by admin | May 25, 2021 | Muslim World
Baghdad : Iraq’s Foreign Ministry has said it was “astonished” by a report that Iran had moved ballistic missiles to armed groups in Iraq.
The Ministry confirmed on Sunday that all Iraqi state institutions were committed to the Constitution that states that its territory should not be used as a base or passage for any operation targeting the security of any other state, Xinhua news agency reported.
The western media reported earlier that Iran had given ballistic missiles to allied Shiite militias in Iraq and was developing the capacity to build more there.
The Ministry’s statement came a day after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called up Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.
According to a statement by Abadi’s office, Pompeo renewed his country’s support for a strong, stable and prosperous Iraq in accordance with the Strategic Framework Agreement which was signed (in 2008) by the two countries.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Muslim World
Washington : The World Bank and the government of Iraq signed two projects worth $510 million on Wednesday, to help the Iraqi people improve their living conditions, as well as to enhance water supplies and create more jobs.
The two projects, along with the ongoing $750 million Emergency Operation for Development Project and other planned commitments, will increase the World Bank’s total commitment to Iraq to $4.7 billion, compared to $600 million four years ago, the World Bank said in a statement.
It indicated that Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi and World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim attended the signing ceremony for the two projects, which took place on the sidelines of the Iraq Reconstruction Conference held in Kuwait on February 12-14.
The Group affirmed that its increased commitment will help support the immediate restoration of education and health services, rebuilding important roads and bridges as well as rehabilitation of electricity and water systems. It noted that the ongoing emergency reconstruction projects have already created thousands of jobs for Iraqis, expecting that the new projects will create millions more.
The Bank also stressed that its commitment to scaling up support for Iraq reconstruction and development subject to availability of resources. In addition to the financial support, the Group has actively engaged with the Iraqi government through providing technical assistance for Iraq’s recovery and laying the foundation for private sector investments in the country, said the statement.
—AB/UNA-OIC
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Muslim World
Baghdad : The lower house of the Iraqi parliament voted on Wednesday to ask the government to recover control over oilfields in territory that is claimed both by Baghdad and the autonomous northern region of Kurdistan.
The decision came hours after the Kurdistan administration announced that 92.73 per cent of the 4 million people who took part in Monday’s referendum on independence from Iraq voted “yes.”
Besides seizing oilfields, Wednesday’s parliamentary measure urged the government to take all constitutional and legal measures to “maintain the integrity of Iraq and to defend its citizens,” Efe reported.
Other provisions call for legal action against Kurdish officials involved in the referendum, closing border checkpoints and rejecting dialogue with Kurdistan unless the referendum result is nullified.
Lawmakers also urged the Iraqi government to summon ambassadors from countries that have consulates or other missions in Kurdistan to request that they close or relocate those establishments.
On Tuesday, the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi gave the leaders of Kurdistan 72 hours to hand over control of airports in the autonomous region or face a ban on international flights.
EgyptAir and Lebanon-based Middle East Airlines said on Wednesday that they will suspend flights to and from Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Muslim World
Iraqi Minister of Industry and Minerals Mohammad Al Sudani (L), during his meeting with Jordanian Prime Minister Hani Al Mulki in Amman.
Amman : Jordanian Prime Minister Hani Al Mulki met with Iraqi Minister of Industry and Minerals Mohammad Al Sudani here on Sunday. During the meeting, Al Mulki voiced Jordan’s keenness to boost relations with its neighboring country in various fields.
The meeting was attended by Jordanian Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Yaroub Al Qudan and the Iraqi Ambassador to Jordan Safia Al Suhail. Al Mulki said that the reopening of the land route between the two countries will contribute to enhancing trade and economic ties between the two countries. “The reopening of the Tureibil border crossing is a strong indication of the return of stability in Iraq after the victories that have been achieved against terrorism”, he added.
The prime minister voiced Jordan’s readiness to actively contribute to the reconstruction of Iraq, provide it with the expertise to achieve development and build on the historical partnerships between the economic sectors in both countries, Petra reported.
He also highlighted the need to finalize the list of Jordanian commodities that will be exempted from Iraqi customs fees, adding that the Port of Aqaba is qualified to be a gateway for Iraqi imports and exports.
For his part, the Iraqi minister stressed the strong ties between Amman and Baghdad and said priority would be given to Jordanian companies and the private sector in reconstruction projects in his country.
—SM/IINA
