\r\n \r\nI am excited to return to Iraq seven years after I served as British Consul General in Basra. Iraq has moved on leaps and bounds since then. Iraq today is better than its image in the West. International perceptions including in the UK too often remain stuck in the past, shaped by images of sectarian violence inside Iraq and negative memories of division and disillusionment outside it.
I have spoken to many Iraqis since I arrived at the end of June. There is a feeling that things are getting better. While people are still concerned about security, it is no longer one of the top three concerns they mention to me. These are now jobs, basic services and corruption. The next two years will see the arrival of major oil revenues. The key issue for Iraq is how these revenues will be invested and redistributed for the good of all Iraqis. If invested properly these revenues can help to create jobs in Iraq’s emerging private sector and can provide much needed improvements in electricity, health, water and sanitation. The Parliamentary elections in 2014 will be an important test of public opinion on this.
I have been sent to Iraq with a set of clear objectives from the British Prime Minister to work on three key areas; enhancing Iraq’s internal stability; supporting Iraq to develop positive relations across the Arab World and with the West; and supporting Iraq to unlock its economic potential by encouraging increased trade and investment partnerships with British business and stronger educational links with our universities.
The challenge for me, my staff and for our Iraqi partners is to find concrete steps we can work on together to achieve these goals. We are working with democratic politicians in Iraq to build independent institutions and to strengthen the rule of law. Britain has historically been a friend of Iraq and there are still strong links in the health and education sectors as well as with the Iraqi military. Today, thousands of students from Iraq travel to the UK every year to study Masters and PhDs – helping to build even stronger bonds between our countries and crucially, bringing the expertise they gain in UK universities back to contribute to Iraq’s development.
I was delighted to see Iraqi athletes competing in the Olympic and Paralympic Games in London. This is a further sign of Iraq’s steady return to a more normal life where young people can pursue their dreams including through full engagement with the wider world. London 2012 was also a clear demonstration of British ingenuity, engineering and planning. These are all skills which British companies have to offer Iraq’s development. London 2012 was successful in large part because of London’s ability to attract and value creativity and expertise from around the world. One outstanding example of this is the award winning British-Iraqi architect, Zaha Hadid, who designed the incredible Olympic Aquatics Centre. This is just one example of what British and Iraqi talent can achieve.
Over the next two years I look forward to encouraging the development of further prominent examples of Iraqi – British partnership that highlight Iraq’s potential for a bright and prosperous future.