Kazakhstan – Iraq
Diplomatic relations were established by signing the Protocol on September 14, 1995. Since February 22, 2020, Aidarbek Toumatov has been the non-resident Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Iraq.
Iraqi Embassy in Kazakhstan has been operating since October 12, 2008. Since August 20, 2015, Younis Salim Sarhan was appointed as the Chargé d'affaires of the Republic of Iraq to Kazakhstan
History of Interstate Relations
Despite the wide prospects for strengthening political relations with Iraq, which is geographically the closest state to Kazakhstan among all Arab countries, as a result of the unstable political situation in Iraq in recent years, bilateral relations have not been developed at the proper level.
However, it is worth noting that Iraq's leadership attaches great importance on building multilateral cooperation with Kazakhstan. From this point of view they show support for our initiatives in the international arena. In this context, the Iraqi delegation led by the First Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Iraq Hassan Karim al-Kaabi participated in the fourth meeting of Speakers of Eurasian Countries' Parliaments, which was held on September 23-24, 2019 in Nur Sultan city.
Also, Iraq is participating at high level in all activities and initiatives of our country within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. In particular, the delegation led by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iraq Hoshyar Zebari , took part in the 38th session of the Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation held in Nur Sultan on June 28-30, 2011.
On September 10-11, 2017, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Iraq Abdul Razzaq al-Issa participated in the the first OIC Summit on Science, Technology, Innovation and Modernization in the Islamic World on behalf of the President of Iraq.
Moreover, in the Third Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia held in Istanbul on May 8, 2010 with the participation of Vice-President of Iraq, Tareq al-Hashemi, Iraq acquired the status of a full member of the organization.
The delegation of 24 people led by Deputy Prime Minister Ruz Nuri Shawis took part in the VI Astana Economic Forum and the “First World Anti-Crisis Conference”, which were held on May 22-24, 2013. The delegation included such high-ranking officials as the Minister of Trade Khayri-allah Babakir, the Minister of Industry Ahmed Nasser Al Karbouli.
In addition, the Iraqi authorities provided substantial support for the successful implementation of the humanitarian operation to return 14 Kazakh children from Iraq to Kazakhstan in 2019. Moreover, it is important to note the special role of Iraq in contributing to the Astana peace process on Syria, where it participates as an observer country.
Meanwhile, the difficult internal situation in Iraq also serves as an obstacle to the development of trade and economic cooperation. According to the Statistics Committee of the Ministry of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Iraq in 2019 did not exceed 3 mln. USD. According to the results of 2018, this indicator amounted to 3.1 mln. USD (only export).
Once the situation in Iraq stabilizes, it will be possible to supply Iraq with consumer goods, building materials, metal and finished structures, electric hydraulic pumps, oil and energy equipment. At the same time, the Iraqi authorities are interested in attracting Kazakhstani companies and investments to the Iraqi market. In this regard, they express their readiness to support Kazakhstani companies in restoring the infrastructure that was destroyed due to the war.
Our countries are also developing cooperation in the military sphere. To support peace and security as well as in order to fulfill international obligations under cooperation on peaceful restoration of Iraq from Kazakhstan party in 2003-2008 an engineer batalion of the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan were presented in Iraq as part of Stabilizing Force of Coalition. Kazakh military in Iraq destroyed more than 4 million explosives, trained more than 500 Iraqi specialists in the Iraqi Army Academy courses and provided medical assistance to 2500 civilians and Coalition troops.
Cultural and humanitarian relations with Iraq are also not developing at the proper level. Meanwhile, there is a high interest in developing the interaction of the two countries in the fields of education, health, culture and other areas. In particular, promoting cooperation between the parties can assist in the exchange of scientific experience and in creating the opportunity to educate Iraqi students in universities of our country in accordance with a bilateral agreement.
From Iraqi side the delegation attended under the leadership of Imam Abu Hanifa mosque in the city of Baghdad, the Chairman of a group of scientists in Muslim Law A. Taha attended the meeting of V Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, held in Nur Sultan on May 10-11, 2015.
In 2017, cooperation in the field of sports between the two countries was actively developing. On July 7-19, 2017, 35 athletes from Iraq took part in the Asian Games organized by the Karate Federation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.