<p class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR"><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-IQ" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Simplified Arabic',serif; mso-bidi-language: AR-IQ;">&nbsp;</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><strong><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> <span style="font-size: 18pt;">visits</span> </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Iraq</span></strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong> </strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><strong><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Dimensions and semantics</span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR"><span style="color: #3598db;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Dr. Khudair Abbas Al , Dahlaki</span></strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The visit of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>and the leader of the </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>far-right Fratelli d'Italia</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> party, </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>on 23/12/2022</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">, comes after a year in </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>which Iraq witnessed important political changes after an institutional crisis that lasted nearly a year</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">, </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">which ended with the naming <a name="_GoBack"></a>of the three presidencies</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">, the </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">visit revolves around two main objectives</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">, the first is to </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">convey the government's greetings to the Italian soldiers stationed in Iraq,</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">and</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> the </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>second goal is to initiate</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">the</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">re- Revitalizing and developing relations between Iraq<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>and Italy in various fields.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" dir="LTR" style="margin-left: 29.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo2;"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Simplified Arabic',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Simplified Arabic'; mso-bidi-language: AR-IQ;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1-<span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';">&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Meetings and meetings during the visit</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" dir="LTR" style="margin-left: 47.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3;"><span lang="AR-IQ" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Simplified Arabic',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Simplified Arabic'; mso-bidi-language: AR-IQ;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">A-<span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>two parties held official talks on cooperation between Italy and Iraq in the sectors of agriculture, health, energy and increasing economic and trade exchanges<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>."The Iraqi government's designation of December 25 as an official holiday is a sign of respect for the Christian community." The Sudanese Prime Minister<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>expressed his appreciation for the Italian role within the international coalition to combat </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>the terrorist organization </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Daesh</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">, </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">stressing Iraq's aspiration to activate the paths of partnership and investment with Italy and all European Union countries,</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> and expressed </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">his hope that "more specialized and advanced companies will work in the fields of infrastructure and gas investment in Iraq. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>He stressed Iraq's keenness to provideItaly with the oil and gas it needs.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" dir="LTR" style="margin-left: 47.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3;"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span lang="AR-IQ" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Simplified Arabic',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Simplified Arabic'; mso-bidi-language: AR-IQ;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">B-<span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Mrs. Giorgia Meloni held many meetings and meetings, as she was received by </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>the </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">President </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>of the </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Republic</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> of </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sayyid (Abdul Latif R</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">. </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Shey D),</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">who stressed the importance ofthe existing relations between</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Iraq and Italy</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">, andthat Italy</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> is </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">an important partner for Iraq in many strategic files.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">The </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Italian Prime Minister held</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">a meeting with the Speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives (Dr.</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Muhammad </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Al-Halbousi). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>She met with</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> the </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Iraq, Cardinal </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Louis-Raphael </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sako, at the Patriarchate's headquarters.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" dir="LTR" style="margin-left: 47.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3;"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span lang="AR-IQ" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Simplified Arabic',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Simplified Arabic'; mso-bidi-language: AR-IQ;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">C-<span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After the end of her visit to Baghdad, Mrs. Meloni went to Erbil</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">, where she was received by the </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Prime Minister of </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>the </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Kurdistan <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Region (Masrour Barzani) and </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">held official talks with him, and</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> met with the President of the </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Region </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>(</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Nechirvan Barzani),</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> and </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>visited</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> the base (</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Camp Singara) military where she met with the commander of the Italian battalion, Colonel <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>(Daniele Pisani</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">).