Day: September 9, 2023

Iraq and Qatar agreed, today, Saturday, to prepare a comprehensive memorandum of understanding related to the environment sector.

A statement by the Ministry of Environment said, “Minister of Environment Nizar Amidi stressed the Iraqi government’s keenness to consolidate Arab-Arab relations, especially with the sisterly State of Qatar, in all fields, including the environmental sector,” pointing out that “this came on the sidelines of participation in the International Conference on Combating Sand and Dust Storms.” Currently held in the capital of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Tehran, and his meeting with his counterpart, Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali Al Thani, the Qatari Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

According to the statement, Amidi stressed “the importance of investing in Arab and international relations in improving the environmental reality of Iraq and the countries affected by climate change, as the Iraqi Ministry of Environment believes that strengthening participatory work between neighboring countries and the region will give more positive indicators and results in confronting the risks of climate change.”

For his part, the Qatari Minister of Environment and Climate Change expressed “the Qatari government’s pride in consolidating these relations and investing in environmental work and expressing the depth of the relationship between the two countries,” noting that “it will be followed by active Qatari participation in the international climate conference that will be held in Baghdad at the end of this year after he received an invitation from his brother, Minister of Environment Nizar Amedi.

Amedi stressed, “It was agreed to prepare a comprehensive memorandum of understanding to establish a cooperation mechanism within a practical and systematic framework during the coming months.”

The Qatari Minister of Environment, Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed, touched on the pioneering experience with which Iraq began planting hundreds of mangrove plants in Basra, which he considered pioneering, given that the State of Qatar preceded Iraq and achieved a distinct environmental benefit for the marine climate and the possibility of supporting Iraq and the Ministry of Agriculture in planting other numbers on the marine coasts. Iraqi plants, because they are plants characterized by their high ability to tolerate salty water and their contribution to improving air quality and the environment.”

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Newspapers published in Baghdad today, Saturday, September 9th, focused on developments in the situation in Kirkuk and the dispute between the central government and the Kurdistan region.

Regarding the first topic, Al-Sabah newspaper, published by the Iraqi Media Network, said: “It is expected that the Prime Minister, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Muhammad Al-Sudani, will discuss calming the atmosphere in Kirkuk and the repercussions of the recent events.”

The newspaper indicated that sources from within the coordination framework suggested that Prime Minister Muhammad al-Sudani would raise important points during his meeting with the governorate’s leaders and political forces, in order to prepare plans to maintain peaceful and societal coexistence and prepare the atmosphere in preparation for holding local elections.

It quoted government spokesman Bassem Al-Awadi as saying: “This is preceded by a meeting held by Al-Sudani for the State Administration Alliance to discuss the issue and reach solutions.”

Al-Awadi said: “The situation in Kirkuk is stable, and we aspire in the coming days to more political and security stability after holding negotiation sessions to end the Kirkuk crisis.”

Al-Sabah referred to the decision of the Federal Supreme Court to stop the implementation of the order of the Prime Minister, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces dated 8/25/2023, which included “evacuating the building currently occupied by the advanced headquarters of the Joint Operations Command in Kirkuk Governorate, and the effects that resulted from it.”

Regarding the differences between the center and the region, Al-Zaman newspaper said: “The Kurdistan region’s share in the tripartite budget sparked a crisis of confidence between Baghdad and Erbil after the federal government confirmed the implementation of all its financial obligations towards the region, which had previously expressed regret for violating the constitutional agreements.”

The newspaper noted that government spokesman Bassem Al-Awadi said in quickest response to the region’s statement: “The government has fully implemented its financial obligations to the region, and has made great efforts to provide solutions.”

He added that: “Until the end of last June, the funds owed by the region amounted to more than three times its share, according to the state’s actual spending, while the Kurdistan Regional Government did not hand over oil and non-oil revenues as required by the general budget law,” stressing that: “Despite “If the regional government did not commit, the federal government took a decision not to hold the Iraqi citizens responsible for this, and we worked as permitted by the law and lent to the region until its financial problems resolved.”

Al-Zaman quoted the head of the regional government, Masrour Barzani, as saying: “The federal government’s refusal to send financial dues to the budget constitutes a violation of constitutional agreements and an undermining of confidence.”

Barzani added: “Failing to send dues will harm our citizens and undermine confidence.”

It continued to say: “Observers warned of the return of tension in the relationship between Baghdad and Erbil following significant progress in settling the outstanding disputes. They stressed that the exchange of data between Baghdad and Erbil regarding the region’s share of the budget may reflect negatively on the progress made in settling the outstanding issues, and the nature of the relationship that has witnessed remarkable openness after the formation of al-Sudani’s government.”

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

The United Nations announced its readiness to provide support to the Moroccan government to help those affected by the devastating earthquake that struck Morocco last night, leaving 820 dead and 672 injured.

Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the United Nations Secretary-General, said in a statement today, Saturday, that “Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, expresses his solidarity with the government and people of Morocco in these difficult times, offers his condolences to the families of the victims, and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured.

A 7-magnitude earthquake struck Al Haouz province, southwest of the city of Marrakesh, last night, killing hundreds of people and causing major material losses in the region and a number of provinces, cities and villages in various parts of the country.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency