Pakistan vows to reopen embassy in Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Aug. 19 (VOI) - An Iraqi diplomat on Tuesday called on Pakistan to re-open its embassy in Baghdad, a government statement said. "The outstanding security improvements have encouraged a number of countries, including Arab countries, to reopen their diplomatic missions in Baghdad," a Council of Ministers' statement cited Qais Subhi al-Yaqoubi, Iraq's ambassador to Pakistan, as saying during a meeting with Pakistani deputy foreign minister Omar Khan Shirazi. The announcement noted "the Iraqi ambassador stressed the importance of holding the ninth session for the joint ministerial economic committee between Iraq and Pakistan." The meeting was put off for a year due to Pakistan's exceptional political situations. The statement highlighted the Pakistani foreign official "pledged to reopen the Pakistani embassy in Iraq and to hold the meeting of the joint ministerial committee." Meanwhile, a second government's statement pointed out "Iraq's consulate in the Syrian city of Aleppo has started provided services for Iraqis in Syria." "The opening of the Consulate is to meet the needs of Iraqis living abroad." Iraq has seen the lowest levels of violence, paving the way for a flurry of Arab and regional countries to re-initiate diplomatic ties after a considerable isolation since the invasion of Iraq by U.S.-led troops in 2003. Seven Arab countries, including Gulf countries, are set to reopen their embassies in Baghdad. http://www.aswataliraq.info/look/english/article.tpl?IdLanguage=1&IdPublication=4&NrArticle=89988&NrIssue=2&NrSection=1