New York (February 19, 2016) - The Atlantic Council's Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East has invited Kawa Hassan, the EastWest Institute's Director of Middle East and North Africa's Regional Program, to join The Task Force on the Future of Iraq. This Task Force will bring together 25 top Iraq experts from around the globe who will make specific recommendations to the incoming American administration's transition team in late November 2016.

"We're delighted that Kawa has been selected to contribute to this important project," EWI CEO and President Cameron Munter said. "Kawa Hassan's work at EWI has been informed and nuanced, and I'm sure he'll bring these qualities to the Atlantic Council study. Kawa is one of the most promising voices speaking on the Middle East today."

The Task Force will convene four times in 2016 to analyze the drivers of instability and sources of opportunity in Iraq and devise policy recommendations for Baghdad, Erbil and regional and international partners. Besides the Rafik Hariri Center, supporters of the Task Force include the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, the American University of Iraq, Sulaimani and the Bayan Center.

Among other Task Force initiatives, Hassan will be drafting a paper on governance in the Kurdistan Region, as part of his participation.

"I am honored and thrilled to join this timely, needed initiative and to be a member of a team of internationally renowned Iraq experts," Hassan said.

"Iraq, the Middle East and the wider world are at a crossroads. In order to defeat ISIS and build new and inclusive political contracts, the root causes that led to the emergence of this Frankenstein and apocalyptic actor that calls itself the Islamic State should be addressed through fresh perspectives and new policies. This lies at the heart of EWI's strategy that aims at addressing seemingly intractable problems and anticipating tomorrow's security challenges."

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