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Macron: Goes to Iraq for Summit with Middle East leaders

The French president Emanuel Macron is one of the leaders currently taking part in a regional summit in Baghdad hosted by Afghanistan by the Taliban and the deadly jihadist suicide attack in Kabul to overshadow the meeting.

Macron warned today that the Islamic State “remains a threat”: “The Islamic State was defeated in 2017 thanks to the courage of the Iraqi army and the support of the international coalition forces. “We all know that we must not be less careful because Daesh (Islamic State) remains a threat and the fight against these terrorist organizations is a priority of our government,” the French president told reporters after a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Qademi in Baghdad before the start of the summit, while stressing France’s commitment to stability in Iraq.

“Iraq and France” are important partners in the war on terror, “Kademi said.

Macron intends to underline France’s role in the region and its commitment to push for the fight against terrorism, the French presidency said, adding that the French president considered Iraq “necessary” for stability in the Middle East.

The Baghdad summit “will make it possible to create a framework for co-operation in the fight against terrorism,” said Macron, who also met with Iraqi President Barham Salih today.

The meeting is attended by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, King Abdullah II of Jordan, Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and the foreign ministers of the sworn enemies of Iran and Saudi Arabia. Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates are represented by their heads of government, while Turkey is represented by its foreign minister.

The organizers have not revealed the content of the talks, which are taking place at a time when Iraq, which has long paid a heavy price for jihadist attacks, is trying to take on the role of mediator between the Arab countries and Iran.

Baghdad has been mediating since April in talks between US ally Riyadh and Tehran to bridge their ties that struck in 2016.

Relations between the countries of the region are strained mainly due to hostility between Iran on the one hand and the United States and its Arab Gulf allies on the other.

Organizers said they did not expect diplomatic developments during the summit.

“It was not easy for the Saudis to be in the same room as the Iranians,” a French diplomatic source said.

“Putting these countries at the same table will be considered quite an achievement,” said an Iraqi government official.

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