Government spokesman: The Prime Minister will discuss 5 basic files during his visit to Washington, 25 MARCH

  Government spokesman: The Prime Minister will discuss 5 basic files during his visit to Washington

3/24/2024  Baghdad

On Sunday, the Iraqi government spokesman, Bassem Al-Awadi, detailed the agenda of Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani’s visit to Washington, while specifying 5 basic files that will cover the latter’s meetings with US President Joe Biden.

Al-Awadi said, in a statement reported by the official news agency, and seen by Al-Eqtisad News, that “the main topic of the visit of the Prime Minister, Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani, to Washington is to discuss the prospects for the future relationship after the international coalition, and then move to comprehensive relations between the two parties.” "Including the security, military and armament aspects."

He added, "The strategic framework agreement that was signed in 2008, the armament, security and military aspects were able to be the most important, but the framework is broader, so ending the mission of the international coalition will be the first file and then moving to comprehensive relations, and there is a complete legal basis in the agreement." 

He pointed out, "In 2008, the security, military, and intelligence aspects were implemented, but the move to various fields of cooperation includes investment, energy, economy, agriculture, and others, especially since the United States is a leading country in technology in all of these areas."

He pointed out that "among the files that will be discussed during the visit also are the financial file and what is related to the decisions of the US Treasury, the influence of Iraqi banks and the debts owed by Iraq, as well as the regional file and what is related to the Gaza war and Iraq's relations with neighboring countries and regional countries," stressing that " Five files will be basic and will cover the meetings in Washington.”

He stressed that "the Prime Minister does not want to go to Washington on a visit just for the sake of visiting, but rather he wants this visit to be successful and to produce realistic and effective results that will positively affect the Iraqi interior, reflect on the regional side, and develop the ABCs of the Iraqi-American relationship."

He noted that "the visit was scheduled to take place late last year, 2023, but the war on Gaza affected that, especially since the Iraqi positions are clear regarding the Gaza war, and the visit cannot take place at a time when the feelings of Iraqis and Arabs in general and the world are in solidarity and sympathize with the Palestinians, and therefore "It will lose its content."

He continued, "The American elections will begin next November, and usually American presidents, six months or more before the elections, refrain from receiving guests from abroad, and focus on the internal file, especially the elections. This year's elections in the United States of America are different from all previous elections, as nothing happened."

 In its history, a former president who lost in the elections returns, with a competition and a program different from the program of the Democratic Party, meaning that the American internal event has now occupied the American arena and the world with its repercussions, and thus, in light of this crisis, President Biden singles out a date for a meeting with the Iraqi Prime Minister, and interrupts his election campaign and mocks. "Several days for Iraq and the situation there, a clear indication of respect for the Prime Minister and Iraq's political and international standing." 

Regarding the seriousness of activating the strategic framework and scheduling the withdrawal of the international coalition, Al-Awadi said: “This file has been decided by the Iraqi and American parties, and the Iraqi government is 100% serious about this issue, and the Prime Minister cannot be flattering about this issue or debate it, as it relates to the future of Iraq and the sovereignty of Iraq.” The country is not manoeuvrable.

He stressed that "what the Prime Minister says is what he is working on, and he will discuss future relations after the international coalition, and the negotiations will lead to positive results and a timetable for withdrawal," stressing that "this fact cannot be doubted."

He pointed out that “Iraq has a position known to the world regarding the Gaza war, and the Prime Minister spoke about it in international, Arab and regional forums, and conveyed Iraq’s point of view and position on what is going on in Gaza,” noting that “the statement of the press secretary in the White House and the Prime Minister’s Media Office Regarding the Prime Minister’s visit to Washington, he pointed out that the regional reality in the Arab Levant region and our regional neighborhood affects Iraq.

He concluded by saying: “Iraq is a sovereign state, and the Prime Minister seeks for Iraq to play its appropriate role and position in proportion to its size in various historical, civilizational and humanitarian fields in the correct manner,” pointing out that “the American administration is working in this direction, and therefore regional issues will present at various levels.” LINK