Al-Kazemi’s full speech at the conference to recover the looted funds
Baghdad today – Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi confirmed, today, Wednesday, that the Anti-Corruption Committee has disclosed files that have not been disclosed for 17 years.
Al-Kazemi said in his speech during the conference to recover stolen funds from corruption, which I followed (Baghdad Today): “Corruption and money smuggling is a serious disease that affects any society, and any country if the risks of this disease are not dealt with seriously and responsibly by taking measures to combat corruption and eliminate outlets.” Waste, smuggling and disregard for the capabilities of peoples.
He added, “We admit that this disease has plagued our country for decades. There are billions of dollars that were stolen and smuggled during the previous dictatorial regime. Unfortunately, after 2003, the situation was not better. On the contrary, the foundational mistakes allowed corruption to worsen in a more dangerous way, and some took advantage of the security chaos. And legal loopholes and partisan strife in stealing the people’s money and transferring it outside Iraq in a way that causes pain to the conscience of any Iraqi citizen.”
He pointed out, “The holding of the conference on the recovery of looted funds is to confirm that corruption and the recovery of the Iraqi people’s money smuggled out of Iraq is a priority for the Iraqi government, and it is a priority for our people who squandered many of their capabilities and money in absurd wars, internal and external conflicts, while the corrupt invested in the conditions of Iraq’s private sector in the project of looting and smuggling the country’s money.”
He stressed, “Corruption and terrorism are two sides of the same coin. Corruption and dissipation of the state’s capabilities and capabilities are explicit terrorism, and corruption paved the way for ISIS gangs to desecrate the holy land of Iraq and occupy dear Iraqi cities,” noting that “corruption was present when an attempt was made to plunge society into a sectarian conflict.” Fake, his first and last goal is to loot money.”
He continued, “Corruption was present in weakening the institutions of the Iraqi state to be plundered by the bad guys, as well as choosing the wrong person in the right place in all institutions, just as corruption was the twin of ISIS and its back as it smashed the Iraqis.”
Al-Kazemi noted, “When we talk about the weak infrastructure in Iraqi cities, we refer to corruption, money smuggling and waste of resources, as is the case when talking about the spread of slums, unemployment, and the decline of health and educational institutions after Iraq was occupying advanced positions in health and education.”
He explained, “The path to a rational state begins with frankness with the people about the diseases that led to the decline of a great, historical and fundamental country in the region and the world, such as Iraq,” stressing that “the government set from the beginning its primary goal in fighting corruption, and a special committee was formed to combat it and carried out its duty.” With the Integrity Commission, the judicial authorities, the Ministry of Justice, and Financial Supervision, it revealed, within one year, corruption files that had not been revealed for 17 years, and recovered money looted from abroad.
He pointed out, “The committee was subjected to attacks and false accusations, the aim of which was to thwart it and thwart its work,” stressing by saying, “When you have a national duty, there is no place for frustration and retreat. Open legal cases against the parties involved, and speed up the process of returning funds to the Iraqis.
The Prime Minister called on “friendly and brotherly countries to help Iraq recover its money,” noting “providing the utmost levels of cooperation with all countries in this regard.”
He added, “There should be no safe haven for looted funds and thefts, and the corrupt and thieves should not feel that there is a shelter for the money stolen from any country, and the corrupt should be well aware that these funds will return to their owners no matter how long and how far away, and that they will face the law.” for the crimes they committed.
He concluded, “With our insistence on returning the smuggled money, and with your efforts, ideas and the brotherly responsibility that unites us, we will fight the scourge of corruption and money smuggling, and we will create a safe and fair environment for our peoples. stealing their money, and destroying their economies.”
This morning, Wednesday, the work of the international conference to recover looted funds from Iraq was launched in Baghdad, with wide international participation.
Our correspondent stated, “The conference was launched, under the auspices of Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi, with the participation of Arab League President Ahmed Aboul Gheit, ministers and heads of judicial councils and anti-corruption bodies in Arab countries.”
The Integrity Commission had announced that Baghdad will host an expanded international conference to recover the looted funds, on the fifteenth and sixteenth of this September.