Baghdad: Government spokesman Haider al-Aboudi affirmed that employee salaries are secured and that reports of them being distributed every 40 days are false. Al-Aboudi stated in a press conference: “The government reiterates that employee salaries are fully secured, as this is a firm and complete government commitment. The 45-day timeframe is a rumor circulating in the context of the crisis, and the government is fully committed to ensuring salaries for all employees and all segments of society are paid on time.”
According to National Iraqi News Agency, Al-Aboudi explained that the policies of the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank represent the state’s vision for confronting the crisis by developing internal solutions. He emphasized that the government has not yet resorted to external borrowing, despite a proposed law from the Parliamentary Finance Committee to enable the government to borrow externally. The government has solutions that prevent it from resorting to such measures.
He continued, “The government is continuing to implement its 90-day ministerial program, translating it into actionable steps that embody the priorities of this phase. Government performance is based on a well-considered vision and methodology aimed at transforming the executive branch’s program into effective strategies that reflect the efficiency of Iraqi state institutions and their ability to fulfill their national duties and responsibilities. The government is working to secure its commitments and enhance Iraq’s capacity to deal with the developments taking place in the region.”
Regarding foreign policy, he explained that the government is pursuing a course of action that guarantees good neighborliness, protects Iraq’s security and the interests of its people, and rejects any infringement upon them. He noted that “Al-Zaidi has received another invitation from the Saudi security delegation to visit Saudi Arabia, but a date has not yet been set.”
He added that Iraq currently holds the presidency of the Arab League, and the presidency will then pass to Saudi Arabia. The matter of the visit is still under consideration by the Prime Minister in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Regarding the government’s stance on the Turkish-Saudi-Pakistani agreement, Al-Aboudi clarified that “the government will not be part of any axes or alignments that suggest a threat to the countries of the region. We support any alliance that improves the region’s economic and security situation, but the government adheres to its policies and will not be part of any alignment to the contrary.”
Concerning the government’s plan for alternative oil exports, Al-Aboudi emphasized that since the Strait of Hormuz closure crisis last February, Iraqi exports have decreased as the crisis escalated. He added that Iraq has lost significant export opportunities due to rising prices during the crisis, and “we hope that matters will move towards de-escalation and a resolution.”