Iraq’s Prime Minister-designate Mustafa al-Kadhimi has said that his cabinet lineup was ready, adding he would discuss it with the different political blocs to submit it to Parliament for approval.
In a gathering on Tuesday with a number of Iraqi journalists and writers, in the presence of Asharq Al-Awsat, al-Kadhimi called on the country’s political parties to cooperate with his government, which he said would focus on preparing for early elections and face the unexpected challenges caused by the outbreak of the novel coronavirus and the sharp fall in oil prices.
“The problems and crises that we are now facing are the result of a wrong set-up for the political process post 2003,” he said.
He added that “the US occupation of the country succeeded in destroying the structure of the Iraqi state without setting up a correct rebuilding process.”
Asked about Baghdad’s position towards the United States and Iran, the premier-designate emphasized that serious dialogue would be held with Washington on the nature of its presence in Iraq.
He stressed that “Iraq is not an arena for settling scores,” saying he would work to distance his country from regional conflicts.
He also highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation with the Arab and Islamic worlds, based on the principle of common interests, which “requires serious work on the economy and investments.”
“We cannot continue to depend on oil as the only source of national income,” the PM-designate remarked.
Underlining the need for a “real, internal and nationwide dialogue,” al-Kadhimi said the country’s parties should work together to “establish a national vision through which we can build state institutions.”
