LEAD STORY: Iraq strives to build best relations with world states, PM says

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraq‘s Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, has said that Iraq “is heading for a new phase in building the state, developing the economy, strengthening the democratic system and leaning to the Constitution and the Law to settle all the problems it is facing,” confirming that his government “is striving seriously to build up best relations with other world states, based on the exchange of interests and non interference in each others internal affairs.” A statement by the Prime Minister‘s office, copy of which was received by IraqiNews.com on Thursday stressed that “Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, had received at his office on Thursday the Ambassadors of  foreign states, acting in Iraq, saying during the reception: “We are not worried for the problems taking place nowadays in Iraq, and we are heading forward to overcome them according to the Constitution.” Marliki, the statement said, had also called on the friendly states “not to interfere in the internal affairs of Iraq, unless in such a way that would help to settle its problems, overcome those problems and respect the Iraqi sovereignty.” “Iraq is heading towards a new phase in building the state, developing its economy, strengthening the democratic system, leaning to the Constitution and the Law to settle the problems confronting it, whilst its government is striving seriously to build the best of  relations with the world states, on basis of exchange of interests and non-interference, along with activating the Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) in all fields, as well as activating the process of building and reconstruction,” Maliki said. “For the first time in the history of Iraq, the call for commitment to the Constitution, that the Iraqis were deprived from for long decades, rises, and the Constitution has become the Highest Ruler for Iraqis, no matter what their identity might be, which is one of the most outstanding symptoms of the phase that followed the end of the dictatorial regime,” he stressed. Maliki said; “We want the Constitution to become the Master of the Situation and we hope that everybody would participate in the National Conference, to settle our problems through leaning to the Constitution,” reiterating “granting broad authorities to the Iraqi Provinces, provided they are based on the Constitution, in order to contribute in sharing the administration of their internal affairs and to ease down the responsibilities of the Federal Government.,” stressing that “there is a necessity to legislate laws by the Parliament, in order to increase the authorities of the Provinces.” Maliki said in conclusion that “the current problems confronting Iraq‘s political life is a natural thing in a country, transforming from a system of the iron-fist into a federal democratic system, authorities of which are spread and is in need for further constitutional culture and democratic practice.”