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Maliki could pay ... . I gather he has a lot of your money? You could start working a 35 hour week, just to keep things moving You could all stop grafting You could work a ... let's say ... a 46 week year. You could stop the currency auctions. You could replace tribalism with nationalism. You could sort your currency ..

"Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi bluntly demanded for the world to take responsibility for rebuilding Iraq’s ravaged cities, arguing that Iraq has done it a favor in fighting the Islamic State (ISIS)." If I didn't know better, I would say they are all liberal Democrats!

So this sounds a lot like We Want World Welfare and the World to Rebuild what IS did to their country and citizens.......Who is paying for the Soldiers that came from around the World to Fight IS when the Iraqi troops fled in fear of being taken prisoners and killed. They have a means to get the funds, they just have to do what they know they are going to have to do....Have a Currency that is International as well a Has A Value to it. No one is going to rebuild Iraqi for Free. Karsten

IMO iraq has been doing a work around for iran since Donald put sanctions back on , iraq would catch heck if they paid the debt in usd and that's a fact that iraq is very aware of i believe iraq has slowed iran getting usd thru the iraq currency auctions to an extent , iran agreed or accepted iqd for payment knowing full well they could have received the payment in many forms but not usd , so with my dinar goggles in place iran has knowledge that the iqd will be on par with the usd ... removes goggles and guru hat and chunks on the floor and replaces with my average joe attire LOL ... the responses have been interesting ....we wait

BINGO!!!, BlueSkyLine, AND The Very Best Of The Rest Of Your Week To You!!! Are the conditions IN Iraq better TODAY than when Shabibi attempted the currency reform circa 2013???!!! Are the conditions OUT of Iraq AND with OTHER Countries better TODAY than when Shabibi attempted the currency reform circa 2013???!!! My opinion is THERE are SO MANY moving parts to THIS WHOLE DEAL the "transition" WILL happen with SOME gears shifting SMOOTHLY while a FEW OTHERS grinding!!! My opinion is Sectarian Strife AND Civil War ARE the BIG Show STOPPERS!!! SO, the Bicraqi Iraqi HAVE to GET the SHOW on the ROAD like PRONTO!!! Go Moola Nova!

Who knows when this will happen . Years past Shabibi had initiated a currency reform only to be stopped and issued a warrant for his arrest while out of country by Maliki. Saleh the CBI VP was arrested and placed to jail above a Baghdad police station 60 days without his medication . So . It was planned for it to have already happen . Years later . With items that still need to be done and many, many more completed . It looks like we are in a place and time filled with accomplishments we have never seen before . I've been here this far and I cant wait to see what these Super Abundantly Blessed " Knuckleheads" do next . Whether its next week or next year . Its the investment of a life time ......

Iraq can "pound sand"............🤣

Still at it, huh. The more this drags on, the less gets done and more pushed out to god knows when. They’re in no hurry folks. Matters little if the CBI Is ready if the whole “ zero project “ is being held up due the political stonewalling going on. I just don’t see it.... even with Tariffs & Taxes burdening the population. It matters little to these people. Unless there’s something agreed on behind closed doors, well, you know what the rest of story is about. Neg away-

You are wrong. "...there is still to many hurdles to climb yet for us to see it this month." You don't climb hurdles, you jump over them!

