Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fouad Hussein, affirmed that digital diplomacy has played an important role in managing crises and resolving conflicts.
In his speech at the first Iraqi digital diplomacy forum held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Minister stressed: "The closest example of this is what happened during the Corona pandemic, as governments resorted to digital platforms in order to disseminate information, coordinate efforts, and participate in discussions in order to find solutions to get out of the crisis." That crisis, as these platforms were - at the time of the pandemic - the only and ideal alternative to meeting rooms and urban conferences, and they greatly helped effective cooperation, exchange of ideas and work simultaneously.
He stressed, "Digital diplomacy has become increasingly relevant to daily work, especially with the development of technology and means of communication, which in turn developed traditional diplomacy and provided it with digital tools and platforms to carry out diplomatic activities and build international relations."
He pointed out that digital diplomacy represents a major challenge, and involves risks related to cybersecurity and the protection of sensitive information.
He added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs kept pace with the digital development used by developed countries to support their foreign policy, and with the presence of young and ambitious energies in our ministry seeking change and work in accordance with the requirements of the times, the first digital strategy for Iraqi diplomacy was formulated and approved for the years 2023-2024, under our supervision. In order to create support for traditional Iraqi diplomacy and present it in a more effective and open manner to the world of digital communication, to activate the requirements of strategic communication in Iraq at the internal and external levels, and to defend Iraq's interests through activities aimed at strengthening the national image.
He continued: "This strategy included axes that focused on electronic security and building a digital diplomacy department in the Ministry to activate digital diplomatic performance, promote digital culture for diplomatic cadres, create high digital skills, and activate digital diplomacy at the level of Embassies, to include Ambassadors as well.
He added that in the light of this strategy, the axis of digital sovereignty and combating plagiarism has been activated by documenting the Ministry's accounts and the accounts of all our missions abroad on the Facebook and Instagram platforms, and work is continuing to document accounts on the Twitter platform, promoting digital culture, and activating the diplomacy of influence in building a visual identity worthy of With the reputation of the Ministry, and opening new axes of communication by building an application for the Ministry that works to strengthen the bonds of strategic communication with the international community and citizens alike.
Source: National Iraqi News Agency