South Korea to relax travel restrictions to Iraq, citing business

 

By Rudaw 9 hours ago

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South Korea to relax travel restrictions to Iraq, citing business
Composite image of the flags of South Korea, the Kurdistan Region, and Iraq. Photo: Rudaw/CC
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — South Korea will start to roll back its travel ban to Iraq amid a rise in business travel requests and the Iraqi forces’ gains in Mosul.

The South Korean Foreign Ministry in Seoul announced on Thursday that its Overseas National Security Division has decided to include limited new business in Iraq for its “exceptional passport license review.”

It added that such reviews were previously banned since the fall of Mosul by ISIS in 2014, but because of Iraqi government troops, the security situation has improved.

“A large number of Korean companies” have asked to travel into Iraq and applications have increased, according to the ministry.

“It is expected that the inclusion of new projects in Iraq will be the foundation for Korean companies to enter the restoration and infrastructure construction projects in Iraq,” the statement concluded.

South Korea maintains a consulate in Erbil.

South Korea and the Kurdistan Region have cooperated on many projects such as a water treatment facilities and other infrastructure projects.

The Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has had an office in Erbil since 2004. It manages KOICA projects and training programs, including sponsorship programs.

– See more at: http://www.rudaw.net/mobile/english/business/110520171#sthash.FBTVkjSj.dpuf

 

Trump’s visit to the region, reactivating the strategy of the pillars

 

Dr. Salim Mohammed Al-Zanoun *

President Trump has started his first visit since he took office on May 23 as his first stop on his international tour. This represents a change in the spatial dimension only with former US President Obama who preferred to visit Egypt as a first stop. To the end of a foreign policy and a new vision of foreign policy, a better understanding of the complexities of the Middle East crises, and the practice of Trump management to adopt policies that differ with the policies of the previous administration, has been restored work Pillars “strategy based on strengthening the relationship with allies The Arabs and the Limitations Iran is advancing in the region while curbing its nuclear program.

As a result, the relationship between the United States and the Arab countries improved significantly during the first quarter of 2017. In this context, the visit of King Abdullah II to Washington last February and the visit of Saudi Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman in March last year, And the visit of Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi in April, in return, the US National Security Council began a comprehensive assessment of US policy with Iran, and thus working to assess the suspension of sanctions within the framework of the nuclear agreement, And that the goal of the nuclear agreement of a non-nuclear Iran has not been achieved. In practice, the US administration continues to put Iran under pressure, imposing sanctions on 30 countries, A businessman and companies from China and North Korea who violated the ban and transferred technology related to the missile program to Tehran and imposed sanctions on the brother of Qods Force commander Qassim Soleimani for his responsibility for attacks on and torture of prisoners in Iranian jails.

Pillars’ strategy provides an explanation for Trump’s Middle East tour and the start of Saudi Arabia. It is part of the restructuring of the strategic partnership in the Middle East, in terms of the alignment and consistency of risks between the two sides, in terms of Iranian threat, peace process and countering extremism.

First: the Iranian threat.

The Iranian threat is a common interest of the United States and Saudi Arabia. The Trump administration of Iran is a major supporter of terrorism not only in the Middle East but also in the world, and there is an immediate need to rein in it, so Iran will be a top priority in discussing Iran’s increasing involvement in Syria, Lebanon and Yemen. , Its nuclear program and conventional weapons, and discussion of coping mechanisms and tools.

In this context, we can discuss the vision of US Defense Secretary James Matisse to cooperate in building a broader security architecture that includes cooperation with Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE aimed at strengthening the US partnership in the region to deter and defeat threats. Which you publish.

Second: the peace process.

The visit will include three main summits: the first with the Saudi political leadership, the second with the GCC countries and the third with leaders of Arab and Islamic countries. This will be an opportunity to discuss how to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and resume Israeli-Palestinian negotiations under an Arab and Islamic umbrella. Convening a regional conference to launch negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

In this context, it is possible for the US administration to present a vision for settling the crises in the region, based on exchanging land and leasing other areas, both with regard to ending the Palestinian-Israeli conflict or settling the Saudi-

  • A massive exchange of land between Israel and the Palestinians precedes the establishment of a Palestinian state, whereby Egypt will lease the Palestinians, without formally derogating from its sovereignty, an area adjacent to Gaza inRafah .
  • Saudi Arabia gives Egypt a foothold on the eastern bank of the Red Sea,weakening opposition to the Sisi decision to hand over the islands of Tiran and Sanafir to Saudi Arabia.

Third: Fighting extremism.

The Trump administration in Saudi Arabia sees the natural address of addressing Muslims in the world because of its religious status and its containment of the holy sites in Islam. This is the opposite of the Obama experience, which addressed Muslims from Cairo and Istanbul. The choice of the place leaves a great impact on Muslim attitudes around the world. On the moderate orientation in the face of extremism, and the identification of Israel as a second state and the Vatican as a third country in the visit has significance, so that Israel, the Vatican and Saudi Arabia centers of the three divine religions, indicating that the United States is determined to promote dialogue between civilizations and And to create a united religious front in the face of extremism. Therefore, confronting extremist organizations will be a priority for discussion, while discussing the bases and the military, security, economic and social mechanisms to confront them.

