Al-Sudani: Reform has become an entitlement, we continue fighting corruption and recovering funds

INA-  Baghdad

Prime Minister Muhammad Shia Al-Sudani, affirmed Thursday that reform has become an entitlement, pointing to the continuation of combating the corruption pandemic and recovering the looted funds.

Al-Sudani said in an interview with Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper, which was followed by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), "I know the size of the task and responsibility during my assignment to the prime minister and I accepted it, and after 100 days the government implemented its priorities at various external and internal levels and its programs, whether it was poverty alleviation or generating work opportunities, services, economic reforms, and combating corruption," noting that "in every title, we have come an important way and established basic pillars for implementing this priority, and this is the goal that we have set in the government program."

He added, "The corruption pandemic is the threat facing the Iraqi state, and it is more dangerous than Corona Virus and Daesh," noting that "most of the main suspects in the case of theft of tax guarantees fled and contributed to getting money out of Iraq, while a careful operation was supposed to be carried out to control this group who managed to steal this amount money.”

He explained, "The amount according to the announced theft of the century in the initial accounts of the regulatory authorities is 3 trillion and 700 billion dinars," stressing by saying: "We set the issue of recovering money as a primary goal for the government's work."

Regarding the waste of money since 2003, Al-Sudani stressed that "there are no accurate official readings or statistics. Corruption is diverse and has many forms. Sometimes it occurs in the operational budget, and again it occurs in the investment budget, and sometimes outside the budgets; in decisions, and it is called financial and administrative corruption."  Pointing out that "there is corruption in an administrative decision, such as giving a plot of land to an investor who is not entitled to it, or preventing competition for an investment opportunity or monopolizing it or limiting it to a person. But as I mentioned, corruption is a challenge that faces all plans and programs of the state in advancing development and services."

He pointed out, "Iraq and Saudi Arabia are able to establish a regional axis that will be a basis for stability in the region and the world, as it agreed with the Saudi Crown Prince on a road map to develop bilateral relations, and it will start with ministerial visits, then the Saudi-Iraqi Coordination Council will convene to implement projects over a period of 3 years."

Al-Sudani continued, by saying: "Baghdad continues to play its role in hosting the Saudi-Iranian dialogue, and there is a meeting soon."

He stressed, "There is no Iranian or American interference in forming his government, which reached 100 days," noting that "the government was formed by a 100% Iraqi decision, and was not subject to any influence or interference in any direct or indirect form."

He added, by saying: "We do not want Iraq to be an arena for settling scores, and we are not a party to an axis against the other."

He stressed "the need to activate the strategic framework agreement between Washington and Baghdad."


Al-Sudani stressed, "Proceeding with administrative and security reforms, combating the 'corruption pandemic', and recovering the looted funds," noting that "80 million dollars have been recovered so far, and the process is continuing."

He stated, "We started working on security reform and addressing the problem of uncontrolled weapons through a committee headed by us, and weapons will only be within the framework of the security services established by law," stressing that "all political forces within the State Administration Coalition agreed to address the problem of uncontrolled weapons."

He indicated, "Reform has become a benefit, and we have begun a series of measures to reform the banking and financial situation in Iraq," adding, "We tend to stabilize, and it will only come by drying out hotbeds of tension," indicating, "We are working to address the relationship between Baghdad and Erbil."

He pointed out, "Our region is a sensitive area and needs more understanding, dialogue, and stopping interference."

"We do not support the intervention of any country in any case of conflict," he said, noting that "dialogue is the best way to spare these countries and the region from tragedies."

He stated, "Daesh is just a terrified gang fleeing in its holes, and we target them daily with strikes in all locations."