Beirut Welcomes Iraq's Decision to Lift Entry Restrictions on Lebanese Citizens

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants welcomed, in a statement, the "decision of the Iraqi Council of Ministers to lift entry restrictions on Lebanese citizens entering Iraqi territory, in accordance with the principle of reciprocity." It noted that "this decision came after diligent follow-ups involving, alongside the Lebanese Embassy in Baghdad, several Lebanese officials, the last of whom was Minister of Labor Mustafa Bayram, with the Iraqi political leadership, culminating in instructions from Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani." It emphasized that "this decision will only take effect after it is circulated to the border crossings and receiving official notification from the Iraqi authorities, and it will continue to follow up on the matter through the Lebanese embassy in Iraq to reach a conclusion, at which point it will announce all details and conditions of the decision to facilitate matters for Lebanese citizens wishing to visit Iraq."