Iraqi FM calls for ‘intensifying’ efforts in bid to combat terrorism

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KUWAIT CITY, Dec 23, (KUNA): Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al-Jaafari stressed on Tuesday the need to intensify international efforts to combat terrorism in the region, mainly so-called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Al-Jaafari said during a news conference late Tuesday airstrikes launched by the international coalition against ISIL support the Iraqi armed forces fi ghting terrorism on the ground, expressing his hope that the coalition would double its efforts to defeat ISIL.

Asked about attempts of Iraq to retake Ramadi city today from ISIL, he noted that combating terrorism is not a traditional war, adding the Iraqi forces are making progress against ISIL. As for the Iraqi-Kuwaiti relations, he said the two countries have deep-rooted ties, noting that about 49 agreements and memos were discussed by the Iraqi and Kuwaiti committees. He reiterated that exchanging visits between Iraqis and Kuwaitis were never suspended. He added that terrorism is widely spreading in many countries across the globe, urging countries that have not affected by the phenomenon to be vigilant and ready to deal with its attacks.

The Iraqi offi cial, meanwhile, stressed the necessity of fi ghting terrorism globally, warning against what is called the culture of terrorism, which kills people, and calling for setting up the culture of tolerance as an attempt to face the culture of terrorism. Kuwait and all world’s countries are victims of terrorism, he said, calling for exerting further efforts to face the phenomenon which, he said, is like a third World War.

On the Turkish presence in the Iraqi territories, he said some military forces of Turkey advanced into the Iraqi territories, but the Iraqi forces dealt with them and asked the Turkish side to immediately withdraw. On the Syrian crisis, he said that his country supports the call for solving the crisis politically, adding “we previously warned against the military solution.” He noted that Iraq backed the “fair needs” of Tunisians, Egyptians, Libyans and Yemenis.

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