</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">) and had <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>lunch with Italian soldiers. And the visit of the Italian battalion participating in the mission "Inherent Resolve / Prima Bartheca", which was launched in 2014. The Italian military contingent is located at the Union 3 military base, where the command of the NATO Mission in Iraq (NMI)</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">and the Global Coalition against<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Daesh </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>are </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">stationed.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" dir="LTR" style="margin-left: 29.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo2;"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Simplified Arabic',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Simplified Arabic'; mso-bidi-language: AR-IQ;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2-<span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';">&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The aspects of the relationship between Iraq and Italy are many and varied</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">, </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>and despite the age of this relationship, at the present time it is concentrated in two main aspects:</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" dir="LTR" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1;"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span lang="AR-IQ" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Simplified Arabic',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Simplified Arabic'; mso-bidi-language: AR-IQ;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">A-<span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">On the military and security side , Italy carries out two very important tasks:</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" dir="LTR" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4;"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Simplified Arabic',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Simplified Arabic'; mso-bidi-language: AR-IQ;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Participation in the international mission (Prima Partica), which was launched</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> in </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">October<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>2014 with</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> the </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">participation of 79 countries and five international organizations <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>to support and assist the Iraqi armed forces in confronting the terrorist organization Daesh </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" dir="LTR" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4;"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Simplified Arabic',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Simplified Arabic'; mso-bidi-language: AR-IQ;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Provide support and support for the development andtraining of the Iraqi armed forces and police</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">, as </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>well as the Kurdish security forces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Italy's role in Iraq culminated <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>in its assumption of command of the </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>NATO Mission in Iraq (NMI) led by General Giovanni Maria Ianucci last May</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">, </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>whichsupports the training capabilities of Iraqi forces in a wide range of sectors: counter-IEDs, mine clearance, civil and military planning, military medicine, and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Support relevant ministries in Iraq in developing a sustainable military structure through civil-military cooperation; undertake important counterterrorism work by supporting the development of national security capabilities and thus prevent the resurgence </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>of </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">the terrorist organization Daesh. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" dir="LTR" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1;"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span lang="AR-IQ" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Simplified Arabic',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Simplified Arabic'; mso-bidi-language: AR-IQ;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">B-<span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Economic and commercial aspect</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="margin-left: 39.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">According to <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>data published on the </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Italian government's infomercatiesteri</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> platform, 16 important Italian companies </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">currently operate in Iraq</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">, especially in the energy and infrastructure sectors. </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Italian exports in 2021 amounted to 656 million euros, an increase of 22.9%</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> compared to 2020 (the year of the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic) </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>and higher than the figure for 2019.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Equivalent to 549.16 million euros, while imports amounted to 3.359 billion euros (+51% compared to </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>2020), most of </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">which are prices for Iraqi</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> oil. </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Between January and September 2022</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">, the Italian oil to Iraq exceeded </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>526 million</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> euros, an increase of 13% </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>over the same period last year, while oil</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> imports </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>from Iraq</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> amounted to </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; color: #222222; background: white; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>3.970</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> billion euros, an increase of 74.9% <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>annually.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="margin-left: 39.65pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">c. Italian presence in the energy sector.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="margin-left: 39.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Eni has been</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> present in Iraq since 2009, </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>working through its subsidiary (Eni Iraq BV</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">), in the development of the Zubair field development project</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">,</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> and in February 2022 </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Eni launched a project with the Governorate of Basra, the European Union and UNICEF to provide the population with drinking water by 2024 and encourage the creation of sustainable job opportunities for young people. In particular in the field of health care and education. The company confirms via <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Part of its program "includes the use of associated gas for electricity generation." The flammable gas captured and processed could help address Iraq's chronic energy shortages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>San Donato Milanese is also active in social projects, particularly in health care and education.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" dir="LTR" style="margin-left: 29.