BAGHDAD: French President Emmanuel Macron pledged support for Iraq on Wednesday and said the main challenges facing the country are Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISI) group fighters and foreign interference in its affairs.
“We are here for and we will continue to support Iraq,” Macron said at a news conference in Baghdad with his Iraqi counterpart Barham Salih.
Macron is the first head of state to visit the Iraqi capital since Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi, Iraq’s former intelligence chief, formed a new government in May. becoming the third head of government in a chaotic 10-week period that followed months of deadly protests in a country exhausted by decades of sanctions, war, corruption and economic challenges.
“Any foreign intervention may undermine the efforts exerted by you as a government,” Macron said. Iraqi officials should continue to share the vision of restoring “Iraq’s sovereignty,” he said, adding this is a “very significant enterprise not only for Iraq, but also the entire region”.
“I would like to reiterate that France totally supports the Iraqi state and institutions.” Macron had earlier said he was heading to Baghdad “to launch an initiative alongside the UN to support a process of sovereignty”.