Italy, EU ambassadors to Iraq stress the importance of democracy, stability

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Italian and European Union (EU) ambassadors to Iraq on Wednesday highlighted the importance of stability and the promotion of democratic values in Iraq for the wider region. 

"We have every interest in the success of the democratic model in Iraq which is very important and stability is linked to this. We are very much convinced about this," Italy’s ambassador to Baghdad Maurizio Greganti said in a panel at the MERI Forum, adding that the stability of Iraq is important for the stability of the region.

The forum commenced in the Kurdistan Region’s capital of Erbil on Tuesday, attended by dozens of local and international officials and experts. The two-day forum addresses the various political, security, economic, and environmental challenges facing Iraq at the moment.

“We see Iraq as a friendly country, and certainly this has something to do with the fact that Europe was built on the footprints of war,” EU Ambassador to Iraq Ville Varjola said.

Varjola added that a testament of the EU’s commitment and support to Iraq is the fact that since 2003, they have pledged over 1.5 billion euros to help Iraq move forward and develop its democracy. 

The issue of democracy was echoed numerous times throughout the discussion. Greganti stressed that a successful democratic model in Iraq is linked to stability, adding that while the process to achieve this may be long, democratic institutions are the key to combatting the challenges the country faces. “They are still the best guarantee, the best recipe to get stability and long-term prosperity.”

Rampant corruption plagues all levels of the Iraqi state while unemployment has been on the rise, adding to an ongoing economic crisis, exacerbated by the political deadlock which has frozen the much-needed 2022 budget. 

Both ambassadors welcomed the recent government formation in Iraq. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s cabinet was voted in last week, ending over a year of political deadlock. 

Varjola pledged to support government reforms, adding that the EU’s mission to Iraq is working towards further security reforms and providing the country with strategic advice. 

“We wish to see a more prosperous Iraq with more trade and investment,” he added while appreciating “the role it has taken as a bridge builder in the region,” referring to Baghdad-mediated talks between regional foes Saudi Arabia and Iran. 

Similarly to Iraq, a new government was recently formed in Italy under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Greganti reassured that there would be no change in the country’s policy towards Iraq and wider region as an aftermath of the government change. 

“Italy has always been here in Iraq, always supporting this country … We have consolidated a very solid relationship with Iraq,” Greganti said. 

In May this year, Italy assumed command of the NATO mission to Iraq. “We have a responsibility to lead the NATO mission in Iraq which we take very seriously,” Greganti stated, adding that they support both Iraqi and Kurdish security forces. 

“Security reform is one of the pillars of a stable, functioning democracy,” he added.

The NATO mission to Iraq was launched in Brussels in 2018, following a request from the Iraqi government. It is a non-combat and advisory mission assisting Iraq in fighting terrorism and preventing an Islamic State (ISIS) resurgence.