Iraq and Switzerland Partner on Water Cooperation

Ambassador Dr. Hisham Al-Alawi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Political Planning Affairs, held a virtual meeting with Switzerland’s new Federal Ambassador to Iraq, alongside representatives from the Geneva Water Centre. The meeting focused on the “Water for Peace and Development” initiative, launched in collaboration with the Geneva Water Centre, and included participation from key Iraqi departments, such as Legal and European Affairs.

Dr. Al-Alawi emphasised the growing strength of relations between Iraq and Switzerland, highlighting the recent reopening of the Swiss Embassy in Baghdad as a significant step forward in bilateral cooperation. He stressed the importance of Switzerland’s role, particularly through its expertise in water diplomacy and negotiation, to support Iraq in addressing water-related challenges.

The initiative aims to transform Iraq’s water issues with neighbouring countries into a platform for dialogue and regional cooperation, fostering stability and economic integration. Dr. Al-Alawi underscored Iraq’s focus on water diplomacy, noting its critical importance as the nation faces severe impacts from climate change.

The Swiss Ambassador expressed full support for the initiative and reiterated Switzerland’s commitment to enhancing Iraq’s negotiating capabilities and fostering constructive dialogue with neighbouring states. He emphasised the shared goal of achieving sustainable management of water resources to benefit all parties.

This meeting marks another step in advancing Iraq’s water diplomacy efforts and strengthening international collaboration to address one of the most pressing challenges in the region.