15 March، 2026
On Sunday, February 14, 2021, Al-Rafidain Center for Dialogue (RCD) hosted a discussion seminar titled "Future Prospects for Iraqi-Dutch Relations: From Friendship to Partnership." The event, held at the Center's Sérgio Vieira de Mello Hall in Najaf, featured the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Iraq, His Excellency Michel Rentenaar, and the Embassy's Political Advisor, and was attended by official, academic, and cultural figures.

Key Areas of Cooperation

In his lecture, the Ambassador focused on several key themes:

·        Security: He described security as a fundamental component of stability and highlighted the Kingdom of the Netherlands' assistance to Iraq during the war against ISIS.

·        Migration: The discussion covered both internal migrations, represented by the crisis of internally displaced persons (IDPs), and external migration, focusing on the societal integration of Iraqi immigrants in Europe, particularly in the Netherlands.

·        Human Rights: The third theme addressed the issue of human rights, especially concerning public protests, the right to demonstrate, and the guarantee of freedom of the press and expression.

In a press conference held with Dr. Hassan Al-Zubaidi, Director of Al-Rafidain Center for Dialogue (RCD), His Excellency the Ambassador emphasized the need to activate Iraq's industrial and agricultural sectors. He expressed his country's readiness to assist in these areas, citing the Netherlands' extensive expertise in modern agricultural supplies. Furthermore, the Ambassador affirmed the Netherlands' support for the democratic process in Iraq, stressing the importance of sustainable stability, which he described as the foundation for building the state and empowering its citizens.

It is noteworthy that the Kingdom of the Netherlands plays a key role in facilitating academic fellowship programs for Iraqis in the fields of agriculture and water resources.