Okaz/Saudi Gazette

ARAR — Saudi Arabia and Iraq have reopened Jadeeda Arar border point, located 50 km north of Arar and 15 km from the Iraqi border as part of their efforts to strengthen bilateral ties. The border point have started receiving Iraqi pilgrims who will perform Haj this year.

Jadeeda Arar was closed in 1991 following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait during the time of Saddam Hussein. Iraqi Ambassador in Riyadh Dr. Rushdi Al-Aani and Saudi Charge d’Affairs in Baghdad Abdul Aziz Al-Shammari visited the border point on Monday to see preparations to reopen the facility.

The two officials also met with the governor of the Northern Border Province to discuss prospects of strengthening bilateral cooperation. They will also visit the trade zone on the border.

Saudi and Iraqi officials toured the site on Monday and spoke with Iraqi pilgrims.

The governor of Iraq's southwestern Anbar province, whose staff was on hand for the ceremonies, said the Iraqi government had deployed troops to protect the desert route leading to Arar and called its opening a "significant move" to boost ties.

"This is a great start for further future cooperation between Iraq and Saudi Arabia," said Sohaib Al-Rawi. The announcement follows a decision by the Saudi Cabinet on Monday to establish a joint trade commission with Iraq.

Speaking to Okaz/Saudi Gazette, Al-Shammari said the diplomatic visit to Jadeeda Arar shows that Saudi-Iraqi relations would soon return to its previous rapproachment.

“Saudi Arabia will keep its hands open to embrace all those who wish to promote peace and justice. Iraq is an Arab Muslim country and it’s the Kingdom’s neighbor. Our visit will contribute to strengthening political relations between the two countries,” he said.

In a similar statement, the Iraqi ambassador said the visit to Arar and Jadeeda Arar was also aimed at inspecting the border point’s preparedness to receive Iraqi Haj pilgrims and providing them with necessary facilities and services to ensure their welfare and comfort.

“Both countries have decided to reopen Jadeeda Arar border point and it will contribute to strengthening bilateral ties better than before,” Al-Aani said.

He said both the countries reviewed preparations at the border point to receive Iraqi pilgrims as well as inspect integrated services of security agencies and government departments.

Two border points link Saudi Arabia with Iraq. The second border point is Jameema, near Rafha. Jadeeda Arar has been the authorized border point between the two countries for more than 50 years. It remained so until the second Gulf War. It was reopened later to receive Haj pilgrims from Iraqi and its neighboring countries.

Several diplomatic missions have visited the Kingdom after crossing the border point of Jadeeda Arar in the past. It also received a large number of Saudis who were held up in Iraq when the US-led coalition forces launched a war on Saddam Hussein’s forces to liberate Kuwait.