Head of National Iraqi Alliance in Cairo to promote reconciliation

CAIRO - 20 April 2017: Head of the National Iraqi Alliance Ammar al-Hakim praised Egypt’s role in fighting terrorism as well as Cairo’s stance from Iraq’s sovereignty and integrity of lands, in a press conference held in Cairo, Wednesday.

Hakim, leader of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, who arrived in Cairo this week held a series of meetings with President Abdel Fatah el-Sisi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Speaker of the Parliament and the Great Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb.
He is scheduled to meet with Ahmed Aboul Gheit Secretary General of the Arab League, Thursday.
During his visit to Egypt, the largest Sunni state in the Middle East, Hakim expressed his optimism of conciliation in Iraq. The Shiite leader finds Egypt as the best place through which he can inform other countries in the region of his initiative and to get the needed support.
Hakim said during the press conference held at the Iraqi embassy in Cairo Wednesday that Egypt and Iraq should cooperate regarding security issues and stressed on the importance of Al-Azhar’s role in spreading moderate thoughts.

He also assured Iraq’s will to act as a mediator between Iran and the Gulf states.
Hakim described Egypt as the “core” of the region and he pointed out that terrorism reaching Egypt represents a danger to the entire Arab region.

He also described relations between Egypt and Iraq as historical and distinguished, saying that his visit comes to deepen relations with Egypt and build strategic relations between Egypt and Iraq. Developing economic relations between both states is also on the table. Hakim said that there will be a gas line from Basra to Arish, via Aqaba.

Hakim is a prominent Shiite leader in Iraq, and he is the founder of the “Settlement Initiative” which aims to overcome differences among the different fragments of the Iraqi civil society, reconcile with different armed militias in Iraq and abolish sectarian monopoly over power.