Canada’s first resident ambassador since 1991 meets Iraqi president in Baghdad

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Incumbent Iraqi President Fuad Masum on Monday received Canada’s newly-appointed Ambassador to Iraq, Ottawa’s first resident ambassador since 1991.

Ambassador Paul Gibbard presented his credentials to Masum during a meeting in Baghdad.

“At the beginning of the meeting, President Masum welcomed the new ambassador and congratulated him on assuming his post as ambassador to his country in Iraq, wishing him success in the performance of his duties,” a statement on the Iraqi presidency website read.

The Iraqi president also stressed “the importance of Canada’s positions in support of Iraq in the war on terrorism” as well as “the depth of friendly relations between the two countries and the necessity of developing them to serve common interests.”

In a tweet on its official page, the Canadian Embassy in Iraq said Gibbard’s appointment “will further strengthen the ongoing cooperation” between the two countries.

Today, Ambassador Paul Gibbard presented his credentials to President Fuad Masoum. This marks the first time that Canada has had a resident ambassador to the Republic of Iraq since 1991 and will further strengthen the ongoing cooperation between our two countries...(1) pic.twitter.com/hMwXEtUiEj

— Canada in Iraq (@CanadainIraq) October 1, 2018

Ambassador Gibbard has been involved in Canada’s diplomatic services since 1992 and has previously held postings in South America, where he was the ambassador to Venezuela.

His recent post was the head of the Political, Economic, and Public Affairs section in the Embassy of Canada to Italy.

Canada has backed Iraq as well as the Kurdistan Region’s Peshmerga forces as part of the US-led Coalition in the war against the so-called Islamic State (IS).  

At the height of the IS war before the group’s military defeat in 2017, Canadian forces were stationed in the Kurdistan Region capital of Erbil where they supported Peshmerga forces.

Ottawa is also leading a NATO mission to train security forces in Iraq. In August, Canada’s Department of National Defense announced the appointment of Major-General Dany Fortin to lead the mission.