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Deputy: Massoud Barzani in Baghdad soon

6-16-13 BAGHDAD / News Network Iraq – revealed Mehdi Haji MP for the Kurdistan Democratic Party, which is headed by the President of the Kurdistan region, Massoud Barzani, near the latter’s visit to Baghdad to discuss the political crisis in the country and ways to solve them.

Mentioned that Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has visited Arbil last Sunday and met with the Kurdistan Region Massoud Barzani, to hold a hearing unusual for the Council of Ministers. announced Maliki and Barzani after their meeting agreed to activate the joint committees to resolve problems and outstanding issues between Baghdad and Erbil.

Said Haji in a press statement today: “The Barzani will visit Baghdad soon and will try to which the proboscis Iraqi situation in general as it was Matvq in the Irbil and the return of political parties participating for mutual dialogue and understanding and consultation in the interest of the country and return to previous agreements to be implemented in order to get out of the current crisis which includes five provinces. ”

And added that” Barzani will try in order to return the political parties including the Iraqi List joint action, “noting that” the current situation formatted in order to be a role for the President of the Region in agreement with Maliki. ”

And MP for the Kurdistan Alliance,” a visit Barzani upcoming Baghdad that it will be very important and will address through which the general issues relating to the Iraqi issue. “and witnessing the political process and the relationship between the blocks strained clear because of the continuing political differences and evolved to the exit of the demonstrations in a number of provinces to demand the adoption and repeal several laws, including a general amnesty and abolition of the law of accountability and justice and the release of detainees and other women.

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Barzani to visit Baghdad soon to activate Erbil agreement

barzani

Baghdad (AIN) -MP Mahdi Haji of Kurdistani Democratic Party revealed that President of Kurdistan Region, Masoud Barzani will visit Baghdad soon to discuss the political crisis in Iraq.

The Premier, Nouri al-Maliki had visited Erbil, capital of KR, on last Sunday where he met with Barzani and held the federal Cabinet’s session there.

Maliki and Barzani announced post their meeting their agreeing on activating the mutual commissions to settle the pending issues between Baghdad and Erbil.

Haji told All Iraq News Agency (AIN) on Sunday “Barzani will visit Baghdad soon where he will try to bring views closer with Baghdad leaders to pave way for settling all the problems.”

“Barzani will try to persuade the political sides including the Iraqiya Slate to join the common political work,” he added noting “The situation is suitable now for Barzani to play significant role in agreement with Maliki.” /End/

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Insiders in Baghdad are itchy to fix their currency unrest.

Thursday, 13 June, 2013 | BGG

6-13-2013 Newshound/Intel Guru BGG One thing I have been hearing over the last several weeks (even a bit prior to the first articles saying as much) is there is a real sense of urgency on the part of the GOI/CBI/ in Baghdad to solve their currency woes. I cannot guarantee this will or won’t happen – just relaying what I believe to be an accurate sentiment. Insiders in Baghdad are itchy to fix their currency unrest.

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Kuwaiti Prime Minister: my visit to Baghdad reflected the development of relations and cooperation between the two countries

6-12-13 All Iraq News:   The Kuwaiti Prime Minister Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah’s visit to Iraq, to reflect the evolution of relations between the two countries and joint endeavours to resolve outstanding problems.

The Kuwaiti Prime Minister arrived Wednesday morning in Baghdad in yzarh official for several hours to sign agreements and memorandums of understanding.

According to the official Kuwaiti News Agency Kuna on the morning said in a press statement upon arrival that his visit to Baghdad at the invitation of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is a good opportunity to communicate with Iraqi officials and discuss with them on all matters of the two countries and will contribute to strengthening bilateral relations and expand mutual cooperation to include various fields. ”

Sabah said that “the visit is a reflection of the great development of the Kuwaiti-Iraqi relations over the past years and the joint efforts of both sides to strengthen these relations and strengthen for the benefit and interest of the two brotherly peoples.”

He noted that “there is interest from the leadership of the two countries complement and complete the remaining files stuck between the two fraternal countries through consensus and understanding that established by the historic visit of the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and his Arabic Summit held in Baghdad last year.

The Prime Minister expressed Kuwait’s “wishes for the achieved stability in Iraq so enjoy people’s prosperity and progress and regain its role in the nation’s Arabic service.

Was greeted upon arrival at the Kuwaiti Prime Minister and Baghdad international airport, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and senior Iraqi officials and the Ambassador of the State of Kuwait with Iraq on the believer.

The morning was of official reception upon his arrival at Baghdad international airport where the national anthem played during the State of Kuwait and the Republic of Iraq peace.

The Kuwaiti official is accompanied by a delegation comprising Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of finance Mustafa Jassem Shamali and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Minister of State for Municipal Affairs Hari Mubarak Al-Sabah and Minister of communications and Minister of State for housing affairs Salem justinpogi and Advisor Amiri Diwan Mohammad Abdullah Abulhasan, Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Khaled Suleiman Al-Jarallah, a number of senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the Prime Minister.

Relations between Iraq and Kuwait described positive developments over the past months, to finish the outstanding issues between the two countries, Iraq’s output of international sanctions imposed in section VII, by the UN Security Council.

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Kuwaiti Prime Minister arrives in Baghdad

6-12-13 All Iraq News:   The Kuwaiti Prime Minister arrived Jaber at the head of a high-level ministerial delegation, to Baghdad on Wednesday to discuss bilateral ties and the signing of memorandums of understanding between the two countries.

Relations between Iraq and Kuwait described positive developments over the past months, to finish the outstanding issues between the two countries, Iraq’s output of international sanctions imposed in section VII, by the UN Security Council.

A diplomatic source said the Kuwaiti Prime Minister will arrive in Baghdad Monday morning, an official visit takes several hours, during which he will hold talks with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki will also sign agreements and memorandums of understanding, which would open the door to a new phase and the quality of relations between the two countries. ”

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari visited Kuwait on 28 May last, and his Kuwaiti counterpart signed two memorandums of understanding on arrangements for the maintenance of the material designation and funding construction of a residential complex in the area [Umm Qasr] border in Basrah governorate.

Zebari described and his Kuwaiti counterpart Sabah Al-Khalid official talks between the two countries, which resulted in the signing of a memorandum of cooperation and joint agreement as “positive and very serious”.

Kuwait said the UN Special Mission in Iraq [us] at the end of March 2013, solve the problem of the demarcation of the land boundary with Iraq permanently after removing abuses and obstacles to maintaining boundary markers in the Umm Qasr border area after the countries dispute and the final settlement of the issue of the Iraqi Airways after Kuwait was signed by Emir Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah on 23 October 2012 issued a decree to approve financial settlement, following the signing of the two sides on final settlement payment by Iraq $ 500 million as a final compensation to Kuwait Airways.

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Kurdish MP: “Holding CoM meeting in Erbil correct step to settle Baghdad, Erbil’s disputes”

6-11-13 Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) MP, Baker Hima Sideeq, of the Kurdistani Islamic Union described holding the meeting of the Council of Ministers in Erbil as “The correct step to settle the disputes between Baghdad and Erbil.”

Speaking to Iraqi News (IraqiNews.com), he said “Holding the meeting of the CoM in Erbil is a normal issue and a correct step where it helps in settling the pending issues between the two sides.”

“The constitution states that the CoM can hold its meeting anywhere in Iraq,” he concluded.

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The immunity agreement of Iraq’s foreign assets between Baghdad and Washington

obama on phone

6-11-13 Integrity electronic – Baghdad: Iraq agreed and the United States to pass a resolution from President Barack Obama to extend immunity to balances Iraqi abroad. announced that the Iraqi Central Bank said in a statement on Monday, noting that “the extension will be for the assets of the Iraqi in the United States two branches by the Development Fund for Iraq DFI and the expense of the Iraqi Central Bank. ” the bank said that “the decision to extend the former was the latter and ends at the end of the month of May last year.” and called on the Bank different state institutions to “do their utmost to resolve various outstanding issues in order to avoid any actions that would affect the rights of Iraq and its assets.”

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Kurdish Brigade Soldiers Stop Taking Orders From Baghdad

BAGHDAD — The Iraqi Army’s 16th Brigade was once a hopeful symbol of cooperation between Iraq’s rival ethnic groups. Composed of roughly half Arabs and half Kurds, the brigade has provided security since 2008 for an ethnically mixed population in one of the most volatile parts of the country.

Now the brigade has split in two. Amidst rising ethnic and sectarian pressure, the Kurdish half of the brigade has stopped taking orders from Baghdad, and Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government intends to formally incorporate more than 1,200 soldiers — and the sensitive territory they control — under the authority of its own security forces.

“We have nothing to do with the Iraqi Army anymore,” said brigade spokesman Rekawt Mohammed. “The brigade doesn’t have any Arabs anymore.”

The defection mirrors the widening divisions in Iraqi society, which have become increasingly deadly. The U.N. reported that 1,045 people were killed here in May, the highest monthly death toll since 2008.

Most of that violence has sprung from tensions between Iraq’s Shiite majority and a Sunni minority that has vocally protested its political marginalization. Yet this intra-Arab discord has also dramatically affected the ethnic rivalry playing out in Iraq’s disputed territories — a swath of oil-rich land running across northern Iraq, where Arabs, Kurds, and Turkomen have all laid competing claims of ownership.

The northern Kurdistan region has many trappings of an independent state, including control of its own borders, oil sector, and security forces. The formal resolution of its boundary with the rest of Iraq has been mired in political dysfunction, however, so Kurds and Arabs have instead engaged in what a U.S. Embassy official termed “an on-the-ground form of negotiation that’s really risky.” An embassy spokesman said American officials are working to mediate the current situation, though their capacity to referee such conflicts has dwindled since the withdrawal of U.S. troops at the end of 2011.

The ethnically mixed town of Tuz Khurmatu, where the 16th Brigade is stationed, has already been a flashpoint of violence. In November 2012, a gun battle between federal Iraqi forces and Kurdish soldiers, known as pesh merga, sparked a national crisis, as the two rival armies deployed thousands of troops to the de facto “line of control” between Kurdistan and the rest of Iraq. The armies remained in a standoff for months.

