Iraqi Day- Twitter
Day: February 4, 2017
National Alliance proposes the formation of committees to address the outstanding issues between Baghdad and Erbil
History of edits:: 02/04/2017 22:41
[Where – Baghdad]
suggest that the National Alliance delegation to the President of the Kurdistan region , Massoud Barzani, on Saturday, the formation of a joint political committee to address the outstanding issues between Baghdad and Erbil.
A member of the Alliance MP Ali Keywords during a news conference in Erbil in the presence of a number of members of the coalition and political leaders in response, “We proposed to the Barzani and the Kurdish leaders to form a joint political committees between the coalition and the Kurdistan region.”
Keywords and added that “there are issues that need to dialogue and understanding and treatments of a constitutional nature , ” asserting that “we talk with an open heart.”
For his part, the spokesman for the Iraqi Islamic Supreme Council of Maaleh Hamid said during the conference that “national reconciliation draft paper rescue the current situation and are based on the fact that the situation in Iraq suffered from vibrations.”
Maaleh He pointed out that ” the project is a securities touched the problems of Iraqis, and able to provide all the ingredients leaves out legislation.”
And reached the National Alliance delegation led by Ammar al – Hakim on Saturday to Arbil and met with the President of the Kurdistan region , Massoud Barzani also met with Kurdish parties held there.
http://www.alliraqnews.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=57877
NATO’s in-country training program of Iraqi soldiers set to begin
By Rudaw 8 minutes ago
Iraqi forces during a NATO training exercise in Amman, Jordan. Photo: Jake Tupman/NATO Channel
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – NATO will begin a small training program in Iraq on Sunday, focusing on countering the threats of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
“The training inside Iraq is modest, but it is scalable, and I believe NATO both can and should do more,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told the Wall Street Journal. “This is a start, and then we will assess, work with allies and look at what more we can do.”
A team of 10 NATO officers are permanently stationed in Iraq. In addition, small teams will rotate into the country for specific training programs. They will initially train 30 Iraqi soldiers in countering the threat of IEDs who will then take the knowledge back to their units, the Journal reported.
The military alliance will also provide protective equipment.
NATO has already trained hundreds of Iraqi officers in Jordan; the move into Iraq is to expand that existing program, Stoltenberg said last December, noting that “building local capacity” was essential as ISIS is defeated in the country and Iraq will face the challenge of holding the regained territory.
Airline alliance waging a 38 raid on Daesh sites in Iraq and Syria
History of edits:: 02/04/2017 20:34 • 38 visits readable
[Where – Baghdad] the
international coalition forces led by the United States 38 raid on a terrorist Daesh gangs in Iraq and Syria sites during the last 24 hours.
international coalition forces led by the United States 38 raid on a terrorist Daesh gangs in Iraq and Syria sites during the last 24 hours.
The central leadership of the operations of the international coalition in a statement Saturday it had carried out seven raids targeted Daesh sites in Iraq near areas of Hawija, Erbil and Mosul.
He said it carried out 31 raids against Daesh sites near Abu Kamal in Syria and door areas and Raqqa and Idlib.
He said it carried out 31 raids against Daesh sites near Abu Kamal in Syria and door areas and Raqqa and Idlib.
In compliance with the court order .. US Secretary cancel “ban Trump”
History of edits:: 02/04/2017 18:52 • 65 visits readable
{International: Euphrates News} announced the US State Department on Saturday, it will be allowed for people who hold valid visas to travel to the United States, an obligation by virtue of a federal judge in Seattle stopped the Executive Order issued by President Donald Trump.
A statement issued by a ministry official, “we retreat from the temporary suspension of visas and people who hold visas they have not been canceled can travel if applicable.”
Earlier Saturday, described Trump ‘s decision to suspend his decree that temporarily prohibits the entry of the citizens of seven countries, as “ridiculous.”
US President wrote on “Twitter” in a series of Tweets morning the day after thedecision: “This is what is called the judge, which deprives our country of law enforcement opinion, is ridiculous and will be canceled.”
Trump confirmed that the judge ‘s decision will display the country ‘s “big problems”.
