SUDANESE: WE HAVE UNANIMOUSLY DECIDED ON THE ARMS CONTROL LAW AND ARE NOW STUDYING THE IMPLEMENTATION MECHANISM
European ambassadors were informed of this.
During his meeting with the ambassadors of the European Union countries accredited to Iraq, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani affirmed that the principle of restricting weapons to the state enjoys national consensus and has become acceptable and universally accepted. He pointed out that the discussion now revolves around the timing and implementation mechanism, noting at the same time that Iraq has made great strides in its relationship with the international coalition and has taken full control of the Ain Al-Asad base. He also noted that the number of coalition advisors in Baghdad has been significantly reduced, and concluded by saying that the mission at the Harir base in Erbil will be completely completed in September 2026.
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani received the ambassadors of the European Union countries accredited to Iraq on Tuesday.
His Excellency affirmed that the 2025 elections represented a pivotal event in the history of the political process in Iraq, due to the integrity and smoothness of their conduct, and the extent of active participation, which indicated the return of some of the people’s confidence in the political process and the democratic system based on the peaceful transfer of power.
Mr. Al-Sudani explained that the government has carried out important structural reforms in various sectors over the past three years, and has been able to attract Arab and foreign investments and provide an attractive environment for the work of the local and foreign private sector.
His Excellency stated that the principle of restricting weapons to the state enjoys national consensus and has become acceptable and universally accepted, and the discussion now revolves around the timing and mechanism, which represents a clear positive development.
The following are the most important points from the Prime Minister’s speech:
The world is living in a state of instability and there has been an erosion of the international order based on laws and rules since World War II.
The return of the logic of force and wars and the imposition of one party’s will on others is very dangerous, and we are witnessing it today on a wide scale in more than one place.
The current internal and regional challenges call for the formation of a strong government capable of making decisions free from any internal or external dictates.
The priority now is to prevent institutional decline in this complex regional and international situation.
The Reconstruction and Development Coalition will be a key player in the political landscape of the next phase, given the popular mandate it has received.
We have contact with the Islamic Republic of Iran and the US administration in order to find a dialogue platform in Baghdad between Washington and Tehran.
We have come a long way in our relationship with the international coalition and have taken full control of Ain al-Asad base. We have significantly reduced the number of coalition advisors in Baghdad, and the mission at Harir base in Erbil will be fully completed in September 2026.
Iraq will remain an active partner in the international coalition to fight ISIS, and our coordination in the fight against ISIS continues.
Syria is experiencing an unstable situation, and we are concerned about the growing presence of ISIS elements and other extremist groups currently inside prisons.
We stressed the importance of a transparent and inclusive political process in Syria, and concrete steps and procedures to reassure all Syrian components by rejecting terrorism and extremism and respecting human rights.
Iraq views Syria and its stability as a top national and regional priority. A stable and unified Syria in which all its components coexist peacefully is a fundamental guarantee for the security of the region. Iraqi society is cohesive, our security forces are ready and capable of enforcing security, and our borders are secure. We took border security measures two years ago based on an advanced reading of events in Syria.
Security in Syria requires collective responsibility and genuine international cooperation.
Our position is firm in demanding an immediate end to the bloodshed in Gaza, a halt to the violations in Lebanon, and an end to the suffering of the Palestinian people.