That line began to shift in late April, as the Sunni protest movement turned into a violent cycle of demonstrations, government crackdowns, and revenge attacks. Hundreds have died in the ensuing clashes, causing the Iraqi Army to shift forces away from the Kurdish front. In some areas just south of Kirkuk, they abandoned checkpoints and strategic positions at the entrance to the city, which the Kurds immediately occupied.

“If we had to fight for that much ground, we would have lost a thousand soldiers,” said a senior official in Kurdistan’s Ministry of Pesh Merga, on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak with the press. “But because the Iraqi Army ran away, we just drove there.”

The Iraqi Army has also worried about desertions, as some soldiers began showing less loyalty to the chain of command than to their sense of tribal, ethnic, or religious identity. Until recently, such desertions were relatively rare, but the emerging trend was worrying enough that the army began to remove heterogeneous units containing Sunnis or Kurds from key areas and replaced them with Shiite Arabs.

On May 7, the Iraqi Army tried to replace the 16th Brigade’s commander, a Kurd named Baktiar Mohammed Sidiq, with a Shiite Arab, and issued orders for the brigade to leave Tuz Khurmatu, according to several officers in the brigade. Sidiq refused to step down, and ordered his men to maintain their position. Soon after, the Ministry of Defense cut the renegade soldiers’ salaries and supply lines.

“The land is more important to us than salaries,” said Mohammed.

Members of the brigade and Kurdish military officials confirmed that the pesh merga have been supplying the 16th Brigade with fuel and other supplies since June 1, and that the Kurdistan government has offered to pay the soldiers, though no salaries have been given yet.

“They will become absorbed into the pesh merga, and likely stay where they are,” said the senior Ministry of Pesh Merga official.

A Ministry of Defense spokesman did not answer requests for an interview.

The defection not only redraws the map of Kurdish territorial control, but also could complicate a recent effort to repair the relationship between Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Kurdistan President Massoud Barzani. The two men met for the first time in nearly three years on Sunday in the Kurdish capital of Erbil and pledged renewed dialogue on several issues, including military tensions in the disputed territories.

“We will put all of the obstacles down on paper and we’ll work them out one by one,” Maliki said.

Yet there is every sign that they are also continuing their alternate form of negotiation on the ground. On June 5, Lt. Gen. Abdul Amir al-Zaidi, who reports directly to Maliki, deployed several units to Tuz Khurmatu, leading to a tense standoff with the 16th Brigade, according to several officers in the brigade. The Kurds held their ground, and eventually their former Iraqi Army colleagues withdrew.

“They have ordered us to leave the area, but we haven’t and we won’t, for the sake of Kurdish identity,” Mohammed said. “We want Kurdish ownership here.”

By Ben Van Heuvelen and Patrick Osgood
Washington Post

Assyrian International News Agency

Baghdad and Washington agree to extend the immunity of Iraqi assets in America

Central Bank of Iraq, on Monday, that Iraq and the United States have agreed to issue a decision of U.S. President Barack Obama to extend immunity to the balances of Iraq, calling on various state institutions to do their utmost to resolve various outstanding issues. ,

the bank said in a statement issued today, and received “Alsumaria News”, a copy of it, it is “based on the tireless efforts made ​​by the State of Iraq through formations various meetings held with the U.S. side, it was agreed with the U.S. government to extend immunity to the balances of Iraq,” noting that “the agreement provides for the issuance of a decision of the U.S. President to extend immunity to balances Iraqi in the United States two branches (the expense of the Development Fund for Iraq, DFI and the expense of the Iraqi Central Bank). “

the bank said that “the decision to extend the previous decision was final and ends at the end of the month of May last,” adding that “the present resolution, a feat institutions Iraqi state. ” and called on the Bank different state institutions to “make every effort to resolve various outstanding issues in order to avoid any actions that would affect the rights of Iraq and its assets,” expressing his blessing for “this decision and hopes to contribute to achieving the goals that aspires to the Iraqi people.”

It is noteworthy that a report of the Ministry of Defense has confirmed, in October 2011, that an investigation conducted showed that funds the reconstruction program the U.S. provided to Iraq in 2004 and said to have been lost in mysterious circumstances, were not lost did not steal, but was transferred to the CBI which is found in it Currently, while the latter denied responsibility for the loss amount, stressing that his powers in the management of the Fund was a formality in the era of the American civil governor Paul Bremer.

noteworthy that the Development Fund for Iraq (DFI) was established in May of 2003, by the director of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) has been recognized , by a decision of the Security Council of the United Nations 1483 and after the dissolution of the CPA in June 2004, has been delegated the U.S. government by the Government of Iraq to manage the funds of the Development Fund for Iraq, made ​​available for the reconstruction projects, and the U.S. Department of Defense Department funds the fund on behalf of the the U.S. government, the mandate was withdrawn with effect from 31 December 2007.

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Maliki, Barzani announce exchanging visits between Baghdad, Erbil

6-9-13 Erbil (IraqiNews.com) The Premier, Nouri al-Maliki and the President of Kurdistan Region, Masoud Barzani, announced that they will exchange the visits between Baghdad and Erbil soon.

Barzani stated in a press conference “Certainly me and Maliki will exchange he visits where I will visit Baghdad soon to settle all the pending issues soon.”

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The start of a meeting of the Joint Commission between Baghdad and Erbil in the presence of six leaders

began in Irbil, on Sunday, the meeting of the Joint Committee to follow up the contentious issues between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the federal government .

A source familiar with in Arbil, who asked not to be named, said in an interview for “Twilight News”, that “the Joint Committee between Baghdad and Erbil entered in a meeting Sunday afternoon to discuss the agenda of the issues that make up the points of contention between the federal and provincial governments.”

He stressed that “the meeting was headed by Nuri al-Maliki and Barzani Naچervan”.

He added that “the federal delegation included both National Security Adviser Faleh al-Fayad and former director of the office of the prime minister Tariq Najim, while the regional delegation included Deputy Prime Minister Imad Ahmed, Chairman of the Presidium of the region, Fouad Hussein . “

The federal government delegation arrived in Arbil morning and the Council of Ministers held a regular meeting in the presence of President provincial government Naچervan the Barzani .

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Al-Maliki thanked security services for a successful visit to Baghdad

Maliki_1770474b

6-6-13 Baghdad/Iraq news network:    called Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to clerics to condemn the fatwas of penance that incite the killing of the Iraqi people, as the visiting Imam Kazim proved the failure of the armed groups to drive a wedge sectarian strife, noting that Iraqis are United in the face of attempted sedition. Al-Maliki said in a speech addressed to the Iraqi people on the occasion of the end of the visit the Baghdad visit Baghdad demonstrated evidence of failure of the armed groups to drive a wedge between the sectarian Iraqi people. “and invited the Chairman of the Iraq clerics “Ministers to condemn the inflammatory opinions of satisfaction and covering murders of Iraqis,” he said, adding “we are unified in the face of attempted sedition.” Maliki “offered thanks and appreciation to the Baghdad operations and security agencies and citizens who provide services to visitors.

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Barzani speaks of “the last chance” to Baghdad and “the dream of the Kurdish people”

6-4-13 Twilight News:    President of the Kurdistan region, Massoud Barzani, the Kurdish region will be forced to search for “a new form of relations” with the central government in Baghdad if the negotiations failed to resolve disputes over oil and land.

Barzani said in an interview to Reuters pursued “Twilight News”, that the current round of talks, which began last month is the last chance to end the conflict that has caused tension within the federation in Iraq.

Barzani had hinted prior to the independence of the Kurdish region in the whole of Iraq.

It will be the way in which the issue resolved a major impact on oil companies such as Exxon Mobil and Iraq’s neighbor Turkey, which has angered the Baghdad and Washington enhancing relations in the energy field with the Iraqi Kurdistan.

Barzani said in an interview at the presidential office on the outskirts of Arbil, the capital of Kurdistan, “the current talks are the last chance. Ease in their position (in Baghdad), but in practice there was no progress.”

“It is either that we can reach an agreement … or we will have to think about a new form of relations between the region and Baghdad.”

Ten years after the U.S. invasion of Iraq is still difficult to reach a stable arrangements for power-sharing between Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds also increased the violence that has intensified in recent warnings from the country’s slide into civil war.

But Iraqi Kurdistan has succeeded in distance himself from the consequences and not seen prosperous region by having the poorest in the country.

And adopt Kurdistan in which they live more than 4.5 million people and foreign policies are increasingly independent oil angered Baghdad, to the extent that the two sides deployment forces to strengthen their positions along the disputed internal boundaries.

Even if a settlement could be reached with Baghdad will remain the ultimate goal of Barzani is the establishment of a state.

Barzani and ex-combatants was born in 1946 in the Kurdish Republic of Mahabad, which did not last long.

The number of Kurds Almqsameen of between Iran and Syria, Turkey and Iraq to more than 25 million people and is usually described as the largest ethnic group in the world without a state of their own.

He said Barzani, who was dressed in traditional Kurds, عمامتهم, “It is the goal of all the Kurdish people and this is right. Think this will be the final solution.”

Oil plays an important role in achieving this ambition.

During the past few years the Kurds signed contracts on their own terms with oil companies such as Exxon Mobil, Total and Chevron. This angered the central government, which insists it alone Her right to control the oil exploration operations in Iraq.

The Iraqi Kurdistan crude shipped through pipelines controlled by the central government for receiving a share of the state budget. But export this style stopped in December because of a dispute over financial payments to oil companies operating in the region.

Kurdistan says that the constitution allows them to exploit reserves in its territory, which provide the final stage in a separate pipeline for export position to bypass the central government and the export of up to 300 thousand barrels per day to international markets through Turkey.

Turkey keen starved of resources to strengthen energy ties with the Kurdistan Regional Government, despite the objections of the United States, which feared that the independent oil policy increasingly to the partition of Iraq.

Barzani said “the two sides (the government of Kurdistan and Turkey) are determined to strengthen this relationship. When you have oil .. oil will find its way.”

This partnership has contributed in support of nascent peace process between Turkey and the PKK, which is fighting the Turkish state for 30 years.

He began the PKK fighters to withdraw from Turkey into Iraqi Kurdistan last month, which was met with objection from Baghdad, which said it would not accept the entry of any armed group into its territory.

Barzani when asked whether he had any reservations about hosting a few hundred militants in the mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan said there was no reason for concern.

“We expect to return to their homes after solving the problem.”

