Iraq, Indonesia Discuss Facilitating Entry Visa Procedures For Citizens Of Both Countries And Opening A Direct Flight Route

Baghdad / NINA /-The Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Planning Affairs, Ambassador Hisham Al-Alawi, met with the newly accredited Indonesian Ambassador to Baghdad, Didik Eko Bojiyanto, to discuss a range of issues of mutual interest and ways to enhance bilateral relations.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Al-Alawi welcomed the Indonesian Ambassador and praised the strong ties between Iraq and Indonesia, highlighting the shared religious, humanitarian, and cultural bonds between the peoples of the two countries, particularly the Indonesian people.

The Ambassador raised the issue of facilitating visa procedures for Indonesian groups visiting Iraq to visit the holy shrines, pointing out some existing challenges and emphasizing the importance of addressing them to ensure smooth entry for visitors.

In response, the Deputy Foreign Minister noted that similar procedures are applied in Indonesia and called for the signing of a memorandum of understanding to exempt holders of diplomatic and service passports from visas, similar to the agreement signed with Malaysia. He also stressed the need to simplify visa issuance for ordinary citizens and proposed the establishment of a direct flight route between Baghdad and Jakarta to facilitate travel between the two countries.

The meeting also explored prospects for cooperation between the Iraqi Institute of Foreign Service and the Diplomatic Academy of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Al-Alawi inquired about organizing training courses for Iraqi diplomatic personnel at various levels to exchange expertise, learn from Jakarta’s diplomatic experiences, and gain insight into Indonesian culture. The Ambassador welcomed the initiative, affirming his commitment to implement it in the near future.

The two sides concluded the meeting by emphasizing the importance of continuing the sessions of the Iraqi-Indonesian Joint Committee and agreeing to hold the next meeting in the first half of next year./  End