 Good afternoon everybody. Welcome to the United States Institute of Peace. My name is Nancy Lindbergh. I'm the president here and it is my distinct honor today to welcome back to USIP His Excellency Dr. Haider al-Abadi the Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq welcome back I'd also like to give a very warm welcome to the distinguished members of the Iraqi delegation who have joined you here today Welcome delegation, and I'd also like to welcome our colleagues from the US government We have with us acting assistant secretary of state Stuart Jones the US ambassador to Iraq Douglas Silliman. It's a pleasure to have you both gentlemen As many of you know the US Institute of Peace was founded a little more than 30 years ago by Congress as a Bipartisan National Institute Dedicated to the proposition that peace is practical. It's very possible, and it is essential for our National and international security And so we work with teams in conflict affected areas around the world Supporting local partners with the tools the information the approaches that they need to be able to prevent manage and resolve violent conflict And Iraq has been a priority country for USIP since 2003 We're very proud to have been continuously present since that time on the ground Working with our Iraqi partners including the National Reconciliation Committee of the Council of Ministers Synod for peacebuilding the Alliance of Iraqi Minorities the Network of Iraqi facilitators and more and Our focus is to provide the training and support that our partners need to conduct dialogue and Diffuse the communal tensions particularly in the aftermath of the terrible Daesh Occupation so that displaced families can return home safely and to short circuit the potential Cycles of revenge violence among tribal leaders and this is an issue that the Prime Minister spoke about with great concern the last time He was here and we agree that it is essential to Diffuse those tensions for a more stable peaceful future and in the past two years. We have concentrated our local Reconciliation efforts in Tikrit and Yathrib in Salahadine Ramadi and Anbar Hawija and Kirkuk and Tlaffar and Bartala in Niniwa We've seen that these efforts can pay off and make a real difference The efforts of very courageous Iraqi facilitators working with tribal shakes and many others Successfully address the sectarian accusations of complicity with Daesh in Tikrit and the result is they converted that Liberation of Tikrit into a more enduring piece in that area these efforts can be Replicated and we're pleased to be working with the government of Iraq the US government United Nations and our Iraqi civil society Partners in this effort to connect local reconciliation With national efforts and most importantly, it's the many Iraqi leaders at every level who are at the forefront of this important work of Reconciliation Prime Minister Abadi. We are pleased to see the important progress The the progress that Iraq has made since we last met in Baghdad in September 2015 and Under your leadership and with support from the US-led coalition The full liberation of Mosul is within sight the Iraqi army has Gained a great deal of strength. I think as well as additional respect from the citizens of Iraq and very importantly Relationship between Baghdad and Erbil is improved. We understand none of this has been easy We also understand there's a very long road with many challenges ahead We are very pleased to have you here today To hear more of your thoughts and to share your vision Dr. Abadi became Prime Minister in September 2015 2014 At a particularly difficult time in Iraq's recent history large swaths of the country Were taken by Daesh trust in the government and in local security forces was dangerously low And in fact when you were last here, I believe one of my colleagues asked you why you wanted the job but You have demonstrated openness Prime Minister to new ideas for solving problems for ways that even your political opponents have given you credit for You've shown remarkable commitment and energy to overcome difficulties that could paralyze many There are many challenges ahead We look forward to hearing your thoughts and views of how to meet those challenges for a more peaceful Iraq future. Please join me in welcoming Prime Minister Abadi to the podium Bismillah, Rahman, Rahim. Thank you Nancy. Thank you USIP for this gathering Is a pleasure for me to be here we have gone a long way Since two years ago Nobody have imagined even when I was here last year That will be in Mosul today And we have liberated the majority of Naena and majority of Mosul and now the advance that our security forces has made It's very courageous They didn't have only to fight But they have they have to fight and win over the population While keeping the city's citizens at home in order to protect them Because if we would have allowed the citizens to flee their houses as some probably Suggested at the time We wouldn't have been able to care for these civilians Probably a million or over a million of the population In Mosul itself and the areas around in it But we have managed through our security forces to liberate the people And to have the trust of the people most of the intelligence About the whereabout of arms Explosions and Terse elements are provided by the locals who were supposed to be loyal to Daesh According to the assumption of many Over the rule of the ash for two and a half years over these areas We have managed to win over these areas to liberate them and we are at the last stage of liberating the whole of Nainawa an actual fact liberating the whole of Iraq from Daesh and terrorism of Daesh We have established a very good work in relationship Which has not happening in the history of Iraq for the Iraqi security forces for Iraqi military To fight alongside the Bishmarga and vice versa There is a mutual trust which has never been seen before which has a very positive sign by moving from confrontation and trust to more working relationship I Wasn't to be honest you do expecting to things to be that smooth me and president Barazzani were Well