Advisor responds to Al-Kadhimi criticism on salaries, energy and projects

BAGHDAD — Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani’s political advisor, Fadi Al-Shammari, addressed pressing national issues in an interview with Iraq Alhadath TV, taking aim at challenges ranging from salaries and energy imports to armed factions. He also directly confronted recent claims made by former Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi.

Al-Shammari acknowledged lingering concerns over wage conditions, noting, “It is not possible to say that the salary situation is completely in the safety zone, but all expert indicators suggest that we will not face a major problem in this matter.”

On the subject of energy, he explained that Iraq’s attempt to secure gas imports from Qatar was thwarted by existing contracts. “Therefore, we turned to Turkmenistan,” he said, adding that the government is working to replace Iranian gas with domestic production. He cautioned that full investment in this sector would take about two years.

Addressing criticisms from Al-Sudani’s predecessor, Al-Shammari challenged Al-Kadhimi’s assessment of government projects. “I challenge Al-Kadhimi to prove that what this government has implemented was already planned during his government. If he is truthful, why did he not implement these projects?” he said.

In an interview with the iNews television channel, Al-Kadhimi questioned recent government decisions. “Why are residential complexes being built inside Baghdad? Mr. Al-Maliki established the Bismayah Complex as a new city outside of Baghdad, and it was successful because it’s on the outskirts,” he stated, adding, “Have bridges solved the problem? Everyone in Baghdad complains about traffic jams.”

Excerpts from Al-Shammari’s interview with Iraq Alhadath TV:

It is not possible to say that the salary situation is completely in the safety zone, but all expert indicators suggest that we will not face a major problem in this matter. The government will not leave behind large debts, and it has notably reduced external debts to stop accumulating interest.

There are advisors to the Prime Minister, and there are consultants in the Prime Minister’s Office. Most of them are employees in their respective departments and do not impose additional financial burdens on the state treasury. The Integrity Commission, the Federal Board of Supreme Audit, and the Parliament can inquire about this, and we will respond.

Iraq attempted to sign a contract with Qatar to import gas, but Qatar’s contracts are already fulfilled, and it does not have surplus gas to sell to us. Therefore, we turned to Turkmenistan. We are trying to compensate for Iranian gas with domestic gas, but its investment requires two years.

We have no indications of electricity-related protests next summer. Nevertheless, all technical teams in the Ministries of Oil and Electricity are exploring alternatives in case we are unable to purchase Iranian gas. The Prime Minister is paying special attention to this issue, and we have met three times this week to discuss it.

Anyone who seeks external backing for internal change is a failure and should not be taken seriously. External forces cannot alter internal dynamics.

I challenge Al-Kadhimi to prove that what this government has implemented was already planned during his government. If he is truthful, why did he not implement these projects? Our government has completed more than 8,000 projects in two years. Where was Al-Kadhimi during his two-year term? And where were those who preceded him?

Baghdad is not distorted now. The city is witnessing an urban renaissance that it has not seen since 1983. Speaking in this way is the rhetoric of failure. People are aware, and anyone who bets on their ignorance is ignorant.

For the first time in Iraq, we are talking about a modern banking system. It still requires development and expansion, but we are witnessing a new economic cycle where tens of trillions of dinars have moved from people’s pockets into the banking system through electronic payment mechanisms, now reaching 20 million Iraqis.

Armed factions link their presence to the presence of foreign forces in Iraq, and this is their justification. Dialogue with them continues through the Coordination Framework, which is the political umbrella of the government. I believe negotiations will conclude positively. I also think that Sheikh Khazali’s recent statements about not surrendering faction weapons were meant to highlight the connection between arms possession and the presence of foreign forces.

The government’s slogan of “arms exclusively in the hands of the state” does not only refer to factional weapons but to all arms outside the framework of the state. The Coordination Framework must honor its commitments on this matter, as agreed in the political document that formed the government.

The government is continuing efforts to dry up sources of arms outside state control. In government discussions with armed factions, they stated that their weapons were tied to the presence of international coalition forces in Iraq. The government has signed a withdrawal agreement within two years, and it is currently being implemented by both sides.