‘Cyprus is important’, Iraqi president says

Iraqi President Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid stressed Cyprus’ importance on Wednesday, as he visited Limassol on the third day of his visit to the island.

“Cyprus is important. It is the door to the Mediterranean which is adjacent to some important countries in the region,” he said, also adding that he expects a “tightening of relations” between Cyprus and Iraq.

He also spoke about Cyprus and Iraq’s shared history and culture and said Cyprus “is at the same time a very good tourist destination”.

Additionally, he said he is planning on establishing an Iraqi embassy in Cyprus, and that he has spoken to Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides about the possibility of opening up direct flights between the two countries.

While in Limassol, he was presented with a statue of the Lion of Amathus, the city’s emblem, by the city’s mayor Nicos Nicolaides. He was also given a tour of the Limassol castle, before visiting the city’s old port and marina.

Rashid had met Christodoulides earlier in his trip to Cyprus, with Christodoulides describing the visit as “an indication of our common will to work for the strengthening of our bilateral relations as well as development of our cooperation at the regional and international level”.

The two presidents had held a tete-a-tete meeting at the presidential palace in Nicosia, followed by extended talks with the participation of their respective delegations.

During the meeting, Rashid extended an invitation to Christodoulides to visit Baghdad, which he said he accepted.