Baghdad / NINA/- Thursday’s newspapers focused on Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s visit to Riyadh and his meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as well as today’s parliamentary session to complete the formation of the Iraqi cabinet.

Al-Zawraa, published by the Iraqi Journalists Syndicate, reported that Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi concluded his visit to Riyadh on Wednesday following a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. During the meeting, al-Zaidi reaffirmed Iraq’s position that its territory must not be used as a launching pad for attacks against Saudi Arabia or other countries in the region.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Media Office, the meeting addressed regional developments and ways to coordinate efforts to strengthen security and stability across the region.

Al-Zaidi expressed the Iraqi government’s condemnation of the attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, as well as any actions that harm civilians or target civilian infrastructure during conflicts, stressing that such acts threaten regional security and stability.

He reiterated Iraq’s firm commitment to preventing its territory from being used as a base for any attacks or hostile acts that undermine the security of Saudi Arabia or other countries in the region. He also emphasized Iraq’s commitment to the principles of good neighbourliness and respect for the sovereignty of Iraq and its brotherly and friendly nations.

The meeting also reviewed Iraqi-Saudi relations and explored ways to strengthen cooperation across various sectors, particularly in security coordination to address regional security challenges.

For his part, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed Saudi Arabia’s support for the Iraqi government’s efforts to promote dialogue as a means of achieving stability in the region.

Al-Sabah, for its part, reported that Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi’s visit to the Saudi capital, Riyadh, had opened a promising new chapter in bilateral relations.

The visit culminated in a summit with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, reflecting a convergence of views on strengthening regional security and stability.

During the meeting, held at the Royal Court in Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh, al-Zaidi expressed the Iraqi government’s condemnation of the attack on King Khalid International Airport and all acts targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure. He reaffirmed Iraq’s commitment to preventing its territory from being used as a launching pad for any attacks that threaten the security of Saudi Arabia or neighbouring countries.

For his part, the Saudi Crown Prince renewed the Kingdom’s full support for the Iraqi government’s efforts to promote dialogue and achieve regional stability.

The outcomes of the visit received a broad welcome from political and parliamentary circles, underscoring its significance at the current juncture.

MP Mustafa Abdul-Hadi said al-Zaidi’s diplomatic initiatives were making an effective contribution to bridging differences and fostering a stable regional environment conducive to development plans and domestic investment.

MP Zulaikha Bakkar, meanwhile, stressed that sustained communication between Baghdad and Riyadh was a key factor in addressing security and political challenges and safeguarding vital national interests.

MP Ghaith Shabaa praised Iraq’s balanced approach to engaging with various parties, saying it helped strengthen the country’s political standing and support efforts to ease regional tensions.

On the economic front, MP Falih al-Khazali called for the outcomes of the visit to be translated into action by advancing key strategic projects, foremost among them the proposed Iraqi oil pipeline to the Red Sea, which could help strengthen shared interests.

Political analyst Abbas al-Jubouri described the visit as a significant achievement in leveraging diplomatic and political engagement to strengthen Iraq’s negotiating position and shield the country from regional rivalries and competing pressures.

Al-Zaman reported that Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had agreed to strengthen joint coordination in addressing regional security challenges and intensify efforts to promote stability across the region.

According to an official statement, the Saudi Crown Prince received al-Zaidi and his accompanying delegation in Riyadh, where they discussed regional developments and ways to coordinate joint efforts to enhance regional security and stability.

Al-Zaidi expressed the Iraqi government’s condemnation of the attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and its rejection of all attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure during conflicts, describing such acts as a direct threat to regional security and stability.

He reaffirmed Iraq’s firm position that its territory must not be used as a launching pad for attacks or activities that threaten the security of Saudi Arabia or other countries in the region. He also stressed Iraq’s commitment to good-neighbourly relations and respect for the sovereignty of Iraq and its brotherly and friendly countries.

The statement added that the meeting reviewed Iraqi-Saudi relations and ways to develop cooperation across various sectors, with particular emphasis on strengthening security coordination between the two countries to address the challenges facing the region.

For his part, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s support for the Iraqi government’s efforts to promote dialogue as a means of achieving regional stability.

The Council of Representatives is scheduled to convene on Thursday to vote on the remaining cabinet nominations in the presence of Prime Minister al-Zaidi.

A statement issued on Wednesday said the agenda for Thursday’s session contained a single item: voting on candidates nominated for the positions of deputy prime ministers and the vacant and newly created ministerial portfolios.

The session was scheduled following political consultations aimed at completing the government’s formation, amid expectations that the candidates’ names and the allocation of ministerial portfolios among political blocs and parties would be finalised.

Al-Zaidi had formally requested that the Speaker of the Council of Representatives schedule the vote for Thursday, covering nominees for the deputy premierships and the vacant and newly established ministries. The request cited Article 76, Fourth, of the Iraqi Constitution and was intended to complete the government’s cabinet lineup.

According to a document signed by the Prime Minister on Wednesday, the deputy prime ministers would perform their duties without salaries, financial allocations or the establishment of new appointments for their offices.

Political reports and leaked information indicate that several parties and alliances have put forward candidates for prominent ministerial positions, although the nominations remain subject to political negotiations and parliamentary approval.

The State of Law Coalition, led by Nouri al-Maliki, has reportedly nominated senior figure Yasser Sukhail for the Interior Ministry, one of the government’s most prominent sovereign portfolios.

Haider Baha, dean of the College of Pharmacy at Al-Nahrain University, has been proposed for the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

For the Defence Ministry, Lieutenant General Pilot Ali al-Araji has emerged as a candidate nominated by the Hasm Alliance.

Meanwhile, Mohammed al-Mousawi, representing Asaib Ahl al-Haq, has been proposed for the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, while Safaa al-Kinani, representing the National Wisdom Movement, has been nominated for the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Ali al-Nuaimi has reportedly been put forward by the Azm Alliance for the Ministry of Planning, while Zaid Ali, from the same alliance, has been proposed for the Ministry of Culture.

The Kurdistan Democratic Party, meanwhile, continues to insist on nominating Ribaz Hamlan for the Ministry of Construction and Housing.

The Ministry of Migration and Displacement remains unresolved, with negotiations continuing in an effort to identify a candidate acceptable to the various political parties. The portfolio is particularly sensitive because, under previous political understandings, it has been linked to representation of the Christian component.

The outcome of Thursday’s parliamentary session is expected to be a key step in determining whether the remaining ministerial positions can be filled and the government’s formation brought to completion./ End



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