Baghdad-INA
Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi confirmed on Saturday that the upcoming visit to Washington represents the announcement of a new phase, while pointing to the ambition to raise oil production to (7) million barrels per day.
Our visit to Washington is not a routine protocol visit. It represents the announcement of a new phase of partnership between Iraq and the United States, built on shared interests and mutual respect.
Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi said during his interview with Sky News, according to a statement from his media office received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA),”In September, the International Coalition forces will conclude their combat mission against ISIS and withdraw from Iraq permanently ,In the next phase, we envision American presence through economic, investment, and development partnership We seek to transition from military partnership to sustainable economic partnership, and to build an effective economic bridge between Iraq and the United States that serves the interests of both peoples."
It added,” We have directed the Ministries of Oil, Electricity, and Communications to give priority to reputable American companies in the fields of energy, communications, technology, and development,The Ministerial Council for the Economy has taken important decisions regarding major oil projects with international companies, including Chevron, Halliburton, and HKN Energy, in addition to granting them opportunities to work in new fields and exploration blocks,The communications sector is moving toward strategic cooperation with Starlink, which will strengthen Iraq’s digital infrastructure.”
The statement added ,”We will discuss with the American side the Energy and Development Fund project, which begins at 500,000 barrels per day and scales up to two million barrels per day, depending on economic and production conditions, potentially outside OPEC quota constraints,The Energy and Development Fund accounts will be opened at reputable American banking institutions, with resources directed toward agreements with American companies, including electricity and infrastructure projects.”
It explained,” Over three decades, the Fund’s financing could reach approximately $400 billion, with gradual growth tied to project performance and the companies implementing them,Our goal is to rebuild the infrastructure damaged over the years by investing these resources in development projects,We are working to secure a fair share for Iraq in oil production within OPEC, in line with its capabilities.”
It continued, saying: Iraq’s current situation is the result of accumulations spanning decades. Since 1980, the country entered a prolonged phase of attrition, with vast resources directed toward wars rather than construction and development,The wars of the 1980s halted reconstruction projects and degraded infrastructure,iraq suffered widespread destruction to its infrastructure and social fabric, and emerged from the war with heavy losses, high debt, and economic decline,during the sanctions period in the 1990s, Iraqi society endured a deep humanitarian and economic crisis that affected all sectors,After 2003, Iraq faced the challenge of terrorism, and many of Iraq’s skilled people left the country.”
It noted that Iraqis confronted ISIS in defense of their homeland, while simultaneously fighting to protect the security of the region and the world, with support from the United States and friendly nations,Iraq was the first line of defense against terrorism, and the war against ISIS left significant damage to infrastructure and massive economic losses,The United States is a strategic partner in Iraq’s development and economic plans,The Arab Gulf states represent a historical, cultural, and social depth for Iraq. They are an element of strength, and we believe in a policy of balance and openness with all.”
It added,” A strong state requires decisive decisions, and decisiveness is an essential part of a statesman’s responsibility,A leader who is not attached to holding office is better equipped to face challenges, and we remain committed to achieving our goals,We have held in-depth dialogue with armed factions, affirming that the state is the unifying framework and that arms outside its institutions cannot be accepted,The role of the factions in confronting terrorism cannot be denied, but the current phase requires that all transition to operating through the state and its institutions.”
It emphasized: I called on all to preserve their legacy and not allow their sacrifices to be lost, as our goal is to build a state, not merely manage a government,We are preparing to hold an international conference titled the “Sovereignty Conference,” affirming that Iraq’s decisions belong to Iraqis, with an Iraq free of foreign forces and any armed formations outside the state’s authority,As a result of regional crises, Iraqi oil exports have declined to limited levels, and we are working to restore full export capacity,We aspire, over the next three years, to raise Iraq’s oil production to seven million barrels per day, and we have communicated this vision to American companies,Our relationship with the Islamic Republic of Iran is based on good neighborliness, respect, and shared interests, as are our relations with all countries in the region.”
It added,” Iraq does not accept dictates from any party, and decisions will always be made in accordance with the interests of Iraqis first,Our move toward building a strong economic partnership with the United States stems from Iraq’s own interest and not at the expense of any other party,We do not follow a policy of axes or enmity. Iraq seeks to be a space of communication and stability, not an arena of conflict,Baghdad welcomes hosting any dialogue that contributes to de-escalation in the region, including talks between the United States and Iran,Investigations have not indicated that attacks were launched from Iraqi territory toward the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and we have issued clear directives to prevent any such violations in the future.”
It explained: Our goal is to protect Iraq and its people. After September 30, we will present to citizens a record of government work and achievements, not promises,We aim to complete filling the vacancies in the government cabinet within two weeks,As part of the government’s program, we are working to provide one million fully serviced residential land plots for citizens,There is an old economy attempting to persist, and a modern economy we are working to build,we are committed to transitioning toward a productive and advanced economy,We are working to establish a Development Fund with the participation of the Central Bank of Iraq and national funds, while opening the door to public subscription and regional and international partnerships.”
It added ,”Development Fund projects will be financed according to market needs, contributing to economic activity and job creation,We have begun confronting corruption through legal measures, halted a significant portion of wasteful spending, and recovered funds through official channels,Corruption in Iraq is a phenomenon that begins at lower levels and extends through a system of bribery and nepotism,addressing it requires comprehensive and sustained reform,We have formed a central committee to review contracts exceeding 25 billion dinars in value, to audit them, ensure the soundness of their financial estimates, and prevent inflated cost projections.”
The Council of Ministers has approved referring a bill to the Council of Representatives to establish a pre-audit and oversight authority across all ministries and state institutions, strengthening transparency and governance procedures and improving the efficiency of public financial management.