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ERBIL— The United States has made no decision about withdrawing its troops from Iraq, said US Defense Secretary Mike Pompeo in reaction to a letter allegedly suggesting the US troops were preparing to depart Iraq.
He explained to reporters that troops were not moving out of Iraq and he was not informed about any such letter, but revealed that US forces were being repositioned.There’s been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq,” he said, adding, “There’s no decision to leave, nor did we issue any plans to leave or prepare to leave.”
The letter, which is now dismissed by US officials, claimed to be informing the Iraqi army commanders of US preparation to move troops out of Iraq as part of Washington’s response to a previous Iraqi parliament resolution asking for the departure of US forces.
Urgent: US Secretary of Defense: Washington has no plans to withdraw from Iraq
US Secretary of Defense Mark Esber confirmed that the United States of America has no plans to leave Iraq, after reports of the withdrawal had been published earlier. Esper told reporters at the Pentagon today, Monday, that the United States is not planning to withdraw from Iraq, after reports by "Reuters" and other media outlets about a message from the US military stating the withdrawal. "There is absolutely no decision to withdraw from Iraq," Esber said, when asked about the message. "There were no plans to prepare for withdrawal," Reuters said, on Monday. He continued: "I do not know what this message is, and we are trying to find out where it came from and what it described. But no decision was taken to withdraw from Iraq." "The United States remains committed to confronting the terrorist organization" ISIS, "with its allies and partners," Esber added. On Sunday, Parliament voted in favor of the government’s obligation to remove foreign forces from the country, cancel the security agreement with the United States, and cancel the request to assist the international coalition led by Washington in fighting terrorism.
The White House opens the way to negotiating a new nuclear deal with Tehran. Trump threatens Iraq with suffocating sanctions ... and pledges that Iran will not obtain a nuclear weapon
US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose "unparalleled" sanctions on Iraq if American forces are forced to leave his territory, hours after the Iraqi parliament asked the government to "end the presence" of foreign forces in the country, while saying in a tweet on his Twitter account: "Iran will never have a nuclear weapon."
The US president also insisted on his threat to target Iranian cultural sites, warning of "great revenge" if Iran retaliated against the killing of the Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani.
"If they really ask us to leave, and if this is not done amicably, then we will impose sanctions on them they have not seen before," Trump said, on Monday, on the Air Force One presidential plane while he was returning to Washington after a two-week vacation in Florida.He pointed out that these sanctions, which he threatened to impose on Iraq, would make those imposed on Iran insignificant compared to them.
"We have an exceptionally expensive air base there.It cost billions of dollars to build it.We will not leave if they do not make up for us. ”
And the parliament of Iraq called the day before yesterday the government to "end the presence of any foreign forces" on its soil, through direct "canceling the request for assistance" submitted to the international community to fight "ISIS".
During an emergency session of the parliament, which was transmitted directly through the official channel of the state, and in the presence of the resigned Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, the parliamentarians approved the "obligation of the Iraqi government to preserve the sovereignty of Iraq by canceling the request for assistance," according to what Parliament Speaker Muhammad al-Halbousi announced.
On the other hand, Trump vowed to Tehran of "great revenge" if it launched an attack on American facilities in the Middle East in response to the killing of the Quds Force commander in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, General Qassem Soleimani."If they do anything, there will be great revenge," he said.
He again threatened to hit Iranian cultural sites, asking, "They have the right to kill our citizens and we have no right to harm their cultural sites?"Things are not going like this. ”
Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi said that the House will present and vote this week on a resolution on the powers of war aimed at curbing President Donald Trump's military moves toward Iran.
"This decision is similar to the resolution Senator Tim Kane presented in the Senate," she said in a statement.
"(The resolution) will reaffirm the long-standing oversight responsibilities of Congress, by ordering the administration to halt military combat operations in relation to Iran within 30 days unless the Congress takes further action," she added.
