"We have confirmed that we are very interested in the further development of relations, we see the potential for even more intensive and further development of relations," Fiala said. According to him, Iraq could become one of the important suppliers of oil, which fits in with the Czech Republic's efforts to get rid of its dependence on raw materials from Russia. "We have already successfully tested Iraqi oil at the refinery in Litvínov," Fiala said.

According to Sudani, Iraq is ready to meet the Czech demand for local oil. According to him, the related negotiations concerned the use of Czech experience in the processing of oil and natural gas, in the production of artificial fertilizers, but also in the areas of waste management, recycling and access to drinking water.

According to the BusinessInfo.cz server, goods worth 4.8 billion crowns were exported to Iraq from the Czech Republic in 2023, and last year, according to Fiala, exports reached 5.7 billion. Imports from Iraq rose from the previous practically zero values to almost a billion crowns two years ago, with oil accounting for 99 percent. "We see room for further expansion of economic relations, Czech industry has a very good reputation in Iraq," Fiala said.

Fiala sees potential for cooperation in the petrochemical industry, mining and water management. These include, for example, cooperation in the extraction of lithium in Iraq. "Our companies have experience in the construction and modernization of dams in the north of Iraq and are seeking contracts in other areas, such as wastewater treatment or access to drinking water," he said.

The negotiations also concerned security and defence. The Czech Prime Minister expressed his appreciation for Sudan's path to lasting peace and stability in Iraq and appreciated the stabilizing role of the country in the Middle East. "The Iraqi Air Force has been using Czech L-159 aircraft for ten years and Aero is interested in continuing cooperation, which should now be especially when concluding a new long-term contract for the maintenance of these aircraft," he added. Sudani said the deal would be "urgently needed." The Czech Republic also sees the possibility of supplying new L-39 training aircraft.

Sudani thanked the Czech Republic for its help in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) and for humanitarian aid. "After the victory over the IS, Iraq is going through a stage that it has never experienced before, and that is urban development at the level of all regions, the development of infrastructure and the economy, which can be at a much more sophisticated and professional level thanks to business entities from the Czech Republic," he said. Regarding current events in the Middle East, Iraq is seeking dialogue and a diplomatic solution, he added.

Representatives of both countries signed several memoranda and other documents on the occasion of the meeting. These included, for example, memoranda on oil imports, safety issues, air services and a declaration of intent for cooperation between ministries in the field of environmental protection.

 

Článek byl převzat z ČTK: Fiala: Irák by se mohl stát jedním z důležitých dodavatelů ropy do ČR, připravil: Ing. Roman Plevák, Ph.D., vedoucí Oddělení obchodu a rozvojové spolupráce, Velvyslanectví ČR v Bagdádu