The court issued a Seattle, Washington, on Friday, a decision to stop the temporary work Trump ‘s decision to suspend the executive exodus of refugees and visitors from seven countries , most of the population are Muslims, are Iran, Syria, Iraq, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia.
After this decision, the US Customs and Border allowed to re – issuance of visas to those affected by the decision of the US president.
The court stated in its decision to pause in the application of the Pan American States.
The temporary restraining order, issued by Judge major challenge for the president ‘s decision, although he still can manage to appeal the verdict .anthy
Earlier Saturday, described Trump ‘s decision to suspend his decree that temporarily prohibits the entry of the citizens of seven countries, as “ridiculous.”
US President wrote on “Twitter” in a series of Tweets morning the day after thedecision: “This is what is called the judge, which deprives our country of law enforcement opinion, is ridiculous and will be canceled.”
Trump confirmed that the judge ‘s decision will display the country ‘s “big problems”.
The court issued a Seattle, Washington, on Friday, a decision to stop the temporary work Trump ‘s decision to suspend the executive exodus of refugees and visitors from seven countries , most of the population are Muslims, are Iran, Syria, Iraq, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia.
After this decision, the US Customs and Border allowed to re – issuance of visas to those affected by the decision of the US president.
The court stated in its decision to pause in the application of the Pan American States.
The temporary restraining order, issued by Judge major challenge for the president ‘s decision, although he still can manage to appeal the verdict .anthy
Hakim meet with Barzani and the region looking to strengthen the relationship with the central government
Political
Since 04/02/2017 18:34 pm (Baghdad time)
Baghdad balances News
The head of the National Alliance, Mr. Ammar al-Hakim during his meeting with the President of the Kurdistan region, Massoud Barzani, to the mosque and reassuring project preserves the rights of all to overcome the challenges of the post-Daesh.
The presidency of the coalition said in a statement I followed / balances News / Saturday, he said that “the two sides discussed during the meeting in Arbil today, developments in the political and security situation and the war on Daesh, and ways to strengthen the region relationship with the central government in Baghdad and overcome all the problems and differences.”
The statement said, “The two sides discussed developments in the political and security situation and the war on Daesh, and ways to strengthen the region relationship with the central government in Baghdad and overcome all the problems and differences.
The two sides, according to the statement, “Iraq’s need for a draft omnibus reassuring and preserves the rights of all to overcome the challenges and secretions post Daesh terrorist.”
He said the leadership of the coalition of citizen Fadi al-Shammari balances News that “the National Alliance’s delegation arrived in Arbil for a series of talks with officials of the regional government in the framework of communication with the Kurdistan region of Iraq.”
“The visit of the National Alliance delegation, headed by Mr. Ammar al-Hakim, in Kurdistan, come for dialogue, consultation and discuss and exchange views with partners in the homeland around the post Daesh gangs of terror, and that al-Hakim will be meeting in Arbil and Sulaymaniyah with the various forces of Kurdistan and will put everyone in the image of the national settlement project as well, to emphasize the importance of cooperation and understanding and work to protect the political experience and the democratic process, that carry our people in all factions, and its components great sacrifices in the process. ”
He added that “This visit has great strategic importance because the Kurdish forces and the coalition forces have a strategic cooperation in the opposition stage, and in the stage of building the state after the fall and today bear a moral imperative in the sustainability of the political process and to correct its tracks.”
is over
Progress for Reform and Development Institute will hold a panel discussion on monetary policy in the country
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special.
Institute for the progress of the policies of development systems in Baghdad on Saturday, a seminar titled (monetary policy challenges) in the presence of the governor of the Iraqi Central Bank on the Keywords and representatives of the financial and banking sectors of the economy including the Association of private banks.
And accept the central bank governor at the beginning of the seminar functions and powers of the bank in the field of monetary policy, which is to maintain the Sarabv by selling the currency and achieving balance and Alastaqraralnkadi window, preventing money washed and financing of terrorism, smuggling crimes.
Noting the need for the independence of the central bank, which vary from state to state depending on the fiscal policy of the country.