troubled at times that because there were a lot of frictions in the past a lot of enmities But believe me there was not a single incident of Misunderstanding between the Bishmarga and the Iraqi forces while they were fighting together against a very vicious enemy and Despite the difficulties of the past. So this is a new Iraq which we'd like to see a new Iraq Which we'd like to establish and it is possible to establish it my point is about Stabilization and reconstruction of the areas Which we have liberated so far 1.6 million people I Internal displaced people returned to their homes is a huge accomplishment when the war is still there when the oil process has went down so far in a country where 93% of the budget relies on oil and Despite that we have been able to stabilize these areas to provide the minimum of the services to the people So people can return to the areas This is one of the accomplishment the other one is which we are relying on local forces now in Deliberated area to protect the civilians inside. We are keeping our military as a national army Representing all the people I remember two years ago when I took office many of our military commanders would tell me they feel very Uncomfortable at checkpoints when they go to the south and governors and other areas Because the people would catch them and tell them you let us down We're not proud of you now Iraqi people are proud of our military They are proud of our security forces. They see them as a national hero They represent all Iraqis because our direction to them is to respect people to respect human rights For you to fight for the country you have to win over the people when you want to to arrest a Terrorist or a criminal You should just arrest that criminal or a terrorist and you should behave properly with his family and the rest of the Population you don't want to arrest one person and make another 20 enemy of the state or enemy of the society I think the whole behavior of our security forces has been transformed. I'm not saying There are not excesses of human rights. It still happens This is a war and you cannot control the whole apparatus of our security forces and the community at large But at least we hope them accountable. We are not allowing any incident which we know about There may be other incidents which we don't have proof about we don't have enough information about But where we know about we have enough information about we'll take action and we reprimand These responsible for these acts and I think commanders and others they know That if they make something wrong, they'll be held accountable for their action And this has transformed the way our military our security forces are dealing with the public at large I think we have won over our population. We have extended our hands to all communities inside Iraq One major point of the policy of my government is to delegate more responsibility To the regions and to the governments and we've been doing this Successfully there was fear that once you delegate more responsibility the country may disintegrate. I say it's the opposite When you give more delegation to the regions, they will be more feeling within one country They will feel they are part of the country and they have to defend it Of course, there is a balance between federal authority and regional authority and anyone knows about federal system They know this fact we have to keep this balance according to the constitution and according to the law and of course So we have to build our institutions Iraq has been always a central state Where it's governed from the center. So most check and balances are made from the center We don't have check and balances many checks and balances in the region So I think we have to make these check and balance in the region more powerful We have to build them in the institution way and we have to give more support so that politicians Can be held accountable to what they do and this is very important for us, of course I'm not saying things. We are happening in Iraq is easy Of course a lot people don't I mean a lot of we have a lot of opposition I mean welcome to democracy, but this is a new democracy Where sometimes the line between democracy and non-democratic behavior is not well-defined and Sometimes they feel freedom of speech is means freedom of encouraging terrorism encouraging havoc encouraging breaking the law and Encouraging all sorts But we are moving and I can't claim that in the last one more than Probably 20 months there has been demonstrations in Iraq weekly in many governance at the same time and the security forces were Keeping peace with these demonstrations protected them and protecting the population at large I don't think this is a Phonomenon which is witness in the Arab world or in the region at large And we are happy with that for people to speak out their grievances to say what they want And in this way, I think we can build better Iraq by listening to others The distinction between a belief and being in government It must be defined the government is responsible for the whole population regardless of their affiliation of their belief People in a position of responsibility should act according to this and I think this government has been very eager To demonstrate This behavior and is dealing with the citizens. I'm not saying we were successful in all departments But at least we have drawn a line a new line in the policy of a government towards its population The last thing is reform Reform is important for us. We have to bring back the trust of the people in the system in The way we govern the country This is a new democracy It will be a sad day for all of us if people believe Dictatorship is better than democracy because if democracy didn't protect them Didn't provide for them if there are corruption in the political system and the political system is unable To correct the corruption of politicians and others and responsibility. I think we'll fail So reform is a must We must go through reform, but I tell you it's not an easy task From my experience in reforms You get people who are very close to you who become against