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# (HASH TAGS) ARE EXCERPTS FROM ARTICLES
ARTICLES POSTED BY CHATTELS ~~~ THANK YOU SIR!!
ARTICLE: Iraq bolsters Kurdish budget to settle financial dispute
04 March 2014
# The Iraqi government approved Tuesday the transfer of US$200 million to the autonomous Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) budget in a bid to resolve conflict between the two parties over oil exports and budget distribution.
^^ THIS IS AWESOME NEWS!!! I SURE WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE ARTICLES STATING THE SAME AS TO LEND TO ITS VALIDITY. THIS ARTICLE IS COMING FROM A BAGHDAD NEWS SOURCE ~ RL ~
OH AND LOOKIE!!! HERE "IS" ANOTHER!!!!
ARTICLE: A quarter of a trillion dinars for oil companies in Kurdistan
# MP for the National Alliance, Jawad Albzona, that the government developed new amounts within the budget,--- a quarter trillion to the Kurdistan region to oil companies operating in the region.
^^ AWESOME!! ****** BUT, THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE IS ALSO ANOTHER ARM OF THE MALIKI PARTY!!! DO NOT BE FOOLED MY FRIENDS. REMAIN CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ~ RL ~
ARTICLE: Albzona: Cabinet sent new amendments to the budget by one billion and 250 million dollars
# the allocation of 250 million dollars to the Kurdistan region.
ARTICLE: Cabinet sends a supplement to the budget includes compensation Anbar
# BAGHDAD / Baghdadi News / said a member of the Economic Committee in the House of Representatives Mahma Khalil, on Tuesday, said the government has sent a second supplement the budget to Parliament.
~~ IMPORTANT TO NOTE:
# "It seems that the budget bill has not been completed yet,
^^ ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE NOT PASSED THE BUDGET FOR 2014 AS OF YET, THEY ARE MAKING GREAT STRIDES IT SEEMS !! ~ RL ~
ARTICLE: Sources expect the first reading of the draft budget in the session Alonbaralastnaúah
# Sources from within the House of Representatives to witness tomorrow's meeting to discuss the crisis in Anbar, the first reading of the draft budget law for 2014
# sources said that the budget will be approved even if the deputies did not attend the Kurdistan Alliance
# MALIKI'S -- State of Law coalition submitted a request to the Presidency of the Council of Representatives signed by more than 70 deputies requesting the inclusion of the budget law on the agenda of meetings of the Council.
^^ SO IT SEEMS THE OLE MALIKI MACHINE IS STILL AT LARGE HERE. NOTICE IT IS "MALIKI'S PARTY" SUBMITTING A REQUEST TO THE COUNCIL OF REPRESENTATIVES TO GO AHEAD AND PASS THE BUDGET LAW "EVEN IF THERE IS NOT FAIR REPRESENTATION PRESENT FOR VOTING!!!!!" THIS MAN NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE ME!! ~ RL ~
WILL THEY OR WON'T THEY??? LOTS OF MIXED MESSAGES HERE. LIKE THIS ARTICLE FOR INSTANCE:
ARTICLE: MP, SL coalition would not attend the parliament session to discuss Anbar crisis .
# BAGHDAD / Nina /-- MP Sadiq Labban for State of Law coalition confirmed that " SL coalition continue to boycott meetings of the Council of Representatives, and will not attend the meeting of the Council to discuss the upcoming special issue of Al-Anbar province , on Thursday.
ARTICLE: ALLAWI'S SIDE: Iraqiya MP: we will attend the Thursday's meeting of the Parliament
SPEAKING: # Etab al-Duri -- ending this crisis will push lawmakers of Muttahidoon to attend the meetings of the Council and to contribute effectively to approve the remaining laws that serve the interests of the citizens , especially the budget law, which delayed without justification
ARTICLE: Breaking News … Maliki assures contesting parliament performance to Federal Court
ARTICLE: Maliki accuses Nujaifi and his deputies to disrupt the work of the Parliament
