Baghdad: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein attended the opening session of the Capacity Development Program for New Ambassadors at the Higher Institute for Leadership Preparation and Qualification in Baghdad.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the session was moderated by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Political Planning Affairs, Ambassador Hisham Al-Alawi, who delivered an opening speech in which he congratulated the new ambassadors on assuming their diplomatic duties. He highlighted the importance of their representation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in international forums.

In his speech, the Minister congratulated the new Ambassadors on their positions and thanked the institute’s leadership for hosting the program. He emphasized the importance of education and training in developing diplomatic cadres, noting the necessity of continuous learning and updating of knowledge and skills due to the dynamic nature of the diplomatic world.

The Minister underscored the need for openness to other cultures and an understanding of political systems. He stressed that the interests of the Iraqi state must be the ambassador’s top priority and that their work must be based on the constitution and national identity, avoiding ideological biases. He emphasized that ambassadors represent the state and political system with balance and responsibility.

The Minister addressed the challenges Iraq faced under the former regime during wars and the blockade, leading to isolation from intellectual development. He noted that Iraqi diplomacy has succeeded in protecting Iraq and preventing attacks despite ongoing regional conflicts, highlighting the importance of active diplomacy given Iraq’s geographic location.

He pointed out that Iraq’s pluralistic society is a source of strength and wealth in building foreign relations. In his conversation with the ambassadors, he discussed several organizational aspects and basic concepts of diplomatic work, emphasizing the need for commitment, discipline, and teamwork.

The Minister highlighted the importance of caring for Iraqi communities abroad, considering them a national asset and an intellectual resource that contributes to strengthening communication with other peoples and societies.

The session concluded with an interactive dialogue during which the Minister answered questions, inquiries, and suggestions raised by the participating ambassadors, fostering an atmosphere of discussion.