GCC FMs urge Iraq to resolve issues resulting from its annulment of a Khor Abdullah law: The Gulf Cooperation Council’s foreign ministers are urging Iraq to address the potential negative repercussions of the annulment of a law governing its Khor Abdullah maritime agreement with Kuwait, Kuwaiti news agency KUNA reports. The FMs called on the country to “take serious and urgent steps to address the negative repercussions that arose from the ruling of the Supreme Federal Court,” according to KUNA. The statement also noted that the ruling was based on “inaccurate” historical details that were taken out of context, and that it does not serve GCC relations.

Background: The Iraqi federal supreme court annulled on 4 September the maritime agreement with Kuwait concerning their shared control of Khor Abdullah. The court ruled that the agreement — signed by former Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki in 2013 — was unconstitutional because it should have been ratified by a two-thirds majority of the Iraqi parliament rather than a simple majority.

UAE + Serbia launch talks over CEPA: The UAE’s Foreign Trade Minister Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi has kicked off negotiations with his Serbian counterpart Tomislav Momirovic to establish a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA), Emirati news agency Wam reports. The CEPA would help boost non-oil trade between the two countries by reducing trade barriers and increasing cooperation across several sectors such as aviation. “The CEPA will not only improve access to these global supply chains but enable our private sectors to build long-term partnerships and explore new investment opportunities,” Wam quotes Al Zeyoudi as saying. The UAE has so far finalized CEPA agreements with India, Indonesia, Israel, Turkey, Cambodia, and Georgia, with the first four agreements already in force.

The UAE is “serious” about contributing to Iraq’s Development Road project due to its significance to states in the region, the UAE’s Minister of State Khalifa Al Marar told Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Al Sudani, according to a statement. The project — which will link Grand Faw Port in Iraq’s southern Basra province to Turkey through rail and road infrastructure — represents a major upgrade to Iraq’s logistics infrastructure and is expected to see participation from GCC countries, with talks taking place with Qatari and Emirati officials. Syria, China, Hungary, and Lebanon have also expressed their interest in participating in the project.

ALSO WORTH KNOWING-

  • Syrian Finance Minister Kenan Yaghi met with Cuban Deputy Prime Minister Ricardo Cabrisas during the Havana Summit of the Group of 77 and China to discuss boosting bilateral ties in several fields, including trade, agriculture, and economy. (SANA)
  • The Saudi Chamber of Commerce concluded a four-day visit to Vietnam that aimed to strengthen trade and economic relations at the Vietnam-Saudi Arabia Business Forum. (SPA)
  • Emarati President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah El Sisi to discuss enhancing bilateral cooperation in several areas including trade, investment and development. (Wam | Ittihadiya)
  • Saudi Arabia’s Transport Minister Saleh Al Jasser met with Italian Ambassador in Saudi Robert Cantoni to discuss enhancing cooperation in logistics and transport. (Statement)
  • Omani Economy Minister SaeedMohammed al Saqri met with his Tunisian counterpart Samir Saied to discuss boosting trade, economic and investment ties. (ONA)
  • Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi discussed with his Kazakhstani counterpart Kassym-Jomart Tokayev ways to enhance bilateral trade on the sidelines of the 78th UN general assembly. (IRNA)
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