The Ministry Law

In the Name of the People

Presidency of the Republic

Resolution No. (35)

Based on what was approved by the Council of Representatives in accordance with the provisions of Clause (First) of Article (61) and Clause (Third) of Article (73) of the Constitution,

The President of the Republic of Iraq decided on October 10, 2013

to issue the following law:

No. (36) of 2013

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Law

Chapter One

Establishment and Objectives

Article 1 – A ministry called the “Ministry of Foreign Affairs” shall be established. It shall enjoy legal personality and administrative and financial independence. It shall be responsible for implementing the foreign policy of the Republic of Iraq and shall be represented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs or his representative.

Article 2 – The Ministry shall aim to achieve the following:

First – To strengthen and develop relations with Arab countries, neighboring countries, and countries of the world on the basis of mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs.

Second – To activate Iraq’s role in international organizations and conferences to serve Iraq’s interests and enhance international peace and security.

Third: Strengthening economic, commercial, technical, and scientific cooperation and encouraging investment with countries and specialized international organizations.

Fourth: Defending the policy of the Republic of Iraq in various fields.

Fifth: Protecting the political and social interests of Iraq and its citizens abroad.

Article 3: The Ministry seeks to achieve its objectives through the following means:

First: Managing and supervising the work of Iraqi missions to Arab and foreign countries and international organizations.

Second: Coordinating visits by official Iraqi delegations to Arab and foreign countries and vice versa to strengthen and consolidate the existing relations between them.

Third: Coordinating with relevant ministries and entities not affiliated with the Ministry regarding follow-up on conferences and the work of international and regional organizations.

Fourth: Diplomatic and consular representation with Arab and foreign countries and international organizations.

Fifth: Preparing for and participating in conferences, seminars, and training courses in various fields related to the Ministry’s work.

Sixth: Coordination with ministries and non-ministerial entities on international issues of common interest, especially shared international borders and rivers.

Chapter Two

The Minister

Article 4 – First: The Minister is the supreme head of the Ministry and is responsible for implementing its policies, tasks, activities, and proper performance. Instructions, decisions, and orders shall be issued in his name or in the name of a representative he authorizes regarding all matters related to the Ministry’s functions and departments.

Second: The Minister may delegate some of his duties to any of the Ministry’s Undersecretaries or to any of its department heads in accordance with the law.

Article 5 – The Ministry shall have four (4) Undersecretaries who exercise the duties assigned to them by the Minister and assist him in managing the Ministry’s affairs. They are:

First: The Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations.

Second: The Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and Legal Affairs.

Third: The Undersecretary for Political Planning Affairs.

Fourth: The Undersecretary for Administrative and Technical Affairs.

Chapter Three

Organizational Structure

Article 6 – The Ministry shall consist of:

First: The Ministry’s headquarters shall consist of:

A. The Office of the Inspector General.

B. The Arab Department.

C. The Department of Neighboring Countries.

D. The Department of Europe.

E. The Department of America.

F. The Department of Asia and Australia.

G. The Department of Africa.

H. The Department of International Organizations and Conferences.

I. The Legal Department.

J. The Economic Department.

K. The Consular Department.

L. The Department of Consular Affairs.

M. The Department of Human Rights.

N. The Department of Political Planning.

S. The Media Department.

P. The Institute of Foreign Service.

F. The Administrative Department.

S. The Finance Department.

S. The Protocol Department.

R. The Department of Communications and Information Technology.

S. The Engineering Department.

T. The Internal Audit and Control Department.

Third: The Minister’s Office.

Second: Diplomatic and Consular Missions Outside Iraq

Article 7: The Inspector General shall exercise his duties in accordance with the law.

Article 8: First: A. Each of the departments stipulated in Article (6) of this Law and the Foreign Service Institute shall be headed by an employee holding the title of Ambassador, who is experienced and specialized in the department’s work.

B. The department shall have an assistant to assist the head of the department stipulated in Paragraph (A) of this clause. This assistant must hold the title of Minister Plenipotentiary or Advisor in the political departments, or hold an administrative, technical, or accounting title equivalent to that of Advisor in the technical departments.

C. The head of the Legal Department and his assistant must hold at least a Master’s degree in Law.

Second: The Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations shall supervise the departments stipulated in Paragraphs (B), (C), (D), (E), (F), and (G) of Clause (First) of Article (6) of this Law.

Third: The Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and Legal Affairs shall supervise the departments stipulated in paragraphs (h), (i), (j), (k), (l), and (m) of Clause (a) of Article (6) of this Law.

Fourth: The Undersecretary for Political Planning Affairs shall supervise the departments and the Foreign Service Institute stipulated in paragraphs (n), (s), and (p) of Clause (a) of Article (6) of this Law.

Fifth: The Undersecretary for Administrative and Technical Affairs shall supervise the departments stipulated in paragraphs (f), (s), (q), (r), and (sh) of Clause (a) of Article (6) of this Law.

Article 9-First: The Internal Audit and Control Department shall be managed by an employee holding the title of Director, holding at least a first-class university degree in accounting and having no less than (10) years of service, and shall be affiliated with the Administrative Department.

Second: The office of the Minister referred to in Paragraph (d) of Clause (a) of Article (6) of this Law shall be managed by an employee with at least the title of Advisor and with experience and expertise.

Chapter Four

General and Final Provisions

Article 10: The duties and divisions of the formations referred to in Article (6) of this Law shall be determined by a regulation.

Article 11: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Regulation No. (31) of 1976 shall remain in effect, provided that it does not conflict with the provisions of this Law, until a new regulation is issued to replace or repeal it.

Article 12: The Minister of Foreign Affairs may issue instructions to facilitate the implementation of the provisions of this Law.

Article 13 – This law shall enter into force from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

Reasons for its enactment

To strengthen the role of the Republic of Iraq in international and regional forums, in accordance with the Constitution and the rich cultural heritage of the Iraqi people, and to ensure the existence of a law regulating the structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, enabling it to achieve its objectives, fulfill its responsibilities, and perform its duties in the best possible manner, this law was enacted.