Iraq's President Barham Salih to take part in online discussion on Wednesday

Hour-long conversation will be hosted by Beirut Institute

In this image made from UNTV video, Barham Salih, President of Iraq, speaks in a pre-recorded message which was played during the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020, at U.N. headquarters in New York. (UNTV via AP)
The National
May 03, 2021
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Iraq's President Barham Salih will take part in an online interview on Wednesday.

The discussion is being hosted by Beirut Institute and marks the first anniversary of the think tank's series of online "e-policy circles".

The programme previously featured Gen Kenneth  McKenzie, chief of US Central Command, Jordan's Prince Hassan bin Talal and Secretary General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit.

Wednesday's talk "will be dedicated to a constructive and forward-looking discussion" with Mr Salih, the institute said.

Also taking part are Saudi Arabia's Prince Turki Al Faisal, the institute's summit co-chairman, and former CIA chief Gen David Petraeus.

While in the US Army, Gen Petraeus served four years in Iraq, where he "came to greatly admire" Mr Salih.

"It will be great ... to hear his insights on how he and Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi are seeking to address the many challenges – and to capitalise on the many opportunities" in Iraq, said Gen Petraeus.

Prince Turki said the institute's series of online talks, which began last May, had "succeeded in bringing together leading international policymakers, from heads of states to key global influencers".

Beirut Institute founder and executive chairman, Raghida Dergham, who is also a columnist for The National, said "there is no better way to mark the first anniversary of our e-Policy Circles than to host such a distinguished guest" as Mr Salih.

The 34th-anniversary session of the e-Policy Circles will be on the record and live-streamed on Beirut Institute's Facebook page on Wednesday, May 5, at 10am EST, 2pm GMT, 5pm Beirut time, 6pm Abu Dhabi time.
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