# MALIKI ^^ on his weekly word on Wednesday 5, March.
ARTICLE: Urgent .. Maliki: Nujaifi is accomplice against approving the budget other important laws
WHAT A NUMBSKULL!!! OF COURSE HE CAN SAY THIS "AFTER AGREEING" TO PAY THE KRG THEIR MONEY. IS ANYONE WATCHING THIS MAN CLOSELY??? HE DELIBERATELY SAYS ONE THING SO HE CAN JUSTIFY WHAT HE SAYS TO FOLLOW. Nujaifi is accomplice against approving the budget other important laws REALLY MALIKI? IT IS THE LACK OF EFFORT AND DILIGENCE OF THE IRAQI CENTRAL GOVERNMENT TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON THEIR PROMISES. WE SEE THE SAME PROBLEM YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR WITH MALIKI'S GOVERNMENT. WHAT GIVES? THIS IS AN ELECTION YEAR AND MALIKI IS SHAKING IN HIS SHOES TO GET RE ELECTED BECAUSE IF HE IS NOT IN POWER HE IS PROBABLY GOING TO LOSE HIS LIFE. HE WILL GO TO ANY AND ALL LENGTHS TO STAY IN POWER BECAUSE OF THIS. ~ RL ~
ARTICLE: Maliki: The House became illegal, as it deliberately disrupt the State work
NOTICE MALIKI SAYS THIS YESTERDAY THEN TODAY COMES OUT WITH ALL GUNS BLAZING!! HE HAD TO MAKE SURE NOTHING COULD COME BACK ON HIM. SO HE COULD BE HIS RIGHTEOUS SELF, HE DECIDES TO PAY THE KRG THEN GO INTO HIS RANT. ~ RL ~
BAGHDAD / NINA / Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said the cabinet decided yesterday unanimously to pay what the people need of service and urgent matters, regardless of the position of the House of Representatives to ratify the budget.
ARTICLE: Parliamentary Energy: bureaucracy and corruption are driving international oil companies to leave, and Maliki is dealing with the economic meltdown in the media
# Commission on oil and energy parliamentary, on Tuesday, --- many of the international oil companies operating in Iraq, intends to withdraw and leave the country because of "bureaucracy and corruption"
HOW MANY TIMES MUST I SAY IT!!!
# demanding the government to rectify the matter through the enactment of the oil and gas processing investment law
^^ THESE ARE THE LAWS THAT ARE GOING TO TURN THE TIDES FOR IRAQ'S ECONOMY AND ALIGN THEM WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. WHY DO THEY JUST NOT GET IT?? THEY ARE TOO INTERESTED IN WHO MAINTAINS POWER, WHO IS THE MOST POPULAR. IT IS LIKE IM WATCHING A HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA PLAY OUT WITH THESE PEOPLE. THEY MUST PASS THESE LAWS TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE IMF, WORLD BANK, WTO PERIOD!! THEY COULD BE A COUNTRY TO BE RECKONED WITH IF THEY WOULD KEEP THEIR EGOS IN CHECK AND WORK TOGETHER WITH THE NEW CONSTITUTION WE PUT IN PLACE FOR THEM. PERHAPS THEY ARE NOT WELL EDUCATED WHEN IT COMES TO THE NEW CONSTITUTION. IT LOOKS LIKE WE WOULD KEEP SENDING UN MEDIATORS IN THERE TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND IT COMPLETELY. BUT THEN IM THINKING LIKE AN AMERICAN. THE IRAQI PEOPLE'S MINDSET IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN OURS AND WE MUST ALWAYS KEEP THIS IN MIND. PATIENCE WEEDSKIPPER ~ RL ~
# withdrawal of a number of these oil companies because of the problems faced by both the security, or ill-treatment by Iraqi ministries."
# urged the member of the Commission on oil and energy parliamentary government to "make a greater effort to pass a law blocking oil and gas investment and the amendment of the law,"
# "the investment law in the Kurdistan region is much better than that adopted by the federal government."
^^ CAN IT BE SAID ENOUGH??? MALIKI COULD LEARN A THING OR TWO FROM BARZANI'S GOVERNMENT BUT HIS EGO IS TOO BIG. THEREFORE, IRAQ SUFFERS. ~ RL ~
ARTICLE: Deputy Prime Minister meets with Mr. William Burns, senior agent for the U.S. State Department
# The Iraqi government states that the 2007 oil and gas law will be amended, in agreement by all parties, in order to settle disputes between Bagdad and Kurdistan.
