In the context of ongoing strategic partnership and special relationship between Al-Rafidain Center for Dialogue RCD and legislative bodies in EU states, and in order to provide perceptions and visions about Iraq and the Middle East, the Committee of Foreign Affairs of the Italian Chamber of Deputies hosted Mr. Zaid Al-Talaqani, Chairman of RCD, in its headquarters in Rome. Mr. Piero Fassino, President of the Committee and President of the Italian-French Relations Committee, started the session with a brief introduction about RCD as one of the most important think tanks in the region that cooperates with several renowned institutions. After that, Mr. Al-Talaqani discussed how Iraq is open towards EU states, especially Italy, which is clearly expressed by mutual visits, noting the importance of RCD Forum, which comes from being the first of its kind in Iraq with a basic international support, especially from EU states. Additionally, Mr. Al-Talaqani said that the democratic process in Iraq keeps growing in a constant and positive manner with some occasional episodes of stumbling and slowing down.

During Al-Talaqani’s response to the questions of the PMs of the committee, he clarified that defeating ISIS was accomplished thanks to all Iraqi sects and ethnicities, and that real fighting efforts came from the Iraqi army, police, and volunteers who responded to the Fatwa issued by the Grand Religious Authority, in addition to international support in all levels. Mr. Al-Talaqani reaffirmed that Iraq was able to preserve its unity in the face of the secession experience that could be a difficult dilemma for both Kurds and Arabs if it happened. Also, he anticipated that the relations between the Kurdish Regional Government KRG and the Federal Government is going to improve in the forthcoming phase as well as their cooperation in the fields of political issues and managing the affairs of the IDPs; noting that the long political experience of KRG goes back to 1992 in comparison with the young Federal Government that was established in 2003.

Additionally, Mr. Al-Talaqani addressed the affairs of the Middle East, as well as the US-Iran conflict, with an Iraqi perspective, warning that this conflict, if not resolved, could burn the whole region, and that Iraq could be a major player in providing solutions as it has religious and geographic ties with -its eastern neighbor- Tehran, and strong relations with Washington. There was also a question about the bad situation in Syria and Yemen, in which Mr. Al-Talaqani responded by stating that the peoples of these two countries need a "humanitarian society", other than a civil society, while Iraq needs a civil society because he overcame the humanitarian crisis and needs the civil one to build a full-fledged state. Finally, Mr. Al-Talaqani invited members of the Italian Chamber of Deputies to attend RCD Economic and Security Forum that is going to be held in September 2019.