https://www.iraqoilreport.com/news/iraq-and-china-to-sign-massive-financing-deal-38041/.... Iraq and China to sign massive financing deal Imminent agreement will provide some $10 billion in credit for companies to invest, super-charging China's involvement in the Iraqi economy. Officials from the Iraqi Oil Ministry and the China ZhenHua Oil Company sign a contract to develop part of the East Baghdad oil field on May 23, 2018 - one of Iraq's many energy projects involving Chinese companies. (Photo credit: Oil Ministry media office) By BEN VAN HEUVELEN AND SAMYA KULLAB of Iraq Oil Report Published Wednesday, March 13th, 2019 BAGHDAD - Iraq and China are set to finalize a major bilateral agreement that would give investors access to roughly $10 billion worth of financing. The deal is likely to accelerate the pace and widen the breadth of China's involvement in the Iraqi economy, including the energy sector, and provide money needed for reconstruction and infrastructure projects that cannot be funded by the Iraqi budget alone. Iraq Oil Report Attribution Policy All sources quoted or referenced spoke to Iraq Oil Report directly and exclusively, unless stated otherwise. Iraq Oil Report typically grants anonymity to sources that can't speak without risking their personal safety or job security. We only publish information from anonymous sources that we independently corroborate and are important to core elements of the story. We do not provide anonymity to sources whose purpose is to further personal or political agendas. Iraq Oil Report Commitment to Independence Iraq Oil Report strives to provide thoroughly vetted reporting and fair-minded analysis that enables readers to understand the dynamic events of Iraq. To meet this goal, we always seek to gather first-hand information on the ground, verify facts from multiple angles, and solicit input from every stakeholder involved in a given story. We view our independence as an integral piece of our competitive advantage. Whereas many media entities in Iraq are owned or heavily influenced by political parties, Iraq Oil Report is wholly owned by several of its employees. In a landscape that is often polarized and politicized, we are able to gather and corroborate information from an unusually wide array of sources because we can speak with all of them in good faith.

3-12-2019 Intel Guru Bluwolf ...On the concept of where we are in this current time frame. I can say that we are about to receive a GO message in a short while ( minutes, hours,days ) for there is nothing out there obstructing or delaying this or anything. The rates will be satisfying to all involved and things pertaining to the exchange will be as it was accorded with both banks elected or chosen for this important RV event. All things expected of Iraq has been 100% covered, written off in there Gazette and accepted by all governments involved...(post 1 of 2)... 3-12-2019 Intel Guru Bluwolf The voice in charge of awarding the banks the GO permission to open up there envelopes which contains the 800# they are all in agreement that we are finally heading to the desire end to this wonderful and blessed ride, so please be tolerant and let this flow for it all shall be over very soon. The PLAN has had a lot of obstacles by the money rich and the corrupted government individuals but according to those in charge that has been delt with. The system for this exchange has been tested and APPROVED 100% secure and safe with no flaws whatsoever...(post 2 of 2)... 3-12-2019 Intel Guru RayRen98 Parliament met on Monday and instead of concluding the 4 cabinet positions as allegedly planned, PM Madhi was supposedly given the authority to fulfill the remaining cabinet members within 3 weeks...Iraqi TV is broadcasting CBI's Alaq informing the joining of the IFC's (International Finance Corporation) international sustainability network. ...America's (used to be) second largest fast food chain, Hardee's Restaurant (a.k.a. Carl Jr's on the West Coast) has established a presence in a mall in Baghdad.

Wow thanks well finally some intel new we can count on!

Barzani to the governor and members of the Council of Muthanna: the implementation of the Iraqi Constitution to solve all problems Twilight News 26 minutes ago The leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Massoud Barzani, received on Wednesday in Salahuddin, Ahmed Mnafi governor of Muthanna, and a delegation that included a number of members of the Muthanna province. During the meeting, the delegation expressed its thanks to Barzani for the meeting and hospitality, noting the historical relations between the people of Kurdistan and the rest of Iraq. They also expressed their appreciation for the sacrifices of the people of Kurdistan in the struggle against dictatorship and the war against terrorism. The governor of Muthanna and the accompanying delegation highly praised Barzani's efforts in confronting dictatorship, establishing democratic principles and coexistence in Iraq. On the other side of the meeting, they discussed the living conditions of Iraqi citizens, especially in Muthanna province and the rest of the central and southern governorates of Iraq, stressing the need to benefit from the experience of the Kurdistan Region in order to transfer them to their province. The situation and problems in the political process in Iraq were also discussed. The participants stressed the need to implement the Iraqi constitution to solve the problems. For his part, described Barzani relations between the Kurdistan Region and Muthanna province of the task, noting that after the process of Iraq's liberation, if the adoption of the Constitution as a basis for solving problems, the situation in Iraq would be better than now. Stressing the need to strengthen relations between the Kurdistan Region and the rest of Iraq. In addition to referring to the political problems in Iraq, he reiterated that political differences can not turn into hatred and hatred among nationalities. He said peace and harmony should be deepened among the Iraqi factions. At the end of the meeting, and on the fate of the remains of the Kurdish Anfal, Barzani called for more serious efforts to find mass graves and the transfer of the remains of the martyrs to their homeland. Keywords: http://www.shafaaq.com/ar/Ar_NewsReader/f88a1ce8-bd8f-4943-bb02-dba27d2b743c

