Humanitarian Law. They also reiterated their firm support for the United Nations and both leaders called for the full and effective implementation of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian issue. According to the official website of the Iraqi Prime Minister, Al Sudani praised, during his meeting with Sánchez, Spain's "clear support" for the Palestinian cause through the recognition of the State of Palestine, as well as its calls for an end to the war against Gaza and Lebanon. The President of the Government, according to Moncloa, conveyed to the Iraqi Prime Minister Spain's commitment and support for the efforts of the Government of Iraq to maintain its stability, security and sovereignty and expressed Spain's support for the NATO Mission in the country. <h5><strong>Memoranda of Understanding</strong></h5> During the meeting, two Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) were signed on financial cooperation and Justice to promote cooperation at ministerial level. In addition, the Spanish Chamber of Commerce and the CEOE have signed MOUs with their Iraqi counterparts in the field of industrial and business cooperation. The President of the Government, according to Moncloa, stressed during the meeting that Spain is committed to the reconstruction and modernization of Iraq by expanding bilateral trade and investment, which are in full development, and "which offer opportunities for Spanish companies in sectors such as defense, infrastructure, transport, agri-food, water management." In addition, both leaders have addressed the promotion of cooperation in tourism and culture. This is the second bilateral meeting between the Iraqi Prime Minister and Pedro Sánchez, who made an official visit to Baghdad in December 2023 in which the President of the Government conveyed to the Iraqi authorities "Spain's commitment to the security and stability of Iraq" and visited the Spanish troops of the NATO Mission in Iraq. At the end of that meeting, the two leaders offered a joint Institutional Declaration that established the roadmap for future collaboration between the two countries and set ambitious goals in the political, economic, commercial, cultural and educational fields. Mohammed Shia al Sudani, Prime Minister of Iraq since October 2022, was Minister of Human Rights in the Council of Ministers of Prime Minister Nuri al Maliki from 2010 to October 2014. He was also governor of the province of Mesena between 2009 and 2010. <h5><strong>Audience with the King</strong></h5> The Iraqi Prime Minister was later received by King Felipe VI at the Zarzuela Palace. Al Sudani attended the audience accompanied, on the Spanish side, by the State Secretary for Foreign and Global Affairs, Diego Martínez Belío, and by the Spanish ambassador in Baghdad, Alicia Rico Pérez del Pulgar. On the Iraqi side, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fuad Hussein, and the ambassador to Spain, Salih Husain Ali Ali, attended.
