Readout of the Vice President’s Call with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi

Vice President Biden spoke this morning with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.  The Vice President congratulated Prime Minister Abadi on the selection and approval of seven new cabinet ministers, including new Ministers of Defense, Finance, and Interior.  For the first time since 2010, Iraq now has a full slate of national security ministers approved by the Council of Representatives.  The Prime Minister and Vice President discussed the work ahead, including steps to rebuild Iraq’s security forces and enlist all of Iraq’s communities in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).