Baghdad, Iraq– The Ministry of Foreign Affairs today hosted a high-level briefing on the Blue
Peace Middle East Initiative, led by Mr. Mohammed Amin Faris Amin, Chair of the Blue Peace
Middle East Managing Committee. The meeting convened key Iraqi officials to discuss the
initiative's strategic priorities and ongoing projects aimed at strengthening transboundary water
cooperation.
The delegation included Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry for Political Planning,
Ambassador Dr. Hisham Al Alawi; the Prime Minister's Advisor for Water Affairs, Dr. Sadiq
Jawad; alongside representatives from the National Security Advisory and ministries of Water
Resources, Agriculture, and Environment.
Mr. Amin presented Blue Peace Middle East as a track 1.5 diplomacy mechanism chaired by HRH
Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan. He outlined how the initiative bridges governmental and
non-governmental channels through diplomatic dialogue and technical capacity building,
supported by scientific research. Since 2023, the initiative has expanded to a comprehensive
Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus approach to address regional challenges
holistically.
The briefing highlighted Iraq's achievements in regional water diplomacy, including becoming
the first Middle Eastern country to join the UN Water Convention in 2023 with support from
Blue Peace Middle East. The initiative has also been a platinum sponsor of the Baghdad
International Water Conference for three consecutive years.
Current projects in Iraq include the Cooperative Assessment and Management of Al-Hawizeh/Al-
Adhim Marsh (CAMAAM) project launched in February 2024, focusing on sustainable
management of transboundary marshes through scientific research and community
engagement. Additionally, the Iraq WEFE Nexus Pilot for Sustainable Development will
commence mid-2025, designed to strengthen governmental coordination while demonstrating
locally tailored solutions for resource efficiency in Diyala governorate.
Mr. Amin acknowledged Switzerland's foundational role as the exclusive supporter of the
initiative through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation since 2018, facilitating
cooperation among full members Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Türkiye, with geographical reach
extending to Iran and Syria.
This engagement reinforces Iraq's commitment to proactive water diplomacy and demonstrates
how water resources can serve as catalysts for regional cooperation rather than sources of
conflict.
About Blue Peace Middle East:
Blue Peace Middle East is the first and only regionally owned mechanism, institutionalized in
2019 to transform water from a potential source of conflict into an instrument of cooperation
through dialogue, capacity building, and concrete actions. The initiative operates with the vision
of utilizing the power of water to build a cooperative future for the region.
Contact:
Coordination Office
Blue Peace Middle East
Email: info@bluepeaceme.org