Middle East

Good morning and welcome to the third annual conference of the Rudaw Research Center. It is a great honor and responsibility for myself and my colleagues at the Rudaw Media Network that today, at a sensitive time the Middle East is going through, we are opening the doors for a multilateral dialogue about various issues in Erbil, the ancient city of Kurdistan that has been a meeting point for many cultures and civilizations in this region.

It is a pleasure to be with you today to exchange views on the recent developments in the Middle East and Iraq’s position regarding these developments, which continue to impact our country. For more than a year, the Middle East has experienced continuous political, security, and military unrest. This ongoing turmoil has reshaped the political landscape of some countries in the region and poses serious security and social risks to others. Iraq will not remain unaffected unless swift internal actions are taken to resolve key issues decisively. These actions must also be accompanied by coordinated measures in consultation with neighboring and regional countries.

Our cabinet has taken significant steps toward finding lasting solutions, especially concerning the so-called outstanding issues between Baghdad and Erbil. We have transformed these challenges into opportunities for cooperation and political maturity. We succeeded in moving these matters from a political framework to a legal one. Following the passage of the budget amendment, we are now working to complete the procedures necessary for the export of crude oil through the port of Ceyhan. We are also opening a new chapter with the companies operating in the Kurdistan Region, enabling them to contribute to the development of the Iraqi economy. This includes ensuring that employees receive their salaries and other financial entitlements without disruption.

We are proud to have with us today a political figure known for his clear, honest, and straightforward vision. A man who boldly expresses his ideas without hesitation. I believe he is one of the bravest Sunni politicians, unafraid to clearly and unwaveringly share his views and positions.

Now that we are sitting here in Erbil, the PUK and KDP delegations are engaged in serious discussions regarding the formation of the Kurdistan Regional Government. It may be questioned whether this process has taken a bit longer than expected, but we believe it is important to take the necessary time to ensure the best outcome. The PUK and KDP are currently negotiating to establish the principles of mutual interest in an agreement that will serve as the foundation for the formation of the Kurdistan Regional Government.

I warmly welcome you to the first panel of the 3rd Erbil Conference, organized by the Rudaw Research Center in collaboration with other research centers. We extend our thanks to them. Today, we will discuss the future of post-Assad Syria and the reconstruction of security and politics in the region. I will not repeat the names of my distinguished guests, as they have already been introduced by our friend Shahian. I will start with Dr. Jawad Anani, former Deputy Prime Minister and former Foreign Minister of Jordan. You are very welcome

Welcome, everyone. In this panel, we will discuss the situation of the communities in Syria after the fall of the Assad regime. As you know, the main community in Syria, after the Arabs, are the Kurds. The Kurds are the second-largest community in Syria, making up 15 percent of the population, which means there are approximately three to four million Kurds in Syria. Their geography and influence, as you know, is quite unique, stretching from Afrin to Derik, and Derik to Hamko, on the border of Southern Kurdistan.

The panel is titled "The Future of Security, Military and Security Balances in the Middle East: Continued War and Tensions or Balance and Stability?" Our esteemed guests today are Mr. Pascal Ausseur, Retired Admiral of the French Navy and Director General of the Mediterranean Center for Strategic Studies; Mr. Muzaffer Akyıldırım, Retired Turkish Diplomat and Military Officer; and Dr. Ibrahim Mottaghi, Professor of Political Science at the University of Tehran and an Expert on Regional Security.

In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Good evening. We apologize for the delay in starting this panel. We will aim to keep our discussion short and concise while preserving the core content of the topic and addressing the questions posed to our esteemed guests.

Good morning, everyone. Thank you all for being here and for being such dedicated early risers. I hope you've had your tea or coffee and are ready for another day of engaging panels. It’s a great honor to be here today to speak about human rights and climate change and their effects in Iraq. I am joined by a fantastic panel, which includes members from civil society, government, and experts who will share their knowledge with you.

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the second session, which naturally follows the discussion we just had on water security. This session will focus on climate change and geopolitical challenges in the Middle East.

Well, I think Iran will be a major area of continuity. Both administrations are making efforts to return to a deal with Iran. The difference between Biden and Trump, of course, is that Trump attempted to get back into a deal with Iran through a "maximum pressure" campaign. Another area of continuity will be, of course, support for Israel. Biden faced criticism from some quarters for an alleged lack of support for Israel, but I believe he was one of the most pro-Israel presidents in U.S. history, and I expect that to remain consistent. Beyond that, in the region, I think there will be even less interest in developments in Syria than there was during either the Biden or Trump administrations. Regrettably, I also think there will be less interest in Iraq

We will focus specifically on disinformation in the Middle East. While disinformation is a global issue, there are unique aspects in the region that we want to address—how it impacts the Middle East, what we can do about it, and its effects on the ground. Information, as a concept, has always been central to war and conflict. However, in today’s digital age, with advanced technology, it has become much more prevalent, dangerous, and impactful in our daily lives.

As we have mentioned, the Development Road project is not solely a railway and land corridor but also includes other corridors, such as energy corridors (for oil and gas) and communication corridors (for light cables, etc.). This project, with its residential cities and economic zones, is expected to create thousands of new jobs. According to the Ministry of Commerce, Iraq imports goods worth $70 billion annually. If, God willing, the economic and industrial cities are completed and the factories are established, Iraq will be able to meet most of its domestic market needs and export the remainder to other countries.

For centuries, the Middle East has been a battleground for competition between Russia and other superpowers. In this context, Russia has many interests in the region. These interests continue to shape and drive Russia’s policy, even in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, war between Israel and Hamas.

The President of the Kurdistan Region, on a broader level, emphasized that the solution to the events after October 7, 2023, despite Israel's tactical success, needs a long-term solution that passes through the door of dialogue; otherwise, the problems will recur because the Palestinian people have a cause that, like the Kurdish cause, will never disappear.