In answering to the intervention Alkhbayralaguetsada Bassem Jamil Antoine about the reasons for not granting loans to the industrial sector, similar to the commercial banking sector into financing large and medium enterprise initiative, Keywords that the central bank stressed launched this $ 5 trillion Danarda’m initiative and the financing of these projects despite the current financial crisis, noting that the stop happening now in this area is not due to the central bank, but the government apparatus.
For its part called on the Iraqi private banks association to involve members of the financial and economic parliamentary committees in seminars devoted to discuss the challenges faced by the private monetary policy, the banking sector in the country in general
He said the Association adviser Samir Alnasiri Speaking at a seminar hosted by the progress the Institute for Development Policy in the presence of Governor of the Central Bank on the Keywords under the challenges of monetary policy title on Saturday that the private banking sector faces a real big challenges, including the reluctance of a large segment of citizens deposit their savings in banks and withdraw another department Adaathm not for reasons of reputation risks
He pointed out that banks Kasso faces other challenges of the acquisition Government banks to 86 percent of the total deposits, as well as the effects of the financial crisis and its impact on the size of deposits in banks
Alnasiri and touched on the problems and challenges of other private banks are still exposed, including the theft of the terrorist organization Daesh $ 9 trillion dinars from 126 of its branches in the provinces occupied,
He also pointed to the detention of more than 7 trillion dinars back to private banks in the Kurdistan region represent deposits citizens.
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Abadi fends off calls by Iran allies in Iraq to react to Trump travel ban
| BAGHDAD
Iraq’s prime minister has squashed a move by pro-Iranian factions in his government who wanted to retaliate against President Donald Trump’s travel ban. The struggle shows the difficult position the Iraqi leader finds himself in – pulled between his most powerful neighbor and the United States under Trump.
For Haider al-Abadi, the situation had looked difficult on Sunday night. At a meeting of the most powerful Shi’ite leaders and their representatives, he faced calls to respond in kind to the ban affecting seven mainly Muslim nations, including Iraq.
Trump’s order had triggered angry reactions among Shi’ite politicians in Iraq. Those who are closest to Iran were insisting that Iraq should retaliate with a ban on U.S. nationals, just like Tehran did the day before.
But matters were resolved smoothly in Abadi’s favor. The prime minister warned the Shi’ite leaders that a ban on Americans would jeopardize U.S. support for the war on Islamic State. So they were prepared for the time being at least to reject the demands of the pro-Iranian lobby.
While the Shi’ite leaders agreed that the U.S. order was unfair, it was understood that Iran’s allies had no alternative plan on how to finish the battle in Mosul, the last major city under the control of IS militants, without U.S. help.
Abadi said at a news conference on Tuesday that Iraq was best served by preserving the U.S. alliance. “We are … in a battle and we don’t want to harm the national interest.”
Iran’s allies are, nevertheless, preparing to press their cause again should relations deteriorate further between Washington and Iran after the battle of Mosul, said Ahmed Younis, a professor of international relations at the University of Baghdad.
SYMBOLIC VOTE
One prominent Shi’ite member of parliament warned the situation could change if the ban was extended.
“The Americans promised to review the ban in three months,” said Hassan Khalati, a lawmaker close to Sayyid Ammar al-Hakim, a prominent Shi’ite cleric and politician who hosted Sunday’s meeting. “If it is maintained, there will be (further) pressure” on the government to retaliate, he said.
In a sign of lingering dissatisfaction a show of hands in parliament on Monday signaled that the majority of lawmakers would have preferred a retaliatory travel ban. The show of hands was symbolic because Shi’ite leaders had backed down at the meeting the day earlier.
The new American president has indicated a cooling of relations with Iran, unlike the previous administration of Barack Obama which reached a deal providing for curbs on the Iranian nuclear program in return for easing international sanctions.
Washington on Friday ratcheted up pressure on Iran, putting sanctions on 13 individuals and 12 entities days after the White House put Tehran “on notice” over a ballistic missile test.
