Tuesday Afternoon Iraq News Highlights 5-10-22
Tuesday Afternoon Iraq News Highlights 5-10-22
]Independent MPs are intensifying their meetings to resolve the “dilemma” of forming the Iraqi government
Posted On2022-05-10 By Sotaliraq Dissatisfaction with the language of statements and “tweets” directed at them -- Independent MPs are intensifying their meetings to resolve the “dilemma” of forming the Iraqi govern News-100522-iraq.alnuab
Supporters of Muqtada al-Sadr raise his picture and a picture of the candidate for prime minister Jaafar al-Sadr (the current ambassador of Iraq to the United Kingdom) during Friday prayers in Sadr City, east of Baghdad, on March 25th (AFP)
Baghdad: Fadel Al-Nashmi
Blocs and deputies described as "independents" in the Iraqi parliament continue their intensive meetings to come up with a political approach that leads to solving the "dilemma" of forming the government, which has been waiting for more than six months.
The recent activity of the independents may have been imposed by the messages recently sent to them by the forces of the "coordinating framework" on the one hand, and the leader of the "Sadr movement" Muqtada al-Sadr on the other hand, to urge them to actively engage in the file of forming a government, which the two sides have so far failed to overcome the obstacles that each of them places before them. The other is in the context of a highly polarized conflict that has led to what has become known as a “political blockage.”
And ended, at dawn yesterday (Monday), an expanded meeting at the home of Representative Haider Tariq Al-Shamkhi in Baghdad, attended by 40 "independent" deputies. Representative Hussein Arab said, in press statements, that "the meeting deliberated (in) the political initiatives of the coordination framework, the Triple Alliance and other political forces to end the political blockage in the country and move forward with the file of forming the next government."
The forces of the "coordinating framework" had called, through a "statement" read out by a "tweet" of Muqtada al-Sadr earlier, the independents to form the next government by putting forward an independent candidate for the position of prime minister, which angered many independent representatives, according to a reliable source who attended. The last independent meeting.
The source, who preferred not to be named, told Asharq Al-Awsat that "most of the independent representatives are upset with the way they are addressed by the framework forces and the leader of the (Sadr) movement through statements or tweets and not through official correspondence and through assets." He adds that «the independent blocs and representatives have offices and specific places for meetings and meetings, and if the frameworks or the Sadrists were serious in their calls for independents to form the government, they would have sent official communications in this regard. Politics cannot be managed through statements or tweets, and this may reveal the lack of seriousness of these calls.”
Regarding the most prominent issues discussed by the meeting of the independents, the source said that «many issues were raised during the meeting, foremost of which is the long-awaited dilemma of forming the government. There is a general trend within the circles of the independents rejecting the issue of nominating a prime minister from among the independents and not taking any executive position, while at the same time actively contributing to solving the problem of the prime ministership.
Regarding the entity that the independents capable of forming the government will support, the source indicates that “the independents are committed to a set of qualities and qualifications that the candidate for prime minister must possess and will support the entity that presents such a personality, meaning that they do not support specific people but rather the specifications of that person and whether he is qualified to manage country in the next stage.
According to the source, the most prominent independent forces that attended the meeting were “Eshraqa Kanon,” “Design,” “Extension,” “Voice of the Independents,” and “The Future Iraq Gathering,” in addition to independent MPs who preferred to engage earlier with The forces of the "framework" or "the Sadrist movement". He revealed "a semi-principal agreement between the independent deputies to form a committee to negotiate with the rest of the blocs," and it was likely that "they dealt positively with the file of forming a government."
For his part, the independent MP, Sajjad Salem, expresses quite a bit of reservation about the meetings of the independent forces. He told Asharq Al-Awsat that “the meetings are still continuing to crystallize a unified position, and there is something like an agreement not to come out with statements that would obstruct the independents’ efforts to play A pivotal role in forming a government.”
And regarding what is reported about differences in viewpoints between the blocs and independent representatives, especially with the non-attendance of the Kurdish “New Generation Movement” deputies to the two-day meeting, Salem believes that “differences exist within all parliamentary blocs, but this does not prevent us from reaching a formula for the agreement, especially with the complexity of the political scene.
Later yesterday afternoon, the "For the People" coalition, which holds 18 parliamentary seats, and is composed of the Kurdish "New Generation" movement and the "Extension" movement emanating from the "Tishreen Movement", held a press conference in which it announced its refusal to join the next government, and stipulated that The next prime minister should be “an Iraqi national independent and does not hold a foreign nationality, and did not previously participate in sectarian quota governments and does not belong to one of the influential forces or parties.”
