PM’s Media Office: Highlights from the Remarks by PM Al-Sudani at the 7th Sulaimani Forum

politics
  • 15-03-2023, 12:03
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    INA-  BAGHDAD

    Prime Minister Muhammad Shia Al-Sudani, during the opening of the Seventh Sulaymaniyah Forum, issued in a statement from his office, which was received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA).

    The convening of such conferences, with so many researchers and experts in Iraqi affairs in attendance, is evidence of freedom of expression and democratic life in today's Iraq.

    In our government program, we promised to provide public services to our people and build a strong, cohesive economy. We were able to achieve considerable proportions of the ministerial program.

    Agreeing on the federal budget bill represents a bold step that avoids previous failures and expresses clarity in the vision drawn for our stated goals in serving the Iraqi citizens.

    The federal budget bill is vital in solving many problems by addressing the priorities of responding to unemployment, combating poverty and corruption, and launching economic reform.

    Financial and political stability paves the way for the optimal investment of our country's primary wealth. We endeavor to legislate the oil and gas bill and reach an understanding with the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

    Let us leave the language of "outstanding problems" and replace it with the language of sustainable projects and shared economic opportunities for the sake of sustainable and equitable life for all Iraqis.

    The painful memory of the heinous crime committed by the dictatorial regime against our Kurdish people in Halabja is a sad occasion. Two days ago, we at the Council of Ministers passed a bill establishing Halabja as a governorate, which is the least we can offer to recognize huge sacrifices.

    Our meetings in Erbil were productive. I met a group of political party leaders and representatives of the ethnic components. We talked openly without restrictions because we are indeed people of one country and have the same destiny.

    I commend the efforts made by the President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq to reconcile the Kurdish political leaders to unite their ranks, and we support these efforts.

    The prejudices that distort the unity of Iraq, which see that the strength of one region is by weakening the federal government or to weaken the other components in the country, was a gateway to the ISIS terrorist organization for attacking our state and threatening all components without exception.

    We look forward to strong and sustainable economic partnerships that bring us together with brotherly and friendly people. We share concerns for security with them. Only through effective and productive economic cooperation can the foundation for sustainable security be established.

    We will never tolerate using Iraq's territories to threaten the security of its neighbors. Our constitution prevents us from interfering in the affairs of others. Similarly, we reject any encroachment on our territories or our national sovereignty by neighboring countries or others.

    At an early stage, our government attached considerable importance to strengthening the Border Guard Forces. We increased the efforts to enhance control, prevent infiltration, and eliminate any force that seeks to destabilize our provinces, whether in the Kurdistan Region or other areas in Iraq.

    The history of Iraq, its geographical location, its economic potential and capabilities, and the human resources it possesses qualify Iraq to play a pivotal role in the Middle East and the world to become a regional power.

    This week was full of successes. We were able to shed light on an important humanitarian issue linking Iraq to its regional and international surroundings through Iraq Climate Conference in Basra.

    We sought, within our government program, to give priority to confronting the effects of climate change through several projects that contribute to reducing emissions, including the establishment of renewable energy power plants, rehabilitation of closed sanitary landfill sites, projects to combat desertification, water-regulated irrigation techniques, and heavy water treatments.

    We have recently signed contracts for the fifth licensing round to harness associated gas and stop gas flaring to reduce carbon emissions. We will continue to develop projects that convert associated gas into a source of electric energy.

    We launched a major initiative to plant 5 million trees and palm trees in all governorates of Iraq, accompanied by launching a national guide for urban afforestation for the first time in Iraq.

    The world can learn many lessons from the battle of the Iraqi people, from all religious and ethnic components, in their war against terrorism.