“We hold the international community and all countries responsible for the war against Daesh. Iraq can’t alone handle all this destruction and sacrifice,” Abdul-Mahdi said. The international community is making excuses by “making itself feel good” through minor assistance, “with [Iraq’s] big sacrifices, [it] provides security to Iraq, the region, and the world”. I call BS.......

Maybe the next PM will have the balls to actually run an govern a country. I thought al Sadr would make a difference but he’s turned out to be as weak as all the rest. It’s a sad day when the citizens have to burn tires an buildings to get anything done in their country....

iraq cant pay iran in usd so it would have to be euro , dinar or gold ect, iran was willing to take dinar . ...i did not buy iqd to lose but it is / was never a slam dunk sure fire jackpot , always viewed it as highly speculative but was willing to take the risk ..... all the best engine 1 ..all my opinion only

From last year... Platinum VIP Posted November 5, 2018 The Central Bank imposes the guardianship of the United Investment Bank 07:21 - 05/11/2018 Baghdad - Mawazine News The Board of Directors of this bank has issued its decision No. 122 of 2018 in its session numbered number five hundred and seventy-five thousand after the meeting held on 4/11/2018. The document included the following resolutions: 1 - Put the bank under the tutelage and the formation of a committee to carry out the functions of guardianship 2. The trustee and the trusteeship committee shall submit a report within 30 days from the date of the decision on the financial position of the bank and all indicators of liabilities and assets to be presented to the board of directors of this bank. 3 - Mr. Imad Abdul Hassan Jyyad acts as the bank's custodian and authorizes the powers specified in the Banking Law No. 94 of 2004 and below is the form of his signature. United Investment Bank belongs to businessman Adnan Dabbas, chairman of its board of directors. Finished 29 / d ://www.mawazin.net/Details.aspx?jimare=18621

Like father like son, uhh I mean daughters.

Guru MarkZ you may want to teach your contact how to take a photo with a cell phone.

They wont be responsible for themselves yet demand that if the world. The mind set of these people is yes .... just astonishingly narrow & single minded they are in their perception of the way the Real World operates. Such arrogance.

My first thought as well.......

First Iraqi installment for Iranian debts paid Wednesday, March 13, 2019 http://www.iraqtradelinknews.com/2019/03/first-iraqi-installment-for-iranian.html?m=1 Baghdad/ Iraq TradeLink: Iranian Central Bank Governor Abudl Nasir Hemati announced that Iraq paid the first installment of its debts to Iran. During a meeting with his Iraqi counterpart Ali al-Alaq, he pointed that many financial topics were discussed including the Iranian banks in Iran and guaranteeing the financial aspects of Iranian contractors in Iraq in local currency, instead of the US dollar. Iranian electricity and gas reports reached to four billion dollars, out of total exports that reached to 12 billion dollars annually. No figures were disclosed on the amount of the first installments of the debts.

