Kubic Hopes To Form New Iraqi Government By Eid al-Adha

BAGHDAD, IRAQ (NINA) - The head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), Jan Kubic said he hoped the new Iraqi government would be formed by Eid al-Adha, and to meet the aspirations of Iraqis who, in their recent demonstrations, sent a "very strong message" expressing their frustration with the political system and for "foreign interference" in their affairs. "There is an opportunity for religious authority Ali Sistani to influence the thinking of the political forces," Kubic said in a press statement followed by NINA, calling on the authorities in Baghdad to continue the policy of openness initiated by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi with neighboring countries, especially Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states. Concerning the demonstrations in the south of the country, he said "People have sent a very strong message about what they expect from the government and meet their needs, and the country's need for very deep reforms, anti-corruption and so on," "There is an opportunity for Ali Sistani to express his opinion and definitely influence the thinking of the political forces," he said, adding that "people had addressed "messages by expressing their aspirations for the future government and its program." He hoped that the political parties should rush to the final stage of consultations to form a government that must be with reform and meet the aspirations of people and their needs and has the political will to do so./ End