On March 6 and 7, 2019, the Institute of Regional and International Studies (IRIS) at the American University of Iraq, Sulaimani (AUIS) hosted its sixth annual Sulaimani Forum, “Iraq and Its Neighbors: Toward a New Regional Order.” As in past years, the Sulaimani Forum brought together key policymakers, stakeholders, and analysts for two days of thought-provoking debates and discussions on the most pressing issues facing the Middle East region. The Forum has become one the premier platforms to develop ideas and solutions for the challenges facing Iraq, the Kurdistan Region, and its neighbors. In the 2019 forum, the conversations moved beyond conflict analysis to explore factors necessary for good governance and inclusive economic growth, with special consideration for ongoing challenges of government formation in Baghdad and Erbil.
Over the past five years, the Sulaimani Forum has welcomed guests such as the current Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mehdi, former Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi, former Vice President Osama Nujaifi, Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister Ibrahim Al Jaafari, KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani, and Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani. Distinguished guests such as David Miliband, Francis Fukuyama, General David Petraeus, Thomas Friedman, and Lyse Doucet have joined in Forum discussions.
Important Links
Full Agenda: To view a more detailed agenda and a list of speakers for each of the panels see here.
Video: All panels were televised and recorded; complete videos of both days can be viewed here.
Photographs: Photographs for the first day of the event can be viewed here.
Please click here for information on past Forums.