The decision is likely to win approval by the Democrat-led House of Representatives, but the prospects for passage are weaker in the Senate, where it is controlled by Trump's Republican comrades, many of whom have said they support Trump's moves against Iran.Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who was in charge of the Revolutionary Guards' foreign operations abroad and the architect of Iranian strategy in the Middle East, was killed in a US air strike targeting him at dawn Friday in front of Baghdad International Airport.
Trump and his advisers are defending the US air strike that killed Soleimani and increased tension in the region.Trump says Soleimani was planning attacks against Americans, adding that he was considering publishing intelligence reports that prompted him to order the killing.
Targeting cultural sites with military action is a war crime under international law, which includes a UN Security Council resolution endorsed by the Trump administration in 2017 and the Hague Agreement to protect cultural property in 1954.
This comes at a time when White House advisor Killian Conway said yesterday that Trump is confident that he can negotiate a new nuclear agreement with Iran, a day after Iran announced its intention to further reduce its obligations under the 2015 nuclear deal.
Asked if Trump believed he could still negotiate a new deal, Conway told reporters at the White House: “He said he's open to that.If Iran wants to start behaving like a normal country ... definitely (he will). ”
07/01/2019 Baghdad, Paris, London and Berlin discuss the latest developmentsSaleh calls on Iraqis to join forcesBaghdad - agencies:
Iraqi President Barham Salih called on his people to unite ranks and give priority to the supreme interest of the country in order to overcome the current conditions that Iraq is going through. In his speech yesterday, on the occasion of the commemoration of the 99th anniversary of the founding of the Iraqi army, Saleh said, "Today we live in difficult and extremely complicated circumstances, and this calls on all of us to unite ranks and give priority to the supreme national interest to preserve the security, sovereignty and stability of Iraq." Stressing that the next stage requires synergy And the joint work of all components of the Iraqi people to secure the continuation and perpetuation of the momentum of the victories achieved by the army in its war against ISIS. He stressed that the Iraqi army forces will continue to meet the demands of all Iraqis in a free and dignified life that preserves their country, its sovereignty and independence, the reconstruction of cities liberated from terrorism, and the advancement of economic reality to secure a better future for all citizens. In the same context, Lieutenant General Othman Al-Ghanimi, Chief of Staff of the Iraqi Army, explained that his country is going through these difficult days, a new challenge and complicated circumstances, expressing his belief that Iraq will succeed in dealing with various of these challenges and win its bets. He also stressed that the Iraqi army forces are able to assume national responsibility in preserving the country's security and sovereignty, and will succeed in proving this. It is noteworthy that Iraq is witnessing rapid developments during the last three days after the killing of the commander of the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Qassem Soleimani, and the deputy head of the "Popular Mobilization" in Iraq, Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis, and eight other people who were accompanying them in a raid by an American drone near Baghdad airport. On a related matter, the Iraqi Foreign Minister, Muhammad Ali al-Hakim, discussed yesterday, in a meeting with the ambassadors of France, Britain and Germany, the latest security developments in Iraq. A statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that «the Foreign Minister met with French ambassadors Bruno Oper, British Stephen Heiky, and German Prime Minister Doyle, and discussed with them the recent security developments in Iraq, and the American air bombardment that targeted the deputy head of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Authority, Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis, and the Iraqi guest, Major General Qassim Suleimani The aerial bombardment of the military units of the popular crowd in the city of Qaim. The Iraqi minister stressed that «this bombing is a blatant attack, a violation of sovereignty, and is contrary to the specific tasks for which the international coalition was established in order to combat ISIS gangs and that this action would cause an increase in the state of security tension in the region, at a time when all parties should cooperate to achieve security And stabilization. ” In response to the targeting of Engineer and Suleimani, the Iraqi parliament demanded in the government's decision to end the presence of any foreign forces in the territories and prevent them from using the Iraqi airspace for any reason ..
The British Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister discuss developments in Iraq
07/01/2020 He reviewed the situation in the region with the Indian Minister of External Affairs
The British Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister discuss developments in Iraq Doha - Qena:
His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, yesterday, yesterday, phoned His Excellency Dominic Rap, the British Minister of Foreign Affairs. During the call, the latest developments in the regional arena were discussed, especially the latest developments in Iraq, and ways to solve the contentious issues in the region.
