Dr. Shakhwan Abdullah and the Australian Ambassador stress the importance of strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries, and enabling the new MPs to perform their legislative and oversight duties 

Deputy Speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives, Dr. Shakhwan Abdullah Ahmed, discussed in his official office in Baghdad today, Tuesday 4/12/2022, with the Australian Ambassador to Iraq, Mrs. Paula Ganley, A number of topics and issues of common interest, and the two sides stressed the importance of strengthening bilateral relations and ways to expand the volume of cooperation between the two friendly countries in all fields, The new deputies supported in this parliamentary session and the hold of training courses to enable them to perform their legislative and oversight duties. The meeting was attended by the Deputy Ambassador, Mr. Bertek Rasussky.

In his speech, the Deputy Speaker indicated that the Council of Representatives is continuing its work and is keen to hold sessions and pass important laws despite the presence of political problems and disagreements, The state of obstruction, the violation of constitutional deadlines, the failure to elect the President of the Republic and the formation of the new government have affected the situation in general, Especially the repercussions of the Russian-Ukrainian war on the economic side and the high prices of food commodities, as well as the failure to legislate the Federal Budget Law for the year 2022, Which added another burden to the file of services and projects implementation, Abdullah expressed his hope that the political crisis will ease in the coming days of this blessed month.

Ganley expressed her happiness at the opportunity to hold this meeting to discuss a number of files and the work of the Council of Representatives at the current phase, She stressed the keenness of the State of Australia to continue supporting the Iraqi government and people in a way that enhances stability and overcomes problems and challenges to achieve development and provide services to citizens.

Media Office of the Deputy Speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives
Tuesday 12 April 2022