Iraq’s president, head of government and parliament speaker collectively agreed on Saturday that governance mechanisms put in place after the US invasion in 2003 have failed to build a cohesive state that accommodates all Iraqis.
They expressed their views during a memorial ceremony held to commemorate Martyr’s Day in Baghdad.
Noting that Iraq was at a crossroads, President Barham Salih warned that if the Levantine country does not overcome internal disputes, infighting and ethno-nationalism, society will suffer a “permanent break-up.”
He added that it will leave the country vulnerable against greedy parties seeking to undermine Iraq’s power.
“Iraq will not be arena for regional and global conflicts to settle,” Salih asserted.
“What Iraq is going through right now, and the radical shifts taking place in the region and the world, and the legitimate needs that have been demanded by our people, require all of us to come together, in order to safeguard Iraq and prevent the country from being dragged into a dangerous path and an unknown fate,” he added.
Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi told attendees that the government is seeking to regain the confidence of the public.
“We have worked to rebuild the state from the first day of assuming the premiership,” he said, adding that reform must be brought about to save Iraq.
“Some of them put obstacles in front of the government, but we have made positive steps in combating corruption,” Kadhimi affirmed.
Acknowledging the state of despair suffered by Iraqis, the prime minister highlighted that his government has focused its efforts on rebuilding state institutions.
Parliament Speaker Muhammad Al-Halbousi, for his part, emphasized the need to protect Iraqis from gun violence.
“Terrorism and corruption have delayed the project of building the state,” Halbousi noted, adding that economic regression will also play a role in undermining state building efforts.
