Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid speaking at Erbil Forum on February 26, 2025. Photo: screengrab/Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid delivered a speech at the Erbil Forum 2025 on Wednesday, addressing the pressing political and security developments in the region and highlighting Iraq’s role as a regional stabilizer.
President Rashid stressed the need for “swift internal measures” to strengthen Iraq’s immunity to the “ongoing regional hostilities,” and called for continued “consultations with regional actors” to safeguard Iraq from the fallouts of the regional conflicts.
“Iraq will only be a factor of stability in the region, [promoting] friendship between peoples, and supporting the choices of peoples and nations aspiring to a free and dignified life,” Rashid said, emphasizing Iraq’s role as a stabilizing force in the region whose behaviour can be premised on diplomatic solutions and upholding the sovereignty of its neighbours.
President Rashid also welcomed the recent political changes in neighbouring Syria, expressing hope that these changes align with the democratic aspirations of the Syrian people, regardless of “their nationalities, components, and sects.”
He asserted Iraq’s readiness “to support any effort that helps foster internal stability” in Syria and affirmed Baghdad’s keenness to establish friendly relations with the new leadership in Damascus based on “mutual respect and cooperation, and non-interference in internal affairs.”
At the same time, the Iraqi President cautioned against the persistent threat of terrorism, which continues to undermine the security and stability of Iraq and neighboring countries. He urged greater collaboration to address the threat, stressing that “unifying the political visions and efforts, and achieving national integration is essential to thwart any new aggressive plots that have come to seriously threaten the countries of the region, not just Iraq.”
On the relationship between Erbil and Baghdad, the Iraqi President called for “intensifying cooperation and coordination between the [Iraqi] federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government in all fields.” He reiterated the need for full adherence to the provisions of the constitution “to establish the principles of social justice and equality” among the ethnic and religious constituents of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region to “protect our democratic system.”
Lastly, President Rashid condemned the “aggression” against the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, reaffirming Iraq’s support for a cessation of violence, humanitarian relief, and the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state.
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