Here is the article from the link DinarDavo supplied (THANK YOU DinarDavo!!!): World should repay Iraq for sacrifices in ISIS war: Iraqi PM By Rudaw 7 hours ago Iraqi PM Adil Abdul-Mahdi speaks to reporters at a weekly press conference in Baghdad on March 12, 2019. Photo: Iraqi PMO ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi bluntly demanded for the world to take responsibility for rebuilding Iraq’s ravaged cities, arguing that Iraq has done it a favor in fighting the Islamic State (ISIS). “We did the world a great service. We gave our blood. We gave millions of victims. This isn’t about charity, grants or tips from anyone. The world has to repay the favor in terms of the security, stability and stopping the movement of displacement to other countries. The world has to repay the favor to Iraq to rebuild its areas,” Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi told reporters in his weekly press conference on Tuesday. Iraq paid Kuwait about $60 billion in reparations for the Kuwait invasion, and Abdul-Mahdi underscored that Turkey has received billions of dollars from the European Union “just to stop” the flow of migrants. “We gave our blood. We had our cities destroyed. We have numerous burdens. The world has to carry them with us,” added the PM. He says Iraqis are merely demanding their “rights,” not calling for help. “We hold the international community and all countries responsible for the war against Daesh. Iraq can’t alone handle all this destruction and sacrifice,” Abdul-Mahdi said. The international community is making excuses by “making itself feel good” through minor assistance, “with [Iraq’s] big sacrifices, [it] provides security to Iraq, the region, and the world”. In his call last week with the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the Americans have promised to assist. “As such, the whole world has to stand by Iraq. The American Secretary honestly did promise to support Iraq in these efforts,” added the PM, speaking of the call. A “large part” of Iraq receiving ISIS suspects is dependent upon Baghdad receiving “large amounts of funds” to rebuild its areas, he claimed. “We are doing a lot of work to come up with projects and plans, not only to compensate the affected, but for rebuilding areas, the return of IDPs, for important economic reforms, and for important administrative reforms,” added the PM. In February 2018, a donor’s conference for Iraq was held in Kuwait. While Iraq estimated that it needed $88 billion of funds for reconstruction, only about $30 billion, was pledged. Iraq is yet to see rebuilding on a large scale. Mosul, in particular, still lies in ruins, and the people have taken the mantle of rebuilding their own houses even while they are financially strapped. There are still more than 1.7 million displaced Iraqis, mostly living in camps in the Kurdistan Region, not willing to go back. The IDPs complain of rampant destruction and poor security in their home areas. Iran-Iraq to go back to 1975 Shatt al-Arab border Abdul-Mahdi also revealed details about Iran and Iraq agreeing to the return to the 1975 sea border in Shatt al-Arab and the lifting of visa fees, days after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s visit to Baghdad. “We reached an agreement on how to deal with this topic in order for us to start with cleaning and drilling operations to return to the Taluk line like it was in 1975. We believe this is an important Iraqi gain,” Abdul-Mahdi said. The souring of the water, due to lack to cleaning operations of the riverbed, not removing contaminants and not drilling holes in the river, has pushed Iraq’s water border inward about 2.2 kilometers, the PM claimed. The PM referred to the 1975 Algiers Agreement between the two countries. Shatt al-Arab was entirely considered Iraqi territory, but after the agreement it became a shared waterway. The agreement included Iran ending its support for the Kurdish insurgency that had threatened the Iraqi state, while the former Iranian Shah got what he had always wanted: Shatt al-Arab. The border was set at the deepest point, the so-called Taluk link. The souring has caused the line to move to the west, shrinking Iraq’s border in the water, the PM added. This is important for al-Amaya oil terminal, Abdul-Mahdi claimed. The border has become very close to the terminal resulting in confusion. The PM also reiterated that with the agreement, Iran is only over lifting visa fees — not visas themselves. Go Moola Nova!

Iraq’s Rafidain Bank revamps tech with Oracle Written byHenry Vilar 13th March 2019 EXCLUSIVE. Iraq’s largest bank, Rafidain Bank, is understood to be implementing a suite of new Oracle software. Oracle is on a roll-acle! These include Oracle Flexcube Universal Banking for core banking, Oracle Banking Digital Experience for its digital channels, and Oracle Banking Payments. According to FinTech Futures’ sources, the deal was signed last year. It is understood the new tech will replace Finastra’s Fusionbanking core banking system. Rafidain is a long-standing client of Finastra, formerly Misys. It used its legacy Bankmaster system for many years, and in 2012 signed to upgrade to Fusionbanking. Oracle says “a leading Iraqi bank” has chosen to implement these solutions in its Q2 2019 financial results report, although the name wasn’t revealed. Neither the bank nor Oracle have replied to our comment requests. Earlier this month, Rafidain Bank expressed its readiness to establish branches in Iran, said Secretary General of Iran-Iraq Chamber Hamid Hosseini, according to the Tehran Times. Recently, FinTech Futures reported that Banco Votorantim in Brazil, Ghazanfar Bank in Afghanistan, Prince Bank in Cambodia, and FEDinvest in Albania were implementing Oracle FSS’s Flexcube core banking system. https://www.bankingtech.com/2019/03/iraqs-rafidain-bank-revamps-tech-with-oracle/