Iran’s dominant influence in Iraqi politics was eroded after IS routed the Iraqi army commanded then by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, who was a close ally of Tehran. This forced Maliki to seek U.S. help to fight the IS militants.
But the U.S. travel curbs – which bar the admission of people from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen –
fueled the arguments of pro-Iranian political factions who seek to bolster Tehran’s influence at the expense of Washington.
Iranian officials state their support for Iraq in the war on Islamic State but make no public comments on U.S.-Iraqi affairs to avoid causing embarrassment for Baghdad.
AT ARM’S LENGTH
Unlike Maliki, Abadi has kept Iran at arm’s length. Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, who oversaw the formation of the Popular Mobilisation units receded from public view mid-2015.
But several policy-makers and analysts said the travel ban was changing the dynamic, in particular by empowering the pro-Iranian factions.
“Why should we trust the new American administration?” asked Iskandar Witwit, a lawmaker from Maliki’s bloc, the biggest in parliament. “We have the right to get closer to Iran as a secure ally in order to preserve our national interests.”
Trump’s travel ban has “definitely muddied the waters” between the two nations, Witwit added.
One veteran Iraqi politician, who declined to be named, also pointed out that Baghdad’s relationship with Washington was not a direct reflection of the assistance that has poured into Iraq.
“When you look at the level of military and financial support Iraq gets from Washington you would expect it to be as close an ally of the U.S. as Jordan or Morocco,” he said.
“And yet, Iraq appears like a reluctant ally of the U.S.; we rarely hear Iraqi officials praising the Americans when talking to an Iraqi audience,” he said.
RESISTING PRESSURE
For now, however, Abadi has pushed back the pro-Iranian factions.
At the meeting on Sunday, Abadi won the argument over those who wanted retaliation with the critical backing of Hakim, who chairs the National Alliance, an umbrella for the main Shi’ite groups.
Hakim was unavailable for comment but one of his aides said the influential leader was convinced of the pressing need to defeat IS with American military might.
In particular, Hakim’s critical support allowed Abadi to resist pressure exerted by representatives of the most radical groups within Popular Mobilisation, paramilitary units trained mainly by Iran to fight IS, who wanted Iraq to follow Iran’s lead in imposing a retaliatory ban on American travelers.
“Iraq should not become a ground where Iran and the U.S settle scores,” said MP Khalati, explaining the opinion of Hakim, the heir of one of a revered clerical dynasty whose members suffered under former dictator Saddam Hussein.
“Iran is supporting Iraq and the U.S. is supporting Iraq, our interest is to get rid of terrorism,” he said.
After the meeting, Iraq’s Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari asked the U.S. ambassador to Iraq to convey a request to reconsider the ban, arguing for the need to cooperate against IS and saying no Iraqi was involved in attacks on U.S. soil.
(Editing by Peter Millership)
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-immigration-iraq-iran-idUSKBN15I2PI?rpc=401&
Third phase of Raqqa campaign announced
Cihan Shekh Ahmed, spokesperson of the general command of the Wrath of Euphrates operation, announcing the commencement of phase three of the Raqqa campaign. Photo: Raqqa liberation campaign/Facebook
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced on Saturday the commencement of the third phase of the campaign to oust ISIS from their self-declared capital Raqqa.
The primary goal of this phase is the complete isolation of Raqqa in addition to further clearing of territory east of the city, Cihan Shekh Ahmed, spokesperson of the general command of the Wrath of Euphrates operation, announced in a press conference.
Joining this stage of the operation are new recruits from areas that have been liberated by the SDF in the first two phases of their campaign. The new recruits have received training and arms with the support of the international anti-ISIS coalition, the general command’s statement detailed.
The US-led coalition is providing air support, advice, training, and material support to the Syrian Arab Coalition (SAC), one of the elements fighting within the ethnically diverse SDF.
“The SAC is made of about 23,000 fighters, 13,000 of which are vetted. These are the only ones we train and equip,” the press office of the coalition confirmed to Rudaw English by email.
In late January, the coalition and the SDF confirmed that the coalition had provided armoured vehicles to the SAC.
