Turkish, Iraqi FMs talk by phone

By Haydar Karaalp

BAGHDAD (AA) – Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammed Ali al-Hakim talked by phone late Monday with his Turkish counterpart on the latest regional and international developments as well as the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Al-Hakim and Mevlut Cavusoglu discussed international and regional issues and the solidarity and strategic coordination of Turkey and Iraq in combating the coronavirus, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The two ministers also evaluated security conditions in the region and discussed measures against the virus, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives across the globe, the statement added.

After first appearing in Wuhan, China last December, the novel coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, has spread to at least 177 countries and territories, according to data compiled by U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.

More than 775,000 cases have been reported worldwide, with the death toll over 37,000 and more than 164,000 recoveries.

*Writing by Ali Murat Alhas