Iraqi PM Meets UN Envoy to Discuss Gov't Plan, Int'l Support

Date: 05 November 2018 - 21:25

News ID: ۵۹۳۱۷

BAGHDAD (Dispatches) – Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi on Monday met with the UN Special Envoy in Iraq Jan Kubis over the ways to implement the government program and assist Iraq.
The discussion covered the "political and security situation, stabilization and reconstruction, as well as the future program of the UN in Iraq," the prime minister's office said in a statement.
Mahdi stressed the international support for Iraq in the coming stage, after the victory over Daesh terrorists in the country, the statement noted.
According to a separate statement by the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq, Kubis discussed "the outlined government program and ways the UN can assist the government of Iraq in its implementation, as well as efforts to advance investment, stabilization, reconstruction, return of IDPs (internally displaced people) and security sector reform."
On Oct. 24, Abdul-Mahdi was sworn in as the new prime minister of Iraq after the parliament passed 14 out of his 22 cabinet members.
The parliament also approved Mahdi's government program, which included strengthening internal and external security through law enforcement, anti-terrorism and efforts to fight corruption.
Abdul-Mahdi is also the temporary acting minister for the security ministries of defense and interior.
Abdul-Mahdi faces the daunting task of rebuilding much of the country after a devastating war against Daesh, as well as solving acute economic problems and power and water shortages.
The premier has detailed his agenda for the next four years in a 122-page document, which lists plans for developing the war-torn country, settling differences with the Kurdistan Regional Government, boosting the economy and reducing poverty.
In terms of security, he said all arms must be in the hands of the state, rejecting "semi-states” within the country. He also vowed his government would resolve electricity problems by the summer of 2019.
Millions of Iraqis voted on May 12 in their first parliamentary election since the defeat of the Daesh terrorist group, but a contentious recount process delayed the announcement of final results until August.
Sadr's Sairoon bloc came first in the polls, while the Fatah Alliance led by Hadi al-Amiri, and Abadi's Nasr finished second and third respectively.
The Iraqi politics has long been vulnerable to the differences lying along the country’s major ethnic and sectarian fault lines.
Under a de facto power-sharing agreement, the presidency of Iraq is traditionally held by a Kurdish politician, the PM is a Shia, while the parliament speaker is a Sunni.