And the coalition threatened to "go to the Federal Court to stop the salaries of MPs who are absent from parliament sessions if the paralysis continues in the parliament's work." LINK
Barzani Discusses With The Russian Ambassador The Formation Of The Iraqi Government And The Situation Of The Kurds In Syria
Shafaq News/ The head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Massoud Barzani, discussed on Tuesday with the Russian ambassador to Iraq the political file in the country and the Kurdish situation in Syria.
A statement by Barzani's office, received by Shafak News Agency, stated; The meeting included a discussion of the political situation in Iraq, and Barzani shed light on the challenges facing the political process in Iraq and attempts to form the new government and cross these challenges and problems.
The statement added; In another aspect of the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on resolving the Syrian situation.
Barzani expressed to the guest delegation his remarks and dissatisfaction with what surrounds the future of the Kurdish people in Syria.
The statement noted; The relations of the Kurdistan Region and Russia and coordination between the two parties were discussed. LINK
Turkish Diplomat: We Respect Iraq's Sovereignty And Are Ready To Provide Assistance To Expel The PKK From Sinjar
Shafaq News/ The Turkish Consul General in Mosul, Muhammad Kocak, said on Tuesday that his country respects Iraqi sovereignty and "takes into account" not harming civilians in its operations against the PKK in Iraq. Ankara to provide military or technical "aid" against the party and expel it from that judiciary.
In an interview with Shafaq News, the consul said that "Turkey respects Iraqi sovereignty, and the unity and sovereignty of Iraq," noting that "Turkey does not interfere in the Iraqi affairs and its military operations against al-Baqqa were for necessity, and it takes into account not to harm Iraqi civilians in its military operations against party members."
On April 18, the Turkish Ministry of Defense launched the "claw-lock" operation against the elements of the anti-Ankara party in the areas of Mtina, Zab and Afshin-Basian in the Kurdistan Region.
Regarding what is happening in Sinjar, Kocak explained that "what is happening in the judiciary remains an Iraqi affair. As for the Al-Bakka organization, it is a terrorist organization, and Turkey will continue its military operations against this organization, whenever the need for military intervention against it is required."
And the Turkish consul indicated that "Turkey hopes that the Iraqi government will work to expel the PKK from Sinjar," noting that "Ankara has noticed recent important steps against this organization and is supportive of it," referring to the military operations in Sinjar.
Kocak expressed "his country's readiness to provide any military or technical assistance against the Bakka organization or any other terrorist organization."
The Sinjar district witnessed clashes between the Iraqi army and the Yabsha forces loyal to the Kurdistan Workers Party, which culminated during the past two weeks, as the Iraqi army consolidated its control there, using Abrams tanks to impose its control, while Al Yabsha is trying to prevent the army from positioning itself.
On October 9, 2020, Baghdad and Erbil reached an agreement to normalize the situation in Sinjar, providing for the joint administration of the judiciary from the administrative, security and service aspects.
There are currently two local administrations for Sinjar, one of which was appointed by the federal government, and the second is the elected government, which conducts its business from the governorate of Dohuk.
The anti-Ankara Kurdistan Workers' Party has also formed a loyal faction there called the "Sinjar Protection Units" and receives salaries from the Iraqi government as a faction under the umbrella of the Popular Mobilization. LINK
Mishaan Al-Jubouri Threatens To Split From The Sovereignty Alliance: Where Are The Trillion And 60 Billion Dinars?
Shafaq News/ The leader of the Sovereignty Alliance, Mishaan al-Jubouri, threatened on Monday to split from the alliance, and the beginning of "big splits" in the alliance, which includes the poles of resolve led by Khamis al-Khanjar, and advanced under the leadership of Muhammad al-Halbousi.
Al-Jubouri wrote, in a tweet to him on Twitter, that "the files revealed by the Governor of Salah al-Din Ammar al-Jabr showed that Ahmed al-Jubouri (Abu Mazen) seized a trillion and 60 billion dinars of people's money."
He added, "If the (Save the Homeland) coalition gets involved in targeting, dismissing or offending it, this will inevitably lead to my exit and other heights from the coalition, and it will be the beginning of major splits in the Sovereignty Alliance." LINK
Al-Kazemi Meets A Delegation From The People Of Sinjar And Directs To Expedite The Procedures For Establishing The Judicial Reconstruction Fund
Shafaq News/ Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi received today, Monday, a delegation from the people of Sinjar district in Nineveh Governorate, which included a number of notables from the judiciary and tribal sheikhs in it, and directed to expedite the completion of the procedures for establishing the Sinjar Reconstruction Fund.
The meeting, according to a statement from Al-Kazemi's office received by Shafaq News, was attended by the National Security Adviser, the Army Chief of Staff, the Head of the National Security Apparatus, and the Deputy Commander of Joint Operations.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Prime Minister listened to an explanation of the security and living conditions in the judiciary, and the difficulties and challenges faced by the people there. He was briefed on the most important requirements made by the delegation; In order to complete the vocabulary of the security of the judiciary, and to consolidate stability.
