The Turkish ambassador submitted his credentials to al-Sahaf

Baghdad has welcomed the decision taken by the Turkish government to raise the level of its diplomatic representation in Iraq to the ambassadorial level.

The Iraqi official news agency said quoting the Iraqi foreign minister Muhammad Saeed al-Sahaf as saying upon receiving the credentials of the Turkish ambassador Muhammad Akat that the " foreign ministry is ready to provide necessary facilities to ensure the success of your visit."

He expressed Iraq's satisfaction over Turkey's decision " to raise the level of diplomatic representation to the ambassadorial level and Iraq's desire to strengthen bilateral relations in all fields in serving the interests of the two neighborly countries'.

Akat, for his part, praised " the historical relations linking Iraq to Turkey," stressing his country's determination to develop them.