Iraq and its wider neighborhood are in transition, going through one of their toughest political and security challenges. More than ever, policy- and decision-makers and opinion leaders need to engage in open dialogue to exchange visions and strategies. MERI as an independent policy-research institute and think-tank is committed to the promotion of human rights, good governance, democracy, state-building and socio-economic stability. MERI has turned its annual conference (MERI Forum) into an international stage to facilitate constructive debate among local, regional and international actors on issues of conflict, peace and stability. Over the course of three days, the conference panels revolved heavily around themes linked to the elections and the changing political landscape in Iraq, the evolving political and security dynamics in Iraq and the wider Middle East, engaging regional and global powers, the drivers of instability in Iraq, good governance and rule of law, and the Baghdad-Erbil relations.

The conference turned out to be very successful as it has engaged different actors in discussions on the current changes in Iraq and the region. It has addressed policy recommendations that would lead the Iraqi current state of affairs into a better tomorrow for young Iraqis. Therefore, the outcome resulted in building bridges and networking between policy-makers, academics, experts and rival political parties, and helped them to engage in open and democratic debates. It has also created opportunities for researchers and journalists to access information and analyze it for future publications.