Al-Sudani’s office publishes new details of the phone call with the US Secretary of State.
The Iraqi government released new details on Wednesday regarding the phone call between Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The office stated in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency that “Al-Sudani received a phone call from Rubio, during which they reviewed bilateral relations and the general situation in the region.”
According to the statement, Al-Sudani affirmed Iraq’s support for efforts to consolidate stability in the region, sustain ceasefire agreements, and halt aggression.
He pointed to “the recent attacks on vital oil facilities in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and in the provinces of Salah al-Din and Kirkuk,” describing them as “targeting the Iraqi national economy.”
He added that “security services are monitoring the sources of the attacks with the international coalition to fight ISIS,” expressing his “surprise that these attacks coincided with the agreement of principles between the Ministry of Oil and American investment companies operating in the region to invest in a number of oil fields in Kirkuk and Salah al-Din.”
The call also touched on the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) law, according to the statement. Al-Sudani explained that “submitting this law to the House of Representatives is part of the government’s security reform process, and is part of the government program approved by the House of Representatives. This process has included the approval of similar laws for other agencies within our armed forces, such as the Intelligence and National Security Services.” He emphasized that “the PMF is an official Iraqi military institution operating under the authority of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.”
He continued, saying that the Kurdistan Regional Government’s commitment to transferring oil production and non-oil revenues to the public treasury, through the recent Cabinet decision, within the framework of the provisions of the current budget law, and the relevant Federal Court ruling, has helped resolve financial and legal obstacles between the federal government and the regional government. He indicated that “the government’s national and constitutional commitment to Iraqi citizens is reflected in its actions in all areas.”
He reiterated Iraq’s economic vision, the importance of resuming oil exports through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline, and halting all forms of smuggling and illegal practices targeting oil resources.
Earlier today, State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said that Rubio emphasized to al-Sudani the need to hold accountable those involved in recent attacks targeting energy infrastructure in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, including those operated by US companies.
Rubio also highlighted, according to the spokeswoman, US concerns about the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) bill currently under discussion in the House of Representatives, stressing that “enacting this type of law would entrench Iranian influence and terrorist armed groups that undermine Iraq’s sovereignty.”
Shafaq.com