Salih and Al-Kadhimi stress the importance of the upcoming elections

INA – Baghdad

Presidents of the Republic Barham Salih and Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi stressed the importance of the upcoming elections and holding it on the scheduled time.

Salih and Al-Kadhimi discussed the overall political, security, health and economic situations in the country, according to a statement by the media office of the President of the Republic, received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA).

Al-Kadhimi briefed President Salih on the results of his official visit to the United States and the outcomes of the strategic dialogue. Salih ''praised the results of the strategic dialogue with the United States and the distinguished efforts of Al-Kadhimi and the government delegation negotiating in this regard,'' noting "the importance of uniting forces in order to achieve stability and enhance Iraqi sovereignty and the supreme interests of the country,''

The statement continued, "The two sides stressed the importance of protecting the security and stability of citizens, pursuing ISIS remnants that seek to destabilize some cities, blocking the way for its criminal attempts to target the security of citizens, and providing all support to the security forces in carrying out their important tasks."

During the meeting, they discussed ''the importance of the upcoming elections was emphasized and that they will be held on the scheduled date next October, while providing all the requirements for conducting them that guarantee standards of integrity and justice in their various stages, and in a manner that achieves the real will of the voters in choosing their representatives away from fraud and manipulation, and achieve wide participation,''