Link Center for Research and Strategic Studies

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Abadi , looking Kurds problems and positions of the Democratic Party with the parliamentary bloc


 Twilight News    

 one hour ago
Twilight News / hold Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al – Abadi, on Thursday evening, a meeting with the Kurdistan Democratic Party bloc in the Iraqi Council of Representatives, while the information indicated that the two sides discussed the problems of Kurds in Baghdad and the positions of the party and other issues. 

He said a source familiar with in Baghdad that the meeting included a hub of important issues in Kurdistan and the problems of the Kurds in Baghdad with the Iraqi authorities, adding that the filling of vacant positions for Balchord, especially the Democratic Party ‘s share in the focus of another meeting. 

And provided political consensus under which the current government was formed on Abadi to take over the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Ministry of Finance and Chief of Staff of the Iraqi army, but the first is still vacant while the other was administered agency.

http://www.shafaaq.com/ar/Ar_NewsReader/dc8941db-9ca6-4e48-ae90-330247b8d028

Baghdad looks forward to the implementation of investment projects in the areas of energy and water

History of edits:: 2017/5/11 21:02 


[Baghdad: Wayne] 

revealed the governor of Baghdad Atwan Atwani about the intention of maintaining contract with investment companies to carry out important projects in the field of energy and water purification.

He said Atwani according to a statement MEMRI media and his office during a meeting with a Turkish company today that “Baghdad province is looking to implement projects in the areas of water filter and installing pumps to address the scarcity of water in the areas of Parties, as well as the problems of alternative energy projects.” 

He added : “We have important projects in the field of water and energy projects filter to enter into investment and competition with other companies in this area.”

http://www.alliraqnews.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=61801

US intelligence: Daesh lose more land in Iraq

 

History of edits:: 2017/5/11 22:2225 times readable
{International: Euphrates News} said US national intelligence director Daniel Coates, said Thursday that the terrorist gangs Daesh lose more land areas in Iraq and Syria with the continued anti-terrorism operations aimed at weakening it.
He Cotes in his testimony before the intelligence committee in the US Congress, that “Daesh will remain a terrorist threat to the United States , where he proved his abilities to manage attacks and encourage them against a variety of targets in different parts of the world.”
On Afghanistan , he predicted Cotes that ” the political and security situation in Afghanistan will deteriorate during the year 2018 despite the increase in military aid provided by the United States and its partners for Afghanistan , ” .anthy

US Central Command pays tribute to the professionalism of security forces and confirms support for Iraq

 

History of edits:: 2017/5/11 21:0012 times readable
{Baghdad: Euphrates News} Central praised the US Central Command, on Thursday, the professionalism of security forces during the liberation of the cities fighting terrorist gangs Daesh, during a meeting with Defense Minister Irfan Hayali.
A statement by the Ministry of Defense, the agency received {Euphrates News}, a copy of it, that Hayali “received at the headquarters of the US Department of Defense Central Command chief General Joseph Votal and his accompanying delegation, was discussed during the meeting the course of the ongoing liberalization areas that are still under the control of Daesh military operations terrorist in the battle of the right coast and the victories achieved for our heroine. ”
Gave the US general, “congratulated the Iraqi forces on the achievements made in Mosul , and still achieved with securing the lives of citizens , which is one of the first concerns of those military operations that reflected the experience and professionalism of Iraqi forces and the Iraqi army to protect the lives of Iraqis.”
He stressed that “his country ‘s full support for Iraq in the field of training and armament and exchange of intelligence information and training intelligence, continued support for the post – Daesh” .anthy

International Development Bank gets a membership license for the company MasterCard Global

 

Baghdad:

Established the International Development Bank on Thursday signed a contract granting basic membership license to the company MasterCard Worldwide, in the Baghdad ceremony.
 
Said Chairman of the Development Bank management Ziad Khalaf in his speech during the signing ceremony attended by “Economy News,” We look forward through this partnership with international institutions, the advancement of the reality of the Iraqi banking and the introduction of the latest banking electronics and provide the best services to our customers in accordance with the mechanisms and standards that set by the Central Bank of Iraq.
 
He added that the bank received the e-card license in 2016 according to the requirements of the Central Bank, adding that our bank is ready to cooperate with banks to serve the banking technology revolution and create new services for introducing them into the work of the banking system.
 
Ziad noted that the Development Bank was able to acquire a significant share of the total domestic trade and banking market through the presence of a wide branch network of 13 branches and covers most of the major provinces in Iraq, including the Kurdistan region.
 
