President Rashid: Committed to Preventing the Use of Iraq’s Land a base for Aggression Against Any Neighbor

 
Baghdad – INA
 
President Abd al-Latif Jamal Rashid emphasized on Saturday, the importance of consolidating unity in Iraq, reaffirming the country’s commitment to not allowing its territory to be used as a base for aggression against any of its neighbors.
 
In his speech during the memorial ceremony marking the martyrdom anniversary of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Mohammed Baqir al-Sadr, followed by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), Rashid stated, “Today, we recall a painful memory for all of us, the martyrdom of His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Mohammed Baqir al-Sadr, may his soul be sanctified. It was a day when we lost a fighter and a struggler who dedicated his life and work to securing Iraq’s freedom and establishing a just state, a state of freedoms and democracy.”

 

He added, “His role, may Allah have mercy on him, during the struggle against dictatorship and tyranny was remarkable, particularly in uniting the efforts and resources of the Iraqi national opposition during those years. Afterward, his noble role in working toward the unity of Iraqis from all their components, sects, and doctrines, in the process of building a democratic federal state, was pivotal.”
 
Rashid pointed out, “His loss was a great one, but our consolation lies in continuing to work for the values for which the martyr and all martyrs of freedom sacrificed—values of truth, justice, equality, and peace.” 
He emphasized that “these are the values of democratic Iraq, which has faced numerous challenges and hardships but has overcome many and solidified the principles of the state. Efforts have been united in the process of construction, in defeating terrorism and extremism, and in reinforcing societal peace.”
 
He continued, “We have achieved much on this path, but much remains to be done, particularly in the face of the regional circumstances threatening all countries in the region. We are committed to overcoming their impacts through dialogue, understanding, and a policy of resisting terrorism, unifying efforts for security, peace, construction, and progress, which will restore the region’s safety and peace and fulfill the aspirations of its people for a free and dignified life.”
 
Rashid clarified that “this endeavor, which the Iraqi government and all the nation’s forces are working towards, requires diligent efforts to strengthen Iraqi unity, prioritize national interests, fulfill the people’s demands for social justice, complete the delivery of services in all sectors, safeguard public funds, and combat corruption in all its forms and from any party.”
 
He stated, “We should not underestimate the dangers, but at the same time, we are all confident in the determination and unity of Iraqis in confronting these challenges, for a free, independent, and dignified Iraq committed to not aggressing against others, seeking to establish the principles of dialogue and safeguarding the legitimate rights of all, particularly our brothers in Palestine, whose right to live in safety and to have their own independent state we fully support.”
 
The President of the Republic affirmed, “Our commitment to supporting the Syrian brotherly people to overcome their difficult circumstances, by supporting the rebuilding of their independent state within a framework of fair democracy that preserves the rights of all components of the Syrian people.”
 He added, “In this context, we also affirm our standing with the Lebanese people and support them to overcome their hardships, continuing our support in ways that alleviate the effects of the crisis on the lives of the Lebanese, underscoring the importance of strengthening the unity of the Lebanese people and their right to a safe, stable life and the rebuilding of cities, villages, and institutions that were damaged in the war.”
 
He concluded, “We bid farewell to a year that, on the regional level, was marked by the catastrophes of wars. This requires considerable work and efforts in the region to help overcome this stage, as well as genuine international support to bring an end to this situation and, afterward, to support the brotherly peoples of Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria.”
 
He concluded his speech by saying, “Within this framework of international efforts, we reaffirm the importance of consolidating our unity in Iraq and our national strategy to safeguard Iraq’s independence, unity, security, and integrity, and our commitment to preventing the use of its land as a launching point for aggression against any of its neighbors.”