you because in reform you do things which people don't like especially people in position and people who have authority I've been through this I Say probably I'm lucky that I survived so far but But I think we are almost there I think this is a job of a leader or a prime minister of a country to deliver at the end of the day to the People who are liberating our areas despite our economical difficulties and We are killing Daesh. We are proving that Daesh can be killed Daesh can be eliminated eliminated and we can do it not only in Iraq in the region I'm encouraging our allies and our friends to stay focused. We shouldn't lose focus We shouldn't give dash a second chance or the terrorist organization similar to dash if we stay focused We can't eliminate this terrorist organization and we can prevent Similar terrorist organization from coming back working together. I think we can be successful. Thank you very much Thank you, Your Excellency. Thank you for those comments and we now have an opportunity to have a conversation and I've already received a chief of questions that people are eager to ask of you, but Maybe we can start with what probably is on many people's minds. You've come directly from the White House to this event How what are your reflections on that conversation? Did it did did you hear what you needed to from? President Trump and and how plans are going well the important thing for us was That we see an administration and president Who see and appreciate what we are doing and give us support and or continue the support And I think we have seen plenty of that I think their administration and the president Recognizes the importance of Iraq the role Iraq played in Iraq and in the region and We have been given assurances that the support will not only continue But will accelerate for Iraq to accomplish the task. I think we are happy with the meetings And we're happy with the meeting with you here, and we're looking forward to meeting Congress as well and others in Well other companies I've seen a lot of Interests I've heard now There is the double of the number of companies who have shown interest to work inside Iraq And we're meeting them today as well And we hope through this cooperation in trade commerce Energy education culture other aspects I think we build a better relationship between Iraq and the United States And you are here of course for the anti-ISIS Conference, what do you most want out of that? Well is There is a problem here. Well is to do with terrorism Now some country unfortunately They see terrorism well when it's against them they see them as terrorism When it is not Maybe the same group acting somewhere else They see them in different style. They don't consider them as terrorists I Am not happy with a lot of outcast media outcast in the region Who are still providing support for tourists and the different names? Terrorism is an ugly Phenomena we have seen it in Iraq It's split families. It's split communities. It destroys a whole life of people. It destroys infrastructure now is our Ministry worked on The cost of the damage dash cost before this is before nine hour. They know it's not included is about 35 billion It was dollars to the Iraqi economy There's not counting the effect on the public at large. That's only in terms of infrastructure and others So I I hope we see it that way. I still don't see a coherent Media campaign against dash still. Yes, regionally still dash are receiving funds There are still recruits are coming from all over to dash. Yes, it's declining At the moment young people are not going for dash in large numbers as before and dashes really are running out of Fighters and we're glad to see that But still there are still we we need to probably if you look carefully in the Arab world in the region There are many terrorist activities in there look Iraq Syria Egypt Libya and the areas of the Yemen as well So I think we have to stay focused on this and we have To remove terrorism from being used in the regional conflict Countries are using terrorists for their own regional conflict and that what gave rise to dash Dash was not spontaneous It was not just grown overnight and cross the Iraq Iran or sorry Syria Iraq border They've been enabled a lot of support Were allowed to go to dash to build their capabilities Then they became this force This ability to destroy and to kill well and building on that We have a question from Carol Morello of the Washington Post who's Asking whether in your talks with President Trump and Secretary Tillerson Did you get the sense that this administration has an anti-ISIS? Strategy that's different from the previous administration and if so, how I think this administration was to be more engaged in fighting terrorism And I can sense a difference in terms of Being hate to hate with terrorism. I think they're prepared to do more To fight terrorism to be more engaged, but of course we have to be careful here We're not talking about military confrontation as such Committing troops is is one thing while fighting tourism is another thing. I don't think now the Public opinion especially in the US and in other places we'd encourage Sending troops in large numbers. So I think terrorism you don't defeat it by military force only There are better ways For defeating terrorism and I think we can do it So so along the same lines Philip Jolie of Le Figaro of France Asked if you've seen any plan from the administration to wipe out ISIS And if so, what are the most important improvements? You partly answered it with your last Comment, but I haven't seen to be honest. I haven't seen a full plan. I know there is a plan. I haven't seen it We have our own plan But we need to have a plan together the region must have a plan To wipe out terrorism and we can do it. I know there are regional conflicts still there We shouldn't be derailing the whole thing. I'm saying we should be focused There may be some tendency to derail our confrontation with Daesh and getting busy with some other conflicts. I Would guard against that? So you want focused continued engagement you talk about it not only being a