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Iraq: ISIS Down, Corruption to Go

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in the city of Al-Qaim (AFP)
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in the city of Al-Qaim (AFP)
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Iraq: ISIS Down, Corruption to Go

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in the city of Al-Qaim (AFP)
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in the city of Al-Qaim (AFP)

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has prioritized counter-corruption efforts in the post-ISIS era.

There is serious concern about Abadi's ability to win his new battle-- especially that corruption is a challenging phenomenon with mafias and political, judicial and militia figures working on the premise compromising national authority for personal or regional interests.

Head of a political think tank Dr. Ihsan al-Shammari believes that although "putting an end to corruption today seems impossible, as was the case of the victory over ISIS (3 years ago), Abadi still won against the terror group.”

“And he will win his war against corruption.”

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Shammari said that Abadi is very serious in putting an end to corruption.

Former Iraqi Integrity Committee Chairman Judge Rahim Al Ukaili stressed in statements to Asharq Al-Awsat that Abadi should begin to "strike the heads of corruption as they –and with no doubt- continue to loot astronomical sums of money from the national treasury."

Political pressure related to former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki forced Ukaili to submit his resignation.

Shammari added that "the anti-corruption plan is not a new move for Abadi. His government's program focused on fighting it from the early days of its formation."

"In early 2016, the Supreme Anti-Corruption Council was established under his (Abadi) chairmanship in coordination with the head of the Integrity Commission and the Financial Control Bureau.”

“He also restructured the offices of the inspectors, who were inactive in previous years,” said Shammari.

On the practical asteps followed by Abadi, Shammari pointed out that early-on the PM “sought to fix the leakage through which corruption seeps through establishing an electronic system covering all state institutions.”

“The system is aimed at inhibiting corruption. The e-government will be launched soon aimed at breaking the road to corruption,” added Shammari.

Shammari admits that the actions taken by the prime minister “may not show rapid results, but are effective and will achieve desired results in the near or medium term.”

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Italy Plans to Return Ambassador to Syria to Reflect New Diplomatic Developments, Minister Says

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)
Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)
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Italy Plans to Return Ambassador to Syria to Reflect New Diplomatic Developments, Minister Says

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)
Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)

Italy plans to send an ambassador back to Syria after a decade-long absence, the country’s foreign minister said, in a diplomatic move that could spark divisions among European Union allies.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, speaking in front of relevant parliamentary committees Thursday, announced Rome’s intention to re-establish diplomatic ties with Syria to prevent Russia from monopolizing diplomatic efforts in the Middle Eastern country.

Moscow is considered a key supporter of Syrian President Bashar Assad, who has remained in power despite widespread Western isolation and civilian casualties since the start of Syria’s civil war in March 2011.

Peaceful protests against the Assad government — part of the so-called “Arab Spring” popular uprisings that spread across some of the Middle East — were met by a brutal crackdown, and the uprising quickly spiraled into a full-blown civil war.

The conflict was further complicated by the intervention of foreign forces on all sides and a rising militancy, first by al-Qaida-linked groups and then the ISIS group until its defeat on the battlefield in 2019.

The war, which has killed nearly half a million people and displaced half the country’s pre-war population of 23 million, is now largely frozen, despite ongoing low-level fighting.

The country is effectively carved up into areas controlled by the Damascus-based government of Assad, various opposition groups and Syrian Kurdish forces.

In the early days of the conflict, many Western and Arab countries cut off relations with Syria, including Italy, which has since managed Syria-related diplomacy through its embassy in Beirut.

However, since Assad has regained control over most of the territory, neighboring Arab countries have gradually restored relations, with the most symbolically significant move coming last year when Syria was re-admitted to the Arab League.

Tajani said Thursday the EU’s policy in Syria should be adapted to the “development of the situation,” adding that Italy has received support from Austria, Croatia, Greece, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Cyprus and Slovakia.

However, the US and allied countries in Europe have largely continued to hold firm in their stance against Assad’s government, due to concerns over human rights violations.