Number of Fulbright scholarships from Iraq doubled

Baghdad pledged on Wednesday to double the number of prestigious Fulbright Student Scholarships available to Iraqi students who want to study in the United States.

The 2.5-million-dollar increase in funding promised by Iraq pushes the number of scholarships available from 35 to 70, and means Iraq will have more Fulbright awards available than any other country in the Middle East.

"We signed a memorandum of understanding with the United States to increase the number of students accepted for the Fulbright scholarship programme," Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh said at a news conference with US Ambassador Christopher Hill.

"We hope this programme develops cultural relations between Iraq and the United States, and gives Iraqi students an opportunity to study in good universities in the US and gain expertise to build their country and work in Iraqi universities."

Established in 1946, the Fulbright exchange programme, administered by the US State Department, aims to increase mutual understanding between the citizens of the United States and other countries.

The programme each year gives hundreds of academics, students and professionals around the world the chance to study, conduct advanced research and undertake university lecturing in the United States.

Baghdad had previously promised to match US funding for the programme, but the American embassy could not immediately give details of the total amount of funding now committed for Fulbright scholarships in Iraq.