Iraq asks Philippines to reopen embassy

Iraq has requested the Philippine government to reopen its embassy in Baghdad, saying the peace and order situation in that country has normalized.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iraq has conveyed its desire to see the Philippine flag flying once again in Baghdad,” Foreign Undersecretary Rafael E. Seguis said in a report to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Manila.

Seguis said Iraqi authorities had expressed high hopes on the return of Filipino diplomats to Baghdad and assured a visiting delegation from Manila that the peace and order situation in the country has improved significantly.

Foreign Secretary Albert F. Del Rosario has sent a five-member delegation to Iraq “to get a more accurate picture of the situation on the ground.”

“We have been assured by Iraqi authorities that their security situation has improved considerably during the past several years,” Seguis said.

He added that the delegation also received assurances that the Philippine Embassy would be provided with all the support it needs should Manila decide to resume its diplomatic presence in Iraq.

The Philippines was forced to transfer its embassy in Iraq to neighboring Jordan more than six years ago after several Filipino workers were kidnapped in Iraq.

Seguis also noted that the security situation in the capital appears to have improved considerably since he was last there in 2005.