Iraqi Embassy in the United Kingdom Sponsors Panel Discussion on Iraqi Communities Abroad and Their National Role

Under the patronage of His Excellency the Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to the United Kingdom, Dr Salih Husain Ali Al-Tamimi, and in cooperation with the Bahr Al-Uloom Forum for Dialogue, a panel discussion entitled “Iraqi Communities Abroad: Between Integration Overseas and a National Role at Home” was held at the Iraqi Cultural Centre in London. The event was attended by a distinguished group of Iraqi and international figures, as well as those with an interest in Iraqi affairs. The panel featured Dr Hamid Al-Hashimi, Dr Ali Kubba and Mr Hassan Al-Hadithi, with Mr Ali Al-Ghuraifi moderating the discussion.

The panel addressed a range of themes concerning the place of Iraqi communities abroad within the national vision of Iraqi diplomacy and ways to move from the concept of supporting these communities towards establishing genuine partnerships with them. Discussions also explored the role of Iraqi embassies and diplomatic missions in establishing effective institutional networks with Iraqi professionals and experts abroad, as well as ways to harness the expertise of Iraqis in the diaspora to advance Iraq’s economic, scientific, cultural and diplomatic interests. The panel further considered how the skills and capabilities of Iraqis abroad could be utilised as partners in shaping Iraq’s future.

In his remarks during the panel, His Excellency the Ambassador emphasised the importance of developing a comprehensive vision for organising the engagement of Iraqi communities across different countries and the need to promote their positive integration into the societies in which they live, thereby strengthening their national role and contribution to Iraq. His Excellency noted that the panel represented the first step in a wider initiative that could be further developed in cooperation with think tanks, research centres and other research institutions. He explained that the selection of the panel’s theme and speakers formed part of an evidence-based approach aimed at examining the realities of Iraqi communities abroad through the perspectives of researchers and specialists, with a view to developing practical and implementable proposals.

The panel also featured a number of interventions and discussions that enriched the themes under consideration and resulted in several important recommendations and proposals. These included a call for research centres and think tanks in Iraq, in cooperation with the Iraqi Embassy in the United Kingdom, to develop such initiatives and dialogues into a sustainable institutional framework. This would establish clear mechanisms for engagement with Iraqi communities, professionals and experts abroad, while ensuring appropriate follow-up on the outcomes of related panels and discussions.

The panel concluded with remarks by Mr Ali Al-Ghuraifi, who outlined aspects of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq’s vision for the Iraqi community in the United States, as expressed during his previous visit. He also highlighted the Prime Minister’s view on the importance of engaging Iraqi communities abroad through a comprehensive programme that strengthens their role and contribution to advancing Iraq’s national interests.