Iraqi Parliament Speaker Sets End-September Timeline for State Arms Collection
Iraq’s parliament and government have agreed on a clear roadmap for economic reform, while the parliament speaker also addressed weapons control and corruption.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - The end of September will mark the start of a process to collect weapons under state control, Iraqi Parliament Speaker Hiabat Halbousi said Friday, while assuring citizens that salary payments would continue and outlining parliamentary and government plans for economic reform.
Speaking at the Baghdad Dialogue Forum on Friday, Halbousi addressed Iraq’s political, security, economic, and regional affairs, saying the issue of weapons control was an entirely Iraqi and constitutional matter that would proceed through legal channels.
Halbousi stressed that there is currently no confrontation between the state and armed groups.
He said the end of September would be the date for launching the process of collecting weapons under state control, adding that the issue would be handled through legal procedures.
On the issue of the term “Gulf,” Halbousi said his position reflected the full official position of the Iraqi state.
Halbousi assured citizens that salary payments would continue and said there was no reason for concern over the matter.
He also said the government and parliament had a clear strategy for economic reform. Parliament is expected to discuss the draft budget law soon and host the relevant ministers for this purpose.
Regarding regional relations, Halbousi said the speaker of Iran’s parliament had informed him that he would discuss with Iran’s leadership the issue of removing Iraq from the file concerning the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Halbousi said the decision to lift parliamentary immunity from lawmakers during the legislative recess falls within the authority of the parliament speaker.
He added that the government had referred 42 new draft laws to parliament over the past week.
Halbousi also stressed that no political side had opposed the national campaign to combat corruption.
He further said a security committee would be formed to verify the names of all those displaced from Jurf al-Sakhar.
On provincial councils, Halbousi said the councils are constitutional bodies and cannot be dissolved unless the Constitution is amended.
The remarks come as Iraq continues to address questions surrounding state authority, weapons control, economic reform, and the country’s regional relations.