He said that he had "visited the judiciary twice and closely examined its most important needs and problems," stressing "the importance of stabilizing and strengthening aspects of the normal course of life and the economic and social activity of the people of the judiciary, and missing the opportunity for the remnants of terrorism, and that the judiciary enjoys exceptional attention in the government's plans."
He added, "The agreement that was previously held in Sinjar aims for the Iraqi state to remain the only and present presence there, and the people must support the security plans and address the mistakes that occurred in the past."
The Prime Minister directed the concerned authorities to expedite the completion of the procedures for establishing the Sinjar Reconstruction Fund, and to include the appointment of a number of members of the judiciary in the security services corps within the next federal budget law.
Sinjar district is witnessing continuous clashes between the Iraqi army and the Yabsha forces loyal to the Kurdistan Workers Party, which culminated during the past two weeks, as the Iraqi army consolidated its control there, using Abrams tanks to impose its control, while Al Yabsha tries to prevent the army from positioning itself.
On October 9, 2020, Baghdad and Erbil reached an agreement to normalize the situation in Sinjar, providing for the joint administration of the judiciary from the administrative, security and service aspects.
There are currently two local administrations for Sinjar, one of which was appointed by the federal government, and the second is the elected government, which conducts its business from the governorate of Dohuk.
The anti-Ankara Kurdistan Workers' Party has also formed a loyal faction there called the "Sinjar Protection Units" and receives salaries from the Iraqi government as a faction under the umbrella of the Popular Mobilization. LINK
Al-Kazemi Directs "Firm" Measures And Admits: The Current Transitional Period In Which The Area Of Abuse Has Increased
Shafaq News/ Today, Monday, the Prime Minister and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Mustafa Al-Kazemi, chaired a meeting of the Ministerial Council for National Security, in the presence of the police chiefs of the central and southern governorates, and the head of the Judicial Supervision Authority.
During the meeting, the security situation in the country, security plans and the intelligence effort required to enhance security in all governorates were discussed.
At the beginning of the meeting, Al-Kazemi praised the efforts of the security forces in the success of the security plan for the month of Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr, and their ability to thwart terrorist plans to target civilians and commercial markets through many of the suicide bombers who were arrested.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces stressed that "Iraq has faced great challenges and difficult conditions, and we have succeeded in files, while there are still other files that need more work and effort, and with regard to the security file, he indicated the continuation of military operations to pursue ISIS terrorist gangs, and to achieve their goals in targeting their leaders." and the remains of its remnants."
Al-Kazemi stressed "the need to preserve the prestige of the state, and directed that the measures be firm against abuses and attempts to break the law, indicating that there are great challenges that the country is witnessing, especially during this transitional period in which the area of abuse is increasing."
He stressed that "there are those who transgress the law in the name of our clans and do not belong to them, stressing the need for the Directorate of Clans Affairs in the Ministry of Interior to carry out its basic duties with regard to settling disputes and limiting some extraneous clan practices."
The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces renewed the previous directives on maintaining security and stability, preventing abuse, and not complacency in imposing the prestige of the state and the rule of law, and stressed the rejection of any transgression against the security establishment and members of our heroic forces, and strict and strict legal measures will be taken against transgressors.
The council touched on drugs and praised the great efforts made by the security services in pursuing drug gangs, and directed the development of a new strategy to eradicate drug trafficking, and considered forming a special body with broad powers to pursue drug dealers.
The council discussed the security situation in the provinces, and the reality of the police directorates in them, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Mustafa Al-Kazemi, issued a number of directives "that will improve security performance in the provinces." According to a statement from his office. LINK
Sako Sends An Appeal To Iraqi Politicians
Baghdad – conscious His Beatitude Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, Patriarch, today, Tuesday, sent an appeal to Iraqi politicians .
Sako said in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "More than five months have passed since the legislative elections, and the country is eagerly awaiting the formation of the desired government, and the reason is not hidden from the citizens, it is personal and factional ambitions."
He added, "Citizens are frustrated because of 19 dark years of conflicts, violence, terrorism, failures, corruption and injustice, and in the face of this bitter reality, every deputy must realize that it is for Iraq and the Iraqis, and that he must, in conscience, give priority to the interest of the country, and adopt the legal and constitutional mechanism to form a government capable of building a state. It protects national sovereignty and democracy, secures the rights of every citizen, regardless of religious, social or political beliefs, and undertakes reforms and services.”
Sako addressed the politicians: "The hope of the Iraqis that we place in your hands, asking the Almighty God to enlighten you and help you in this national and legitimate mission, before it is too late."