UK’s May in phone call with PM Abdul-Mahdi says Iraq a ‘significant security partner’

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – British Prime Minister Theresa May spoke with the new Prime Minister of Iraq, Adil Abdul-Mahdi, on Friday to congratulate him on taking office.

“They agreed to continue to work together as Prime Minister Mahdi aims to build a successful future for the people of Iraq,” read the statement released by May’s press office.

“They agreed the UK and Iraq were significant security partners, particularly in the ongoing fight against Daesh,” the statement continued, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State (IS).

They also noted that Iraq had an important role to play in the region.

Abdul-Mahdi was sworn in on Thursday early morning with only a partial Cabinet after lawmakers failed to reach consensus on significant posts, including the Interior and Defense ministries.

The Iraqi Parliament will reconvene on Nov. 6 to vote on the remaining ministers, Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi said.

The new premier is tasked with rebuilding many parts of the country after a devastating four-year war against the jihadist group. He is also expected to resolve economic problems, constant power outages, and the lack of clean water, especially in the south.

Kurdish parties in the Kurdistan Region are also optimistic about Abdul-Mahdi’s effort to address the deep-rooted disputes between Erbil and Baghdad, namely the share of the national budget to the Kurdistan Region, Peshmerga salaries, oil and gas export and revenue issues, and the implementation of articles in the Constitution of Iraq.

Editing by Nadia Riva