Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani confirmed Thursday his country's position of supporting Syria's territorial integrity and rejecting foreign interference, noting that "the interest lies in what the Syrian people choose."

During his meeting with numerous directors of research and studies centers in Syria, al-Sudani stressed the importance of security in Syria for Iraq, as "stability and prosperity in both countries is linked to that of the region's." He expressed Iraq's concern relating to foreign interference in Syria and the presence of Israeli occupation forces on Syrian soil.
 
The Iraqi prime minister also expressed his interest in the work of research and studies centers, indicating that "civil society organizations were a manifestation of the new democratic Iraq," and explaining that "the intertwining and convergence between Iraq and the Levant extends across various social, cultural, and economic frameworks."

He also pointed to the necessity of exploring and addressing issues of national identity that unite all Syrians, and everything that promotes stability, equality, and civil peace, particularly touching on "the importance of working within social justice institutions."

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Al-Sudani called for learning from the Iraqi experience in this regard, and for the work of these institutions to be strengthened to enhance Syrian identity, work to build institutions, overcome obstacles, and ensure that ideas are not held captive by history. 
  
For their part, the directors of the research centers expressed their appreciation for their presence in Iraq, which allows them to closely observe "the stable conditions and the steps of progress and development that the media has not been covering."

They referred to the relations between the Iraqi and Syrian peoples as "brotherly and historical relations with significant social and economic dimensions."

Early this month Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa emphasized the importance of forging a new chapter in his country’s relations with Iraq during a phone call with al-Sudani, focusing on strengthening bilateral relations and maintaining robust economic ties between Syria and Iraq.

Both al-Sharaa and al-Sudani underscored the necessity of advancing their countries’ relationship by prioritizing joint efforts to tackle regional challenges and mitigate tensions, SANA reported.

The conversation covered key issues such as enhancing border security, combating drug smuggling, and coordinating efforts to ensure regional stability.