RCD held a symposium entitled “Iraqi-Lebanese Relations: Present and Future” at Sergio De Mello hall in its headquarter in the holy city of Najaf. The symposium hosted the Lebanese ambassador to Iraq Mr. Ali Adib Al-Habhab, attended by an elite group of political, academic and cultural personalities. Where, the Lebanese ambassador delivered a lecture addressing the history of the relationship between Iraq and Lebanon, and the bonds between the two brotherly countries, and ways to strengthen these relations in line with the aspirations of both states. Moreover, he expressed the Lebanese government desire to ensure the communication between different Iraqi components on all levels, especially those related to the relevant cultural and scientific centers in the two countries. The ambassador mentioned that the cooperation between the Iraqi and Lebanese people included areas of economic cooperation through the convention of liberating trade between the two countries and reactivating Kirkuk-Tripoli oil pipeline, as well as in the security field, where the convention on legal cooperation has been launched. Furthermore, he elaborated that there are special relations on the religious levels and communication channels with the scientific Hawza in the holy city of Najaf, as well as common bonds between the oriental and western churches in Baghdad and Beirut.

Mr. Al-Habhab commended the common understandings that the political relations between both parties have reached, and the significant development of the movement of people between the two countries in the last years. Simultaneously, he valued the efforts of RCD in developing and establishing cultural and communication programs between the intellectual and research institutions of Iraq and Lebanon.