The Middle East dialogue, which began its twice-a-year meetings in October 2012, convened its eleventh meeting in Baghdad 15-16 December. Participants included current and former officials and senior experts from Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria and United Arab Emirates as well as China, Europe, Russia, and the United States.

The meeting’s discussion covered three thematic areas: 1. Regional developments including the winding down of the fight against ISIS in Iraq, the decision by the Trump administration to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, and Saudi Arabia's regional policies in Yemen, Iraq and Lebanon; 2. challenges facing reconstruction and sustainable governance in Syria and Iraq; 3. the principles for a new regional cooperation framework. The summary report follows the thematic areas covered. This meeting also produced a consensus document listing a set of principles to govern a new regional cooperation framework, published separately.


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