For his part, General Manager of MasterCard in the Middle East, Mohammed Basil Hill, spoke about the advantages of the card where is considered your key to the world and provide the balance of a ceiling of credit is high and strongly Anfakih exceptional and provide the best services and international and domestic discounts for users of MasterCard card, adding that the customer after receiving the card can take advantage of them in his works daily from travel bookings and offers shopping and entertainment around the world as well as provide special features for the business of hotel reservations, tourist and discounts for purchases and offers exclusive travel to luxury resorts around the world.
 
Meanwhile, Executive Director of the Association of Private Banks Ali Tariq, stressed that the private banks access and use of modern banking technologies and introducing them into the banking business, noting that the move is a great banker achievement for the development of the banking business and the introduction of modern technology to serve customers.
 
He noted that the Central Bank of Iraq and the Association of Private banks are keen to encourage banks to use modern technology to keep pace with progress in other foreign banks.

of Iraq , set a date to defeat Daesh Atantha two weeks

 

Iraq sets a date to defeat Daesh Atantha two weeks
2 hours ago

Twilight News First Lt. Gen. Othman Ghanimi Chief of Staff of the Iraqi army / said that the full restoration of Mosul , the process of what is known as the organization of the Islamic state will be concluded within days.
Ghanimi said he hoped to defeat the organization before the start of the month of Ramadan, which is expected to be approved May 26 / May of this.
He added that the gains made by the army in the north means besieging militants organized in a very small space.
Mosul fell in the hands of the organization in 2014, the last bastions of civil organization in Iraq.
Iraqi forces launched a massive military operation to restore the city in October / last October with the support of air strikes from US – led coalition.
The Iraqi army was able to regain the eastern part of the city completely in January, and began the attack on the western part of the city the following month.
Still less than the organization of militants trapped in several north – west areas of the city, including the old city, and is believed to be about 45 thousand civilians trapped in the area.
Said Ghanimi “The security forces , a large and effective effort against Daesh and will end it in a matter of days.”
” I say that the rest of Mosul will be liberated before the beginning of the holy month ofRamadan.”
A week ago units of armored forces and opened up the rapid response of the Interior Ministry a new front in the north after the cessation of progress in the densely populated south and west of the old city.
Progress has been limited in the north of the city initially because of fierce resistance from the militants of the organization who used snipers and car bombs.
The United Nations said that the Mosul operation claimed the lives of eight thousand civilians dead and wounded, but the number includes only those transferred to hospitals.
Iraq does not issue official statistics , the number of victims, but a US general said at the end of March / March that 774 Iraqi soldiers were killed and wounded 4,600 others.
The fighting displaced 620 thousand people, including 414 thousand from the west of Mosul, according to Iraqi forces he said.
Most of the displaced and took refuge to the nearby camps and reception centers, and others remain with relatives and friends.
The United Nations says that between one hundred thousand and two hundred thousand others could flee the city before the final battle in the old city.
On Monday , the International Committee of the Red Cross ( ICRC ) expressed concern about civilians in areas controlled by the organization, saying they face “very difficult choices,” with running out of water and food stocks.
BBC

 

Iraq presents the settlement of compensation and debt-for-Kuwait Investment

economy Since 05/11/2017 19:08 am (Baghdad time)

 

Baghdad balances News

It discussed the Iraqi Ministry of Finance, with the US Embassy in Kuwait and compensation settled by means of investment, noting that it was the ministry’s readiness to complete the second review of the program of meetings to prepare the credit with the International Monetary Fund.

The finance minister said in a statement I followed / scales News /, that “the ministry has held discussions with the deputy US ambassador to Iraq and his accompanying delegation mechanisms to complete readiness credit program with the International Monetary Fund,” stressing “the ministry’s readiness to complete the second review of the program to prepare the credit with the Fund meetings international Monetary. ”

“The meeting also discussed compensation with the State of Kuwait and ways to file settled through investment window inside Iraq.”

The Iraq still pays compensation to Kuwait during the Iraqi invasion in 1990, while Kuwait agreed to postpone such compensation over the past two years at the request of Iraq as a result of low Alinvt.anthy 29 / m h n Prices

http://www.mawazin.net/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%82-%D9%8A%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%B6-%D8%AA%D8%B3%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%B9%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%B6%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%88%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%83%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%AA-%D9%85%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%AB%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B1

Abadi discuss with the US Central Command Mosul Operations

History of edits:: 2017/5/11 19:04 


{Baghdad} Euphrates News Search Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, on Thursday, with the Central US Central Command, the course of editing the city of Mosul operations.
A statement by the Prime Minister ‘s Office, the agency {Euphrates News} received a copy of it, that Abadi “received in his office on Thursday, Central US Central Command , General Joseph Votal and his accompanying delegation, was discussed during the meeting progress of liberalization of Mosul operations and victories achieved, arming and training of our armed forces in addition to the situation in the region. ” 

The new General Votal, “his country ‘s support for Iraq in the fight against terrorism”, praising “progress and development of Iraqi forces and achieved victories over the terrorist gangs Daesh” .anthy

http://alforatnews.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=142509