Iraqi PM Says Won’t Run run in next Elections

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi on Thursday said he has fulfilled his promise to the people not to run in the upcoming elections scheduled for October 10.

His remarks came during a televised speech marking the 1st anniversary of the Iraqi government.

“The government that I had the honor to be its president was born in an exceptional and dangerous circumstance,” he stressed.

Kadhimi said that Iraq was standing at a crossroads due to the severe social crisis, saying the primary mission is to lead fair and just elections.

“We have set October 10 as a deadline for holding the elections, and we will make our best efforts for that,” the PM noted, calling on the political forces and parties to support the government to succeed in the elections.

“For our part, we fulfilled our pledge to our people by declaring not to participate in the elections or to support any party at the expense of others, and we will do our work in protecting the upcoming electoral process.”

He further hailed the Iraqi forces for the remarkable efforts exerted in fighting ISIS.

“Our forces have achieved remarkable development in confronting ISIS. We have succeeded in killing the terrorist who calls himself the Wali of Iraq and the Deputy Caliph, known as Abu Yasser al-Issawi, and the deputy governor of ISIS in Iraq, and ISIS’s coordinator of operations in Syria and Iraq.”

He also said his government has helped the displaced to return home and made major efforts to end the problem of internal displacement.

“We have closed within one year more than 90% of the IDP camps across Iraq, and we supported the voluntary return of the displaced into their areas.”

On regional relations, Kadhimi said: “I am proud of the great development of our relationship with Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, Iran, Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, and all the countries in the region that love peace.”

He explained that the government’s policy of openness was reflected in the reopening of the Arar border crossing with Saudi Arabia, which has been closed for decades.

At the level of strategic dialogue with the United States, Kadhimi said that during three sessions of the dialogue, the two sides achieved advanced steps for the exit of the remaining combat forces of the International Coalition.

“We are preparing for upcoming rounds between the military committees to set the time and technical frameworks to achieve this.”

Kadhimi concluded that what his government has done in one year to fight corruption is equal to the outcomes of the past 17 years in this regard.