Maliki Seeks to Improve Ties With Egypt
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has held meetings with his Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood counterpart, Hesham Kandil, in a bid to rebuild ties, but challenges remain, writes Ali Abel Sadah.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is striving to develop good ties with the Muslim Brotherhood-controlled government of Egypt. But his efforts have encountered serious difficulties, given the political and ideological differences between the ruling parties in Baghdad and Cairo.
Egyptian Prime Minister Hesham Kandil has finally agreed to visit Baghdad at the official invitation of his Iraqi counterpart. Maliki said that the two countries had agreed on supplying Egypt with Iraqi crude oil for refining.
In a press conference held in Baghdad with Kandil that was attended by Al-Monitor, Maliki said: “It was agreed with the Egyptian side on building pipelines to supply Egypt with crude oil, through Jordan and the port of Aqaba, to the Egyptian plants and refineries.”
A senior Egyptian official who accompanied Kandil to Baghdad told Al-Monitor that “the agreement included providing Egypt with Iraqi crude oil for refining.”