military issue And and so looking at Mosul which has been very much in people's minds and in the news recently What's the immediate plan for governing Mosul for addressing? The deep divisions that have been left behind by that terrible two years See from day one when we plan for Mosul I've been planning for Mosul for over a year now We said look what we don't what do we want to achieve a Mosul if we liberate it then what's next? How are we going to govern? Then we said, okay, we want to establish peace in Mosul. How do you do that? If you want to establish peace lasting peace you have to win over the people and you have to be careful Not to antagonize people or to polarize the situation So that's what's the strategy to win over the people people will cooperate with you And then they will rebuild their own region now, of course now we brought all the ministerial Efforts and in the Looking after the humanitarian need of the people and we are relying Partially on the local authority on this and of course heavily from central government support and international community I think the UN has been involved in a humanitarian side and we have this Stabilization efforts which many countries contributed to it, but still the funds are limited We love to see more funds so that we can quickly Retain prosperity and stabilization to these areas. I think this is the key if we can show people They are better off of course. They're better off in security terms But we have to show them that better off even in their own livings and their economical Work circumstances than they were before. I think we have made the day So one more question from Barbara plet usher, excuse me if I misread that from the BBC Are you satisfied with the pledges you're receiving from the international community and is This administration committed to rebuilding and stabilizing muscle. Yes, I'm satisfied with the pledge But I'm not satisfied yet with delivery You know You quite rightly talk about the security as being critical for delivering on basic services and economic needs What about you you touched on it a little bit this feeling of being fully included, you know, the many different groups That make up Iraq how do how do you build a country and a government that enables that sense of inclusion? Well as to be inclusive is to treat people as they are This has been tough Because people after the fall. I mean, this is not this only appeared to the surface after the fall of the regime The previous regime Saddam regime, but it was there all the time People were oppressed the kids were oppressed The shia were oppressed other minorities were oppressed So that has produced This agony amongst the people which showed itself when the regime has Been troubled or removed And people are very free. I mean People may tell you differently after 2003, but Iraqi people are much happier After 2000 2003 than before they have this freedom now That freedom of expression freedom to do what they want freedom of travel They wouldn't even been allowed to travel before They haven't seen the rest of the world now. They're communicating with the world We have very good communication inside the country. We have mobile service. We have internet. We have All sorts people have new cars. They have new businesses The country is thriving So I think this has we have to show the people the wealth Is the wealth of the people not the government So I'm eager to work with politicians inside Iraq I mean one reason although this has caused me friction between me and other politicians I slashed the salaries of the top tire of politicians to almost 50 percent I slashed their personal security guards as well Of course, the reason I'm doing this it may not amount to a lot of money But this about good governance For the people for the people to see The politicians who are representing them. They're living with them. They're not like a different The aliens from different planets. They are there. They're living with the people and see what people are doing So I think this this we have to move forward with I tell you it's not easy. It's not easy There can be a lot of backlash The only backlash I'm afraid of is the backlash within the The public in general we have to be careful. That's why I probably There is a lot of ideas presented to me about economical reform, which I didn't choose Because it may affect the public at large or it may affect large sector of the of the society who are not well off They are on the sideline and probably they cannot represent themselves. I think people in office must make their priority To look after the weakest in the public Who cannot protect themselves or who cannot defend themselves or he cannot Ask for things which they want because either they're weak or they're not able to I think that what I consider is a good governance and we are moving in that direction It doesn't we we it doesn't necessarily happen now But at least we have initiated something right And I hope others will complete it So along those lines are There's a debate about whether the upcoming provincial elections for this fall Will move the country forward fresh leadership Perhaps moving some of the agenda that you talked about of of federal federal systems Others say it might open new wounds. What are your thoughts and are you committed to holding those elections the provincial elections? I hope a it bring you new blood It will inject new people Who are not eager to replace the previous people and to take their positions But they're eager to advance The country to advance their locality We are eager to find these people and take your hope What I found if you give to hope to the people You can remedy the country The hope is there The hope can be little things which you do here and there that give hope to the people that there are goodness In the government. There are goodness in the country Two years ago We have many thousands of young iraq is leaving iraq Now you don't hear that Before used to hear a lot of people now people are not leaving the country So it means people have hope now in the country. They have hope in their future. This is important