Al-Atrushi, Al-Draji and Samaan in the 8th Baghdad Dialog: Building the State from Within, Securing the Road to Development and Diversifying Oil Exports

The second session of the 8th Baghdad International Dialog Conference, held in partnership with the Iraqi Group for Foreign Affairs, discussed Iraqi relations with neighboring countries, the importance of building the state and enhancing internal stability, as well as security on the road to development and diversification of oil export outlets.

The session was entitled "Iraq and Neighboring Countries: Engineering Balances in a Transforming Region", and was moderated by Dr. Firas Elias, with the participation of Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Farhad Al-Atrushi, President of the Iraqi Turkmen Front Mohammed Samaan, and researcher in foreign policy and international security affairs Dr. Saif Al-Din Al-Darraji.

Al-Atrushi: Building the state starts from within

Deputy Speaker of the Council of Representatives Farhad Al-Atrushi stressed that a large part of foreign policy is linked to domestic policy and state building, stressing the need to complete the building of Iraqi state institutions and consolidate understanding, political stability and the implementation of the constitution.

"A big part of foreign policy is about domestic policy and state building," al-Atrushi said during the session, stressing that "everyone can prove their role through understanding, political stability and the implementation of the constitution."

And he added that the consolidation of understanding and political stability and the application of the constitution are essential pillars to build state institutions and strengthen the future of Iraq, pointing out that the strength of foreign policy begins from the strength of the internal situation and the ability of state institutions to perform their roles.

Al-Darraji: Hormuz crisis reveals the need for alternative outlets

Dr. Saif al-Din al-Darraji, a researcher in foreign policy and international security affairs, discussed the economic and security repercussions of the Strait of Hormuz crisis. He said the crisis revealed the need to review the management of the oil file and find alternative strategies and outlets for exporting crude.

Al-Darraji said that "the crisis of the Strait of Hormuz has diagnosed major mistakes to find other strategies to manage the oil file," pointing to the importance of Iraq not relying on one outlet in exporting its oil resources, and working to build multiple options that fortify the Iraqi economy from regional crises and geopolitical developments.

And in the security file, he explained that the strategy to combat terrorism depends on multiple tracks, including prevention, protection and follow-up, stressing the need to continue to develop security approaches in line with the nature of the challenges facing Iraq and the region.

Samaan: Iraq's diversity is a source of strength that has not been properly invested

Mohammed Samaan, head of the Iraqi Turkmen Front, said Iraq has an important diversity that represents a source of strength, but this diversity has not been properly exploited in the past.

"Iraq has an important diversity, but it has not been properly invested," Samaan said, noting that the Iraqi components represent elements of strength for the country, and that Turkmens are spread in more than six provinces.

And touched on the participation of the Turkmen component in the current government, explaining that the Turkmen Front was part of the ministerial delegation during the visit of Prime Minister Mr. Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi to Turkey, stressing the importance of employing Iraqi-Turkish relations to serve national interests.

He pointed out that the Turkmen were able to reach the position of governor of Kirkuk after more than a century, explaining that the Turkmen component, despite what he described as previous marginalization, remained an authentic part of Iraq and adhered to its ethnicity.

Road Development and Area Security

Samaan stressed the importance of securing the path of the development road, which starts from Basra and passes through a number of areas up to the northern border, stressing that the success of the strategic project requires that the areas through which it passes be safe and stable and under the control of federal forces.

He called for imposing the authority and prestige of the federal forces on the areas through which the development road passes, in a way that ensures the smoothness of the project and enhances its ability to perform its economic and strategic role.

He also stressed that the diversity of Kirkuk's components is a source of strength for the province, noting that the initiative to rotate the position of governor among the province's components represents a successful national initiative. He called on the Council of Representatives to adopt it and frame it legally to ensure its continuity and applicability in other provinces.

Kirkuk a hub for energy and export diversification

In the oil file, Samaan confirmed that the current trend focuses on finding alternatives to export oil and not relying on a single source, pointing out that there are vital projects that can make Kirkuk an important energy center.

And he explained that work is underway to renew the export agreements, with the aim of raising the export capacity through Turkey from 750 thousand barrels per day to more than one million barrels per day, in cooperation with BP to develop oil fields in Kirkuk.

He pointed out that the contract with the company aims to develop the Kirkuk oil fields, while the expected visit of the Turkish Deputy Minister of Energy to the province comes within the efforts to raise the level of export through Turkish territory.

Kirkuk–Baniyas line

Regarding oil export options, Samaan pointed out that the Kirkuk-Baniyas line needs rehabilitation work on the Iraqi side, while the Syrian side requires the reconstruction of large parts of the line, after it was stolen and damaged.

He added that a Turkish company is working to rehabilitate the worn-out and stolen pipes in the Iraqi part of the line, stressing that the development of export outlets is a necessity to reduce Iraq's dependence on one track.

Turkmens and Relations with Turkey

And in the Iraqi-Turkish relations, Samaan confirmed the existence of a national link of Turkmen with the Turkish world, pointing out that the Turkmen Front seeks to employ these relations in a way that serves Iraq and its national interests.

He said that the previous policies of marginalization prevented the investment of these relations in a way that serves the interests of Iraq, stressing that the current stage requires the transformation of regional ties and relations into tools to strengthen economic and political cooperation between Iraq and neighboring countries.

He also stressed that the vision of the Turkmen Front is to make Iraq free of terrorist organizations that threaten its security, stability and the security of neighboring countries, pointing out that the PKK organization targeted prominent Turkmen figures and leaders inside Iraq.

Regional Balances and a Growing Iraqi Role

The interventions of the participants in the session concluded the importance of strengthening the internal front of Iraq as the basis for any effective foreign policy, with the need to build balanced relations with neighboring countries, and to benefit from the geographical location of Iraq in transport, energy and trade projects.

And the session stressed that the success of strategic projects, especially the path of development, is closely linked to security and political stability, while diversifying oil export outlets and strengthening economic relations with neighboring countries is one of the main tracks to fortify the Iraqi economy in the face of regional crises.