Peregraf
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani firmly rejected any attempts to connect political changes in Syria to Iraq’s internal political system, emphasizing that such discussions are “not up for debate.”
Speaking at a memorial ceremony in Baghdad commemorating the martyrdom of Muhammad Baqir al-Hakim, Al-Sudani addressed regional developments and Iraq’s stance on pivotal issues.
“Our region has witnessed, for more than a year, pivotal developments that resulted in influential political changes,” the Prime Minister stated.
On Syria, he reaffirmed Iraq’s neutrality, saying, “Since the beginning of the events in Syria, we have been keen to keep Iraq away from siding with a party or group, and to leave the choice to the Syrians to decide their fate.”
Al-Sudani dismissed narratives linking Syrian upheavals to Iraq’s governance system, asserting, “There are those who have tried to link change in Syria to talk about changing the political system in Iraq, which is a matter that is not up for discussion.”
He underscored Iraq’s pluralistic democratic system, which “guarantees the peaceful transfer of power and allows for reform under the constitution and the law.” While acknowledging the need for reforms across various sectors, he stressed that no external party has the right to dictate Iraq’s path forward.
“We have worked to prevent Iraq from being an arena for war during the past months,” Al-Sudani noted, highlighting government efforts and consultation with regional allies to maintain stability.