The Conference on “The status of Armed Forces and Groups in Iraq”, held in Dokan (Kurdistan Region, Iraq), concluded today with the adoption of a Final Communiqué stressing the urgent need to create a national army, as a pluralistic and inclusive force, loyal to the Iraqi Federal Constitution and respectful of the diversity of citizens with different backgrounds. The Conference was organised by the International Alliance for Justice (IAJ) and No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ), in cooperation with the Iraqi Council of Representatives and the Kurdistan National Assembly–Iraq, and with the support of the Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
The conference was part of the series of events organized by IAJ and NPWJ with the support of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where senior Iraqi policy-makers discuss the allocation of competences between federal, regional and provincial administrations, in order to promote an open space of dialogue which benefits from the experiences of other federal countries and post-conflict and post-authoritarian transitions.
The purpose of the conference was to examine a range of questions on the future form and purpose of Iraq’s armed groups and armed forces, as part of a process of promoting the peaceful resolution of differences, and strengthening the rule of law, democracy, and federalism within Iraqi society. This included a discussion on options and conditions for the demobilisation of militias and private armies and/or their absorption or integration in a composite Iraqi Army, including the Regional Corps.
Participants included Deputy Speakers and Members of both the Iraqi Council of Representatives and the Kurdistan National Assembly, political leaders and representatives of Iraq’s national and regional institutions, taking into account the broadest possible political, geographical and community representation. Senior non-Iraqi experts brought into the debate their respective experiences on integration and reform of separate military forces and present possible choices and options from other demobilisation and military mergers.
For more information, please contact Lorenzo Vicario, Coordinator of the Iraq Projet, email: lvicario@npwj.org – phone: +32 2 548 39 10