We are Look, we cannot change everything overnight. We cannot we have inherited many problems Some of them are intrinsic in our society in our country But we must give hope and continue to move in the right direction and we are doing this One of the groups When you talk about people leaving the country we heard a lot about the different religious minorities fleeing in the aftermath of the fall of mosul How how do you do you expect that they will come back? How do you help them feel safe? How do you rebuild mosul with that mosaic of religious minorities that made it up in the past? Well, that makes makes me unhappy and angry and makes most most iraq is angry and unhappy Because this is iraq iraq consists of these people They are part of our society They are major part of our society And it's wrong to look at people minorities. They're not minorities. They are iraqis They have the same right of others The problem is daesh has directed their revenge against them Against all my minorities in musul. Well, of course even against qi and musul because qi and musul are minorities But there are majorities somewhere else So they have done that And i'm afraid some probably have left the country And i don't know whether they come back or not, but the longer it takes or They're more difficult for them to come back. I hope we have shortened the time For them to come back and i hope many of them Will come back at least we are working on people inside iraq Internet is less people to go back to their to their places to their homes. This is our Uh aim at the moment We are concentrating on this and we are welcoming others Who have traveled probably across europe and other countries and uh a related question from Naomi kekola of the united states holocaust memorial museum Who asks the islamic state committed genocide in iraq We believe that when impunity prevails violence proliferates What will your government do to advance justice and accountability? Will you consent to the creation of an independent investigation into isis crimes? Yes, i welcome that Welcome that this should be inside iraq under iraqi jurisdiction I think we have there is discussion at the moment with other countries I think with the uk in particular and other partners Uh, and we welcome it. I think the wording of the resolution There is ambiguity about it. So I think we are clearing that for it to move forward In actual fact, there are a lot of terrorists who've committed crimes. Some of them are in iraq Some of them are outside iraq So I would very much encourage this tribunal To follow up who's supporting This terrorist groups who have facilitated the recruitment of young people Supporting the group with finance and other elements who have caused this havoc And this criminal activities. I'm very much in support of this You spoke quite a bit about the importance of security And some of your plans and vision for how to ensure that people in iraq feel more secure So we have a question asking what is the future of the pmus in iraq? How will these forces be demobilized? What's the plan? Well the pmo The positive side of the pmo. Let me speak about this There are volunteers volunteers for With their life To protect the country to fight for the sake of the country They fought very well. I've seen them everywhere Wherever I go. I see young people Day and night fighting for the wrong country For the freedom of the land and for the people Of course, there are others motivated by something else Probably their ambition to control To have power I know some have committed crimes Even armed robbery kidnapping And we are confronting them these elements what we have what we are doing here. We are having a law This law to bring discipline include Those who fought include them within that institution We have to apply law and order to them military military accountability And whoever is outside that would be considered as an outlaw according to the iraq constitution Any group who carries arms outside the state is an outlaw So I think this is a way which we are trying to Format things for the future We have got these people except this in general. Of course, there are some who are not happy They don't want it that way They don't want the pmf to be out of politics We insist that pmf Should not be involved in politics. You cannot carry arms And you are a political group at the same time. Otherwise you'll use these arms in elections Full stop. This is not allowed This is outside iraq constitution outside iraq law. So we are trying to enforce this at the moment We are organizing putting putting an organization for this forum, which is the pmf And to be controlled by the state and we have to be thankful to them We say thank you But we appreciate what you do and you are going to include you in this In the state of telling them thank you go to their home your homes And then they will have arms They'll be dissatisfied And they think the country have not recognized their sacrifices Because they have sacrificed for the country And really you haven't rewarded the sacrifice. What we are telling them. Look, we reward you We appreciate what you've done. This is an organization Under the control of the state you are going to have discipline the laws applies to you And here you are if you accept this you are within this if you don't accept it You shouldn't carry arms. Otherwise you'll be outside the law It should be as planned as this. I said it in iraq Publicly and I'm repeating it inside iraq and the majority of the pmf agree with this What's the obstacle? Do you see The obstacle if people or some insist Of being part of the military units And their politicians at the same time This is not democracy you cannot do it This will push others to carry arms And we cannot allow this whatsoever We're calling on all to accept this. That's why I think this law was passed in parliament and I think Even those who opposed it are okay with it You spoke earlier about the very positive security cooperation between the iraqi forces and the peshmerga We have a question from raheem rashidi from kurdistan tv Asking first of all he welcomes you to washington