^^ WALK THE WALK!! ENOUGH OF ALL THE TALK FOR HEAVENS SAKE!!! FOLKS THEY HAVE BEEN SAYING THIS SINCE I BEGAN MY STUDIES ON THE REBUILDING OF IRAQ OVER 5 YEARS AGO. ~ RL ~
CHATTELS SAYS IT TOO: *** The foregoing article is dated September 3, 2012. Same dialogue for years. ***
AMEN CHATTELS!! THEY CANNOT STOP POINTING FINGERS AND THROWING SHOES LONG ENOUGH TO PASS THE LAWS THAT MATTER IN THE REBUILDING OF THEIR GDP WHICH, AS WE ALL KNOW IF YOU HAVE STUDIED IMF AND WORLD BANK DOCUMENTS, IS REFLECTED IN THE VALUE OF A COUNTRY'S CURRENCY. NO DOUBT IN OIL REVENUE ALONE THEY COULD REVALUE THEIR CURRENCY AT A 2 to 3 DOLLAR RATE AS WE SPEAK. BUT!!! IRAQ IS WANTING TO RETURN TO THE WORLD WITH A BIGGER BOOM THAN THAT. ONCE AGAIN, PRIDE AND EGO. ~ RL ~
# Maliki said "Nijaifi and those who target the political process always state that the security ministers are not nominated, but they refuse to ratify the names of the nominees for the Interior and Defense Ministers posts."
^^ FOR THE NEWCOMER: THEY HAVE SUBMITTED MANY LISTS TO MALIKI IN THE PAST REGARDING NAMES FOR THE SECURITY MINISTRIES AND HE SHOT THEM ALL DOWN!!! HE REFUSES TO MEET ANYONE HALF WAY AND THIS WILL BE A POINT OF CONTENTION UNTIL IT IS RESOLVED. THIS IS THE ONLY REMAINING POINT OF ERBIL THAT HAS NOT BEEN IMPLEMENTED DUE TO THE POWER HUNGRY MALIKI. THEREFORE MALIKI HOLDING ALL THE DEFENSE MINISTRIES IN HIS POCKET BY-PROXY, THIS MAKES THINGS A BIT UNCOMFORTABLE FOR THE SUNNIS AND OTHER TRIBES THAT HAVE BEEN OPPRESSED BY SADDAMS RULE. DADDY ALWAYS SAID, IF THEY REMOVE ONE DICTATOR THEY WILL FIND ANOTHER TO STEP RIGHT IN. ~ RL ~
ARTICLE: The increase of the Iraqi dinar against the dollar is vital to the citizen
# The process of deletion of zeros formality through which to change the face value of the coin without compromising real terms and have no raised real economic because the currency change will not lead to an increase in GDP of the country,
^^ ONCE AGAIN THE COUNTRY'S GDP WILL DETERMINE THE RATE OF THE CURRENCY.
# need to distinguish between the process of change in real currency, which means changing the exchange rate of the local currency compared to the currencies of leadership as dollar
# leading to re-evaluate the prices of goods and services due to the change the real value of the currency, such as what happened in Iraq in 2007 when the value of the Iraqi dinar against the U.S. dollar to 1267 dinars after it was sold at a price of 1475 dinars in 2006,
^^ REALIZE THE EXCHANGE RATE "DURING THE WAR". A COUNTRY'S CURRENCY ALWAYS PLUMMETS DURING WAR. ~ RL ~
# the process of deletion of zeros will be provided by the new currency, considering changing the currency order will boost confidence with one of the symbols of national sovereignty of the country
# increase confidence in the national currency with the citizen at home and the foreign investor abroad,
# to facilitate the process of trade within the country, and to facilitate the process of converting the dinar to other currencies.
^^ IMO.. TWO PART PROCESS. CHANGE THE CURRENCY TO LOOK MORE LIKE THE USD, THEN REVALUE TO CONVERT APPLES TO APPLES. ~ RL ~
# there is almost a consensus that money laundering, forgery and the spread of financial and administrative corruption and economic instability will be a severe negative factors influencing the process of replacing the currency.
BAGHDAD / NINA / Speaker of the House of Representatives Osama al-Nujaifi flatly rejected on Wednesday the accusations by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki against him.
A statement by his office said that Nujaifi would respond to these charges in front of public opinion at a press conference that he would hold on Thursday at the headquarters of the House of Representatives.
