European diplomatic efforts still seeking additional int. support for Iraq’s stabilization

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The United Kingdom’s Minister for the Middle East, Alistair Burt, on Thursday welcomed renewed commitments from international partners to support stabilization and a strong partnership with Iraq.

Burt held a roundtable meeting at the UN General Assembly with Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari and representatives from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, USA, the EU External Action Service and the UN Department for Political Affairs to discuss stabilization and governance priorities.

“As the next Government of Iraq begins to lay the foundations for a country that meets the aspirations of all Iraqis, stabilization efforts and good governance will be vitally important. The UK and the international community reaffirmed their political support for a strong stabilization partnership with the Government of Iraq,” Burt said in a statement.

“Ultimately we recognize that progress must be Iraqi-owned and Iraqi-led,” he continued.

“I welcome the Government of Iraq’s commitment to stabilization and governance, so that support from international partners can continue to be sustained and effective. We want to see a strong Government of Iraq that delivers for all its people.”

Recently, lawmakers in Iraqi parliament elected Mohammed al-Halbousi as the new speaker in the assembly.

Soon, the largest bloc in the parliament will be tasked with appointing the prime minister and forming a new cabinet.

Despite elections being held in May, disputed results and a complicated political landscape have delayed the formation of a new government. Competing factions have repeatedly failed to reach an agreement and resume work to address the country’s growing public service and unemployment crisis that has led to mass demonstrations, notably in the southern province of Basra.

Although Iraq declared “final victory” over the Islamic State (IS) last December, the group continues to launch insurgency-style attacks, kidnappings, and ambushes in the disputed provinces of Kirkuk, Diyala, and Salahuddin.

Iraq remains high on Transparency International’s list of national levels of corruption as widespread fraud and mismanagement in state institutions are some of the most significant challenges facing the country since the fall of the former regime.

According to the group’s 2017 Corruption Index, Iraq ranks 166, the tenth most corrupt country out of a total of 176.

Editing by Nadia Riva