FES Amman unterzeichnet "Memorandum of Understanding" mit Irak

Press Release
Iraqi Council of Representatives and German Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung sign Memorandum of Understanding on Capacity Building

On Saturday, 5 March 2016, the Iraqi Council of Representatives (CoR) and the German Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen and expand their cooperation in the field of capacity building for the CoR, its members and its staff.

Dr. Salim Jbouri, Speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives (CoR), and Anja Wehler-Schoeck, FES Resident Director for Jordan and Iraq, signed the Memorandum on behalf of their mutual organizations. Among the attendees of the ceremony were Dr. Ralf Hexel, Head of the MENA Department at the Headquarters of FES in Berlin, David Jalilvand, Iraq Desk Officer, and Yousef Ibrahim, Program Manager Iraq at FES’ Amman Office, as well as Milan Simandl, Chargé d’Affaires of the German Embassy in Iraq, and Daniel Ockenfeld, First Secretary.

"Democratic transitions are difficult processes," stressed Anja Wehler-Schoeck. "They do not happen overnight. It is essential to pursue them even in challenging times." On behalf of FES, she reaffirmed the organization’s continued support for the strengthening of democratic institutions and processes in Iraq.

The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) is a non-profit organization committed to the values of social democracy. It was founded in 1925 and is the oldest of Germany’s political foundations. FES is active in promoting democracy and social justice worldwide. With more than 90 offices around the globe, FES organizes activities on a broad spectrum of topics, ranging from the promotion of trade unions and labor rights, to capacity development for civil society, to the furthering of human rights and many other issues.

In Iraq, FES has been active since the fall of the regime in 2003. Since 2004, the Amman Office of FES coordinates the activities of FES in Iraq. At the origin of the Iraq projects were the support for the constitutional process and assistance in the development of new media outlets as well as an extensive engagement in the training of Iraqi election monitors. Over the years, FES has extended its network of local partners and has broadened the scope of its activities in Iraq. Today, FES is working on a wide spectrum of issues, for example on promoting human rights, on furthering the political participation of youth and on supporting a culture of public political debate.

Under the new Memorandum, the CoR and FES have agreed to cooperate in organizing activities such as capacity building workshops for Members of the CoR and CoR staff, policy papers on issues relevant for the current work of the CoR, dialogue activities between Iraqi civil society and youth activists and the CoR, as well as targeted support for young Members of the CoR and female Members. "We are very pleased with the signing of the Memorandum," expressed Dr. Salim Jbouri. "Now we are looking forward to filling the letters of the agreement with life and implementing the first activities."

Contact:
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
Jordan & Iraq
P.O. Box 941876
Amman 11194
Jordan
+962 6 5680810
+962 6 5696478
fes(at)fes-jordan.org

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