ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Qasim al-Araji, security advisor to the Iraqi prime minister, said Friday that no deadline has been set for bringing all weapons under state control, adding that talks with armed groups are continuing in a “positive atmosphere” and dismissing reports of possible US sanctions on Iraq.
“There is no deadline for bringing weapons under state control,” Araji told Rudaw on Friday.
“Dialogue with all groups is continuing, and the talks are taking place in a positive atmosphere,” he said.
Asked whether the process would be completed before September 30 or require more time, Araji said: “The process needs time. The committee formed by the Coordination Framework for this purpose is working under the direct supervision of the Iraqi prime minister.”
Coordination Framework is an alliance of Shiite political parties ruling the country.
Araji also dismissed reports that Washington could impose sanctions on Iraq if armed groups refuse to surrender their weapons.
“Those reports are incorrect,” he said.
His comments came as speculation mounted over the timeframe for Baghdad's efforts to establish a state monopoly over weapons, a key pledge in the government program of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi.
Once the committee completes its work and weapons are fully brought under state control, anyone who continues to carry arms illegally will face severe legal measures, Araji said.
“When the committee completes its work and weapons are fully brought under state control, then anyone who carries weapons illegally will be treated under the law as an outlaw, strict legal measures will be taken against them, and they will be treated in the same manner as terrorists,” he said.
Several armed groups have so far expressed willingness to surrender their weapons as part of the government initiative, while others, including Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada, Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba, have rejected calls to disarm.
The September 30 date is also significant because Baghdad and Washington have set it as the deadline for the withdrawal of US-led coalition forces from Iraq.
Araji has previously sought to distinguish between the coalition withdrawal and the weapons-control process, stressing that the departure of foreign forces does not constitute a deadline for disarming armed groups.
