Greeting the guest, the National Assembly Speaker briefed him on the National Assembly’s work, reminding of the two countries’ friendly relations and expressing his pleasure at the visit. Stefanovic stressed that the two countries’ relations are on the rise in all aspects and that economic relations should be especially developed in future as both Serbia and Iraq need them.
Thanking the Speaker for the reception, the Iraqi Minister said that in the course of his meetings in Belgrade he noted the readiness and sincere wish to further the existing relations. Reminding that the relations between the two people have a vast historic background, Minister Smaisim deemed that they are obliged to continue strengthening them, which is confirmed by his visit to Serbia.
Minister Smaisim again invited Speaker Stefanovic to visit Iraq, adding that it is extremely important to strengthen interparliamentary cooperation which will, among other things, contribute to mutual assistance between Iraq and Serbia. Among the many areas where cooperation should be deepened the Minister especially noted tourism and archeology, as well as military cooperation, with the potential re-activating of the Iraqi Military delegation in Belgrade.
Speaker Stefanovic accepted the invitation to visit Iraq, endorsing all types of cooperation and stressing that he expected that the reached agreements would be realised. He informed the guest of the National Assembly’s Parliamentary Friendship Group with Iraq, encouraging direct communication among parliamentarians and adding that parliamentary contacts are the way to bring the two nations closer together.