Al-Sudani sends messages to Turkey, Iran and the Russian tourist and calls an existential danger t

[ltr]Shafaq News / Prime Minister Mohamed Shia Al-Sudani revealed on Thursday that the Iraqi and US Foreign Ministries are working to arrange the date of the upcoming visit to the United States of America, at the invitation of President Joe Biden.[/ltr]




[ltr]Al-Sudani, who is in New York, said during an interview with CNN, whose contents were sent by his media office: "The strategic framework agreement, which includes economic, educational, cultural and security files, must be discussed and activated, and there is a serious desire to develop the bilateral relationship in other fields. Iraq is an influential country in the energy market and there are many opportunities for American companies to operate in various sectors. Iraq does not need combat forces today, either from the United States or from the rest of the international coalition. The Iraqi security forces have reached an advanced stage of readiness and capability.[/ltr]





[ltr]"ISIS is no longer anything but groups of hunts in the desert or caves, and does not pose a threat to Iraq. The new reality is based on cooperation in specific areas with the international coalition."[/ltr]





[ltr]He also revealed that "a draft memorandum of understanding has been received from the US Department of Defense, which is now under study by the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, regarding the form of the relationship between Iraq and the international coalition. "What matters to us is the continuation of security stability in Iraq, which is happening for the first time thanks to the government and the political forces that formed it."[/ltr]





[ltr]"We reject any aggression on the Iraqi border, from the Turkish or Iranian side, and Iraqi sovereignty is not subject to any courtesy. We are committed not to allow any armed groups to exploit their presence on Iraqi soil to attack neighboring countries. We are working to form security committees with Turkey and Iran, and to identify important points and commitments that have been implemented, which will enhance stability on the border.[/ltr]





[ltr]He continued: "We are currently holding talks with the Turks, and we have confirmed our official position by rejecting the attacks and addressing any security observations, through joint committees and dialogue. Iran is a neighboring country and we have many commonalities, and it is a country that supports the political process in Iraq, in the fight against terrorism and the war against ISIS. Our relations with all countries are subject to the criterion of common interests and non-interference in internal affairs. We are interested in the convergence of views between Iran and our Arab brothers, in a way that contributes to enhancing the stability of the region, and we are working on this matter and our efforts are continuing with Saudi Arabia.[/ltr]





[ltr]"We have our own national decision, which is based on the national interest, and we do not submit to the wishes of others, and we talk frankly with everyone in case Iraq's sovereignty is violated," he said. In less than a year, our government established full energy independence through Total, Round V and National Effort projects. Within two years, we will rely on Iraqi gas to power power plants. We have large reserves of natural and associated gas, and our economic plan is to make Iraq an active country in the global energy market. We are working to diversify the sources of our economy, invest gas and financial revenues to activate the agricultural, industrial and commercial sectors.[/ltr]






[ltr]"We have the possibility of increasing oil production, but this is subject to a deliberate policy inside Iraq, and with our brothers and friends in OPEC. We are working to change the stereotype in the exploitation of wealth in Iraq, and to go to the optimal investment of oil and its revenues in the development of important sectors.[/ltr]





[ltr]He pointed out that "cooperation with developed countries and with the United States as a strategic partner for Iraq will contribute to the success of this economic transformation. Our people are waiting for the desired reform to be achieved in an economy that the Iraqi state has followed for decades. Corruption is a real challenge facing the Iraqi state, and we are working to target it according to legal procedures. We need the support of friends in fighting corruption, recovering funds, and wanted individuals who exploit their second citizenship, and the international community should support Iraq in this endeavor.[/ltr]





[ltr]He also pointed out that climate change represents an existential threat to Iraq, and we have adopted a national strategy to combat pollution, extending to 2035. We identified the importance of addressing impacts, from investing in the gas that burns to renewable energy. We need the support of the international community in combating the effects of climate change, and we have found no impact of the work of the international institutions concerned with this responsibility. Water scarcity also greatly affects the marshes, and the water level drops in two large rivers such as the Tigris and Euphrates. Through the UN platform, we will call for the formation of an international bloc of countries in the region, Iraq, Iran and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, to confront the effects of climate change.[/ltr]






[ltr]In another matter, Al-Sudani said: "Our security services are concerned with ensuring security for all arrivals to Iraq, and the woman who entered Iraq with a Russian passport disappeared months ago, and we are following the disappearance process, and we are serious about revealing her fate, and we will not tolerate this matter.[/ltr]