Barzani sent aid to Syrian Kurds after the outbreak of civil war in Syria and received thousands of refugees and sought to unify the ranks of the Syrian Kurdish parties.

But he said, “still have some internal problems. Would encourage them to continue to work collectively and take advantage of any opportunity to achieve their goals.”

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Fears of Civil War Cripple Baghdad Commerce

6-3-13 Iraq Business News:   Concerns about the possibility of Iraq sliding toward the abyss of sectarian war once again have strongly affected commercial activities in Baghdad. Wholesalers in many provinces shifted to the Kurdistan region in northern Iraq, which enjoys security and stability, to obtain goods. Also, real-estate prices in the capital dropped significantly due to a considerable rise in supply.

Traders of food products and construction materials in the predominantly Sunni city of Ramadi, in the west of Iraq, told Al-Monitor that they decided to shift to the wholesale markets in the city of Erbil, the capital of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, out of fear of going to the Iraqi capital following news that Shiite militias set up checkpoints in the western entrances to Baghdad in search of Sunni men arriving at the capital.

Although the Iraqi security institution denied the news, the transit station for those traveling to Baghdad in Ramadi and Tikrit, in the predominantly Sunni Salahuddin province, has been almost empty in the past few days.

Naim Naji, one of the main suppliers of sugar in the city of Ramadi, said that he made arrangements with dealers in the city of Erbil to provide him with sugar, since he ceased all dealings with traders in the Jameela market in Baghdad’s Sadr City, a stronghold of supporters of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr .

Naji told Al-Monitor, “At present, it is impossible for me to get near Baghdad, specifically near the industrial area in Jameela, since militias are setting up checkpoints and kidnapping Sunnis.”

“I contacted Kurdish dealers in Erbil who will supply me with the amounts of sugar I need,” he added.

In the predominantly Shiite city of Kut, southeast of Baghdad, Kazem al-Boukhati, a dealer of car tires, said that he has not visited the tire wholesale markets in the Al-Zuyout area near Rusafa in Baghdad — which has a Shiite majority — for two weeks following the series of bombings that targeted various areas in the capital.

Boukhati told Al-Monitor, “I had to go to Erbil to obtain the goods, which increases transportation expenses.” He added, “The distance between Baghdad and Kut is only about 150 kilometers [93 miles], whereas it is more than 400 kilometers [250 miles] between Erbil and Kut.”

Near the predominantly Sunni Karkh district of Baghdad, Abdul Wahab al-Bayati, who runs a real-estate company called Mina, told Al-Monitor that the prices of houses have dropped about 10% over the past three months, and continue to decline due to residents’ fears of attacks by Shiite militias. As a result, the number of houses for sale has considerably increased.

Bayati said, “Residents of the Al-Jami’ah, Mansur, Ghazaliya and Al-Khadra neighborhoods in the Karkh district are offering their homes for sale, dramatically increasing supply over demand, which has led to a drop in prices.”

In the Aqd al-Nasara Market in central Baghdad, which specializes in the wholesale trade of electrical supplies, Mounir Kamel, owner of Mounir Center for the Trade of Electrical Tools, said, “Sales and purchasing activities are declining by the day.” He told Al-Monitor that “In our transactions, we depend to a large extent on traders coming from the [other] provinces, and they are currently afraid to come to Baghdad.”

He added, “We ask the dealers in the provinces: ‘Why don’t you come to Baghdad?’ The Sunnis say that they fear the checkpoints set up by Shiite gunmen, and the Shiites say that they fear the bombings carried out by Sunni insurgents.”

Economic expert Bassem Jamil Antoine said, “The political crisis in the country and the recent wave of violence in Baghdad have caused a decline in the sale of houses, cars and goods.” He added, “There has been a remarkable commercial recession in recent months.”

Brig. Gen. Saad Maan, spokesman for the Iraqi Interior Ministry, believes that rumors have played a major role in reducing the commercial traffic between Baghdad and the other provinces. Maan told Al-Monitor, “Rumors significantly contributed to painting a blurry image of the real situation in Baghdad among residents of the other provinces, aided by biased media campaigns that aim to create chaos.” He added, “Figures in the political and religious institutions also contributed to increasing tension through statements that fuel the security situation.”

Maan asserted, “Many reports of violence circulated by biased media, particularly with regard to checkpoints, are untrue.” He says, “Journalists have conducted night tours in all the areas in which militias allegedly set up fake checkpoints. However, they did not witness any illegal armed manifestations.”

He revealed that a security operation will be soon launched in Baghdad, “the aim of which is to reassure the people of Baghdad.” He pledged that “normalcy will return to the Baghdad markets soon.”

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Iraqi Kurd Leader Says Baghdad Talks Last Chance

ARBIL, Iraq (Reuters) — Iraqi Kurdistan will be forced to seek a “new form of relations” with the central government in Baghdad if negotiations fail to resolve their disputes over oil and land, the president of the autonomous region said.

Masoud Barzani, who has hinted at full independence from Iraq in the past, told Reuters the current round of talks, which started last month, marked the final opportunity to end a feud that has strained Iraq’s uneasy federal union to the limit.

How the matter is settled will have a major impact on oil producers like Exxon Mobil and Iraq’s neighbor Turkey, which has upset Baghdad and Washington by deepening energy ties with Kurdistan.

“The current talks will be the last chance,” Barzani said in an interview at his presidential office outside the Kurdish capital Arbil. “There has been a softening of their (Baghdad’s) position, but practically speaking there has been no progress”.

“Either we will be able to reach an agreement… or we will have to think of a new form of relations between the region and Baghdad,” he said, declining to elaborate.

Ten years after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, a stable power-sharing arrangement between Shi’ite, Sunni and ethnic Kurdish factions is still elusive and a recent intensification of violence has prompted warnings of civil war.

But Kurdistan has managed to insulate itself against the fallout, and is enjoying unprecedented prosperity for a region that was once the most impoverished and repressed in Iraq.

The northern enclave of more than 4.5 million people is also pursuing increasingly independent energy and foreign policies, antagonizing Baghdad to the point that both sides have deployed troops to reinforce positions along their disputed internal border.

STATEHOOD GOAL

Even if a compromise were to be found with Baghdad, statehood remains the ultimate objective for Barzani, a former guerrilla fighter who was born in the short-lived Kurdish republic of Mahabad in Iran in 1946.

Divided between Iran, Syria, Turkey and Iraq, the Kurdish people number more than 25 million and are often described as the world’s largest ethnic group without their own state.

“It’s the goal of all the Kurdish people and it’s a right,” said Barzani, who was wearing traditional costume with a red and white headdress. “I believe that to be the final solution.”

Key to realizing that ambition is oil. In recent years, the Iraqi Kurds have signed contracts on their own terms with the likes of Exxon Mobil, Total and Chevron Corp. That has infuriated the central government, which insists it alone is entitled to control exploration of Iraq’s oil.

Kurdistan used to ship crude through a pipeline network controlled by the central government and receive a share of the national budget. But exports via that channel dried up last December due to a row over payments for oil companies operating in the region.

The region says the constitution allows it to exploit the reserves under its soil, and is building the final leg of an independent export pipeline that could help bypass the central government and send as much as 300,000 barrels per day (bpd) of oil to international markets through neighboring Turkey.

Resource-hungry Turkey has cultivated close energy ties with Barzani’s Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), despite objections from the United States, which fears the region’s increasingly independent oil policy will lead to the break-up of Iraq.

“Both sides (Turkey and the KRG) are determined to make progress in terms of this relationship,” Barzani said. “When you have oil, oil will find its own way.”

The partnership has helped foster a nascent peace process between the Turkish state and rebels from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), who have fought it for the past three decades. PKK fighters began withdrawing from Turkey into Iraqi Kurdistan last month, drawing complaints from Baghdad, which said it would not accept any armed group entering its territory.

Asked whether he had any qualms about receiving several hundred guerrillas in the mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan, Barzani said there was no cause for concern. “We are expecting that after the problem is solved, they will go back to their homes.”

Barzani has responded to the civil war in neighboring Syria by sending aid to fellow Kurds there, receiving thousands of refugees, and seeking to unite the ranks of Syrian Kurdish political parties, with mixed success.

“They have still got some internal problems,” Barzani said. “We will encourage them to continue to work collectively and to take advantage of any opportunity that may come in order to achieve their objectives.”

By Isabel Coles

Editing by Patrick Markey and Mark Trevelyan.

Assyrian International News Agency

Baghdad to move to UN Chapter VI mandate

Hoshya-Zebari11

Saturday, 01 June, 2013 | Zawya

6-1-13 Zawya Intel / BAGHDAD: Iraqi foreign minister Hoshiar Zebari stated that Iraq convinced Kuwait to transfer the borders question from UN Chapter VII to Chapter VI, expressing satisfaction of bilateral talks with Kuwait.
In a press conference, at the ministry, on the results of his visit to Kuwait, he stated that “our plan to end the work of UN coordinator’s work, because his stay means continued sanctions against the country”.
On the borders’ signs, he added that it was agreed to mutually build the signs, without UN participation.

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Bomb Attacks Target Baghdad

 Iraqi officials say bomb attacks in two Baghdad neighborhoods have killed at least 15 people and wounded dozens more.

The attacks in the evening hours of May 29 extend a wave of bloodshed that has become the country’s most sustained violence since the  U.S. forces withdrew from Iraq at the end of 2011.

Police say deadliest attack on May 29 struck the northwestern Sunni neighborhood of Ghazaliyah, where a roadside bomb and car bomb exploded near a market and killed 10.

Another car bomb exploded in the mixed Sunni-Shiite area of Hay Jihad, killing five and wounding 18.

A wave of bombings in central and northern Iraq on May 28 killed at least 15 people.

A day earlier, more than 70 people were killed by a series of blasts in mostly Shi’ite areas of Baghdad.

Based on AP and Reuters reporting

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

Settling the issues between Baghdad and Erbil – no end in sight

5-27-13 {Baghdad: Euphrates News} revealed an MP for the Kurdistan Alliance, but Talabani that the visit of Deputy Secretary-General of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Barham Salih, to Baghdad does not represent the Kurdish delegation negotiating with the center, but to attend a panel discussion dealing with general conditions of the country.

Talabani said in a statement to the Euphrates News Agency {}, “Barham Salih, may meet on the sidelines of his visit to Baghdad government officials in the federal government and some political figures to deliberate on the latest developments in the country.”

