ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq’s President Abdul Latif Rashid on Wednesday said that the country’s new cabinet has a lot of responsibilities to deliver on after a long overdue government formation process.
Rashid attended the 31st Arab Summit in the Algerian capital of Algiers, addressing Iraq’s recent government formation, security issues, and prospects for the future during his speech.
“The Iraqi government has a lot of responsibilities that it will work on to respond to the will of our people for reform, construction, and enhancing Iraq’s interaction with its regional and international surroundings,” said the Iraqi president, expressing his hopes that the efforts of the government would receive “positive interaction” from its regional neighbors.
Rashid was voted as Iraq’s president on October 13, after besting former President Barham Salih in a lengthy race.
Iraq’s new government was sworn in on Thursday during a tense parliamentary session where Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani successfully presented his cabinet, breaking the drawn-out political deadlock.
During his speech at the summit, the Iraqi president added that the country hopes to become a source of security for the region, citing Baghdad’s efforts to mediate talks between regional foes.
“We truly care about the security, stability, and constructing our region and country on the basis of cooperation and joint work, but there is no construction or cooperation without dialogue, convergence of interests, and a responsible view of the future from all of us.”
Baghdad hosted the first round of reconciliation talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran in 2021, after their relations deteriorated in 2016 when Iranian protestors attacked Saudi diplomatic missions in retaliation to killing a prominent Shiite cleric.
Rampant corruption plagues all levels of the Iraqi state while unemployment has been on the rise, adding to an ongoing economic crisis, exacerbated by the political deadlock which has frozen the much-needed 2022 budget.