Another wonderful step in the right direction . Thank you Yota for all that you do in DV. Oh and Adam too.Thank you.

The Central Bank joined the IFC Sustainability Network Editorial Date: 2019/3/12 16:07 • 107 times read {Baghdad: Al Furat News} The Central Bank has announced that it has joined the IFC Sustainability Network. "The central bank has joined IFC's Sustainability Network," he said in a statement. "The Sustainability Framework defines the organization's strategic commitment to sustainable development through the adoption of performance criteria for environmental and social sustainability." "In order to keep abreast of international developments in this area, the Bank announces its joining the IFC Sustainability Network, which includes several countries (developed and developing) in order to implement the principles of sustainability mentioned in the Corporate Governance Guide, 9) principles , namely: - : - Business activities: banking and environmental risk management - integrating environmental and social considerations in the decision on the organization 's activities to avoid taking practical or reduce or offset the negative effects. business processes: the environment and social footprint - avoid or minimize or compensate the effects of population Endodontic operations on the local business enterprise and environmental communities in which they operate and, where possible , promote the positive effects.. Human rights - respect for human rights in the operations and commercial activities of the institution. Economic Empowerment of Women - Promoting the economic empowerment of women through the workplace culture of both male and female sexes in the business operations of the institution. Financial Inclusion - Striving to provide financial services to individuals and communities that are traditional and have limited or no access to the formal financial sector. Governance - Apply strong and transparent corporate governance practices. Capacity Building - Developing individual and sectoral institutions to identify social and environmental risk management and opportunities associated with business activities and processes. Collaborative partnerships - Collaborate with all sectors and take advantage of international partnerships to accelerate collective progress and improve the sector as a single unit to ensure that the organization's vision complies with international standards. Reports - Review and review reports regularly on the progress track to meet these principles at the individual and sectoral level.

Opening branches in neighboring countries means out of chapter 7 and fully international. Which I would believe will lead to higher exchange rate.... almost all neighboring countries other than Iran have a rate of at least .25 cents to the dollar

Continuing disagreement over the vacant portfolios .. Deputy: will not be resolved even after the end of Nowruz Political | 12:32 - 13/03/2019 Special - Mawazin News The MP for the alliance of victory Hussein Karim, on Wednesday, the inclusion of completion of the cabinet cab on the agenda of the session on Thursday, stressing that the dispute is still existing between the political blocs on the portfolios of the occupant. "The political blocs are still different about the names of candidates for the ministerial portfolios, which means that the completion of the ministerial cabin of the government of Adel Abdul Mahdi, will not be resolved during these days," likely "not to complete even after the holidays of Nooruz," Karim told Mawazine News. He added that "the most important thing from the Cabinet Cab resolution is the selection of ministers competent for each bag, in addition to the withdrawal of confidence from each minister has been proven corruption issues and included accountability and justice." Karim said that "the time to resolve the cabinet cab will not be determined so far, noting that" It was scheduled to resolve the House of Representatives the rest of the cabinet cabin during the sessions of the second legislative term, and take the time to resolve the outstanding differences on this file.