It showed that “Barham Saleh to visit Baghdad to attend a panel discussion at the center of Bahr al-Ulum to deliberate on the general situation in the country is not headed by the Kurdish delegation to complete negotiations with the federal government.”

The visiting Baghdad on Monday, Deputy Secretary-General of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Barham Salih, and it is hoped to meet Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, government officials and a number of personalities.

A source close to Saleh said, “Deputy Secretary-General of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) will meet Monday evening, al-Maliki and attend on Tuesday a political forum organized by former oil minister Ibrahim Bahr al-Ulum to discuss the current political situation in the country.”

And poses a visit of Deputy Secretary-General of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan , Barham Salih, to Baghdad questions about the possibility of completing the talks between Baghdad and Erbil in the latter part of the agreement and to reach new agreements between the two sides.

The two sides will exchange visits of the delegations represented by branded a success during the lull in the relationship between them and the return of the Kurdistan Alliance members to the Council of Ministers and the House of Representatives after the province affected the general situation in the country. Ended

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Dozens Killed in Wave of Baghdad Bombings

Baghdad (CNN) — At least 51 people have been killed and more than 160 others were wounded in a wave of violence in Iraq on Monday, Iraqi Interior Ministry sources told CNN.

The attacks continue the increase in political and sectarian violence in Iraq, including its capital, Baghdad, over the past several weeks.

Much of the violence included Sunnis squaring off with Shiites and the Shiite-led government.

Most of the casualties Monday were in and around Baghdad, where 11 car bombs exploded, mostly in Shiite neighborhoods, Also, one bomb exploded in the central Baghdad commercial area of Bab al-Sharqi, near street vendors. Another exploded in the New Baghdad district in eastern Baghdad, close to shops and a Sunni mosque.

There were several incidents in Anbar and Nineveh provinces, but officials did not give further details.

According to a CNN tally, more than 300 people have been killed in acts of violence across the country since the beginning of May.

Over the past week, Iraqi security forces increased their presence in the capital’s streets and established more checkpoints.

By Mohammed Tawfeeq

Assyrian International News Agency

Baghdad Struggles to Halt Devaluation of Iraqi Dinar

5-21-13 Iraq Business News:    Over the last few days, the government in Baghdad has been preoccupied with attempting to control the exchange rate of the Iraqi dinar against the US dollar. The rate has been dropping since April, reaching its lowest at the beginning of this week.

During the preceding week on the local market, the dinar dropped against the dollar from 1,200 to 1,300, widening the gap against the official exchange rate by 121 dinars.

The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) sells one dollar for every 1,179 dinars to authorized banks, which then sell it for 1,189 dinars to citizens traveling for medical treatment. Otherwise, traders and others looking to buy dollars must enter a public auction for hard currency sales managed by the CBI. This is one of a series of measures overseen by the Interior Ministry.

The CBI, the country’s monetary policy authority, recently held a series of meetings with members of the country’s Parliamentary Presidential Board — which consists of Speaker Osama al-Nujaifi, First Deputy Speaker Qusai al-Suhail and Second Deputy Speaker Aref Tayfur — to explain how to deal with the decline in the local exchange rate.

In a statement issued on May 12 and obtained by Al-Monitor, the Iraqi legislature announced that the parliamentary presidential board had met that day with Abdul Basit Turki, governor of the CBI by proxy and head of the Supreme Audit Board. It also proclaimed:

“The Parliamentary Presidential Board expressed its full support for the CBI scrutinizing the private banks’ activity, archiving information and taking reform measures, which include controlling the exchange rate of the dollar, reducing money laundering and strengthening the CBI’s capacity in economic development.”

In a separate statement, issued May 13, the parliament announced that Suhail had “chaired the Finance Committee’s meeting in the presence of CBI governor Abdul Basit Turki.” Suhail stressed “the need to determine procedures taken by the CBI’s administration to address the fluctuation in the dinar’s exchange rate against the dollar.” The parliament also emphasized, “It is important to know the true causes of this fluctuation, which will negatively affect the [quality of] life of the Iraqi citizen.”

The CBI’s governor, according to the statement, “gave a presentation of the CBI’s policy and recent activity, particularly the CBI’s auctions and its administration’s procedures to combat the fluctuation of the exchange rate for the dollar.” In addition, members of the parliamentary finance committee reviewed “their suggestions and recommendations on the developments in the auction and dollar-exchange methods.” They also stressed “the need to take measures to prevent some of those who trade with the money of the Iraqi people from exploiting the CBI’s auction.”

CBI officials refused to make comments to the media, but on May 13 local media circulated a statement by a banking source described as “high-level.” According to the statement, “The CBI’s foreign currency reserves amount to $ 74 billion” and that “this amount is the highest Iraqi foreign currency reserve ever.”

Economist Jawad al-Shammari said in an interview with Al-Monitor:

“The CBI follows a vigilant policy when dealing with the media. It is probably the party that leaked information on the increasing Iraqi foreign currency reserves in order to calm mounting fears as a result of the sharp decline in the value of the dinar against the dollar.”

“The CBI holds daily sessions to sell foreign currency with both governmental and private participation. The sales can be either in cash or in the form of overseas transfers in exchange for commission.”

Shammari believes that “this measure — which aims to control the dinar exchange rate against the dollar — is no longer effective due to the daily, increasing gap between what the CBI offers in the auction and the actual market need.”

Haider al-Abadi, head of the Parliamentary Finance Committee, confirmed having “received reassuring messages from CBI officials on controlling the exchange rate fluctuation.” Abadi said that the CBI took measures enabling citizens to obtain foreign currency from public and private banks, including transfers for travel or treatment. He reiterated, “The problem is limited to the gap between supply and demand for US dollars in the Iraqi market.”

The CBI holds daily sessions to buy and sell foreign currency with the participation of Iraqi banks, except for public holidays, during which the CBI suspends these auctions. The sales can be either in cash or in the form of overseas transfers for a commissioning fee.

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Talks between Baghdad and Washington to extend the protection of Iraqi funds abroad

5-20-13 alforattv.net / Government began talks several weeks ago with their U.S. counterparts to discuss the extension of the protection of Iraqi funds abroad and which will expire early next month of June.

Member of the Finance Committee of Parliament MP for the coalition of state law, Abdul Hussein al-Yasiri said that “the non-renewal of U.S. protection means that the funds in the Development Fund for Iraq will be vulnerable to lawsuits filed by creditors, which is valued at about $ 140 billion.” Finished

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Security setback the Government in Baghdad in the eyes of the people

5-16-13 Network News Iraq/Baghdad:    Deputy Mohammed Al-karbouli, a member of the parliamentary block of the solution in Iraq Coalition; the criminal bombings of Baghdad areas yesterday and today failed miserably to security setbacks experienced in security and in different provinces of our beloved and reveals what doubt disregard security establishment of Iraqi blood and the security of innocent citizens.

He said parliamentary solution movement member; if we had called in Parliament questioning Ministers and security leaders in the field, we insist on our claim dismissed all Ministers and security commanders for failing dismally to rein in terrorism and cutting its descriptions, especially in this critical and critical juncture in the Iraq.

As a member of the Iraq Coalition of Anbar; became clear and without interpretation or question that someone playing the chord sectarianism and betting on the civil war for partisan gain or maintain benefits political chaos, which demonstrated the terrorist operations which have focused their attacks on areas targeting our brothers and our people of a particular component, has become clear that betting on stirring discord — not forgiven – is the only way to bullying.

MP warned karbouli; all the response of Government and the political forces in Iraq not to procrastinate and betting on time in the absence of rights and drain blood and deals of convenience, without serious and sincere action to zero the crises and the oppressed and disadvantaged and victims compensation and justice for all the people without discrimination or exclusion, and the country out of the bottleneck and the bloodshed of innocent pure and maintaining civil peace and the remains of the fragile relative stability.

Prayers for our brothers the martyrs that encompass someone with his grace them God in paradise and gives their souls peace and tranquility and stability that our failure and our various security title to achieve …
And prayers for our brothers wounded swift healing …

And may God have mercy on our Iraqi patient proud his soul … That the conciliator and is used

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Another Car Bomb Hits Baghdad After Wave Of Deadly Attacks

There has been another deadly car bomb attack in Iraq, one day after a wave of bombings killed more than 30 people.

Officials said the blast occurred during the morning rush hour on May 16 in Baghdad’s Shi’ite neighborhood of Sadr City, killing at least one person and injuring several.

On May 15, deadly bomb attacks hit Shi’ite areas of Baghdad and sites in northern Iraq.

At least seven died in Sadr City.

The spike in violence comes amid growing tensions between Iraq’s Sunni Muslims and the Shi’ite-led government.

Sunni Muslims accuse President Nuri al-Maliki’s government of marginalizing and persecuting their minority community.

No one has claimed responsibility for the May 15-16 bombings, but similar attacks in the past have been blamed on Al-Qaeda-linked militants.

Based on reporting by AP and al-jazeera.com

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

Turkey-Kurd Oil Deal Raises Eyebrows in Washington and Baghdad

ANKARA — A Turkish company will carry out joint oil exploration in northern Iraq with US oil giant ExxonMobil, the prime minister said, cited by the local media on Wednesday.

“An agreement has been concluded with Exxon Mobil for exploration in northern Iraq,” Erdogan was quoted as saying by the Hurriyet newspaper.

“This is a step taken with the regional Iraqi Kurdish administration,” he added.

Erdogan, who began a key trip to the United States on Tuesday, also said that details of the partnership would be clarified during his talks with US officials.

The Turkish premier did not identify the Turkish company that is ExxonMobil’s partner in the project.

On March 29, Erdogan said Ankara was discussing the terms of an energy partnership with Iraqi Kurds, in the first public confirmation of a project that could aggravate tensions in the powder keg region.

The partnership which runs parallel to Turkey’s ambitions to become a regional energy hub threatens to worsen a long-running dispute between Baghdad and the autonomous Kurdistan region in northern Iraq over how to develop the country’s energy wealth.

It is also raising eyebrows in Washington, where there are concerns that it could tip the volatile country towards disintegration and push an increasingly isolated Baghdad into Iran’s embrace.

