Two years ago today, a devastating war broke out in Gaza. By this time last year, the conflict had engulfed Lebanon. Two months later Syria was declared liberated. Escalation of conflict did not stop there. It was only a matter of time before a larger war erupted between two regional major powers, Iran and Israel, in July. The latter war has stopped but th chapter is still not closed. Today, every Iraqi keeps their hand on their heart, wondering whether they will be next, either directly or indirectly entangled. What is clear is that dialogue is not prevailing at the regional level. This absence of dialogue is further compounded by power dynamics on the global stage, with the ongoing war in Ukraine, intensifying U.S.-China competition, and the deepening global north-south divide.
Internally, the countries of the Levant and Iraq are weak, fragmented, and militarized. Except for Jordan, the governance system in the other countries is not effective, and state and non-state actors are in direct conflict. The Kurdistan Region of Iraq is no exception. Remarkably, each of these nations is endowed with rich human and natural resources and has the potential to develop the agency needed to define its own destiny and build a better future. The diverse communities in each of these countries have lived side by side since ancient times, bound together by cultural, historical, and economic ties.
In fact, the authenticity of our region lies in its diverse national identities and in the equality of men and women. It is unfortunate that we still need to stress this truth today. The Levant and Iraq must always remain the homeland of its many peoples, Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen, Chaldeans, Assyrians, and Armenians, and a home to Islam, Christianity, Yazidism, Sabean-Mandaeism, Kakaism, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, and the Baháʼí faith. We need all stakeholders to engage in serious dialogue to chart our own path toward stability, peace, and prosperity. It is time, with international help, to start building our nations and strengthening our states. This is why we are here in this hall.
In October last year, in this very hall, we launched The Levant and Iraq Forum, a network of growing regional think tanks established to foster serious dialogue among all stakeholders and to promote regional social and economic integration beyond today’s destructive conflicts. In June, Forum members reconvened in Amman and produced a set of policy recommendations, which we have since published and made available on our website.
Just yesterday afternoon, members of the Forum gathered، together with dozens of policymakers, international think tank experts, and senior diplomats, to debate the latest security dynamics in our region. Their discussions resulted in a set of updated, practical policy recommendations for all stakeholders. No doubt, tomorrow morning’s open Panels will shed more light on the Levant and on Syria.
Today’s Forum takes place one year after the Kurdistan Region’s general elections. It has been more than three years since we last had an active Parliament and an elected government. In those three years, the Kurdistan Region went through a difficult economic and political environement, especially due to the salary crisis. The Region also witnessed tensions and violent clashes between political actors which posed a great threat to our Region’s fragile stability.
The question before us now is whether it is time to heal these wounds، through political cooperation, by revitalizing Parliament, and by forming a new government. It is time to address the people’s top priority needs: to find a permanent and sustainable solution to the salary crisis, and to institutionalize the Erbil–Baghdad relationship once and for all. During this conference, we should hear from decision makers of the ruling parties and the opposition, and learn about their visions for addressing these pressing challenges.
Next month, Iraq will witness yet another landmark election. All parties are already preparing for what promises to be an electoral carnival. I call on the political leaders who are speakers at this Forum to avoid using this platform as part of their election campaigns. and focus instead on the themes and objectives of the conference. We should hear from policymakers whether this election will truly be as transformative as many people hope. In the absence of a mature democracy in Iraq, elections have nonetheless been a genuine driver of change. The question now is: can we encourage policymakers and legislators to begin prioritizing the strengthening of democratic institutions?
As a final topic, I want to draw your attention to our Institute’s latest research product, which addresses the challenge of governance in Sinjar and the plight of its people. After years of neglect, political stalemates, and administrative paralysis, we decided to take a deeper look at Sinjar and develop a workable mechanism for mediating governance, in a way to depoliticise public services.
To do this, we conducted a large survey of 656 Sinjaris, including IDPs; carried out 78 key informant interviews; organized 11 focus group discussions; and held two major community dialogues for Sinjaris. Building on these findings, we proposed and piloted a new model of participatory governance. We selected 25 representatives from Sinjar’s community members and civil society activists and facilitated a meeting between them and the Governor and Deputy Governor of Nineveh, for frank and constructive discussion, a review of the obstacles to providing services to Sinjar and how to solve them within the framework of the provincial government’s powers.
The Sinjaris identified 81 local priority demands, almost all of which related to services and infrastructure repair. Crucially, these demands are affordable for the local government, and they can both accelerate Sinjar’s recovery and facilitate the return of IDPs. The Governor committed to addressing each of these demands and to meeting with the same community representatives again in due course.
If the Governor and his team succeed in implementing this mechanism, it could serve as a true model for other conflict-affected areas in Iraq, Syria, and beyond. The details of this initiative, including an extensive literature review and historical context, were published in our report last week, which is now available on our website.
Dear participants, we have gathered here today and tomorrow in this important Forum not only to discuss government policies, but also to create meaningful interaction between people and decision-makers, between elites, policymakers, and both domestic and international experts. From your respective positions, we expect each of you to contribute to the policy-shaping process, working toward our shared interest in a common country.
I would like to thank you all for your presence and active participation. I am also deeply grateful to everyone who, in various ways, has contributed to the organization of this conference for the benefit of our people, our land, and our country. I wish you all a pleasant and productive meeting.