BAGHDAD, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Switzerland reopened its embassy in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, on Tuesday after 33 years of closure following the Gulf War.
In a statement, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said the reopening of the Swiss embassy "came within the framework of strengthening bilateral relations between Iraq and Switzerland and reflects the desire of the two countries to consolidate cooperation in various fields."
The ministry stressed that it "looks forward to strengthening partnership and bilateral dialogue with Switzerland," noting it is working to create appropriate conditions to enhance bilateral cooperation.
The Swiss Foreign Ministry cites the improved security situation as the main reason for reopening its representation in Iraq, according to Swiss media outlet SWI swissinfo.ch.
Switzerland closed its embassy in Iraq as a result of the 1991 Gulf War, which was waged to evict Iraqi strongman Saddam Hussein's forces from Kuwait. ■
