The Iraqi Government establishes YouTube channel

The Iraqi Government has announced the debut of the official Iraqi Government channel (youtube.com/iraqigov) where people throughout the world can turn to watch speeches, informal chats, behind-the-scenes footage and pivotal moments in the country’s development as they unfold.

The inauguration of the Iraqi Government YouTube channel by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki (youtube.com/watch?v=6N6Bi_Gid2A) follows discussions between elected officials, private companies and nonprofits about the role of technology in The Republic.

“The Internet presents all of us with the biggest communications opportunity of our time,” said Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. “Through the Iraqi Government YouTube channel we will publicize important services and programs, share news, give progress updates, engage with people both at home and abroad on important issues and showcase potential investment opportunities.”

The channel will also serve as an archive of Iraqi Government activity to which anyone, anywhere, at any time can refer.

“New media tools like YouTube help provide a level of access and transparency that has never been possible before in government,” said Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google. “It is exciting to see the Iraqi Government embrace online video as a new way to connect and engage with the Iraqi people and citizens of the Web around the world.”

YouTube’s social features enable people to rate videos in the Iraqi Government YouTube channel, discuss them via text comments and video responses. They can also post them with the click of a button to social networks to help them get discovered by new viewers.

The Iraqi Government manages and controls its own YouTube channel, which it received for free.