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki launched, in his weekly speech, an unprecedented attack on the House Speaker Osama Nujaifi and the Presidency of the Council, accusing them to disrupt the work of Parliament./
Hakim warns of adopting devious means to justify disbursement of budgets
Wednesday, 05 March 2014 21:21
Baghdad (AIN) –The head of the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council, Ammar al-Hakim, warned from manipulating over the Iraqi Parliament.
Hakim reported in a statement received by AIN "We have been informed that there are some sides that attempt to manipulating over the Parliament through adopting awkward and strange methods to justify the disbursement of the budget away of the laws of the Parliament.''
''We warn from adopting such methods since democratic system and institutional State in Iraq is the foundation which we should base on and any other unconstitutional method might succeed in a way but it will effect many other fields,'' he concluded.
Maliki attempts to overthrow Iraqi constitution, says Nijaifi
Wednesday, 05 March 2014 21:53
Nineveh, Mosul (AIN) –MP Atheel al-Nijaifi, of Motahidon Alliance, considered the recent statements of the Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, related to the disbursement of funds from the budget as dangerous speech and an attempt to overthrow the Constitution of Iraq.
Nijaifi published on his personal facebook page that ''Maliki launched a dangerous statement when he declared that he will adopt the State Budget without ratifying it at the Parliament where Maliki stated that the Parliament lost its legitimization because the Parliament violated the opinion of the Government.''
''I hope that Maliki did not mean his statement literally, otherwise his statement is considered an attempt to overthrow the Constitution of Iraq,'' he concluded.
MP calls Maliki to attend Thursday parliament session
Wednesday, 05 March 2014 22:22
Baghdad (AIN) –MP Hassan Showerid, of the Iraqiya Alliance, called the Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, to attend the Parliament session to discuss the current security and political situation in Iraq.
Showerid reported in a statement received by AIN ''The Parliament should be the supreme authority in Iraq in terms of issuing the resolutions and the Premier should attend the Parliament session since the Iraqi people have the right to get acquainted with the situation in Iraq.''
''The Parliament will hold a session on Thursday to discuss the security situation and the military campaign in Anbar province,'' the statement concluded.
Shaways announced in Washington: Iraqi open a trade office in Houston to promote trade relations with U.S. companies
Thursday, 06 March / March 2014 06:55
Deputy Prime Minister example, has typically Nuri Shaways, who is currently visiting the United States that Iraq will open a trade office in the Iraqi cities of greater Houston, Texas, and the fourth largest U.S. cities during the next two days to Tazbz trade relations between U.S. companies and Iraq.
A statement by the Office Shaways received by all of Iraq [where] a copy of it today that the Deputy Prime Minister said that during a meeting Wednesday at the headquarters of the Ministry of Commerce in Washington, DC Froman, the U.S. trade representative.
The statement added that he had been during the meeting, which was attended by the Minister of Trade Khairallah Babiker and Chairman of the National Investment Commission, Sami al-Araji, the head of the advisers Thamer Ghadhban, they reviewed bilateral relations between the two countries on trade and economic levels and ways of strengthening them in the interest of the two friendly peoples.
As has been discussed in several issues of common economic and job opportunities of U.S. companies in Iraq and the problems and obstacles that hinder his work in Iraq, and has been providing briefing about measures are carried out by the Iraqi government in order to attract investors and create a good investment environment,
In this context, according to the statement Froman praised the actions taken by the Iraqi government in order to facilitate the work of businessmen, companies and encourage investors by simplifying the procedures for obtaining visas to enter Iraq and record companies and others.
The statement said Shaways called on the U.S. authorities to "the need to give the Iraqi companies, agencies and brands the U.S.." End
Electoral Commission initiated the distribution of approximately 700 thousand electronic card for voters and Wasit
MPs are afraid to buy the ballot and not to criticize the adoption of fingerprint them and ambiguity (Tally Center)
Author:
Editor: BK, BS 5.3.2014 11:22 p.m. number of readings: 124
Long-Presse / Baghdad
His deputies from different blocks, on Wednesday, fearing the possibility of buying electronic cards for the voters or her coalition of certain parties, while criticizing the failure to adopt the electoral commission other security measures, tag fingers or personal photos, to prevent misuse of such cards, have expressed fear " mystery "surrounding the management of your computer system after votes (Tally Center).
