Fuad Masum: We must resolve problems through dialogue
Iraq's President Fuad Masum recently spoke with Rudaw about the currently political crisis in Baghdad and his efforts to bridge an agreement to bring it to an end.
"In the few coming days I need to talk to all sides and find another way to resolve the problem," Masum told Rudaw.
"We must resolve the problems through dialogue. Today no political side can use force against the other. We have to reach an agreement through dialogue," he added.
Masum also talked about Iraq's economy, relations with the United States and the ongoing war against Islamic State (ISIS).
Rudaw: How has Iraq ended up in this current political situation?
Fuad Masum: When Abadi was appointed Prime Minister of Iraq he had his own perspective on different issues but he never made clear that he has problem with his cabinet and some government agencies. Instead he dismissed without consultation three of his deputies and three deputies of the president. Parliament had approved the decision unexpectedly hours later and that is when the problems began.
You had a project to resolve the crisis in the past few days, why has it failed?
The project was agreed by everyone and it was possible to follow the steps that were set out, the problem was one political side had their own agenda and they were ready to forward it while the other side had no preparation. That is why the project had no result.
So the project has already failed. Are you going to have an alternative project?
Sure. We must resolve problems through dialogue. Today no political side can use force against the other. We have to reach an agreement through dialogue.
In the few coming days I need to talk to all sides and find another way to resolve the problem. They all look at the Iraqi presidency’s role in resolving the issues. The presidency is not taking a side in this dispute and yesterday I told the protesters who visited me that I am not with you, against you and I am not with you against them but we need to put our efforts together to solve these problems. Parliament should not be frozen because Iraq has a parliamentary system and it needs to be active.
It has been said the Presidency is neutral and stands with no specific political parties. Does it include Kurdish factions in Baghdad?
This issue is always being discussed as if the Iraqi presidency has no links to the Kurdish presidency. That is not true. Kurdistan is part of this state and their interests should be considered as the interests of all the other parts. I must not ignore one for the other but Kurds are parts of parliament and other organizations as well. I coordinate with all sides.
There was a decision to dismiss the three presidencies but then they agreed to remain in place. Do Americans and Iranians agreed on they should continue?
People who talk about dismissal of presidencies might not fully understand how the process works. It might be possible to dismiss the head of parliament but the Prime Minister cannot be dismissed in this way. The case should be investigated well and he must be given a chance in parliament to defend himself before any decision is made.
The president is also not easy to dismiss. Only the Federal court can decide to dismiss a president if he violates the constitution or he committed treason.
What have the Americans said about the presidencies dismissal?
They are worried. They don’t want to see their role and Iraq harmed by this current crisis. They would like to see a stable Iraq which overcomes its problems.
What they are most worried about?
Americans are worried that there is a war going on and on the other side the country which is facing a financial crisis coupled with local political tensions. America is helping us in many different ways but they are not intervening. In several parts of Iraq where we are fighting Daesh (ISIS) there are the American forces that give us support. However there are other forces as well, for example Iran that was the first country to help us, but the influential force that have been used in this war is only in the potential and capability of America and the coalition forces.
On the other side we also have financial problems and to resolve that we need America to directly help us or indirectly support Iraq through the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
So can you in briefly tell us what the American’s message is to the Iraqis?
They expressed their worries. They never give demands in their relations to other countries. Americans act as a friend towards Iraq and without a doubt we consider them a friend and some neighboring countries are brothers to us. Of course an exchange of ideas is needed.
Some lawmakers claim that political parties in Iraq cannot reach an agreement because they are each affiliated with a foreign country. Is that true?
No it is not. There might be states that are not happy with Iraq as it is but there is not such a case in which a strong country wants Iraq to fail.
"In the few coming days I need to talk to all sides and find another way to resolve the problem," Masum told Rudaw.
"We must resolve the problems through dialogue. Today no political side can use force against the other. We have to reach an agreement through dialogue," he added.
Masum also talked about Iraq's economy, relations with the United States and the ongoing war against Islamic State (ISIS).
Rudaw: How has Iraq ended up in this current political situation?
Fuad Masum: When Abadi was appointed Prime Minister of Iraq he had his own perspective on different issues but he never made clear that he has problem with his cabinet and some government agencies. Instead he dismissed without consultation three of his deputies and three deputies of the president. Parliament had approved the decision unexpectedly hours later and that is when the problems began.
You had a project to resolve the crisis in the past few days, why has it failed?
The project was agreed by everyone and it was possible to follow the steps that were set out, the problem was one political side had their own agenda and they were ready to forward it while the other side had no preparation. That is why the project had no result.
So the project has already failed. Are you going to have an alternative project?
Sure. We must resolve problems through dialogue. Today no political side can use force against the other. We have to reach an agreement through dialogue.
In the few coming days I need to talk to all sides and find another way to resolve the problem. They all look at the Iraqi presidency’s role in resolving the issues. The presidency is not taking a side in this dispute and yesterday I told the protesters who visited me that I am not with you, against you and I am not with you against them but we need to put our efforts together to solve these problems. Parliament should not be frozen because Iraq has a parliamentary system and it needs to be active.
It has been said the Presidency is neutral and stands with no specific political parties. Does it include Kurdish factions in Baghdad?
This issue is always being discussed as if the Iraqi presidency has no links to the Kurdish presidency. That is not true. Kurdistan is part of this state and their interests should be considered as the interests of all the other parts. I must not ignore one for the other but Kurds are parts of parliament and other organizations as well. I coordinate with all sides.
There was a decision to dismiss the three presidencies but then they agreed to remain in place. Do Americans and Iranians agreed on they should continue?
People who talk about dismissal of presidencies might not fully understand how the process works. It might be possible to dismiss the head of parliament but the Prime Minister cannot be dismissed in this way. The case should be investigated well and he must be given a chance in parliament to defend himself before any decision is made.
The president is also not easy to dismiss. Only the Federal court can decide to dismiss a president if he violates the constitution or he committed treason.
What have the Americans said about the presidencies dismissal?
They are worried. They don’t want to see their role and Iraq harmed by this current crisis. They would like to see a stable Iraq which overcomes its problems.
What they are most worried about?
Americans are worried that there is a war going on and on the other side the country which is facing a financial crisis coupled with local political tensions. America is helping us in many different ways but they are not intervening. In several parts of Iraq where we are fighting Daesh (ISIS) there are the American forces that give us support. However there are other forces as well, for example Iran that was the first country to help us, but the influential force that have been used in this war is only in the potential and capability of America and the coalition forces.
On the other side we also have financial problems and to resolve that we need America to directly help us or indirectly support Iraq through the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
So can you in briefly tell us what the American’s message is to the Iraqis?
They expressed their worries. They never give demands in their relations to other countries. Americans act as a friend towards Iraq and without a doubt we consider them a friend and some neighboring countries are brothers to us. Of course an exchange of ideas is needed.
Some lawmakers claim that political parties in Iraq cannot reach an agreement because they are each affiliated with a foreign country. Is that true?
No it is not. There might be states that are not happy with Iraq as it is but there is not such a case in which a strong country wants Iraq to fail.