After Years of Closure, Morocco’s Embassy Reopens in Baghdad

Shut down for 18 years, the Moroccan Embassy reopened Saturday, in Baghdad, in the presence of Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein.
The Moroccan embassy was closed in 2005 and relocated to Amman due to the deteriorating security conditions in Iraq.
In a press conference, Bourita said that the event reflects the deeply-rooted and solid relations between the two countries, underlining the embassy’s role as a mechanism that would give momentum to bilateral ties. Bourita also reiterated Morocco’s support for Iraq’s national unity and sovereignty.
Hussein, who held talks with the Moroccan official, told the press about the future creation of a business forum to reinforce economic relations between Morocco and Iraq. He also pointed to the need to revise old agreements to make them more compatible with the two countries’ political and economic situation.
On the Sahara issue, the Iraqi official reaffirmed Iraq’s unwavering support for Morocco’s territorial integrity and the UN efforts to reach a permanent solution to the Moroccan Sahara conflict.
The two parties signed two MoUs on political consultations and diplomatic training. Morocco and Iraq are linked by over 40 agreements involving different sectors.