Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi emphasized that soft power must take its course, adding that weapons that Iraq possessed “did not lead it to anything but destruction, futile wars and hostilities.”
“Diplomacy and dialogue are the real power that protect people and prevent wars,” Al-Kadhimi said in a speech at the Foreign Ministry headquarters on Monday.
“The Iraqi government has succeeded in developing active diplomacy during the tenure of this government, as we conducted strategic dialogue with the United States, and moved towards focusing on economic, diplomatic and cultural cooperation. We were also able to reduce the number of foreign forces by 60 percent.”
The Iraqi premier stressed that the country’s openness towards all regional and international powers has created a positive impression on Iraq, its political stability, and major historical opportunities for the country.
He pointed to the presence of several MOUs and agreements “with all our Arab, Iranian and Turkish neighbors, despite all the differences that exist between these forces.”
“The government has put forward the idea of a new Orient, and we are working to implement it by creating broad common interests between Iraq, Jordan and Egypt that would establish a prosperous economic zone that would benefit all powers in the region, and in which Iraq plays a major role,” Kadhimi stated.
The Iraqi premier underlined the presence of diversified relations with Saudi Arabia and all other Gulf countries, noting that Iraq was proceeding with several investments in various agricultural, industrial and energy sectors.
“There are great potentials for building peace and creating new opportunities for all peoples of the region. Iraq must take an active role in this path, and you in the Iraqi diplomatic apparatus are the soldiers of this comprehensive and lasting peace for us and for all the peoples of the region,” he concluded.