Baghdad sends 724 billion Iraqi dinars to Erbil to pay the salaries of March Wednesday, 13 March 2019 Baghdad - Writings The region succeeded in achieving some of his demands to the Iraqi Prime Minister, Adel Abdul-Mahdi, foremost of which is to raise the salaries of employees and to collect their salaries in advance with increases. As revealed by a document of the Ministry of Finance, the evening of Tuesday, 12 March 2019, was sent to 724 billion and 819 million Iraqi dinars, the value of the salary of the month of March and salary differences in the past two months (January and February), the Kurdistan region at the request of the region And the Prime Minister. It is noteworthy that the finance warned the region that if the proof of tax deduction is not sent salaries, the payment of the month of April next will not reach Erbil, as well as the emphasis on the payment of deductions for pension suspensions. https://kitabat.com/news/بغداد-ترسل-724-مليار-دينار-عراقي-لأربيل-ل/.......

Just a wild stab in the dark about how much IQD the Iraqis coughed up to the Nutsanians. Suppose the Iraqis gave Iran an amount of IQD that would correspond to ( and here's where I go out on a limb ) the " impending RI/RV by the end of March ? " If Iraq were to give Iran the full amount of IQD prior to the RI/RV; once the trigger is pulled Iran REALLY makes out like a Bandit don't they ? You know the won't apply the over the top outstanding balance towards future payments. They're DNA won't permit that will they. Well, thats my

Way back in the day I got in trouble at school for writing a sentence that said, "Fart in a jar and save natural gas!" The teacher made me take it home and had to get a parent signature. Lol, You brought back some funny memories.

12-03-2019 11:39 PM Ingot Brokers plans to issue new financial instruments in Iraq Baghdad - The multi-asset brokerage firm, Ingot Brokers, has unveiled plans to expand geographically and introduce new financial instruments to adapt to the changing and rapidly changing needs of customers and the market. In addition to keeping abreast of developments in local and international financial markets, we are always at the forefront. "We have identified a strategy to expand into a number of locations, such as the discovery of promising new markets for sustainable development in line with international standards, and finally, our renewed commitment to new AML and CTF regulations. Provides financial trading services to its individual and institutional clients. Operating in a fully organized and fair environment. As a trader you will find the security you are looking for in the capital markets through the licensed broker Engot Brokers, which is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

Good evening Yota and DV.

Good morning, I got a response from Mr Issa to a few questions and I thought I'd share them here. His responses kept my hope alive,,, words in quotations taken from the email: "we are at the final stage completing the standard procedures and protocols with the Iraqi Company Registration Office to hold our general assembly meeting" "full services will be gradually made available after the general assembly meeting is completed as part of the Warka Bank Rehabilitation plan" "no properties are being sold and all information posted outside our website is to be considered legally null and void" No time frame for anything happening was mentioned and he ends by saying that they will keep us updated through the warka website news bulletin board. Here's hoping it all happens sooner than soon

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2019 UH-OH: Obama’s Two Daughters Connected In The Massive College Bribery Scheme On Tuesday, actresses Lori Laughlin and Felicity Huffman got busted for bribing elite schools will excess amounts of money and altering their children’s test scores so they can get into the top schools. Along with the two actresses, 50 others were also indicted for being involved with the scheme, one of them being a former Georgetown University tennis coach who was the instructor for former First Lady Michelle Obama and her two daughters. The Tennis coach, Gordon Ernst, was formerly employed at Georgetown as the men’s and women’s head tennis coach at Georgetown. Check out what the Daily Mail reported: In one instance, according to the documents, Ernst was allegedly paid $400,000 for getting the child of Singer’s clients into Georgetown under the guise of tennis recruitment, even though the applicant did not play competitive tennis. Between September 2015 and August 2016, Ernst allegedly received checks totaling $700,000. It’s interesting how whenever there is a big scandal, the Democrats and the Obama’s always seem to somehow be connected. During the Harvey Weinstein scandal, not only did we know that Weinstein had many ties to the Democrats, but we also found out that Malia Obama, the older Obama daughter, interned for the Weinstein company just months before the sexual assault scandal broke. I guess corrupt people always stick together! Here’s more from the Daily Mail report: An inductee of the New England Tennis Hall of Fame, Ernst at one time gave lessons to Michelle Obama and both her daughters, Sasha and Malia. Ernst has been indicted on a charge with conspiracy to commit racketeering, along with eight other coaches. Meanwhile, Rudy Meredith, who was the head coach of Yale University’s women’s soccer team from 1995 until November 2018, pleaded guilty last year to wire fraud, honest services wire fraud, and conspiracy; he has been cooperating with the government’s investigation since April 2018 and helped build the case against others in hopes of receiving a more lenient sentence. According to the documents, Meredith accepted a $400,000 bribe from one family to help their child get into Yale on a soccer scholarship, even though he knew she did not play the sport competitively. This is a sick abuse of power. Liberals are always lecturing us on “white privilege” yet these liberalHollywood actors are literally bribing these liberal colleges with large sums of money to get their liberal children in. These may be the most hypocritical people in the world! Talk about privilege! SOURCE https://ilovemyfreedom.org/uh-oh-obamas-two-daughters-connected-in-the-massive-college-bribery-scheme/?utm_source=stonewall&utm_medium=twitter

