European Media Outlets Interview RCD's Director

26/6/2019

AKI press News Agency interviewed Mr. Zaid al-Talaqani, director of al-Rafidain Center for Dialogue RCD, during his visit to Rome as a part of the European tour of RCD's delegation.

Mr. al-Talaqani told AKI that Iraq preceded all Arab countries in facing crises, for it was the first country to experience democratic change in 2003, which was an evitable event, confirming that most regimes in the region are going to experience it eventually. In addition, Mr. al-Talaqani described Iraq as an elder brother for the countries in the Middle East, and that all ongoing conflicts are happening along its borders, affirming the importance of geographic, religious and economic ties with Iraq's eastern neighbor, Iran, and that Iraq has achieved victory in its war against ISIL's gangs who established an "delusional state" that collapsed instantly when Iraqis united to fight it in spite of their diverse ethnicities.

Ideas Magazine also interviewed Mr. al-Talaqani in Barcelona, and tackled the democratic experience in Iraq and its stages and how regional and international factors impacted it. Mr. al-Talaqani said that Iraq's democratic experience came as a choice by the Iraqi people who made sacrifices in order to gain freedom, indicating that the Iraqi government is able to play a basic role in unlocking or mitigating USA-Iran crisis in order to avoid what can this conflict bring upon Iraq and the whole region. Furthermore, Mr. al-Talaqani highlighted RCD's prominent activities and the great success of RCD's Forum in Baghdad , which was held in February, and the preparations to hold RCD's Economic and Security Forum in September.