The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Political Planning Meets with the Director-General of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

On Wednesday, February 12, 2025, Dr. Hisham Al-Alawi, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Political Planning, met with H. E. Patricia Danzi, Director-General of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), at the headquarters of the (SDC). The meeting was attended by Dr. Mohamad Jawad Mahdi, Minister Plenipotentiary, Chargé d’Affaires of Iraqi Embassy in Bern.

The Deputy Minister expressed his gratitude for the cooperation extended by the agency over the past years, particularly through various programmes such as the Blue Peace Initiative, which aims to transform the issue of water from a potential source of conflict into an opportunity for cooperation across various sectors and peacebuilding.

Discussions also covered collaboration between both parties for the purpose of ending conflicts and wars in the Middle East and promoting regional stability.

His Excellency highlighted the importance of the Water for Peace and Development Initiative, highly appreciating Switzerland’s support through the Geneva Water Hub and Swisspeace, who are enowned for their expertise in negotiations, water diplomacy, and capacity-building. This support is essential for leveraging water issues between Iraq and its neighboring countries as a platform for dialogue and cooperation, thereby enhancing regional stability, particularly in the current phase.

H. E. Ms. Danzi expressed her pleasure with the productive discussion and reaffirmed the importance of maintaining communication to expand cooperation in areas of mutual interest.