Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud announced the postponement of the visit of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi to his country - which was scheduled today - until the departure of the Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz from the hospital.
In a tweet, he said, the kingdom appreciates Al-Kazemi for choosing Saudi Arabia as the first country to visit after taking office. In celebration of this visit, which he described as extremely important, the Saudi leadership, in coordination with its Iraqi counterpart, preferred to postpone the visit until after King Salman's discharge from the hospital.
The Kingdom appreciates the choice of the Iraqi Prime Minister to visit her as the first country after taking office, and to celebrate this extremely important visit and a desire to provide all means of success for her, our rational leadership, in coordination with our brothers in Iraq, opted to postpone the visit until after the departure of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques from the hospital
- Faisal Bin Farhan (@FaisalbinFarhan) July 20, 2020
The Saudi News Agency quoted the Royal Court as saying that King Salman was admitted to King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh for medical examinations caused by inflammation in the gallbladder.
Iraq represents an important strategic dimension to the Kingdom and vice versa. Therefore, it was natural for Riyadh to take a first stop in the schedule of visits of Mr. Mustafa Al-Kazemi.
- Khalid bin Salman Khalid bin Salman (@kbsalsaud) July 20, 2020
For his part, Prince Khalid bin Salman, Deputy Saudi Defense Minister, postponed the postponement of Al-Kazimi's visit to Saudi Arabia, saying: “Iraq represents an important strategic dimension to the Kingdom, and vice versa, so it was natural for Riyadh to solve a first stop in the schedule of visits of Mr. Mustafa Al-Kazemi, and the leadership of the two countries opted to postpone it. Until after the departure of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, may God preserve him from the hospital, to give her the appropriate status she deserves as a high-level state visit. "
I look forward to the complete discharge of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques from the hospital in full health and wellness, so that I can visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and check in person.
The relations of Iraq and the Kingdom are firmly rooted and based on belief in common strategic interests, and I am optimistic about its future.
- Mustafa Al-Kadhimi Mustafa Al-Kadhimi (@MAKadhimi) July 20, 2020
Al-Kazemi
And in Iraq, the office of the Iraqi Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kazemi, announced today, Monday, that the latter received a "brotherly solidarity and interaction", news that King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud was exposed to a health emergency.
A government statement stated that "with a prior date for Al-Kazimi's visit to Saudi Arabia, it was decided to postpone the visit to the earliest possible date agreed upon by both sides."
The statement quoted Al-Kazemi as confirming in a telephone conversation with the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, his warm wishes to King Salman of providing health and safety, and to the Saudi people for their continued prosperity and peace.
Despite the postponement of the visit, a second round of discussions within the work of the Iraqi-Saudi Coordination Council began this morning.
The Iraqi News Agency (INA) stated that "the second day of the round of talks started within the work of the Iraqi-Saudi Coordination Council held in Riyadh."
The Iraqi side is headed by Ali Abdul-Amir Allawi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, while the Saudi side is headed by Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman.
An Iraqi government delegation, headed by Minister of Finance Ali Abdul-Amir Allawi, arrived in Riyadh in preparation for Al-Kazemi’s visit.
The delegation includes the ministers of oil, planning and electricity, where Iraqi sources said that they will hold meetings with their Saudi counterparts to activate the Saudi-Iraqi Ministerial Coordination Council that was formed earlier.
Zarif in Baghdad
Yesterday, the Iranian Foreign Minister, Javad Zarif, dissolved Iraq, and during a meeting with him, Iraqi President Barham Salih affirmed his country's keenness to be a factor of stability and a center for the common interests of the countries of the region, in a manner that establishes peace and regional security.
In turn, Zarif said that a strong and stable Iraq, which has a constructive relationship with neighboring countries, is important to Iran's security and the stability of the region.
For his part, Al-Kazemi said, during his meeting with Zarif, that Iraq seeks to confirm its balanced and positive role in making peace and progress in the region.