The MP said the Liberal bloc, Prince Kanani, in an interview to the newspaper (range), that there are "difficult to vote is pregnant original card electronic electoral presence detection device of its own in all the polling stations," noting that it "is not possible to use the electronic card In another station within the center one. "
Saw Kanani, a member of the Legal Committee of parliament that "the non-receipt of some of the voters for their cards Electronic allow the possibility of the existence of a large number of cards is used and exploited by this party political or those in coordination with some of the officials of the polling stations," noting that "some political blocs or other of those, you can buy cards for voters, especially in poor areas, and exploitation of the vote, because of the adoption of the original owner's fingerprint on the ballot. "
He was a member of the Liberal bloc, for fear of "depriving some voters who may lose their voting cards," revealing "information indicating the presence of half a million ballots backup."
In the axis of his speech, MP Prince Kanani, for "the dismissal of 17 as general manager at the Electoral Commission within one month, and not aware of the political blocs approaching supervising the Calculator program (Tally Center), which combines the final vote of the voters, after the completion of the counting."
Promised Kanani, that "Tally Center was the subject of a doubt by a coalition of state law, which is headed by the prime minister, Nuri al-Maliki, in the previous election in 2010," pointing out that "Maliki's coalition called for a timely re-counting in spite of the presence of a representative of the United Nations Center. "
The Electoral Commission began two months ago, the distribution of "electronic card" which includes data and voter polling station and the station number and sequence of the electoral, indicating that it will be realized from the card via the "special electronic device", in addition to the voter's claim to carry Msthompsk Thbota as well as the last ballot.
For her part, MP for the Kurdistan Alliance, Ala. Talabani, in an interview to the newspaper (range), "The three parties bear any manipulate the outcome of the upcoming parliamentary elections," indicating that the "parties are the Electoral Commission, the voter, and the political parties, which buys the ballot."
She explained Rep. Talabani, that "some political blocs exploiting poverty voter, and retribution on the political process, and the reluctance of some people from casting their votes, to buy the election card", expressing fear of "the use of those cards to deflect votes across the purchase and destruction, without bothering to vote for someone else." .
Reveals a member of the Kurdistan Alliance for the province of Kirkuk, about "the high price of sale electronic card than a hundred to $ 300," asserting that "some political parties began the process to buy a wide range of voter cards in poor areas."
And carried the MP Talabani, the Electoral Commission "the responsibility of any manipulation of the will of the voters because of the failure to adopt more stringent measures to prevent the use of electronic card by unauthorized," afterthought that "the voter is the other bears the responsibility to maintain his voice and electronic card."
And trading circles popular in Baghdad, news of the high price of buying electronic voter card to between $ 500 to $ 600, depending on the nature of the region and the unit Almhrahin compete in them.
And regard this theme MP said the coalition united, Jamal al-Kilani, said in an interview to the newspaper (range), "The electronic card pose a potential loophole as a result of the failure to adopt precautionary measures other accompanying tag voter's fingers, or take a picture of him instant."
He said Kilani, that "the project done by the electronic election commission was developed in the reform of the electoral process and procedures to prevent fraud," adding, "but it was on the lookout for the Commission that gap."
He warned MP for the coalition, which is led by Chairman of the Board of Representatives, Osama Najafi, of the consequences of "the reluctance of voters for the elections, which opens the way for predators, and they can buy voting cards of the poor."
The Office of the Supreme Shiite religious authority, Ali al-Sistani, said recently on the inadmissibility of the sale of electronic voter card and do some of the candidates to distribute some gifts to the citizens or provide services to them on condition they vote.
Excellent article Chattels. Really puts things into perspective inasmuch as understanding the mentality of the Iraqi people. I would recommend EVERYONE in this investment READ THIS ARTICLE.~ RED LILY ~
Iraqi politicians must restore ethics to politics
Expressions like “the ethics of political work” elicit scorn and mockery in Iraq. These come not only from average citizens who have experienced a painful past and are still going through a harrowing present in their relationship with politics, leading them to see politics as anything but ethical, but also from politicians themselves. A wide spectrum of the Iraqi political class views politics as a way for leaders to rid themselves of obligations, break promises and manipulate and falsify facts for their own gain.
Summary⎙ Recent political disputes and corruption have led Iraqi politicians to forgo their primary roles and focus on merely gaining power, money and influence.
