Building British-Iraqi dialogue

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Meg and Gary Kent, Director of Labour Friends of Iraq (LFIQ), recently met Bill Rammell, Minister of State at the Foreign Office with responsibility for the Middle East. They discussed how to help improve the understanding of Iraq within the UK and enhance relations between the two countries.

 

Meg and Gary explained that LFIQ aims to build support for the new Iraq, working closely with Iraqi politicians from a variety of political parties, Iraqi trade unions and other organisation in civil society. With British troops scheduled to leave Iraq during the course of this year, and the Iraqi government increasingly able to take on all aspects of governing it may be an opportune time to consider different ways the UK can continue to support Iraq. Bill Rammell indicated that the Foreign Office is interested in helping the further development of such ideas.