Everybody agrees that this diversity generates diverse circumstances and outputs that govern Iraq’ relation with the neighboring countries. Based on this, Iraq’s relation with its regional surrounding during the last ten years was full of ebbs and flows, especially with Arab countries. Some interpreted this as a result of the ideological difference between that countries and governments that ruled Iraq after 2003. After all, the most important question raised among the political and academic elites remains: “what is the best policy that Iraq should follow in its relation with the neighboring countries while preserving its rights and satisfying its neighbors at the same time?”

Conclusions:

·         There are many factors influencing the Iraqi decision regarding its foreign policies with the neighboring countries, most important of which is the interventions imposed by some countries on Iraq.

·         Diversity within any society is among the advantages of that society, and the demographic diversity that Iraq has provides a unique composition of its population.

·         There are ongoing regional and international conflicts influencing Iraq largely, which may make it stand on a crossroad sometimes in terms of its relations with the neighboring countries.

·         There are accumulations that burden the Iraqi government until the present time, and we can say that these accumulations were doubled over the past years.

Recommendations:

·         Iraqi government must be assertive and firm about preventing any foreign country to interfere in Iraq’s internal and external affairs.

·         Iraqi society is supposed to be managed through harnessing its diversity in the best way to generate knowledge and creativity on all levels.

·         It is difficult for Iraq to apply a total neutrality on the ground, especially during the current period; however, it is possible to take the neutral path to reach neutrality.

·         The increasing importance of Iraq among states is achieved through the development of its human resources by giving attention to the different types and levels of educational sectors.

·         Iraq must not be a country of open files, as many files are not resolved, whether before 2003 or even the ones that happened afterwards.

Names of some participating members during the week’s dialogue:

(1)   Mr. Hussam Al-Ghazali

(2)   Dr. Basel Al-Hussein

(3)   Dr. Watheq Al-Hashemi

(4)   Dr. Lokman Al-Fili

(5)   Dr. Aqeel Abbas

(6)   Mr. Sharwan Al-Waili

(7)   Dr. Sabah Zangana

(8)   Dr. Azzam Alloush