Author Mustafa al-Kadhimi
Posted March 5, 2014
Translator(s)Steffi Chakti
This article does not aim to study the historical roots of the concept of politics, nor the services the field offers or breakthroughs it achieves in organizing society, expressing its will, solving its problems and internal crises or protecting humanity from extermination in continuous wars.
Rather, what is offered here is a partial understanding of politics in Iraq in terms of conspiracy, plotting and taking advantage of conditions to oust and weaken other parties.
Justifying the hostility of Iraqi political powers — whether between the major parties or within the same party — is the long history of hardships and challenges these parties have faced. More than 10 years following the regime change in Baghdad, these past difficulties have yet to allow the parties to establish political and organizational groundwork based on principles, obligations and commitments.
It seems that the secrecy that characterized the work of most current parties in the past decades still applies. This secrecy was the product of the struggle against the regime of former President Saddam Hussein, yet it continued to be a part of the political and organizational protocol of partisan work, like an untreatable disease. This is reflected in the structures of parties and their reliance on abnormal working rules, in addition to the lack of a mechanism for power rotation within the party.
Moreover, the gloomy conditions that prevailed after 2003 and the spread of corruption have created a new pattern of partisan affiliations based more on personal and financial interests than on morals and common principles. This has paved the road for the division of parties and withdrawals from them, rendering the parties’ goals unclear and allowing for the coexistence of radically divergent figures within a single party.
The basis for establishing a political party should be clear common goals, and these goals should attract the members and popular base. However, the lack of a common goal that joins people together, even if they disagree on details, has created chaos in the political environment. The lack of a common goal has also poisoned this environment, eradicating all ethics and principles governing the relationships between the parties.
The fact that the political class does not agree on a common identity for the country and its higher interests has opened the political sphere up to regional and international polarizations which further complicated the task of creating a healthy political environment in which the public would understand political work as a public service that is characterized first and foremost by ethics.
This lack of trust has attracted a large number of political and partisan figures who joined the political sphere without qualifications or any popular base in an attempt to preserve economic, tribal or religious interests. Iraqis found themselves immersed in sectarian and national disputes, transforming political and governmental work into an arena used to settle accounts and display extremist inclinations in order to allure the most extreme of voters.
WITHOUT qualifications. Well there you go. They have people in their government that do not understand the constitution nor do they care to. They really need more educated people in government over there.~ RED LILY ~
This understanding is important for tracing the borders of the Iraqi political environment and understanding why it has reached this stage. This understanding alone, however, will not enhance this environment or restore ethics to political work unless there is a genuine will to realize this goal.
This will is to be found only amid a political milieu that believes in the ethics of political work, the noble roles it plays within society and the preservation of the complementary spirit of partisan relationships.
Elections represent a chance to bring about this change, but offer short windows of opportunity.
Change emanates from needs, and these days, Iraq is in desperate need of a political class capable of understanding its role and responsibilities toward society. Performing this role professionally and efficiently will clear the name of politics and restore trust in politicians.
In Iraq, there is a widespread illusion that political work has no ethics and that there are neither boundaries for conspiracy nor a limit on instigation and the taking advantage of blood and destruction. This is not true. Political work has ethics, an umbrella under which all political practices stand.
GREAT READ CHATTELS. MY SENTIMENTS EXACTLY. THANK YOU ~ ~ RED LILY ~
Shortly after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov left Baghdad last month, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited on Feb. 23. These two visits seem to be the culmination of Iraq's path toward opening up to the East, which is embodied by growing political and economic relations with three key "Eastern" countries: Iran, Russia and China.
Summary⎙ As disputes between Iraq and the West seem to be on the rise, Baghdad is refocusing its efforts on the “East,” in particular Russia, China and Iran.
Author Harith Hasan
Posted March 4, 2014
Translator(s)Tyler Huffman
Less than two years ago, there was a near consensus among observers that Iraq lacked a unified foreign policy, because of deep internal divisions that made it difficult for its competing ethnic and sectarian parties to agree on a clear vision for the identity of the country and its foreign role. Consequently, according to this view, Iraq could not embrace a defined foreign policy without resolving its internal conflicts, and specifically could not identify a national identity that would help it define its geographic and cultural horizons and its foreign project.
It does not appear that there has been a drastic change today, but there are what can be considered features of the emergence of a foreign policy adopted by the Baghdad government. This policy goes against what some expected after the fall of former President Saddam Hussein, since it is not based on an alliance with the West.