The campaign to liberate Raqqa began on November 5 and saw the SDF advance on two fronts north of the city, liberating 550 square kilometres of territory in less than one week.
The second phase of the campaign was launched on December 10 with the goal of reaching the strategic al-Tabqa Dam. The SDF gained significant territory during this stage, including the historic Qalat Jabar and the large town of Suweydiya al-Kabirah, on the northern bank of the Euphrates River.
The two SDF fronts met northeast of Raqqa in early January and are now just a few kilometres from the dam. They are applying a crescent-shaped brigade on the city, from the north and north east, Ahmed confirmed last month.
Isolating the city will involve taking the Raqqa-Deir ez-Zur road.
Former US President Barack Obama’s administration developed a plan for retaking Raqqa that depended heavily on Kurdish forces, the Peoples Protection Units (YPG) who are the dominant force in the SDF, including providing them with arms. The final decision however was left to President Donald Trump.
Trump’s team reportedly rejected Obama’s plan and he has given the Pentagon until the end of February to formulate a strategy to retake the key city. Ending ISIS rule in Mosul and Raqqa will effectively end the self-proclaimed caliphate.
– See more at: http://www.rudaw.net/mobile/english/middleeast/syria/040220171#sthash.HEeyZ03G.dpuf
Senior Shiite delegation in Erbil to win support for national reconciliation plan
Ammar al-Hakim, the head of the Shiite National Alliance. He has been working on a document called the National Settlement for more than a year, aimed at restructuring Iraq after the defeat of ISIS. Photo:Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region—A high-profile delegation from the Shiite National Alliance headed by Ammar al-Hakim is due to arrive in the Kurdistan Region on Saturday where they are scheduled to meet with Kurdish President Masoud Barzani and party leaders on their Iraqi national reconciliation initiative and the future of Mosul.
The Kurdish president’s chief of staff Fuad Hussein told Rudaw that the agenda of the meeting is open, but pointed out that the Shiite delegation will be discussing the war against ISIS in Mosul, and the future of Kurdistan with Baghdad.
It is expected that al-Hakim will discuss their plan for national reconciliation in Iraq termed as National Settlement aimed at the restructuring of Iraq after the defeat of ISIS.
The National Alliance leader al-Hakim stated in late December that his group’s initiative also includes the Kurdistan Region.
Al-Hakim has been working on the project for more than a year and he has met with Iraqi parties and sought the support of such neighboring and regional countries as Iran and Jordan as well the Arab league.
The initiative’s core principle is to build future relations between Iraq’s different religious and ethnic communities and political parties.
“The objective behind this initiative is to preserve Iraq and strengthening it as an independent state as a sovereign, united, federal, and democratic country,” a document from the alliance reads.
The Kurdistan Region has long sought independence from Iraq and its president and prime minister say they have made their intentions clear to Baghdad.
However, al-Hakim’s document says that Iraqis, including the Kurds, should not “divide” Iraq under any circumstances.
“Faith and commitment in word and deed of the unity of Iraq’s land and people and preserve the sovereignty and independence of the decision and its identity and its parliamentary democratic system and reject dividing it under any circumstance,” the document reads.
The document says that the United Nation’s mission in Iraq UNAMI will take upon itself to draft the final version of the initiative.
The draft will then “be ratified in the Council of Representatives and the government after the blessing of the religious authorities, and the support and assurance from the regional and international organizations and institutions, foremost the Arab League, the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation.”
It goes on to say that “the United Nations’ mission in Iraq will work to rally enough support from the neighboring countries to make the agreed national settlement project succeed.”
Among other important principles the document calls for are:
· Real commitment to a fair distribution of wealth based on provincial populations.
· Rejecting all kinds of demographic change practiced by Saddam’s Baathist regime, and addressing all the effects of the demographic change, past and later.
· The rule of law, keeping arms in the hands of the state, and not to allow armed groups and militias outside the law.
· Working hard to free the state and its institutions from the discriminatory sectarian and ethnic quota system.
– See more at: http://www.rudaw.net/mobile/english/kurdistan/040220171#sthash.40El9jTg.dpuf
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