In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests,
Peace be upon you and God’s mercy and blessings.
It is a great honor and source of pride to be here at this conference—both for its title and for the hope that this title represents. Our happiness will be greater if we truly speak with more than one voice and more than one idea, and if we provide the free space necessary for diversity of thought and viewpoints—on the condition that we all meet at one noble goal: committed dialogue.
One of the greatest attributes with which humanity began its life is language. Language is a means of communication, and it cannot fulfill this role without dialogue. Dialogue is the first principle and the first step toward civilization, culture, and humanity. Whenever dialogue among human beings has been disrupted, the losses have been immense and devastating. Therefore, we must engage in dialogue.
It is a fortunate coincidence that as we meet here to present our visions for the post-ISIS Iraq, we Iraqis had already begun to dialogue and practically express our unity during the fight against ISIS itself, not only after it.
ISIS and its allies infiltrated and occupied beloved cities in a dark moment when dialogue had been cut off among us. But we regained most of those cities, and we are now close to fully liberating Mosul. This happened when we united in the face of danger, when we realized the value of understanding, listening, and engaging with one another.
Thus, our armed forces advanced with honor and heroism, and the citizens of the liberated cities welcomed them with joy, love, and celebration. This unity was a major reason why the free world stood with us, and why the respect and admiration of friends and foes alike grew for the will of the Iraqi people, their sacrifices, and the great human image displayed by our heroes during and after the liberation of every city and village from the criminals’ grip.
Our victories were made possible by the unity of our stance and vision, and this same unity will be the fundamental guarantee for preserving these victories and eliminating terrorism forever from our land and our lives. In every inch of Iraqi soil, we celebrate these achievements. Dialogue and acceptance of one another, in all our diversity and differences, are what ensure the permanence of our unity and propel us toward stability, peace, reconstruction, and progress.
I do not believe we differ on the general principles of dialogue and unity. Foremost among them are:
no retreat from democracy and freedom;
no return to dictatorship in any form or name;
no weapons outside the authority of the state and its institutions;
and no rule above the constitution and the law.
These are general rules on which I believe we all agree. Our greatest responsibility lies in how we deal with the details. If problems lie in the details, then we must hold firmly to these fundamental principles and the values they offer. Among these values are love, tolerance, and acceptance of difference—practical tools that will help us overcome many obstacles.
No one can be truly democratic or free without a sincere and practical belief in such values and tools. The experiences of countries that have gone through similar paths help us overcome expected difficulties. But above all, what matters is our shared sincerity toward the noble goal we seek: our unity, stability, peace, progress, prosperity, security, and freedom.
It is also important, in our view, to liberate this noble endeavor from political exploitation, from rivalry, and from fueling the public with accusations and fear. If we succeed in making the defense of national unity and mutual tolerance a positive means of political competition and electoral success, we will have truly taken an important step toward what we seek.
Our people are waiting for reassurance of a political, security, and economic future worthy of their long patience. The world today is witnessing sweeping changes, and it is fortunate that the growing global stance against terrorism supports our mission. But everything ultimately depends on us—on being one voice that believes in a free, democratic, federal, independent Iraq.
May God grant us success in overcoming our own desires, and may He help us serve Iraq and its people.
May God be with us for the sake of Iraq.
Peace be upon you and God’s mercy and blessings.
