Azernews.Az

Iraq has made several proposals to Azerbaijan, including one to allow Azerbaijan to tap Iraq`s vast oil fields, during high-level talks over the weekend in Baku.
Iraqi officials invited Azerbaijan to be involved in operating 2,500 oil wells in the country that remain inoperative. Another proposal discussed was for Azerbaijani construction companies to participate in Iraqi rehabilitation projects, in particular, the construction of sports complexes throughout the country. At the same time, officials said Iraq is creating suitable conditions for the work of Azerbaijan`s sports specialists in the country. Additionally, the Iraqi government has suggested that Azerbaijan open an embassy in the capital, Baghdad, as well as establish consulates, particularly in cities where religious shrines are located.
Jasim Mohammed Jaafar, the Iraqi Minister for Youth and Sports who visited Azerbaijan, said in an exclusive interview with AzerNEWS on Friday that his visit had three objectives. First, the Iraqi minister was in Baku to attend the fourth World Youth Employment Summit (YES). He also delivered a letter from Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki to his Azerbaijani counterpart, Artur Rasizada, proposing steps to boost relations between the two countries and invited Azerbaijan to contribute to the rebuilding of the post-war country.
Jaafar highly praised his visit to Baku, lauding the outcomes of his meetings with Minister of Youth and Sports, Azad Rahimov, and Prime Minister Artur Rasizada.
In a meeting with the Azerbaijani premier, Jaafar emphasized that Azerbaijan and Iraq are both Islamic nations with large-scale oil production. He said both countries have also experienced a transition from dictatorial regimes to democracy. According to Jaafar, Azerbaijan has special political and economic influence among Turkic states, while Iraq retains special influence among Arab countries. Jaafar also invited Rasizada to visit his country on behalf of his government.
Jaafar said Azerbaijan is undergoing a stage of development, just like Iraq. Iraq is experiencing the same situation Azerbaijan faced nearly two decades ago when it was embarking on a transition from the Soviet-era ideological system to democratic state building, the minister said.
Following the meetings, the Ministries for Youth of Azerbaijan and Iraq signed a protocol in Baku on Saturday. The document covers three issues, including expanding bilateral relations in the areas of sports and developing bonds between Azerbaijani and Iraqi youths. Specifically, the protocol calls for Azerbaijan`s sharing its experience with Iraq in the area of sports and the development of youths, including the two countries` mutual support in these fields on an international scale.