ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said Saturday that no party can paralyze the institutions of his government, that he will fight corruption, bring about social co-existence and liberate areas still held by the Islamic State. He made these remarks in Baghdad at the National Reconciliation Conference. An event organized by the United Nations. The Iraqi President Fuad Masum, the Speaker of Parliament, Salim al-Jabouri, and many other top officials were also in attendance. "Whoever is involved in corruption must face the court," Abadi stressed, adding that "it is time to turn slogans into practice," referring to his reform plans. "We will do our best to fight corruption, and provide service to the recently liberated areas from ISIS as soon as possible," Abadi vowed. The Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who gave Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi an ultimatum last month to carry out his reform plans or face mass demonstrations, delivered a speech to a mass demonstration of one-million people where he blamed the government for the current financial crisis. In parts of his speech Abadi explained that they are "aiming to lay the groundwork for social, religious and political consistence if we are meant to live in peace together on this land." "We have formed the Commission of Integrity, but it appears there are officials from various [political] parties have not answered the request of integrity to reveal their assets. We will punish those who have unnaturally become rich," he warned. "We are committed to the rule of law and nobody is above that line, everybody must reveal his/her assets." Abadi apologized to displaced people who have fled home due to war for not helping them due to the "economic crisis the country is suffering from," following dramatic drops in the world price of oil. The Iraqi premier also said that "the Iraqis are all number one, there is no hierarchy between the elements, we look at them all with one eye." In parts of his speech - without referring to any party directly - Abadi said Iraqi parties should not use paramilitary forces to defend themselves but instead depend upon the national army. "The Iraqi army is a national force, they are protecting the country from the invaders and aggressors, they should not be used for political interests to defend some political parties." On Feb. 19, a Kurdish in the Iraqi Parliament told Rudaw that Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is angry with the Shiite militia Hashd al-Shaabi group since they are operating outside of government control. In the latest three-way meetings with officials from "the presidential office, the government and Parliament, where I was, Abadi said 'Hashd al-Shaabi should not be under our authority in name only'," Zana Rostai a Kurdish MP in the Iraqi Parliament, told Rudaw.
.jpeg&w=3840&q=75)
