SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi on Monday called on Iraqi parties to get engaged in a “national dialogue” to end disputes and to give priorities to the country’s interests, following Pope Francis’ historic trip to Iraq.
Kadhimi addressed Iraqis and political parties in a televised speech on Monday, a few hours after the pope left Baghdad for Rome.
“Our people’s message has reached all the people on earth … We, the people of Iraq, the people of history and civilization, have suffered a lot of wars … and the sounds of weapons, corruption, terrorism and hatred have ravaged our lands but our original metal did not rust because the spirit of life, love of peace and adherence to human values have not rusted,” Kadhimi said in a televised speech to Iraqis.
The pope paid a four-day historic visit to Iraq on Friday, which aimed to encourage its dwindling Christians and deepen dialogue with its Muslims. He also hailed Iraq as a “cradle of civilization” on his first day of the trip.
Iraq suffers from chronic mismanagement and corruption, and a steady level of violence often linked to the region’s U.S.-Iran rivalry 18 years after the United States invaded.
“After the message of love and forgiveness brought by the pope in his trip to Iraq, we call for national dialogue in order to reach a way in providing the rights our nation,” Kadhimi said in his speech.
“My brothers, dear opponents, I invite you, in all sincerity, to an open and frank dialogue with the government on the basis of the country’s interests, security and sovereignty,” he added.
The Iraqi prime minister also called on the political parties to give priority to the interests of the country and avoid the language of “convulsive rhetoric and political fallacy”.
“Our youth, I acknowledge your struggle, your goals, and concerns, but we have to have patience and unite for the sake of Iraq, for the sake of the nation, and for the sake of future,” Kadhimi noted.
He also called on the officials and political and civil bodies to reach a final understanding on an agreement about the relations between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) so as to keep the unity of Iraq’s land.
Despite a series of meetings between Iraqi and Kurdish officials, Erbil and Baghdad have yet to reach a final agreement on suspending issues between both sides.
Kadhimi reaffirmed Iraq’s readiness to play an “effective role” in consecrating calm in the region and opening the doors for dialogue to tackle the region’s crises.
