Category: Government Policy

Baghdad, The House of Representatives decided to adjourn its session until tomorrow, Wednesday, after it completed the report and discussion of the draft law regulating renewable energy.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Patriarch Raphael Bedros XXI Minassian, Catholicos – Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church, is currently visiting House Speaker, Nabih Berri, in Ain el-Tineh.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Baghdad, The National Iraqi News Agency (NINA) documents part of the meeting between Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in the Pentagon building, today, Tuesday, in Washington, DC.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) leader, MP Gebran Bassil, on Wednesday welcomed at his Batroun residence, United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Joanna Wronecka, accompanied by her political advisor Lars de Gier.

According to a statement by the FPM press office, MP Bassil briefed his visitors on his recent initiative focused on implementing Resolution 1701 and its importance in light of the recent developments in southern Lebanon and the region. He also briefed them on the latest developments related to the presidential deadline.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Kirkuk, The Iraqi Turkmen Front confirmed its support for the positions of the Iraqi government, which is keen to establish balanced relations with all countries of the world, secure stability and achieve peace in the region.

It said in a statement, ‘We hope that the visit of Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani to the United States of America will contribute to activating the strategic framework agreement signed between the two countries, which will contribute to achieving the goals of the agreement.’

The Front expressed its hope that the visit would be an opportunity to clarify the Iraqi position on the current events in the region, stay away from wars, and achieve a ceasefire in Gaza in a way that guarantees stability and a comfortable living for all honorable people in the world

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

In a meeting at his office in Bikfaya, Kataeb Leader Samy Gemayel met with Former Deputy and Minister Dr. Ahmad Fatfat with talks featuring high on the latest developments in the country and the region.

The meeting focused on the importance of unified sovereign positions in the absence of a functioning state and the prevailing security chaos.

Talks also highlighted the necessity of enhancing coordination among parties committed to Lebanon’s welfare.

The meeting was attended by Kataeb Leader Advisor Sassine Sassine as well as Kataeb Political Bureau Member Lena Jalkh.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Baghdad , -Iraq and the United States of America signed memorandums of understanding to treat burning gas and convert it into electricity.

A statement from the Prime Minister’s Media Office said: ‘The Supreme Coordination Committee (HCC) held a meeting yesterday, Monday, April 15, in accordance with the Strategic Framework Agreement between Iraq and the United States for the year 2008. Noting that the delegation of the Republic of Iraq was headed by Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Planning Muhammad Tamim. The US government delegation was headed by Secretary of State Anthony J. Blinken.

The two sides stressed the importance of the bilateral partnership and Iraq’s vital role in the security and prosperity of the region, and expressed their desire to expand the depth and scope of the relationship between the two countries, including in the areas of energy independence, financial reform, providing services to the Iraqi people, strengthening democracy and the rule of law, and strengthening educational and cul
tural relations, Representatives of the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq also participated in the meeting.

The Iraqi and American delegations expressed a common opinion that Iraq has the ability to exploit its vast natural gas resources, invest in new energy infrastructure and renewable energy sources, and achieve energy self-sufficiency by 2030. The United States praised Iraq for the progress it has made in reducing emissions of gas and work to market associated gas. The large gas potential in the Kurdistan region of Iraq is a major component of energy security in Iraq, as is the increase in private sector investments.

To allow Iraq to benefit from the leading technology and expertise of the American private sector, Iraq and the United States announced the signing of new memorandums of understanding to process flared gas and convert it into usable electricity for the Iraqi people. Both sides also stressed the importance of resuming oil exports via the Iraqi-Turkish pipeline.

According to the statemen
t, the United States praised Iraq for its great efforts to increase regional connectivity, especially with regard to electrical interconnection with Jordan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. After years of work to build its interconnection with Jordan, Iraq began receiving 40 megawatts of electricity for its people. The capacity is scheduled to increase in the future stages to 900 megawatts, and Iraq has stressed that strengthening ties, which are based on common interests with neighbors, is the basis for local prosperity.

Iraq and the United States also discussed Iraq’s interest in the use of peaceful nuclear energy, including emerging nuclear technologies, and Iraq’s significant progress in modernizing its financial and banking sector, which has led to expanded correspondent relationships with banks in the United States and Europe.

According to the statement, Iraq and the United States committed to continuing cooperative financial reform efforts, which will enable Ir
aq to encourage foreign investment and continue to expand international banking relations. These reforms will work to combat corruption and prevent illicit use of the Iraqi financial sector, allowing local banks to be engines of comprehensive economic growth.

The two sides decided to enhance cooperation through an enhanced engagement plan between the main actors in the Government of Iraq and the US Department of the Treasury. Iraq and the United States also pointed out the importance of improving the investment climate in Iraq and combating corruption, which are the basic pillars of the reform efforts of the Prime Minister, al-Sudani.

To support private business development in Iraq, the United States International Development Finance Corporation will provide a $50 million loan, facilitated by USAID, to the National Bank of Iraq in order to provide loans to small and medium enterprises, focusing on previously unbanked businesses and women-led businesses.

Iraq renewed its commitment to its ongoing efforts to
join the World Trade Organization and protect intellectual property rights. The United States also committed to supporting a series of International Visitor Leadership Program projects for Iraqis to develop expertise in these fields. The two parties acknowledged the importance of strategic and infrastructure projects in Iraq, which will support regional integration and enhance International Trade.