Erdogan has dismissed concerns and hailed Turkey’s energy cooperation with Iraqi Kurds as “win-win” for both sides.

Ankara has been at loggerheads with the Baghdad government over a number of issues including Turkey’s refusal to hand over fugitive Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi.

In November, Baghdad blocked Turkish national energy firm TPAO from bidding for an oil exploration contract, a decision which Erdogan had said was not “smart business.”

And in December, Baghdad barred a plane carrying Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz from landing in Arbil as he was reportedly on his way to seal the much-speculated energy deal.

http://www.middle-east-online.com

Assyrian International News Agency

Baghdad, Erbil discuss implementation of concluded agreement

5-12-13 Erbil (IraqiNews.com) A delegation from the Iraqi central government headed by Falih al-Fayadh, Advisor of the National Security with membership of each of Tariq Najim, official of Premier’s office and, Maj. Gen. Babaqir Zibari, head of the Army Staff, visited Erbil on Sunday.

A statement by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, PUK, reported “The delegation was welcomed by Kosert Rasoul, Kurdistan Region’s Vice President, Najervan Barzani, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, and Barham Salih, Second Deputy of PUK’s Secretary General, along with other Kurdish officials.”

“The attendees discussed the latest updates in Iraq, where they stressed the necessity to stick to the Constitution and adopt dialogue as way to resolve all the problems,” the statement added.

“On other hand, the meeting discussed the recent visit of Kurdistan Region delegation to Baghdad and the agreement that was concluded between both sides in addition to the mechanism of implementing the points of the agreement. The two sides emphasized the need to continue holding the negotiations so as to settle all the pending issues between Baghdad and Erbil,” the statement concluded.

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Bomb Attacks Kill 10 In Baghdad

Iraqi police officials say at least 10 people were killed in bomb attacks in Baghdad on May 6.

Two car bombs exploded simultaneously near a police checkpoint in the capital’s Husseiniyah district.

At least five civilians and a policeman were killed in the attack in the predominantly Shi’ite area.

In the southern Dora neighborhood, a bomb went off outside a restaurant, killing at least five people.

Officials said the restaurant is frequented by police officers.

Nearly 30 people were injured in the attacks.

Based on reporting by AP and Reuters

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

Maliki’s coalition is approaching the loss of the Governments of Basra and Baghdad

Puts the Supreme Council and the Liberal Movement and other parties, the final touches on the block is made up of about 22 seats in the local Basra, bypassing the so state law that did not get more than 15 seats, a loss of about 5 seats from the last session, an experience deputies say they can be transmitted to the Baghdad Provincial Council and will mean an end to the wisest course where the party of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s control of the local governments in the largest provinces in the country.

But lawmakers from the Liberal blocs and a coalition of citizen spoke about the “pressure” exercised by the governor of Basra on some new members to withdraw from the coalition.

Deputy accused chest coalition of state law failure in the management of Basra during the past four years, stressing that the alliance “Basra I.” will not keep the “abortive official”.

The deputy said that the adoption of citizen “Basra is the economic capital of Iraq” will be a top priority for the coalition, in addition to his interest in the service side of the province. And state law, received more than 258 thousand votes and lost about 5 seats, while the coalition of 109 thousand citizen voice, Liberals came third with 51 thousand votes, the resolution beyond Basra independent bloc with 26 thousand votes.

The number of seats in the provincial council in Basra 35 seats in addition to the one seat particular component Christian.

And confirms the Sadrist MP Hussein Al Mansouri said “the Sadrist movement joined the alliance Basra first,” likely to be the formation of an alliance similar to the “Baghdad or other provinces.” Mbenna “The new alliance will form the government with a majority of votes and corrects errors of four years ago, Basra has experienced successive crises and failed successively.”

He spoke Mansouri, in a statement to the “long” yesterday, “for the governor of Basra outgoing on the names of the winners of the provincial council new”, adding that the governor “does clicking the winners to change their choices in alliances,” adding, “I do not rule out the use of bribery or other ways to influence them. ”

The ten political entities in the province of Basra last week announced the formation of a new political alliance as the (Basra alliance first). The coalition included a coalition of citizens and a coalition of Basra and the list of independent justice, unity and alliance of civil Basra and the United Iraqi National Alliance list are united and Dawa organization inside and swing movement and the Christian component and a coalition of independent Basra.

Sadrist MP felt that the new coalition “will depend hard work away from partisanship.” He criticized the work of the provincial council former returns the budget funds allocated to the city to the federal government (about $ 700 million in 2012) and the failure to spend and achieve service projects and construction during the period of the “rule of law for the city,” stressing that “the alliance next will not keep any director or officer failed. ”

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Deadly Car Bomb Hits Baghdad Suburb

A car bomb has killed at least three people east of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.

Iraqi officials say the bombing took place in The Shi’ite-dominated Al-Husseiniyah district on May 1.

At least 10 people, including policemen who were at a nearby check point, were wounded in the blast.

The Al-Husseiniyah district is located some 25 kilometers east of Baghdad.

The bombing comes amid a wave of violence that has killed more than 240 people since April 23, raising fears of a return to sectarian bloodshed.

Based on reporting by AFP and AP

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

Kurds Sends Forces to Outskirts Of Kirkuk, Enraging Baghdad

Kurdish peshmerga forces were deployed to the outskirts of Kirkuk to fill the security vacuum there and to thwart a sectarian war, which some believe to be just around the corner. According to the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs, the move was coordinated with the governor of Kirkuk. Iraqi military forces, however, believe that the oil wells located in the area are the reason behind this move and consider it a breach of security agreements between Erbil and Baghdad.

In that regard, the Ministry of Peshmerga in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) announced that it was merely filling the gap left by the Iraqi army in the disputed area out of fear that armed groups might infiltrate the region. The ministry reiterated that its aim was to protect all citizens and groups, regardless of political or religious affiliation.

The Ministry of Peshmerga released a statement saying, “The Iraqi army has been abandoning the majority of its barracks and bases affiliated with Squad 5 in Diyala, Squad 4 in Salahuddin and Squad 12 in Kirkuk and Ninevah, especially at night, for fear of being attacked by armed groups.”

The statement affirmed that “[this move] has led to a [security] vacuum in the areas surrounding the city and the affiliated townships, particularly in the outskirts of Kirkuk.” It continued: “In order to protect the lives of citizens of all national, societal, religious and sectarian backgrounds, and following a deliberation with the governor of Kirkuk, the Kurdistan peshmerga forces will fill the [security] vacuum in general and the vacuum in the areas surrounding Kirkuk in particular.

The statement pointed out that the move “aims at fending off the infiltration of armed terrorist groups and protecting the lives of citizens and military forces from terrorist operations.”

It also said, “The ministry’s intelligence data shows that these groups intend to carry out massive terrorist attacks, particularly in the city of Kirkuk.”

This is not the first time the Kurds have deployed their forces to these areas. A few months ago, when the federal government established the Tigris Operations Command in Kirkuk, Diyala and Salahuddin provinces, the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs sent military reinforcements and prevented them from reaching Kirkuk. The Tigris Operations forces remained in the town of Tuz Khormato, south of Kirkuk, and a political crisis flared up between the central government and that of the Kurdistan region.

Following the Kurdish move, Ali Ghaidan Majid, commander of the Iraqi army’s ground forces, rushed to consider the deployment in Kirkuk to be a breach of the joint security agreement previously concluded between the Iraqi army and the Kurdish forces.

Ghaidan said the Kurdish moves are aimed at “oil fields and wells. This is a dangerous development.”

In a statement to Al-Monitor, Falak al-Din Kakai, a Kurdish leader in the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) led by President Massoud Barzani, denied that the move was carried out unilaterally or underlay political aims to take over the region.

“We do not make unilateral moves; we coordinate with the other parties, whether in the federal government or the other Iraqi powers and political blocs. Our purpose is not to align with one party; we care deeply about preserving peace in the region, especially in the disputed regions. The mission of the peshmerga and the political leadership is solely peace. As Barzani affirmed recently, we support peace and we will become party to any treaty that conveys peace,” he added.

Kakai said deploying peshmerga forces to these areas exemplifies the peaceful role that Kurds can perform. He said, “[We are sending these troops] in case battles expand beyond our control and that of the government and other forces. However, we hope [these battles] remain contained.”

He said: “Unfortunately, all signs point in the direction of an escalating war. It will turn into a civil war and as such, the situation will be beyond the control of everyone.” He continued: “Who is able to contain the situation currently? We, as far as we are concerned, are preserving the security and safety of citizens of all backgrounds in the disputed areas. We are trying to avoid getting involved in any fighting.”

The Iraqi Kurdistan Region sees these areas as falling within its administrative borders, yet they are not under its governance.

In Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution, a roadmap was laid out to settle the dispute over these areas by sending the Arabs away and allowing the Kurds who were deported during the rule of former President Saddam Hussein to return. Afterward, a census and a referendum was to be conducted so residents could decide whether they wanted to remain under the auspices of the federal government or join the KRG. The implementation of Article 140, however, has been hindered by political and security crises.

Political analyst Mohammed Sherif, a former Iraqi MP for the Democratic Patriotic Alliance of Kurdistan, said: “The deployment of peshmerga forces to these areas comes with security connotations, which supersede political connotations because the Iraqi army has retreated from these delicate regions that are threatened with a sectarian war. Peshmerga forces are in charge of preserving the security of the region and halting the infiltration of terrorists. They have to fulfill this task.”

Sherif said the tensions that exist along the border between the region and these areas — which are considered to be part of the Kurdistan region yet are in dispute — are affecting the security situation, upsetting citizens and impacting their business dealings and daily activities. If it was not for the military and security deployment, the situation would have been hazardous, he said.

He added, “The country is witnessing a dangerous situation. The Iraqi Constitution prohibits the army from suppressing citizens. Regardless of the aim of the demonstration that was staged in Hawija or in any other place that upsets the government, it was peaceful nonetheless and turning it into an armed protest was dangerous. This was caused by interference on the part of the army.”

Iraqi army forces stormed a protest being held in a public square in Hawija in Kirkuk province, leaving protesters in neighboring provinces enraged. In return, the protesters attacked army and police forces and members of the Sahwa forces, which resulted in a number of dead and wounded on both sides.

Residents of Sunni-dominated areas — Anbar, Ninevah, Salahuddin, Diyala, parts of Kirkuk, and Baghdad — claim that they have been marginalized ever since the ousting of the former regime in 2003. They accused Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki of using counterterrorism and de-Baathification laws to unjustly target them. Maliki, on the other hand, reiterates that he is enforcing the law and following the constitution.

It is important to note that sectarian tensions in Iraq during 2006 and 2007 claimed the lives of thousands.

By Abdel Hamid Zebari
AL Monitor

Assyrian International News Agency

American Embassy welcomes the visit of Kurdish delegation to Baghdad

Baghdad (NINA) – The United States Embassy in Baghdad welcomed the visit that a Kurdish delegation will do on Monday, Apr. 29, and the expected meeting between Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and Prime Minister of Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani.

A statement issued on Sunday, Apr. 28, by the US Embassy said that American official kept opening communication channels with Iraqi politicians, who represent Iraq’s entire spectrum, to encourage positive steps toward calming current crisis.

The Embassy appealed to all sides to look into tomorrow’s meeting, as a chance to adopt positive measures toward achieving national reconciliation that would enable Iraq overcome the threat of terrorism and to consolidate democratic institutions for a prosperous Iraq.

A Kurdish delegation headed by the Region’s Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, is to arrive in Baghdad on Monday, to meet with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, toward reaching suitable solution to the dispute between the governments of the Center and the Region. / End.

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Baghdad Angry As Kurdish Troops Deployed in Kirkuk

KIRKUK — New deployments of Kurdish forces in the disputed Kirkuk province in north Iraq are a “dangerous development” and an attempt to reach its oil fields, a top Iraqi general said on Saturday.

“They want to reach (Kirkuk’s) oil wells and fields,” Staff General Ali Ghaidan Majeed, the commander of Iraqi ground forces, said, adding that the move breached an agreement whereby Kurdish peshmerga forces and Iraqi soldiers would maintain joint checkpoints.

“After consultations with the governor of Kirkuk, there has been a decision for peshmerga (security) forces to fill the vacuums in general, and especially around the city of Kirkuk,” Jabbar Yawar, secretary general of Iraqi Kurdistan’s peshmerga ministry, said in a statement.

“The intelligence service of the peshmerga has information that terrorist groups have plans to launch terrorist attacks in these regions,” Yawar said.

“Our only goal is to preserve the life of citizens.”

In the past week, a wave of violence has killed more than 200 people country-wide, including dozens in Kirkuk province.

http://gulftoday.ae

Assyrian International News Agency

Arrest of a counterfeiting ring in central Baghdad

Announced that the Iraqi Interior Ministry, said Thursday that its forces had arrested a gang of counterfeit currency in possession of 11 million Iraqi dinars forged during a security operation in central Baghdad, while confirming that the gang practiced fraud nine years ago.

He said the ministry in a statement received (range Press) a copy of it, “The strength of the security and Interior Ministry arrested on Thursday, a gang specialized rigging the currency after the ambush them in the area of ​​the eastern section, the center of Baghdad,” indicating that “the power settings in possession of 11 million dinars Iraqi forged. ”

The ministry added that “the arrest came in terms of one of the gang members detained by the security forces,” adding that “the elements of the gang confessed to carry out counterfeit currency since 2004, and they nearly three billion fraud.”

The ministry Taabat that “the detainees were referred to the competent authorities for the purpose of legal proceedings against them.”

It is noteworthy that Iraq has witnessed over the past years, both before 2003 or after waves of counterfeit currency, began as a phenomenon in the nineties of the last century, after the imposition of economic sanctions on the country and the invasion of the former regime of Kuwait, it has ventured Iraq to print its currency within the country to headline inflation by about non- unprecedented, as well as the increasing incidence of counterfeiting of currency at that time due to the lack of international standards adopted in the currency printing.
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US welcomes the dialogues between Baghdad and Erbil

The United States welcomed the U.S. on Monday, the ongoing dialogues between the KRG and Baghdad, and described as ‘positive and correct’, while confirming that the Government of the Territory has ‘tremendous effort’ to support the Syrian refugees.

The presidency of the Kurdistan region in a statement that ‘the President of the Presidium of the Kurdistan region, Fouad Hussein received, on Sunday, (April 21 2013), in a building Diwan Deputy Assistant Foreign Minister of the United States Barbara Leaf and Consul General of the US in the region, Paul Stephen ‘.

She presidency the that ‘the parties addressed a range of issues pertaining to the general political situation and the position of the Kurdistan region of the overall political issues lingering in Iraq as well as relations between the region and the United States’, indicating that the ‘provincial elections in Iraq and the development of the western regions and demonstrations there were within discussions between the parties’.

She Presidency the ‘Chairman of the Presidium of the Kurdistan region, Fouad Hussein explain the results of the meeting President Barzani with representatives of the Kurdish forces in Baghdad, who decided which to send high-level delegation to Baghdad to conduct dialogues with the federal government ‘, stressing that’ Deputy Assistant Foreign Minister of the United States Barbara Leaf evaluated this step and described as correct and positive. ‘

The presidency of the Kurdistan region to be ‘Syria and put the Kurds which was another focus of the meeting, as the parties discussed the development of Syrian refugees in the Kurdistan region’, pointing out that ‘the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State confirmed that the Government of the Territory has tremendous efforts to support these refugees and making all kinds of aid and help him. ‘

The president pointed out that ‘the meeting dealt with the march of peace talks in Turkey’, in reference to the negotiations between the Turkish government and the PKK.

The Kurdish forces decided after a meeting with the President of Kurdistan, the first on Saturday (April 20 2013), send a delegation of political ‘high-level’ to Baghdad in the light of a ‘positive’ sent by the President of the National Alliance, and confirmed that the delegation would seek to ‘direct dialogue’ with the National Alliance and the federal government, expressing its desire to ‘radical treatments files the for the relationship between the federal government and the region’.

The new head of the Kurdistan region, Massoud Barzani, on Friday (12 April 2013), his assurances that the Kurds ‘are not ready to live under oppression and tyranny’ in the case of failure to resolve the political problems in Iraq, and stressed that the social situation in the Kurdistan region ‘walking at a steady pace forward’ With praised ‘the formation of Kurdish group within the Socialist International ‘, the President of the Socialist International was delighted evolution taking place in the region.

The Barzani said in the March 14, 2013, that the cause of the crisis through which Iraq is currently the ‘non-compliance with the Constitution ‘, which defined the tasks and the rights of all parties, and between that the solution lies’ in the implementation of the Convention on Arbil’ because it is a road map to save Iraq, and stressed that the Kurds will not accept subordination and their key role in the new Iraq commensurate with the size of the sacrifices they have made ​​for this role and asked, ‘Are we partners If yes Fenrid you actually If Vleslk is not all of us the right way.’

In an attempt to resolve the crisis between the province and the center announced Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Thursday the 11th of April 2013, through a statement that he agreed with the Kurdish delegation negotiating team in Baghdad on the ‘calm’ and avoids ‘what raises the atmosphere’ and the formation of committees to resolve the problems between Baghdad and Erbil.

The Kurdish delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister Ruz Nuri Shaways met, Wednesday, (April 10, 2013), leader of the National Alliance, Ibrahim al-Jaafari and representatives from the rest of the components of the alliance, with the two sides stressed the need to resolve the outstanding problems between the two sides, and a commitment letter media positive would create an atmosphere appropriate for dialogue, also agreed to hold another meeting next Saturday to continue what he began by both parties at this meeting.

But despite the attempt of the National Alliance filming frameworks solution they are limited to the problems between the federal government and the province, the Kurds assert their insistence on the need to adopt national solution destruction that the problem in the country is the problem of the rule of dealing with multiple parties and not the Kurds alone, stressing a true partnership, consensus and balance as the basis for any solution Matrouh and without meeting these conditions become open to all options.

Kurdish forces were announced on 8/4 / 2013 that it had decided to send a delegation to Baghdad convey a message Kurds to an alliance that includes vision to resolve the current political crisis, according to the specific demands while confirming that the position of the political process will be determined in the light of the coalition’s response to these demands.

The Kurdish forces met in (April 1, 2013) and confirmed that it will resort to ‘appropriate options’ in the case of failure to take the National Alliance practical steps and procedures for the application of the partnership and consensus in the central government, and confirmed those forces as keen on the Protection of the Constitution and the values ​​of partnership and balance and national consensus.

The chronic crisis and worsening between Baghdad and Erbil, the warning of the prospects of an open board with more than a leading Kurdistan, led by regional president Massoud Barzani has repeatedly, and the charged atmosphere caused by near the provincial elections on the twentieth of April, suggesting the difficulty of finding solutions to the problems Whether relationship between Baghdad and Erbil, which is ‘sticking’ or on other fronts, fearing the impact of its repercussions on the electoral scene.

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Baldawi considers visit of Kurdish delegation to Baghdad as “Positive initiative”

Baghdad (AIN) –MP, Mufeed al-Baldawi, of the State of Law Coalition described the visit of the Kurdish delegation to Baghdad to meet the Iraqi National Alliance as “A positive initiative that provides a good chance to solve the crisis.”

He stated to AIN “The visit created positive atmospheres between the two sides, especially after both sides emphasis on the necessity of settling the pending issues Baghdad the Central Government and Kurdistani Regional Government on one hand, in addition to that between the INA and the Kurdistani Alliance on the other hand.”

He confirmed “The frank as well as brotherly attitudes towards the delegations sent by both sides to Baghdad and Erbil.”

“Reaching agreement between the two sides to hold a later meeting to continue dialogue aims at achieving solutions,” he concluded. /End/

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Solving disputes depends on next visit of Kurdish delegation to Baghdad, says Othman

Baghdad (AIN) –MP, Mahmoud Othman, of the Kurdistani Alliance confirmed that solving the pending issues between the Kurdistani Alliance and the Iraqi National Alliance depends on the next expected visit of the Kurdish delegation to Baghdad.

He stated to AIN “Solving the crisis will depend on the results of the talks to be conducted by the delegation,” noting that “We hope the results to be good as we realize the efforts of both sides to achieve this.”

The Kurdistani sides decided, on last Saturday, to send a delegation to Baghdad to solve the pending issues like partnership and balance files. /End/

LINK

Dinar Daddy’s Tidbits

Memphis – Our Source In Baghdad Is Reliable!