What's more, it can be said that Iraq might be gradually heading back toward the "East," and the visits by the two Russian and Chinese officials can be placed within this context. Historically, the first radical change in Iraq's foreign policy approaches came after the fall of the Iraqi monarchy in 1958. This is the same year the diplomatic relations were established between Baghdad and Beijing and relations resumed between Baghdad and Moscow. Since then, Iraq's foreign policy has been heading toward the East, while its rupture with the West has deepened.
China and Russia's economic policymakers are rediscovering Iraq again. China considers the country to be an important trade partner in the region. The value of trade exchange between the two countries in 2012 amounted to more than $17 billion, and Beijing is one of the largest investors in the Iraqi oil and energy sectors.
Meanwhile, trade relations between Iraq and Russia have been improving since 2009, when Russian oil producer Lukoil resumed its investment in the West Qurna oil field. Iraq once again began buying Russian weapons, and armaments cooperation was one of the most important topics of Lavrov's most recent visit to Baghdad.
COOPERATION WITH WHAT? Cheaper oil prices for their country? I don't trust the Russians. Sorry. ~ RED LILY ~
Of course, this does not mean that Iraq has abandoned its relations with the United States. The recent visits by senior Iraq officials such as Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, Speaker Osama al-Nujaifi and Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq to Washington indicate that the US still plays an important role in guiding the concerns of Iraqi politicians. Furthermore, the recently signed arms deals between Iraq and the US give the impression that strategic cooperation is ongoing between the two sides, especially regarding counterterrorism coordination. However, the two sides have largely different views about critical issues such as the Syrian crisis and Iran. Furthermore, there is a difference in the way Iraqi leaders view Washington, compared with how they view Moscow and Beijing. Washington is still a point of competition between these politicians, and they all focus on directing their relations toward Washington to serve their own internal political agendas. Yet these politicians do not view Moscow and Beijing in the same way. The latter two states deal with Iraq based on a purely pragmatic rationale, the primary focus of which is economic interests.
This trend toward the East reflects the internal developments that have occurred in Iraq since the withdrawal of US troops. The conflict over power in Baghdad was settled largely in the favor of Shiite Islamic forces. Maliki succeeded in consolidating his power and controlling the major joints of decision-making in the country. Maliki no longer needs to consult with his internal rivals to determine foreign policy approaches. Rather, today he seeks to take advantage of his foreign relations to strengthen his internal influence. In this regard, the third "Eastern" force — i.e., Iran — has a very vital role.
Al-Monitor spoke with Emma Sky, a former political adviser to the US military in Iraq who currently serves as a senior fellow at Yale University. "This shift toward the East began in 2010, when Iran — not the United States — succeeded in guaranteeing a second term for Prime Minister Maliki," she said. Since that time, it seems that Maliki's success in consolidating power has coincided with a growth in Iraqi-Iranian relations.
The Syrian crisis played a crucial role in promoting this trend. For the first time, the Iraqi government found itself in conflict with the United States regarding a sensitive regional issue that had an impact on the internal situation in Iraq. Although the Iraqi government has not taken a direct position in support of the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, it is not on friendly terms with the Syrian opposition that is backed by the West, or with the armed groups that have become active in Syria. In short, Iraq's position on the Syrian crisis was closer to the Iranian stance than to that of the United States. And perhaps this played a role in stimulating cooperation between Iraq and Russia, whose foreign minister confirmed his country's support for Iraq in confronting terrorism, which has grown against the backdrop of the conflict in Syria.
Relations between Baghdad and Ankara have deteriorated because of the Syrian issue, and because Baghdad considers the government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to be supporting the Iraqi Kurdistan region in its conflict with Baghdad over oil exports and other issues. This has led to a greater Iraqi dependence on Iran, to counterbalance Erdogan’s regional ambitions. At a time when it seems that trade relations with Turkey are decreasing, their levels between Iraq and Iran have been increasing, reaching more than $12 billion in 2013. Moreover, there are reports indicating that Iran wants to fill the void that may occur if trade and economic relations between Ankara and Baghdad deteriorate. Besides the political and economic dimensions, religious, cultural and tourism-related ties between Iraq and Iran are the best they've been since the founding of the modern Iraqi state.
