New Iraqi PM symbolically holds first presser outside Green Zone

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Iraq’s new Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi said he wants to reform the Council of Ministers and ministries, see more cooperation between the parliament and the government, and stay neutral on US sanctions against Iran in a press conference following his first meeting with the Council of Minister outside of the Green Zone in Baghdad — both firsts in the post-2003 Iraq.

“We also emphasized the importance of cooperation between the legislative and the executive branches,” PM Adil Abdul-Mahdi, new Iraqi PM, told reporters on Thursday.

Holding the meeting and press conference outside of heavily-protected Green Zone is symbolic.

“First, we would like to consider all of Iraq the Green Zone. There are not some red and some green areas,” asserted Abdul-Mahdi

He doesn’t want officials to be insulated from the Iraqi people.

“We want all of us to be in the green zone. If there is security in the Green Zone, there needs to be security in all other areas,” he said.

Iraq’s previous parliaments have been ineffective and overshadowed by the prime ministry.

Abdul-Mahdi said they want to formulate and discuss legislation with the parliament regularly in order to expedite law making and for more compatibility between the branches.

They don’t want to see legislation put forth by the executive branch stripped of its main content or see changes which will lead to interference into the executive authorities.

“All that used to delay and abuse the work of the state. Thus, it isn’t in the interest of the citizens,” asserted Abdul-Mahdi.

“As we have said, the people are the priority for us and the homeland…” he added.

He would like to amend the bylaws of the Council of Ministries, and establish a unified “Law of Ministries” that will join the philosophy, jurisdiction and duties of ministries and ministers.

“In the Law of Ministries, we are trying to unify the superstructure of the ministries,” added Abdul-Mahdi, saying all other laws could depend on that particular law.

They have started working and won’t wait for summer or spring to fix the issues of electricity and water, he vowed.

Eight ministries remain unfilled by new ministers. Current ministers have continued to fill the posts.

Political rivalries prevented the rest of his nominees for his cabinet being voted on, explained Abdul-Mahdi, saying no one has been changed, and his list of nominees is “complete.”

In the issue of US sanctions against Iran, he would like to see Iraq neutral and not be party to it.

“In the platform that we presented yesterday in the parliament, we said that Iraq is not part of the sanction system… Iraq suffered from sanctions and from boycotting the country,” said Abdul-Mahdi.

They want to secure Iraq’s interests and from external influence from neighboring or international countries, and they won’t be part to “aggressing” against other countries.

“Iraq wants to defend its independence, wants to defend its interests. That is why this is the way we are going to see how sanctions will be applied by the Americans. This is our background on such an issue. And we will deal with it according to such principles,” added Abdul-Mahdi.

Oil sanctions will hit Iraq’s largest trading partner. Because of the two countries’ interdependency, analysts see it impossible for Iraq to fully comply. The previous Iraqi Prime Minister and the current KRG Prime Minister have asked for Washington’s guidance on the matter and have spoken with the US Secretary of State.

Article Credit: https://www.rudaw.net/
Special thanks to Charles Bright!!