The United States also expressed its concern about the impacts of climate change felt by the Iraqi people, and pledged its continued support for resolving the water crisis in Iraq and improving public health, and praised the work of the Supreme Water Committee to improve the management of water resources in Iraq, and the two countries intend to work closely together to address climate change and reduce water scarcity of water in Iraq, and ending gas burning to reduce methane emissions.

The United States applauded Iraq’s imminent release of the National Action Plan and encouraged Iraq to prepare more ambitious nati
onal contributions under the Paris Agreement in advance of COP29. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) committed to working with Iraq at the local government level to improve water and waste management services, the United States has also committed to the International Visitor Leadership Program and the Water Expert Ambassador Program to share technical expertise in water management and other needs, the Iraqi delegation also expressed its interest in cooperating with American companies to exchange experiences in health insurance programs, hospital management, and cancer research.

The United States Government welcomed the Government of Iraq’s commitment to respect freedom of expression, in accordance with Iraqi law as guaranteed by the Iraqi Constitution, and the two delegations discussed how the United States can support the Iraqi Government in the best possible way to advance justice for survivors and victims of the genocide, committed by ISIS in 2014, in accordance with the rule o
f law. The two sides also stressed the importance of the stability of Sinjar, and the United States reaffirmed its intention to continue to support Iraq in strengthening its strategy to combat trafficking in persons. The United States praised recent positive developments in support of minorities. The two delegations also noted the impressive progress Iraq has made in returning more than 8,000 of its citizens from the Houl camp for the displaced in northeastern Syria. The United States thanked Iraq for its commitment to accelerating the pace of repatriation of citizens.

With regard to higher education and culture, the two governments discussed US support for the scholarship program, which was restored by the Prime Minister with the aim of increasing the number of Iraqi students studying abroad, as the Iraqi government intends to send 3,000 male and female students to study in the United States, out of the 5,000 male and female students it plans to send to study abroad, the two countries welcomed initiatives a
imed at expanding English language education and providing guidance to Iraqi students who are interested in studying in the United States, or who intend to travel to it.

The two delegations also reviewed the progress made in their joint efforts to preserve Iraq’s rich cultural heritage and religious diversity, and affirmed their intention to continue to facilitate the return of Iraqi cultural property to its rightful place in Iraq. Accordingly, during the Supreme Coordination Committee meeting, the US State Department coordinated the transfer of an artifact. An ancient Sumerian artefact returned to Iraq by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, and has committed to returning more Iraqi artifacts in the future.

The two countries stressed the importance of the steps taken by Iraq in enhancing its security, stability, and sovereignty, and indicated their mutual determination to deepen the strong relations between their peoples, and the United States welcomed this opportunity to reaffirm and strengthe
n its partnership with Iraq.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Baghdad, The President of the Republic, Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid, returned today, Tuesday, to the capital, Baghdad, after concluding an official visit to Jordan.

He was seen off at Marka Airport by Jordanian Prime Minister Bisher Al-Khasawneh, and a number of senior Jordanian officials.

During the visit, the President of the Republic held extensive discussions with King Abdullah II, in the presence of Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah, which focused on strengthening bilateral relations and expanding the horizons of cooperation between the two countries, in a way that contributes to strengthening ways of economic partnership and integration in various development sectors.

The President of the Republic received a number of members of the Iraqi community in Jordan, and stressed that caring for the interests of Iraqis residing abroad and providing them with the best services is one of the most important duties, and even one of the main priorities of the Presidency of the Republic and the Iraqi government.’

On
the sidelines of the visit, the President of the Republic met with Jordanian Prime Minister Bisher Al-Khasawneh, Speaker of the House of Representatives Ahmed Al-Safadi, and Speaker of the Senate Faisal Al-Fayez.

During these meetings, ways of developing relations and enhancing cooperation in various fields were discussed. The recent developments in the region were also discussed, stressing the need to intensify efforts to consolidate international peace and security.

The President of the Republic visited the Iraqi embassy in Jordan, and pointed out, during his conversation with the embassy staff, the importance of the great role assigned to the Iraqi diplomatic missions in conveying the true picture of the conditions and important developments that Iraq is witnessing, especially in the field of security stability, and building, reconstruction and investment campaigns.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Baghdad, Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani received at his residence in Washington, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Peter Fiala and his accompanying delegation, and discussed with him the possibility of enhancing exchange and opening partnership opportunities with Czech companies.

Al-Sudani affirmed, according to a statement from his media office, his aspiration to respond to the official invitation he received to visit the capital, Prague, as soon as possible, pointing to Iraq’s desire to be open to all areas of economic exchange and integration, especially with the urban renaissance and infrastructure projects that Iraq is witnessing today.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Army Commander, General Joseph Aoun, on Tuesday received respectively at his Yarzeh office, MP Wael Abou Faour and then MP Edgar Trabulsi, with whom he discussed the general situation in the country.

Maj. Gen. Aoun then received in his office, the Ambassador of the Sovereign Order of Malta to Lebanon, Maria Emerica Cortese, with discussions touching on various matters.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon