Parliament Speaker: Stability relies solely on state institutions efficiency

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Haibat al-Halbousi, emphasized on Thursday during a speech at the Sovereignty Day conference that achieving security and stability in the country does not rely merely on the withdrawal of foreign forces, but fundamentally on building and developing state institutions. He explained that the coincidence of this occasion with the conclusion of the mission of US forces and the international coalition represents a milestone requiring careful and responsible assessment rather than mere celebration. He asserted that the departure of these forces must crown the complete readiness of the state rather than serve as an opening for a vacuum that terrorist groups, chaos elements, or external interventions could exploit. He added that lessons learned from previous experiences proved that protecting security requires strengthening security capabilities, cementing independent national decision-making, advancing development and justice, and involving all citizens in defending their nation. He pointed out the necessity of drawing lessons from past withdrawals to avoid repeating the same mistakes, noting that Iraq refuses to pay heavy prices again due to any security vacuum that might facilitate the return of terrorism to cities. He mentioned that confronting ISIS demonstrated that stability is linked to the strength of institutional structures and the ability of affected areas to recover. He stated that liberated regions represent an essential pillar for the future, and that compensating victims, reconstructing areas, returning displaced persons, and empowering them constitute national imperatives to prevent extremism. He stressed that compensating victims must not remain a delayed promise, as the state is obligated to support its citizens after battles end. He continued that true sovereignty goes beyond the absence of forces to manifest in decisive power, institutional justice, state monopoly on weapons, and the enforcement of the rule of law. He affirmed that parliament will continue supporting security and developmental institutions, thanking friendly nations that supported Iraq and praising the transition toward a new phase of partnership and mutual shared interests.