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo2;"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Simplified Arabic',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Simplified Arabic'; mso-bidi-language: AR-IQ;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3-<span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';">&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Although Mrs. Giorgia Meloni announced during her meeting with the deputies of her party (Brotherin Italy) that she will</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> visit Iraq, </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">for the purpose of meeting with Italiansoldiers</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">participating in peacekeeping missions on the occasion of Christmas, </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>the visit has multiple and varied </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">dimensions and connotations,which can be summarized asfollows:</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" dir="LTR" style="margin-left: 47.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo5;"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span lang="AR-IQ" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Simplified Arabic',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Simplified Arabic'; mso-bidi-language: AR-IQ;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">A-<span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">At the forefront of the political connotations is the symbolic political dimension of the far-right ideology of Mrs. Giorgia Meloni and her political discourse on the priority of a strong Italy and concern for the family and Catholic Christian identity, and this is confirmed by the timing of the visit during Christmas, her<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>visit to Italian soldiers stationed in Iraq, and her meeting with Patriarch Louis Raphael Saco.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" dir="LTR" style="margin-left: 47.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo5;"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span lang="AR-IQ" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Simplified Arabic',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Simplified Arabic'; mso-bidi-language: AR-IQ;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">B-<span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Emphasizing the leadership personality possessed by Georgia Meloni, and that despite the presence of partners in the coalition that makes up the Italian government and includes in addition to her party both the right-wing populist Northern League </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>party (</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Matteo Sallivini</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">) and the </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Froza Italia party led by veteran politician (Silvio Berlusconi), as Meloni seeks to own the initiative and theItaly is determined to revitalize its political and diplomatic role in the Middle East</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" dir="LTR" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1;"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span lang="AR-IQ" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Simplified Arabic',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Simplified Arabic'; mso-bidi-language: AR-IQ;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">C-<span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The economic dimension is a top priority for the Prime Minister of the Italian government, especially as Italy is going through a state of recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, and iscurrently suffering from </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>the repercussions of the energy </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">crisis caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as Italy seeks to secure energy imports of oil and gas in a way that secures it to secure the continuation of energy supplies at reasonable prices, and Iraq is one of the preferred alternatives to Russian gas, and on the other hand, Georgia Meloni seeks to obtain contracts for Italian companies to invest, especially in the oil and gas sector. Within the framework</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> of the competition between the Italian company (Eni and the French Total), and avoid the scenario of the </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Italian-French competition for influence and oil interests </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>in Libya </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>, which reached its peak in 2018-2019 when the two parties exchanged accusations about their policies in Libya</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">. He </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">has previously </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>accused the Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior in the previous Italian government and the </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Deputy Prime Minister and</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Minister of </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Infrastructure in the Meloni <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>government.Matteo Salvini, leader of the far-right Northern League party, said France was "robbing Africa's wealth" and that it had "no interest in Libya's stability, because it has oil interests that contradict those of Italy."</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" dir="LTR" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Relations between Italy and France have already been unprecedentedly strained under the previous Italian government when French President Emmanuel Macron called </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>it a "</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">leprosy</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">" that </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"has spread again in Europe and in countries that we thought would be impossible to see again," referring to populist parties in the government, including the Northern League party, a coalition member led by Georgia Meloni.<a style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title="" href="#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[endif]--></span></span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" dir="LTR" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1;"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span lang="AR-IQ" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Simplified Arabic',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Simplified Arabic'; mso-bidi-language: AR-IQ;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">E-<span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">As for Iraq and the Iraqi government, the visit will have positive returns on several rises</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">, at the political level, </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>it is a visit by the head of government of an important European country that gives a strong impetus to the Prime Minister in the political and diplomatic move to move forward</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> in the </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>development </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>of </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Iraq's foreign relations with influential </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>countries in the </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">international political scene, especially the European Union countries, but on the economic level, he gave way to Italian companies in the field of energy <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>and Oil, gas and electricity would help Iraq overcome the crises it suffers from in the field of energy and the oil and gas industry, and in the military and security field, the continuation of the Italian role within the forces of the NATO mission provides an opportunity to benefit from its expertise in the field of training and development of military capabilities, as well as the case for the rest of the sectors, including agricultural</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">, </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>commercial, cultural and tourism, and it is known that Italy has great experience and expertise in the field of combating mafia networks and corruption that were apparent and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>It has been with the political scene in Italy for decades, and it is possible to benefit from that experience and expertise</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">, and the </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">matter remains dependent on the seriousness of the two parties in implementing and following up on the agreements, and this requires activating the Iraqi-Italian Joint Committee and continuing to hold periodic meetings at the ministerial level.</span></p>
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