Middle East Peace and Security Forum

THE PARADOX OF
PEACE IN THE
MIDDLE EAST

MEPS FORUM 2024

NOVEMBER

19–23

Addressing the most pressing challenges to regional and international security.

Bridging divides between governments, decision-makers and scholars.

Challenging conventional knowledge on Kurdistan, Iraq and the wider Middle East.

The Middle East Peace and Security Forum is a vital arena for addressing the most pressing challenges facing the Middle East.

Rt. Hon. Tony Blair, Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

H.E. Latif Rashid

President, Federal Republic of Iraq

H.E Nechirvan Barzani

President, Kurdistan Region of Iraq

H.E. Masrour Barzani

Prime Minister, Kurdistan Region of Iraq

H.E. Qubad Talabani

Deputy Prime Minister, Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Rt. Hon Tony Blair

Former Prime Minister, United Kingdom

Rt. Hon Boris Johnson

Former Prime Minister, United Kingdom

Rt. Hon Nadhim Zahawi

Former Chancellor of the Exchequer, United Kingdom

H.E. Rewaz Faeq

Speaker of the Parliament, Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Col. Joel Rayburn

Former U.S. Special Envoy for Syria

Dr. Karen Young

Senior Fellow, Columbia University

Dr. Elham Fakhro

Associate Fellow, Chatham House

Dr. Linda Robinson

Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations

Dr. Dalia Dassa Kaye

Senior Fellow, Burkle Center, UCLA

Dr. Vanda Felbab-Brown

Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution

Dr. Frederic Wehrey

Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment

Amb. John Jenkins

Policy Exchange; Cambridge University

Dr. Abdullah Baabood

Professor, Waseda University

Dr. Majid Jafar

CEO, Crescent Petroleum

Dr. Bader al-Saif

Professor, Kuwait University

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Dr. Hillary Wiesner

Director, Carnegie Corporation of New York

Piotr Zalewski

The Economist

Martin Chulov

The Guardian

Maryam Moshiri

BBC

Dr. Elisabeth Kendall

University of Cambridge

H.E. Ali al-Asiri

National Digitization Unit, Saudi Arabia

H.E. Taha Ozhan

Former Chairman, Turkey's Foreign Affairs Committee

H.E. Jeanine Plasschaert

Special Representative, United Nations

Dareen Khalifa

Senior Analyst, International Crisis Group

Dr. Howard Shatz

Senior Fellow, RAND Corporation

Rashid Al-Mohanadi

Partner, Catalyst Consulting, Qatar

Dr. Bernard Kouchner

Former Foreign Minister, France

Dr. Matthew Zais

Former Director, National Security Council

H.E.
Latif
Rashid

"Iraq is experiencing a renewal in its relations with the region as a whole, including the Gulf Arab states and aims for a balanced and healthy relationship with all its neighbours."

H.E. Masrour Barzani

"A rapidly warming planet will have cruel implications for our part of the world, fuelling food insecurity, water scarcity and mass migration. This is not a problem to kick down the road."

H.E. Nechirvan Barzani

"The failure to implement the constitution and federal system over the past two decades has been a consistent destabilizing factor for Iraq."

Rt. Hon
Boris Johnson

"Your fight was our fight and your battle was our battle, the battle of the Peshmaraga against ISIS a few years ago was a battle to protect us in the UK as well."

Rt. Hon
Tony
Blair

"The Middle East Peace and Security Forum is a vital arena for addressing the most pressing challenges facing the Middle East."

H.E.
Fuad
Hussein

"Regional cooperation should be considered as the main objective for the countries of the region in order to put an end to tensions and crisis."

Dr. Karen
Young

"The issue of diversification is difficult but urgent, given increasingly tight global climate policies, the advances of non-fossil technologies, and the limited lifespan of the KRI’s oil resources."

Amb.
John
Jenkins

"The region is experiencing an unprecedented escalation but there are several factors that need to come together for there to be an enduring peace. However, there could still be stability in some parts and ongoing conflict in others."

Dr. Majid
Jafar

"The UAE and Saudi Arabia have led the way in solar energy and there is potential for Kurdistan to play a role as well. The Middle East will play a key role in the energy transition for decades to come."

MEPS Forum is committed to fostering policies for a Stronger Kurdistan that works in partnership with Baghdad and the wider Middle East.	MEPS Forum works on the region's prospects for de-escalation, with a commitment to delivering rigorous research and analysis.	MEPS Forum brings together decision-makers, leaders of industry and experts to develop actionable policy recommendations.
Drawing on our global network, MEPS Forum has a long-standing focus on the future of the Middle East within the shifting international order.

The BBC's Maryam Moshiri In Conversation with Prime Minister Barzani

"We looked at cutting the government's expenditure as a fundamental part of the reform process. It will take some time until the results emerge but we have already started to see significant progress. Alongside this, we are diversifying our economy. Kurdistan is exporting agricultural goods to the Gulf and to Europe. This is unprecedented and has resulted in an increase in revenues from non-oil sectors. This is a transformational process, a revolutionary process that transforms Kurdistan into a position where it is no longer relying on oil revenues."

–– H.E. Prime Minister Barzani

Keynote Remarks from H.E. Fuad Hussein, Iraq's Foreign Minister

"In this context, we would like to remind you that regional cooperation should be considered as the main objective for the countries of the region in order to put an end to tensions and crisis. This is why Iraq is adopting a clear foreign policy based on having common views. At the international level, the government of Iraq is keen on preserving the international partnerships and to establishing the best regional relationship based on mutual respect – the respect of interest. We are also relying on the fraternity and the social links with the countries of the region so that we can face all together international challenges in light of the circumstances we are going through when it comes to conflicts and crises that necessitate unifying all efforts in order to face them and solve them in a peaceful way."

–– H.E. Fuad Hussein, Iraq's Foreign Minister

Experts Reflect on the Emerging International Order

"While great power competition draws focus, "great power distraction" from other critical issues may lead to unforeseen consequences. There is a need for greater attention to international concerns; China sees a momentum, a strategic opportunity for multipolarity in the world for it to take its place in the world system and to advance its interests. States in the Middle East should safeguard their sovereignty and self-reliance and must only diversify their ties to global powers if this approach is underscored with strategic autonomy."

–– Experts

Experts Reflect on Security Sector Reform and Armed Groups

"Ultimately, processes of democratization require armed groups to put down the weapons, stop monopolizing economies, and that even when they believe they fought for their people, it is time to subject themselves to accountability and a process of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration. Conversely, organisations like Al-Qaeda and ISIS, while degraded, remain a chameleon-like force, capable of reviving under conducive circumstances."

–– Experts

Since its establishment in 2019, MEPS Forum has become the most important annual forum in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, providing a space for candid discussions on the most pressing issues facing the Middle East and North Africa.