The growing ties between Iraq and Iran were confirmed by the latest reports that Iraq violated international sanctions by signing a deal to buy arms and ammunition from Iran, which caused the US administration to raise concerns publicly. The Iraqi Ministry of Defense denied these reports in a statement published on its website. The first reaction by the Iraqi government came from Ali Al-Mussawi, Maliki’s media adviser, who did not confirm these reports but asserted that there is nothing preventing his government from buying arms from any party.
Iraq directing itself toward the East does not reflect a national policy with a strategic dimension. Rather, it indicates the extent of the relationship between internal conflicts and external relations in the country. Things will remain this way until these conflicts give rise to a more permanent structure for authority, including clearer conceptions of national interests and national identity.
Erbil (news) .. The head of the Kurdistan region, Massoud Barzani, the Kurdish going to reconsider their relationship with the center, while threatened to take a stand against one would not expect the federal government.
Barzani said in a speech during the handover ceremony the remains of nearly 93 people from Alborzanyen who were buried in mass graves Balsmoh and attended by the Agency (news): The 'center is trying to break the prestige of the Kurds and the problem is not about the oil or the budget only'.
He pointed out: that the region in the process of reconsidering the relationship with Baghdad, the Kurds because they can not live under the threat, noting that the Kurds will not lose their freedom.
He added that Iraq must be for all the components of Iraq and all Iraqis enjoy a bright future. / End / h. / P
IMHO: Central better take Barzani seriously. LOOK at the Kurdistan region. They are the most stable economy wise and security wise. Truth be told, Kurdistan would be better off breaking from central government. Kurdistan has it together because all the politicians there have A COMMON GOAL for their territory and their citizens. Central cares NOT about the people but more about their POCKETS. ~ RED LILY ~
Twilight News / stressedMassoud Barzani, President of Kurdistan Region of Iraq on Thursday that the Kurdish people will not alter his freedom "anything", stressing that the Iraqi government if it continues in its approach against the position of the region will be met with "would not expect."
DOES NOT TRANSLATE OVER VERY WELL BUT IN PREVIOUS ARTICLES WE CAN SURMISE HE IS SPEAKING OF BECOMING AN INDEPENDENT STATE IMO. ~ RED LILY ~
Barzani's comments came this morning during his participation in the ceremony of receiving the remains of 93 of the sons of prominent clan that their remains were found in the desert of Samawah last year and will be transferred to the cemetery area of prominent Ioaroa buried there.
Albarzanyen were arrested in the operation called Panevlh Albarzanyen in 1983 where he was arrested about 8000 of them were buried alive at the desert of Samawah on the Iraqi-Saudi border.
The ceremony took place in the presence of the international airport Rabil many officials in the provincial government and representatives of the Kurdish parties and then the remains will be transported in a special ceremony to stand out.
Barzani added in his speech that was attended by "Twilight News", "will not alter our freedom anything else." In reference to the current differences between Baghdad and Erbil.
Commented Barzani on the current crisis between Baghdad and Erbil, saying "the current crisis so severe and the issue is not the budget or oil, but bigger than this. Are breaking the prestige of the Kurds and Kurdistan they Aredion to be in the margin, but we are the owners of our decision and TGE's like the province with that we are the owners of all these victims." .
Barzani added, "It is impossible, after all this freedom to bargain it will not take a backward, but forward, and during previous periods Several delegations visited Baghdad, meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister, but suddenly they have to cut the salaries of the staff of the region."
CLEARLY IN BARZANI'S EYES THEY REMAIN OPPRESSED EVEN AFTER THE FALL OF SADDAM HUSSEIN AND VOWS TO NEVER ALLOW THIS OPPRESSION TO HAPPEN AGAIN. ~ RED LILY ~
Barzani pointed out that this crisis is as old said "several years ago offered that Iraq is in danger and that there is a decline in democracy and federalism because the constitution penetrate."
He asked, "After all these sacrifices Is that the Kurdish people are willing to compromise his freedom?"
He also said, "If the Baghdad authorities are considering using this as leverage against the province, I say, and not the logic of the threat, but I say with all certainty that it would be our position will not be in the mind and then you can see or not."
Barzani said he had spoken during the past period with all parties of the Kurdish "I told them that he can not continue with Baghdad in this way because we can not live under the threat on an ongoing basis."
He stressed that "they should not Atsoura they are doing injustice will of the Kurdish people, because we have learned not to live under oppression."
~ RL ~ 
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