The ‘Birth’ Of The Green New Deal ...

Perhaps. GO RV, then BV

Middle East Iraq’s top Shia cleric tells Iran’s Rouhani, 'ties must respect sovereignty' Kurdistan 24 | An hour ago A handout picture provided by the media office of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani shows the chief Shia cleric (left) meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (center) and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (right) in the central Iraqi city of Najaf on March 13, 2019. (Photo: Sistani's press office) Iraq Iran PMF Baghdad Tehran US Sanctions ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Iraqi sovereignty must be respected and weapons kept in the hands of the government, a top Shia cleric in Iraq told Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani, indirectly referring to the growing influence of Shia-dominated militias Tehran backs in the country. Wednesday’s meeting was the first time Iraq’s 88-year-old Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani met with an Iranian president. Sistani rarely interferes in Iraqi politics but continues to have considerable impact over the public opinion in the country. Sistani welcomed “any steps to strengthen Iraq’s relations with its neighbors…based on respect for the sovereignty of the countries and no interference in domestic affairs,” a statement his office issued read. “The most important challenges facing Iraq are fighting corruption, improving services, and keeping weapons in the hands of the state and its security services,” it added. The meeting comes on the third day of Rouhani’s visit to Iraq. The Iranian leader came to Iraqi to show Iran’s political and economic dominance over the neighboring state and to develop commercial ties to minimize the implications of the renewed US sanctions over Tehran. Iran and Iraq both have a Shia Muslim majority population. On Monday, the two governments signed several trade agreements, according to Iraqi officials, which include accords on oil, health, and transportation linking the Iraqi oil-rich city of Basra to an Iranian border town. Sistani’s comment may concern the powerful Shia militias within the Hashd al-Shaabi, also known as Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). The militias continue to have significant military and political influence in Iraq after the defeat of the Islamic State. Al-Fatih Coalition, led by the PMF’s senior leader, Hadi al-Amri, finished second in Iraq’s 2018 parliamentary election, winning 48 seats of Iraq’s 329-seat parliament. The PMF was established after Sistani’s call to Iraqi volunteers to take up arms and fight against the Islamic State in late 2014. The militia group, which played an important role in defeating the extremist group, was formally integrated into the security forces last year. Editing by Karzan Sulaivany

