Austria set to officially reopen embassy in Baghdad

By Timo Kirez

GENEVA (AA) – Austria’s foreign minister is set to reopen the Austrian Embassy in Baghdad Tuesday in a formal ceremony.

Alexander Schallenberg told a press conference with his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussain in Baghdad on Tuesday that his visit is a "sign of trust."

Austria wants to "turn a new page" in its relationship with Iraq, he added. Schallenberg is also set on Tuesday to meet Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid and Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudan.

Afterwards, the official reopening of the embassy is planned. The Austrian representation was closed in 1991, but has been back in operation for just under a year, now located in the Babylon Rotana hotel for security reasons.

The official reopening demonstrates "confidence in state institutions and resilience in the face of challenges in the region," Schallenberg said.

Opening an embassy is "one of the most beautiful tasks there is for a foreign minister," he added. The goal, he said, is "cooperation at eye level in the areas of the economy and security."

At the joint press conference, Hussein, who also serves as Iraq's deputy prime minister, expressed his conviction that the embassy’s reopening would lead to intensifying relations. "We are very optimistic that there will be cooperation," he said.