4-21-13 Memphis:    Let me try to help with some comments/concerns…

I made this post with the pre-supposition that the lower denominations were in fact being released. The offering of proof is not my job tho and I am in full agreement that it is a requirement! I grew up in the hay fields of Missouri and folks there require that they “see it”.

Some history behind what prompted me to come out of semi-retirement this week, I had a 2am phone conversation Wednesday and learned that Iraqia TV was calling for citizens to come into the banks and exchange their 3 zero notes for smaller denominations.

Our source in Baghdad is reliable and known to us to have never made false statements. We must now leave it to the CBI to now do what they have stated. To be clear here, I would not have made this post had our source been questionable!

I have read every comment above and deeply appreciate the kind words. I am just an average guy with a wife of 31yrs and several kids!

We live in MS and I work in Memphis as an Air Traffic Controller.

God has given me an ability think abstractly, compartmentalize things and bring them back together in a logical order.

About 18 months ago I noticed that most people had great difficulty in processing the press releases from Iraq.

At this point I started to humbly share what I saw clearly in these news releases and to then piece together a model/picture of what it all means.

This propelled me from my preferred place of sitting in the back of the room to helping others see what I see.

My point here is that “Memphis” is not a guru, does not “want” anything and most of all does not want anyone to go purchase more dinar than they can afford.

My motives are pure and if my words helped you see things better then I can take no credit, it is God who gives us each various gifts to be USED for his glory!

We (in my home) like many of you, cannot wait for this blessing that we might in turn BE a blessing to many others in great need.

As time allows I would like to post further here on a personal level to others comments /questions…and FYI (to those who got on a tangent here talking about the FED) I believe it was Andrew Jackson who LAST paid off the national debt. We should all pray for such leadership once again… :-)

Dinar Daddy’s Tidbits

Baghdad and Kurdistan .. Disagreements oil and tense relations

Of the volume is expected to reach the Kurdistan region of Iraq’s exports of crude oil to 250 thousand barrels per day during the current year, which qualified for the high number is estimated to one million barrels per day by 2015, and up to two million barrels per day of oil exports during 2019.

These estimates and others, underscored by the oil minister in the regional government, as well as international bodies that monitor the export and production of oil, but despite this steady rise in the volume of energy production in the Kurdistan Region, and raised in the minds of officials in Baghdad the likelihood that this will lead to separation, emphasizes ” drastically, “Minister of Natural Resources in the Kurdistan region, the Kurdish region is not seeking to secede from Iraq, the minister added in a region on the Internet:” We want to remain part of Iraq, federal and democratic, but given the history of the troubled country under dictatorial rule believe that policy is centralized in the field of oil, and the sharing of resources is the best way to keep Iraq united. ”

But despite these assurances, the minister indicates that the cohesion of Iraq and the continued unity depends on the ability of the Kurdistan region to oil production and export on its own terms. It is noteworthy that the relations between the central government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government’s autonomous may have seen some of the stress in the recent period on the back of a number of outstanding issues between them, such as the sharing of oil revenues, and investment of foreign energy companies in the oil fields of the region, as well as border disputes between parties, particularly with regard to the oil-rich Kirkuk region, which governments declare that it subsidiary of Turabhma.

His comments came Minister of Natural Resources in the Kurdistan region, which has sought from which to reassure observers and officials in Baghdad to the intentions of the Kurds is separatism, amid speculation the intention of the Government of the Territory D pipeline gas, especially by carrying oil to Turkey without having to line-run Baghdad, a step considered by the central government paves the way for devoting financial independence and oil on the horizon of political separation and Turabi Iraq.

The Kurdistan Regional Government has suspended the transfer of oil through pipelines Iraq controlled by Baghdad because of disagreements about the transportation fee, to turn the Kurds to move their production of oil by truck to Turkey, the latter being dependent on oil imports to secure its energy needs, told the central government in Baghdad that it is ready to build a new pipeline to transport oil from the Kurdish region is overlooking the sea into its territory. assured Turkish Energy Minister, “Taner Yildiz,” that this will only happen when it reaches the line of Baghdad to the maximum degree in the transport of oil.

On this subject, says Minister of Natural Resources Kurdish, “we, despite our right to transport oil produced by the region the way that we see fit for us, we prefer line of Baghdad, and we want to continue to cooperate with the central government, but with regret officials in Baghdad did not respect the terms of the agreements signed between us . ”

For his part, responded Iraq’s oil minister, Abdul Latif during an interview on the first of April, that the relations of oil between Turkey and Iraq organized by the agreement signed between Ankara and the central government in Baghdad, and any deviation from this framework understanding bilateral cooperation with the Kurdistan Regional Government violates the Convention, and threatens Turkish interests in Iraq.

And contributed to the current Syrian crisis, says Bruce Stanley, a political analyst at the Washington Post, straining the relationship between Ankara and Baghdad, after it lined up with each of the parties to the conflict in Syria. Within this framework, it is at a time when Turkey supports the Syrian opposition, and hosts symbols on its territory, has custody of Baghdad on the idea of ​​overthrowing the regime, warning of the repercussions of the crisis on the region.

But with that Turkey needs to Iraq’s oil, which is oil, which is, according to estimates fifth in terms of the precautions in the world, to reach according to the company “British Petroleum,” the British to 150 billion barrels, in addition to 45 billion barrels of other oil reserves in the Kurdistan region.

Based on the data collected by the network, “Bloomberg” news Iraq produced during the past month of March 3.2 million barrels per day. It adds the International Energy Agency (IEA) that the size of Iraq’s oil exports last month reached 2.43 million barrels per day, and the total Iraqi oil production flowing 330 thousand barrels of Kirkuk region to Turkey through a pipeline of oil, which is controlled by the central government.

And confirms the Minister of Kurdish oil, that “by 2019 can the region’s oil, which is estimated at about 3 million barrels per day to reach Turkey and global markets, through the northern corridor, but before that must strengthen the infrastructure for the transport of oil and the development of this structure, which calls for the settlement of disputes between region and the central government. ”

It is noteworthy that the company “Jnal Energy”, which is the largest oil producing company in northern Iraq announced on April 10, the discovery of a new site oil-rich oil stockpile estimated at more than 300 million barrels of oil.

LINK

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Dozens killed in Baghdad cafe explosion

Up to 27 people are reported to have been killed and dozens more injured in a suicide bombing in a Baghdad cafe, a ministry of Interior source has told Al Jazeera.

The source said that a suicide bomber walked into the popular Dubai Cafe crowded with young people late on Thursday and detonated explosives.

The attack occurred ahead of provincial elections scheduled for the weekend.

Al Jazeera’s Jane Arraf, reporting from Baghdad, said that the small space in which the suicide bomber detonated meant the injuries were “absolutely horrific.”

She said that the Amariyah neighbourhood had been known as an al-Qaeda stronghold before locals turned against the group.

Police said that three children and a woman who were passing by at the time of the blast were among the dead.

The packed internet cafe is on the third floor of the Strawberry mini-mall in the predominantly Sunni neighbourhood of Amiriyah.

An Islamic studies centre, affiliated with the Iraqi Islamic Party, part of the main Sunni political bloc, is located below the top-floor cafe.

Arraf said witnesses reported the force of the blast sent shrapnel and glass flying into an ice cream shop and a pharmacy on the ground floor of the building, severely wounding women and children.

Police said the cafe was full of young people enjoying water pipes and playing pool.

Like other majority Sunni neighbourhoods in Baghdad, Amariyah has been under extremely tight security since anti-government protests started in Sunni provinces and communities in December.

Iraqi officials have said they believe there are still al-Qaeda sleeper cells in the neighbourhood.

261

AL JAZEERA ENGLISH (AJE)

Dozens Reported Killed In Baghdad Cafe Blast

Officials in Iraq say at least 27 people have been killed and dozens of others injured  in an apparent suicide bombing at a café in Baghdad.

Several children are reported to be among the dead.

There has been no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast on the evening of April 18.

The attack comes with tensions higher in Iraq ahead of provincial elections on April 20.

Based on reporting by Reuters,  AP, and AFP

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

Maliki left Nasiriya for Baghdad

Nasiriya (NINA) – Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki left Nasiriya, on Tuesday, Apr. 16, for Baghdad ending a short visit to Thi-Qar province.

Source at Thi-Qar province told NINA that the Prime Minister met with the Province’s people promising them to enact laws that would improve the Iraqis’ standard of living.

Earlier in the day, Maliki arrived in Nasiriya.

In the last two days, Maliki visited the provinces of Maysan and Basra, where here inaugurated a number of projects there. / End.

LINK

Dinar Daddy’s Tidbits

Kurds are waiting for Baghdad to translate words into actions

4-16-13 Stryker:    Article: “Kurds are waiting for Baghdad to translate words into actions.”

Well with Parliament scheduled to return on Tuesday the 23rd and their new committees do not even start meeting until the first of next week, it doesn’t look promising that the Kurds will be back in Parliament nor the Cabinet of Ministers next week.

*** “The two Committees will visit Baghdad early next week to start technical meetings and to reach final solutions to outstanding problems.”

According to this quote and other articles they said they will not return until the Federal starts doing what they agreed on in the past. The two committees have some work to do before they return!

*** “The possibility of the return of Kurdish MPs and ministers if reached definitive agreements to outstanding problems and agreed on the application of the principle of true partnership.”

I hope I’m wrong but they are not there yet in my opinion!

Dinar Daddy’s Tidbits

Baghdad Moves to End Turkish Presence in North Iraq

Posted GMT 10-3-2012 0:33:2

BAGHDAD (AFP) — Baghdad on Tuesday moved to end Turkey’s military presence in north Iraq where Ankara is pursuing Kurdish rebels, signalling a further deterioration in ties between the neighbours.

Turkey has since the 1990s maintained several military bases in the autonomous Kurdistan region of north Iraq, where the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) rebel group also has bases.

“The cabinet decided to reject the presence of any foreign bases or forces on Iraqi land and to reject the entry of any foreign military forces into Iraqi land,” government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said in a statement.

And it “recommends that parliament cancel or not extend any treaty signed in the past with any foreign state that allows the presence of foreign forces and military bases on Iraqi land or the entry of these forces,” he said.

A high-ranking Iraqi official said that the decision was aimed at Turkish military bases in the north Iraq province of Dohuk, one of the three provinces that make up the Kurdistan region.