Iran building good ties with Iraq: ex-US diplomat “I see the visit of President Rouhani to Iraq as significant for several reasons, including economic and commercial as well as political,” Michael Springman, former head of the American visa bureau in the Saudi city of Jeddah told IRNA over phone. “From the economic and commercial side, Iran is the principle supplier of goods to iraq exceeding Turkey and they will exceed China in the coming year,” he added. “They are working very hard at improving commercial ties. 45% of the Iraqi gas for the generation of electricity in the country comes from Iran,” Springman said. Iran sells two billion dollars worth of gas to Iraq per year to feed its energy-starved power plants. The amount could rise in the coming months as the summer approaches. “I think the cross-border trade and economic and financial ties is very important and it will be hard for the Americans to stop this,” the now lawyer mentioned during the interview. During three days, Iranian president met and held talks with a wide range of incumbent and former Iraqi officials as well as powerful religious officials. “As far as the political part, I think that President Rouhani is working very hard to create good connections with not only Iraqi politicians, but also other people,” The former American diplomat noted. “Aside from meeting President Salih and PM Mahdi, he also met former officials like ex PM Nouri al Maliki. Additionally, he has met a number of people in the Iraqi parliament and people out of office, but in influential positions,” he stressed. Rouhani’s first visit to Iraq since he took office in 2013 has also sent a strong message that Tehran is ready to move past strains in bilateral relations during the eight years of war that started in 1980. “He is also doing a good job of overcoming some past difficulties such as disastrous 1980-88 war that killed at least a million people and created an untold amount of damage.” The two sides also agreed to jointly dredge Arvand River, also known as Shatt al Arab in Arabic, after 43 years. The basis of such an agreement goes back to the 1975 Algiers Agreement, under which Baghdad and Tehran settled their border disputes. The landmark visit also highlighted that Iran and Iraq are getting closer to each other politically. “President Rouhani and Iraqi authorities have stressed the importance of improving ties between the two countries saying it was Iran that came to the aid of Iraq when the terrorists took over the northern oil producing parts like Mosul,” Michael Springman added. When President Donald Trump withdrew the US unilaterally from the 2015 international treaty about Iran’s nuclear agreement, Washington reitroduces two rounds of sanctions on the country, choking its vital oil and banking sectors. However, further trade ties with Iraq could prove as a breathing room for Tehran to skirt the American punitive measures. “They see each other as working together to get around the American sanctions and signed deals to pay in dinars and euros rather than US dollars for their trade. I think that's an excellent ideal,” the ex US diplomatic staff said, referring to a deal between Iranian and Iraqi central banks under which Baghdad can pay its debts for importing Iranian energy in its own currency dinar as well as euro. The American press and authorities in Washington kept silent about Rouhani’s visit during the past two days. Michael Springman considers this “dead silence” “unusual”. “I see nothing in the American press or even on the Internet about Rouhani’s visit. I think the silence is interesting. It’s a dead silence which is unusual,” he stressed. Springman, who was fired from his job as head of the American visa bureau in Jeddah years ago for criticising pressures from higher-level US officials to issue visas to “unqualified people”, believes that current US administration is “working towards a regime change in Iran” because “America has a long history of animosity against Iran and Iraq http://www.irna.ir/en/News/83242836

GO RV, then BV

I guess I’m missing something here, where does it say Iraq paid Iran in Dinars? The only mention of Dinars I see is where the Iranian contractors will be paid in Dinars. They could have paid them in Euro, they could have paid them with gold or oil. Please someone show me where the sky is falling because I can’t find it...

Here you go Iran let Iraq pay you back in Dinar but if you hold onto the dinar it will RV and be worth a lot more than they paid you. So it's a double whammy against Iraq. I figure if Iraq is paying back with Dinar it will not revalue. Sorry about pissng on your wheaties again. Think about this ( where does it say they have to revalue and can't run off the value it is right now ? ) they are using it now to pay back Iran. Dont get me wrong I would love it to RV. Heck I have been sitting on 2 million my first purchase was back in 2005, been on this ride for a while now.

Jealous much?

Dear Tide, I am writing to say what an excellent product you have! I've used it all of my married life, as my Mom always told me it was the best. Now that I am in my fifties I find it even better! In fact, about a month ago, I spilled some red wine on my new white blouse. My inconsiderate and uncaring husband started to belittle me about how clumsy I was, and generally started becoming a pain in the neck. One thing led to another and somehow I ended up with his blood on my new white blouse! I grabbed my bottle of Tide with bleach alternative, and to my surprise and satisfaction, all of the stains came out! In fact, the stains came out so well the detectives who came by yesterday told me that the DNA tests on my blouse were negative and then my attorney called and said that I was no longer considered a suspect in the disappearance of my husband. What a relief! Going through menopause is bad enough without being a murder suspect! I thank you, once again, for having a great product. Well, gotta go, I have to write to the Hefty bag people.

We will all need a holiday ...