Sayyid Al-Hakeem Calls to Legislate Popular Mobilization Forces Law, Its Personnel Retirement Law

As part of the activities of the Baghdad Diwan, His Eminence Sayyid Al-Hakeem, Head of the National State Powers' Alliance, met with a large gathering of political and social figures and elites. H.E. explained, after listening to the interventions of those present, that Iraq is living through many challenges, like other countries of the region harmed by regional events and circumstances, affirming that the region is heading toward major changes, and clarifying that Iraq has achieved many accomplishments, calling for assessing matters according to reality and challenges, and considering the provision of a minimum level of commitments a positive step at this stage.
H.E. considered the current economic crisis a force majeure circumstance, calling for leveraging this stage and diversifying export outlets through a network of pipelines toward the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, expressing concern that the region's crisis may be overcome while the importance of diversifying oil export outlets and freeing Iraq from tying its revenues to a single outlet is forgotten, stressing the need to move away from the rentier state and diversify the economy by activating the five pillars of agriculture, industry, investment, tourism, and modern technology, affirming the importance of supporting the fight against corruption and providing it with the necessary cover, while noting the importance of stopping the financial hemorrhage and identifying the essential entry points and measures to curb corruption. H.E. also affirmed the existence of hidden opposition to matters of automation and transparency, noting the importance of adopting priorities and opening the largest corruption files through the competent authorities, calling for focusing on recovering funds as a priority.
H.E. considered confining weapons to the hands of the state a collective responsibility, stressing the necessity of adopting dialogue and understanding in confining weapons to the hands of the state, while respecting the sacrifices of those who sacrificed in defending Iraq and combating terrorism, affirming that the handover of weapons will be to the Popular Mobilization Forces Commission, and calling for legislating the Popular Mobilization Forces Law and the Popular Mobilization Forces Retirement Law, to close off any avenue for targeting the entities that strengthen state security and protect the political system.
H.E. considered the presence and participation of the various components in political decision-making and the Iraqi state a unique experience among the countries of the region, noting that outsiders view Iraq with admiration and praise, contrary to how some Iraqis view their country and its accomplishments, commending all programs and gatherings that bring together diverse visions and seek to unify perspective, affirming that difference exists ultimately and its presence is natural, calling for flexibility from all parties to resolve the Sinjar issue and to keep it away from a policy of imposing wills, stressing the need to legislate a law confronting hate speech, and considering freedom of expression a necessity alongside the existence of safeguards that protect everyone and preserve particularities, and stressing the preservation of Iraq's openness to its regional and international surroundings in accordance with Iraq's national interest.
H.E. called for investing in and supporting the private sector and providing job opportunities, considering tourism an essential and important resource, such as religious and archaeological tourism, stressing the principle of the single window in dealing with investment, along with the necessity of conducting a comprehensive inventory of all investable investment projects.