On May 9, 2014, the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations and the U.S.-GCC Corporate Cooperation Committee hosted a public affairs briefing on “Iraq Update – Challenges and Opportunities: A Conversation with His Excellency Lukman Faily, Ambassador of Iraq to the United States.” Dr. John Duke Anthony, Founding President & CEO, National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations, served as moderator.
In his remarks, Ambassador Faily said that despite the challenges that Iraq faces, the country is in a better place now than 11 years ago. “I would like to thank the American people for helping the Iraqi people to free ourselves from dictatorship,” said Ambassador Faily.
Ambassador Faily highlighted the success of recent elections, noting that 60% of Iraq’s 21.5 million eligible voters participated in the parliamentary elections at 8,075 polling centers. Further, he noted that there was strong security on Election Day, with not a single security incident in Baghdad.
Ambassador Faily spoke about the transnational threat of terrorism that is shared by many countries, and stressed that Iraq strives for good relations with all countries, especially its neighbors. “Naturally, we have stronger relationships with some of our neighbors than others. But without exception, we have extended a hand of friendship to all the countries of our region.”
Ambassador Faily concluded his remarks by highlighting the strong partnership that Iraq holds with the United States – on the strategic, diplomatic, and economic fronts and stressed that through this friendship, the countries can achieve a “prosperous and democratic Iraq, a more stable Middle East, and a world with less to fear from terrorism.”
After his remarks, Ambassador Faily took questions from the audience.
To read Ambassador Faily's remarks, click here.
To read Ambassador Faily's remarks in Arabic, click here.