BAGHDAD — Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz Bin Saud Bin Naif held official talks with his Iraqi counterpart Lt. Gen. Othman Ali Al-Ghanimi at the Interior Ministry's headquarters in Baghdad Saturday, during which the two sides discussed scopes of cooperation and coordination in security matters.

Welcoming the Interior Minister and the accompanying delegation's visit to Iraq, the Iraqi Interior Minister said this visit reiterates both ministries keenness to boost joint security coordination to achieve the aspirations of the leaderships of their respective countries.

Prince Abdulaziz conveyed the greetings of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy prime minister, and minister of defense, and their aspirations to take all measures that contribute to preserving and strengthening the security of the two countries.

Prince Abdulaziz stressed that the directives of the leaderships of the two countries opened wide horizons for joint coordination, citing the establishment of the Saudi-Iraqi Coordination Council, which is tasked with enhancing cooperation and partnership between the two sides in all fields, and the opening of the Arar border crossing, which has effectively contributed to raising the level of trade exchange.

Prince Abdulaziz underlined the challenges resulting from the regional and global changes hindering the Arab security, which require integration of cooperation between the security services of the two states, stressing that as a strategic goal to maintain regional and international security and peace.

Prince Abdulaziz also met with the Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament Mohammad Al-Halbousi and Iraq’s National Security Adviser Qassem Al-Araji and discussed with them the means to strengthen the security cooperation between the two countries. — SPA