And then he asks You know that president barzani has decided to go for a referendum If kurdistan becomes a state what will be bagdad's reaction? We'll discuss it then Looking a little bit regionally You had a very positive Visit from the saudi foreign minister recently How do you see the iraqi-saudi relationship going as a result of that? Is warming is warming I think is a very good track at least There is an opening For a very good neighborly relationship Don't forget no saudi official has visited bagdad since 1991 And not even after 2003. This is the first time we welcome him And I think it was good For them to see what's happening in iraq iraq is not under influence of any other country Our saudi friends probably they used to think That iraq is under under the control or Of our iranian neighbors But we are not iraq is governed by iraqis And they saw for themselves We called on saudi's to Cooperate with iraq and work with iraq as neighbors They are prepared to open commercial and humanitarian Relationship between the iraq They showed that they are interested in helping In providing reconstruction for the areas which is liberated from dash And this is a welcome for us. We want to normalize the relation Our aim is to stop Or to control regional conflicts There is a conflict in the region There is a huge conflict You have suudi arabian one side Probably eager to have be a leader of the islamic sunni world You have iran on the other side who is eager to become The shia islamic world or even beyond You have turkey as well competing for The leadership of the muslim sunni world And here we are having conflict in yemen having conflict in syria And it's being extended before to iraq In iraq We don't want to be part of this conflict We're looking after our own interests And we think We are the victims of these conflicts. What happened in syria impacted us directly Look what happened with daesh when they crossed the borders into iraq So i think we are very eager to stop These regional conflicts It's tough It happened to be we are here iraq is here. We cannot move it from the map We are bordering turkey bordering Iran bordering suudi arabia bordering georgian kuwait syria of course And we are here we have to live with with our neighbors Yes, you have a tough neighborhood Well, yes, but i don't want for iraqis to spend their life And the life of their generation fighting with neighbors I mean that's you that's not a living You have to live with your neighbors. We have differences. Yes We have to contain the differences if the con differences is that small We have that large of common interests we can work on And i think we are very much encouraging our neighbors to do that We are have an opening with suudi arabia I'm optimistic with this opening I welcome it And I hope we can move Further in furthering our relationship Even with turkey with suudi arabia with iran with other neighbors So i've just been handed a huge pile of questions We won't be able to get to all of them But i think related to a lot of what you've been talking about in terms of rebuilding a more inclusive country The question is do you think the iraqi judicial system and anti corruption efforts Will function more effectively now and if so could you could you say how? Yes, i think we need more forensic evidence More forensic No more forensic otherwise our present procedures Are enabled probably terrorists and Corrupt people getting away We need more Detailed and forensic evidence to present the courts We have to catch Corrupt people criminals I think we're still relying on an old means While the rest of technology have advanced so far you have the internet now And the internet i have to be frank The internet the outlaws criminal Terrorists are working without restrictions While law abiding people They abide by the law So these are working using the interests unlimited While as a state Who abide by the law or citizens who abide the law they are using according to the law is uneven Is uneven so i think we have to work very hard using we should not allow them to use our democracy Our freedom against us We should develop our means by finding them Forensic evidence it should be scrutinized what they are doing and present them to the court I think we have been working with the With experts on this We have developed our new system to follow out up on terrorists on criminals inside and outside Iraq This is important for us. You are not going to catch every criminal But at least make criminals worry Make corrupt people worry. They can't be caught one day That's what I wanted to do. So you've you've spoken quite a lot about How to rebuild this democracy? Which leads me to a question in big letters Which says do you think Iraqi politicians got the lesson? And if so how? And I think I'm moving to the inclusive questions that we've had Previously I hope the new breed of politicians would Okay, we are uh, we are running very short of time. I understand you need to be off in a moment. Um There's an interesting question here though about whether you would support a semi-autonomous district In the north of Iraq specifically the Ninoa Plains, Tala Far and Sinjar Um For some of the minorities going back to the security of any quick thoughts on that Is is a tough one, uh, I mean we should be inclusive we have included minorities in their own security But I don't think you protect yourself By having partition from your neighbors I think this is a tough one. It has to be looked at thoroughly We have to build bridges with others And to work with others To be more secure Otherwise, what do you do you build walls? What do you do your excellency? We are very honored to have you here with us at the u.s. Institute of peace You have a large and appreciative audience as you can see Please come back We welcome your return visit. We look forward You have A tough neighborhood and many big challenges ahead and we all wish you the well for the future success and stability of Iraq Thank you Thank you so much. We really appreciate your coming. I think you Ladies and gentlemen, please remain in your seats until the official party departs