Abadi urges new government to maintain Iraq’s victory over terrorism
Former Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has called on the forthcoming government to maintain the great victory the Iraqis achieved over terrorism in the past period.
Addressing the parliament’s first session, Abadi said that he came to office as a prime minister at a time Iraq was suffering from destruction due to the occupation of Daesh (Islamic State).
“Afterwards, Iraq was able to restore its leading role at the regional and Arab levels, and managed to strengthen its relations with the neighboring countries,” he added.
The premier further stressed that the relations binding Iraq and any other country “should be based on mutual respect and non-interference in each other’s domestic affairs.”
The Iraqi parliament held its first session early Monday in its new formation after the final results were endorsed by the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court two weeks ago.
Abadi said on Sunday that he would attend the first parliamentary session but will not take oath in order to be able to assume his executive powers as a prime minister.
Abadi has been serving as a prime minister of Iraq since September 2014.
Abadi’s Victory alliance came third in the parliamentary elections held on May 12 with 42 seats after Shia cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr’s Sairoon coalition (54 seats) and an al-Hashd al-Shaabi-linked coalition (47 seats).