<h6><strong>Eduardo González</strong></h6> <h4><strong>The Spanish ambassador to Iraq, Alicia Rico, has highlighted the improvement in security throughout Iraq, where ISIS "has truly been defeated in Iraq." She therefore warned that the country's main challenge in terms of investment is not security, but rather improving the "business climate" and addressing corruption and "the obstacles that can impede the entry of foreign investment."</strong></h4> "Kurdistan has been a fairly safe region for some time, and there really aren't any major security problems that prevent it," the ambassador stated during an interview with the Iraqi-Kurdish television network Rudaw broadcast last Friday. "As for the rest of the country," she continued, "I think it's quite admirable how security has improved." “Obviously, we believe more can be done, but aside from security, I think it's more about improving the business climate” and addressing other issues, such as “some corruption and obstacles that can impede the entry of foreign investment.” Therefore, she asserted, “it's not so much about security now, because we truly believe the situation in Iraq is much, much better.” “I think ISIS (the Islamic State) has truly been defeated in Iraq,” but, “as the Iraqi authorities say, there are still remnants, that's obvious,” she explained. “Obviously, the situation in Syria also has an impact,” and therefore, “we have to prevent ISIS from becoming stronger again,” but, “considering the armed factions, the best thing would be for the State to have a monopoly on weapons,” she added. On the other hand, Alicia Rico asserted that Spanish companies are interested in the infrastructure sector in Kurdistan. “Right after this interview, I will accompany a Spanish delegation, a business delegation, to see the Minister of Reconstruction and Housing to also discuss a possible project in the infrastructure sector,” she announced. Furthermore, that same company “has already conducted a feasibility study for a railway network,” she added. “But I also think there are possibilities in the agricultural sector, in agroindustry, and obviously, we are very open to any opportunity here in Kurdistan. I believe the Kurdish representation in Spain is also organizing a trade mission to Spanish companies here in Kurdistan, with our support, of course,” she stated. Alicia Rico also welcomed the resumption of oil exports from the Kurdistan Region following the recent agreement between the central government in Baghdad and the regional authorities in Erbil. “We truly commend it. I think it is very good news that, finally, after more than two years, oil is once again flowing through the pipeline to Turkey,” she stated. “This is a commendable effort by the Iraqi Prime Minister (Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani), the Kurdistan Regional Government, and the international oil companies involved. It is a very positive step that will contribute to the country's stability and also attract more investment in Kurdistan, which is very important,” she said. “Obviously, for Kurdistan, this is certainly good news, and more importantly, it shows that an agreement has finally been reached between Erbil and Baghdad, which previously caused a lot of tension,” Rico stated. Furthermore, she added, it is also a “positive” development for Europe, which will “once again” have access to oil from the Kurdistan Region. “Spain imports oil from Iraq, so this is also good news for us,” she added.
