A delegation from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) met with Iraq Ambassador to South Africa, His Excellency the Ambassador  Dr. Hisham Alalawi on 5 January 2012. The delegation consisted of the Chief of IOM Mission in Baghdad, Mr. Mike Pellinger and the Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Mr. Bernardo Mariano and Ms. Mukondi Mpeiwa the Government Liaison Officer.

The discussion with the Ambassador included the upcoming visit of the Iraqi delegation to South Africa for a tour to study the process of national reconciliation and to benefit from the South African experience in building a new democracy.

The Chief of Mission for IOM in Baghdad provided the Ambassador with details of the organization’s work in Iraq and their continued efforts to cooperate with the Iraqi government for the past four years to get accurate information about the internally displaced and refugees and manages assistance programs for them.

The Ambassador thanked those present and expressed the full readiness of the embassy to provide the necessary information and support to the IOM to arrange a visit for the Iraqi delegation in the near future to South Africa And work together to ensure the success of the visit.