Baghdad- Iraq is passing through several political, security and economic difficult situations. War against ISIS, with the treasury about to go bankrupt and the people protesting for the government and political parties to fight the ongoing corruption, all are among those lines of challenges facing Iraq today.

Amid all the turmoil Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi surprised his political colleagues with a mission on ministerial change which left the administration confused for not knowing the means and new conditions annexed to this change.

The Iraqi politician and former Vice President Osama al-Nujaifi leader of the moderate Sunni al-Hadba party and highest ranking Sunni politician of Iraq denied anything regarding the change stating that it is “not true.
“The announcement on the change or ministerial permutation is an attempt to escape forward, and a chance taken at jumping over commitments and duties, and gain time, not to have a real change applied” al-Nujaifi added.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Baghdad, al-Nujaifi said that he is not independent to his own judgment and decision making but rather is forced by his party’s collective decisions and the framework of the national coalition that has already given him the vote that placed him in his position today. He also added that he is pressured by certain international forces.

With his ever known honesty, al-Nujaifi said that the Popular Mobilization Forces participating to free Mosul is a red line not to be crossed. He also revealed that there are Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officers and Lebanon-Hezbollah members in Iraq training armed militias.

Moreover al-Nujaifi praised the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for helping the people of al-Anbar governorate saying “we value this step… Saudi Arabia has always been the first to help out the people of Iraq”

When asked on al-Abadi formerly mentioning his willingness to form a technocratic administration, given that he previously claimed that his current administration was already a technocratic one, al- Nujaifi said “the Prime Minister’s proposal in the Parliament was not clear. Two days ago there was a meeting which included all three authorities the republic, parliament, and government, I attended it and we all have not understood what is wanted from the ministerial change”
When he was asked on the true intentions meant for reform, al-Nujaifi answered with “ It depends on the decision makers’ vision, they can resolve true problems. The case here is not merely a change of one minister
“The suit revolves around sectarian strife in the country and the presence of longstanding policies that force the administration and gains over lands, regions, and authoritative positions and defends them as to take over controlling the country one way or another.”

As for Sunni political support he said “there is clear support of Arab countries. It sides by them though that’s all, so does Turkey and the U.N. “

However on refugee support and relief, al Nujaifi said that it is ongoing and persistent. “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has always been the first to provide humanitarian support to the people of Iraq, and has already presented half a billion dollars.
“A few days ago, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, deeply appreciated and thanked, directed for helping the people in al-Anbar people, which is a highly valued and positive step.”