São Paulo – Iraq is looking to garner international support to the struggle against the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS), an armed group that has occupied areas of the country and neighboring Syria. This was one of the main topics on the agenda discussed by the Iraqi foreign minister Ibrahim Al Jaafari in talks with Brazilian government officials this Tuesday (2nd) in Brasília.
The Brazilian Ministry of Defense reported that during a meeting with minister Jaques Wagner, Jaafari called on Brazil’s support to the Iraqi government’s efforts at stabilizing the country, particularly as regards extremist outfits like IS. He spoke for closer ties and cooperation between the two countries in the defense sector, according to the Ministry.
“The war on terror is not a conventional war. We are looking for friendly, democratic countries to stand up for those affected by this phenomenon,” said Jaafari according to a statement from the ministry.
“Brazil has a long-standing tradition of peace and solidarity. We express our utmost solidarity towards Iraq in the face of the atrocities that are being perpetrated in the country,” Wagner replied, according to the ministry’s statement.
The subject was also discussed at a meeting with vice president Michel Temer. According to information from the Brazilian Vice Presidency, Jaafari said persuading other countries of the danger IS represents is part of his diplomatic endeavors, and fighting terrorism is an international task, rather than simply a regional one. He thanked Brazil for its anti-terrorism stance, according to the Vice Presidency.
Jaafari also went over the issue with the Minister of Foreign Relations, Mauro Vieira. According to the Foreign Ministry, just like Temer, the Iraqi foreign minister underscored the importance of international support in fighting terror, which he defined as “a global problem that requires a global response.” According to the ministry, Vieira reiterated Brazil’s solidarity with the Arab country’s people and government in this respect.
Trade
At the meeting with Wagner, the foreign minister expressed interest in resuming purchasing weaponry from Brazil. The latter was a major military equipment supplier to Iraq throughout the 1980s, and the Arab country was a relevant exporter of oil to the Brazilian market. Bilateral trade flows have not gone back to the levels from before the first Gulf War, in 1990/91.
Trade was also discussed during the meeting with vice president Temer. Jaafari invited the vice president to visit his country. The latter, for his part, suggested that a business delegation be sent to Iraq to witness business opportunities first hand.
“More than a few Brazilian companies have invested in Iraq already, and we want this to go on, just as we are hopeful for investments in Iraq,” said Temer, according to a statement from the Vice Presidency.
The idea of having a Brazilian business delegation travel to Iraq was also addressed at Jaafari’s meeting with the executive secretary to the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, Ivan Ramalho. The meeting was also attended by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce CEO Michel Alaby.
Exports from Brazil to Iraq grossed US$ 118.8 million from January through May this year, up 33.66% from the comparable period in 2014, based on Development Ministry data. The top-selling products were sugar, steel pipes, rice, poultry and livestock.
Conversely, Brazilian imports of Iraqi products amounted to US$ 157.7 million, down 67.48%, and consisted mostly of crude oil and naphtha, according to the Development Ministry.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