The treaty in question “is the one that Saddam Hussein signed in 1995 allowing Turkish forces to have a presence in Iraq’s northern regions to pursue the Kurdistan Workers’ Party,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

Baghdad’s move appears to be linked to a request by the Turkish government on Monday for its parliament to extend the mandate for its armed forces to attack PKK bases in north Iraq.

“The cabinet condemns this decision,” Dabbagh said in a separate statement referring to that request and adding that Turkish forces crossing into Iraq “is a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty and security.”

Ties between Iraq and Turkey have been marred by various disputes this year, including Ankara’s refusal to extradite Iraqi Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi, who has been sentenced to death in absentia by an Iraqi court.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki last month declined an invitation to visit Turkey, a decision his spokesman said was taken because “his schedule is crowded and he is busy.”

In August, Maliki accused Turkey of treating the Kurdistan region, with which it has close economic ties, as an “independent state.”

Earlier that month, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu visited the disputed northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk without informing Baghdad, infuriating Baghdad and taking relations to a new low.

In July, Iraq warned Ankara against “any violations” of its territory and airspace, and instructed the foreign ministry to register a complaint with the UN Security Council, after Turkish jets bombed Kurdish rebels in Kurdistan.

A few days earlier, Iraq called on Turkey to stop accepting “illegal” transfers of crude oil from Kurdistan, which an official from the region said had begun earlier in the month.

By Ammar Karim

Assyrian International News Agency

Jaafary, Acting Baghdad Mayor discuss services provided to Baghdad

Tuesday, 02 October, 2012

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) -The head of the Iraqi National Alliance, Ibrahim al-Jaafary, discussed with Baghdad Mayor by acting, Abdul Hussein al-Murshidi, the level of the service provided to Baghdad.

A statement by Jaafary’s office received by IraqiNews.com cited “Jaafary discussed with Murshidi and the member of Baghdad Provincial Council, Ali Nasir Binyan, the services level of Baghdad province and the obstacles that Baghdad Mayoralty is facing in addition to the future plans that would develop the service level.”

“During the meeting, Jaafary stressed the necessity of serving the citizens in all fields and to set this as a priority in the performance of Baghdad Mayoralty where the duty of this institution is to reflect the real image of Baghdad by developing the infrastructure and perfoming the cleaning services,” the statement added.

“For his part, Murshidi reviewed the future plans of Baghdad Mayoralty that will be performed within the next few months to expedite performing the projects,” the statement concluded.

Dinar Daddy’s Tidbits

Baghdad has revealed that it has 40,000 treatment of movable and immovable property

Baghdad/JD/…Baghdad governorate has revealed that it has 40,000 treatment of movable and immovable property requiring exceptional effort accomplished to compensate those affected.

He said first Deputy Baghdad Governor Mohammad/JD/: he stressed during a meeting with heads of administrative units on the need to accelerate completion of transactions affected by terrorist and military operations.

Shammari said chairing the meeting in the Conservative Cabinet in the presence of the third Subcommittee to compensate those affected by judge Mahmoud Abdel Fattah and conservative jurist Adviser Ahmed swadi “the meeting was held to assess the compensation commissions in the administrative units in the previous period and the functioning of the elves and the identification of problems and constraints faced and to find appropriate solutions and clarify recent directives from the Central Committee and acted upon to avoid errors and problems facing the work of the committees.

The first MP “that local Government continues to follow the work of the Committee and its work performance and overcome all obstacles, particularly physical transactions of movable and immovable property, adding that the Baghdad governorate, where large numbers of affected compared to other governorates with 40,000 treatment of movable and immovable property which requires administrative cadres and technical and legal and extraordinary efforts to expedite its work.

He said the province and through its subsidiary made a lot of logistical support to committees formed as proposed by the Central Committee a lot of proposals to develop its work and facilitate the fulfilment of its tasks, including the problem of experts assigned by the commissions in the administrative units to estimate damage and compensation for the purpose of increasing their numbers or hiring experienced engineers and specialists of the municipal Chambers in order to expedite the completion of transactions and submit them to the Sub-Commission error free and legal and technical observations which facilitates Process completed and dues for those affected by the required speed./finished/11

LINK

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Baghdad To Check Syrian-Bound Iran Flights For Weapons

The Iraqi foreign minister says Iraq will ask Syria-bound Iranian planes passing through its airspace to land for random inspections after Washington said they could be carrying arms to Damascus.

Hoshiyar Zebari told the London-based “Al-Hayat” daily in an interview published on September 30 that U.S. officials had raised their concerns over the past few days on the sidelines of UN General Assembly meetings in New York.

Zebari said the U.S. officials had said any flights carrying weapons to Syria would break UN Security Council resolutions, and demanded Iraq stop them.

Iraq’s Shi’ite-led government is close to regional Shi’ite power Iran.

Iran is one of the main allies of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whose regime is dominated by members of the Alawite community, an offshoot of Shi’ite Islam.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

Economic Advisor Estimates Baghdad Owes the KRG Trillions

Based on a recent agreement between Baghdad and Erbil, the deferral government has agreed to pay governance costs to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

KRG officials say this payment by Baghdad is long overdue and that the deferral government owes the Kurdistan Region trillions of Iraqi dinars.
Although the central government is required to pay the KRG’s share of sovereign expenses that include 12 sectors, it paid only the expenses of four: food, medicine, census and pilgrimage.

Abdulkhaliq Rafiq, an economic advisor for the KRG Ministry of Finance, said, “From 2005 to 2012, the share of the Kurdistan Region’s governance budget was over 11 trillion dinars.”

He added, “Baghdad does not pay the KRG in cash when it comes to food and medicine. Instead, they buy medicine and food and give Kurdistan its share.”

In 2012, 8.95 trillion dinars was allocated for governance expenses. According to the general Iraqi budget law, 17 percent of that amount – or 1.52 trillion dinars — must be given to the Kurdistan Region.

Rafiq told Rudaw that over the past two years, Baghdad has paid some governance expenses such as purchasing electricity from abroad, pilgrimage and for Kurdistan’s census. “But it did not pay in the previous years and the amount due is big,” he said.

On Sept. 13, the KRG agreed to begin exporting oil to the international market again, and Baghdad agreed to pay the expenses of companies involved in this process. This agreement also included a promise from Baghdad to pay the governance expenses that are owed.
Ali Hassan Balo, an advisor to the KRG Ministry of Natural Resources, said, “Baghdad agreed to pay the costs of fuel purchases and consumption at electricity stations in the Kurdistan Region.”

According to the data obtained by Rudaw, the money owed by Baghdad to the Kurdistan Region from the governance budget from 2005 to 2012 is equal to 2.68 trillion dinars. And, for the costs of electricity stations and fuel, Baghdad must pay 1.68 trillion dinars.

“We demand our share of this budget every year, but Baghdad refuses to pay,” Rafiq said. “In addition, within the same time period, Baghdad has failed to pay the budget of the Peshmerga forces which is equal to 6.13 trillion dinars.”

He also mentioned the Kurdistan Region’s share in Iraq’s general budget from the past two years, saying, “In the complementary budget of 2011, Kurdistan’s share was 772.9 billion dinars which Baghdad has not paid. In 2010, it was 217 billion dinars which Baghdad has not paid.”
According to Rafiq, the total amount owed by Baghdad to the KRG from 2005 until the current year is 9.8 trillion dinars.

LINK

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Criticism of work of Joint Commission between Baghdad and Erbil on the drafting of oil and gas law

Thursday, 27 September, 2012

Criticized a member of the Commission on oil and energy parliamentary Uday Awad action committee formed between the central government and the Kurdistan Regional Government to reach a final version of the law of oil and gas, pointing out that the results of the Committee’s work will be the injustice and prejudice against the Iraqi people, he said.

Awad said in a statement to Radio tow that negotiations between the two governments marred by a lot of political deals and concessions by the federal government, while the latter should engage the presidency of the Parliament and the Commission on oil and energy parliamentary and the Iraqi people to decide the fate of Iraq’s oil wealth.

The decision of the Commission on oil and energy parliamentary Qasim Mohammad Qasim said in an earlier statement to Radio tow for the Iraqi government and the territorial Government reached an agreement to form a joint committee supreme includes representatives of the Federal Ministry of Oil and the Ministry of Natural Resources in the region and representatives of the political blocs to resolve problems that arise in the file oil and gas and follow up the implementation of agreements between the two sides until the adoption of a law for the oil and gas sector in the country.

LINK

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Vice Kordstani: Talabani will meet the political blocs in Baghdad next week

Wednesday, 26 September, 2012

Baghdad (news) .. Confirmed a member of the Kurdistan Alliance MP / Kurdistan Alliance bloc / Leila Hassan, President Jalal Talabani will meet with the political blocs in Baghdad next week.
Hassan said in a statement (of the Agency news) on Wednesday: The president of the republic will return within days to Baghdad, and political blocs will meet in order to create a suitable ground for the national meeting.

Kurdish MP explained: that the meetings between the President and the leaders of political blocs in the province of Sulaymaniyah were positive, noting that the current atmosphere between the blocks calm and problem-solving needs to sit at the table blocs dialogue.

He returned the national meeting to the forefront of a new, full-out political situation of the bottleneck, after back President to Sulaymaniyah from medical trip lasted three months in Germany, is expected to return President Talabani to Baghdad to call for a national meeting.

LINK

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Korean companies invited to implement reconstruction projects in Baghdad

Tuesday, 25 September, 2012

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) -The Baghdad Mayorship invited the South Korean Companies to contribute in the implementation of the projects of reconstruction and investment in Baghdad.

The Baghdad Mayorship reported in statement received by IraqiNews.com on Tuesday that ”The Undersecretary of Baghdad Mayorship for municipal affairs, Na’eem al-Ka’by, hosted the representatives of the SAPICO Korean company and the two sides discussed cooperation aspects and the means to promote the Korean participation in implementing several service projects as well as equipping Baghdad Mayorship with the specialized devices in the fields of construction and infrastructure.”

The statement pointed out that ”The Korean company expressed its desire in providing its services in the environment and infrastructure fields,” stressing that ”The Korean company will supply Baghdad Mayorship with the machines used in sewage, roads and other fields.” \

Dinar Daddy’s Tidbits