ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi discussed the expansion of oil and gas investments and the provision of military assistance to the Iraqi army in two separate meetings with French companies in Paris.
Abadi met with Thales Group CEO Patrice Caine to discuss supplying Iraqi armed forces with equipment to aid in clearing mines and debris of war from areas liberated from ISIS.
The Iraqi leader also met with Patrick Pouyanné, CEO of French oil and gas company Total. They discussed investment in Iraq’s oil and gas sector.
“The director of the Total Oil Company expressed his desire to expand oil and gas investments in Iraq, stressing the company's keenness to deal with the federal government and the establishment and development of projects supporting the Iraqi economy in this area,” read a statement from Abadi’s media office.
Heading a high-profile delegation, Abadi arrived in Paris Wednesday evening for a one-day visit on the invitation of French President Emanuel Macron.
This is his first overseas travel since the Kurdistan Region held a referendum on independence from Iraq. His office has denied that the trip is linked to the Kurdish vote.
The visit does not have anything to do with “the unconstitutional referendum,” the statement read.
The visit is to “strengthen the bilateral relations” and to increase efforts in the war against ISIS.
Macron has offered assist negotiations between Erbil and Baghdad. The two governments have not met since the September 25 vote with Abadi demanding the Kurdish leadership annul the referendum result as a pre-condition for talks.
Abadi and Macron will be meeting on Thursday.
http://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/051020171