Also yesterday, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, received a phone call from His Excellency Dr. As Jaishankar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of India.
During the call, a review of developments in the region, as well as a number of issues of common concern. Al-Raya Newspaper Al-Raya Newspaper Al-Raya Newspaper Al-Raya Newspaper Al-Raya Newspaper Al-Raya Newspaper Al-Raya Newspaper .
ERBIL- Dozens of refugees arrived in the Kurdistan Region from Syria on Monday, the Joint Crisis Cooperation Center (JCC) of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) said in a statement.
After Turkey began an offensive against the Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria in October, tens of thousands of people started to flee to the Kurdistan Region.At least 36 refugees were received by the KRG through the border crossing of Sihela on Monday, the statement explained.
It pointed out that the total number of refugees arrived in the Kurdistan Region since October has now reached 19,316.
Kauaihn Iraq Articles:dd
US hasn't decided on Iraq withdrawal, Pentagon says, calling general's letter a mistake
WASHINGTON – The Pentagon's top two officials distanced themselves Monday from an American general in the Middle East whose letter to Iraq's government announced the U.S. "will be repositioning forces" in response to its demand that the U.S. leave the country.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper said no decision has been made to pull U.S. troops from Iraq.
Esper was responding to an unsigned letter from Marine Corps Brig. Gen. William H. Seely III, addressed to Iraq’s defense ministry, saying the U.S.-led coalition is preparing to reposition troops in "deference to the sovereignty of the Republic of Iraq.”
On Sunday, the Iraqi parliament voted to expel U.S. military forces from the country.
"We respect your sovereign decision to order our departure," said Seely's letter, dated Monday. It said forces would be moved in the "coming days and weeks," which would result in increased military helicopter traffic around Baghdad's international zone.
But no such decision has been made on removing U.S. troops from Iraq, Esper said. “Period.”
Baghdad / newsletter: Legal expert Ali al-Tamimi confirmed, on Tuesday, that Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi could not cancel the agreement with the United States of America and withdraw its forces from Iraq, as he is resigning and head of the caretaker government. Al-Tamimi said in a statement to "Al-Akhbaria" that "the first agreement between Iraq and America in 2008 regarding the exit of American forces in Iraq no later than 1.1.2011 and was implemented ... and organized by law 51 for the same year." He added, "The second agreement was in 2008 with a strategic framework, which is specific to cooperation in all fields. According to Article 24, paragraph 4, it is permissible to remove American forces from Iraq whenever the Iraqi government wishes." Al-Tamimi added, "In 2014, the coalition forces were formed in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2170, led by America ... and at the request of Iraq." He pointed out that "we must differentiate between the presence of these forces that Iraq can ask to leave and the agreement that has nothing to do with this presence," noting that "Abdul-Mahdi cannot remove these forces because he is resigned and is conducting business."d
EU formally confirms foreign ministers' meeting on Iran
Josep Borrell said that EU will play its full role to seek de-escalation of tensions in the region
BRUSSELS, January 7. / TASS /.
The European Union has officially confirmed that the foreign ministers' meeting on Iran will be held in Brussels on January 10, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Josep Borrell tweeted on Monday.
"I called an extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council with our Member States on Friday afternoon, 10 January, to discuss recent developments on Iraq and Iran. EU will play its full role to seek de-escalation of tensions in the region," he wrote.
Abdul-Mahdi on Army Day: The difficult circumstances call for unity of the Iraqi class
Baghdad / SNG- Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi, today addressed the Iraqi Army’s holiday, today, January 6, stressing that these difficult circumstances that Iraq is going through require the unity of the class.
Abdul-Mahdi said, in a statement published by the Prime Minister’s Information Office, that “on this sixth day of January 1921, the heroic Iraqi army was established to be a defensive dam in defending the land, borders, and national sovereignty of Iraq.The anniversary of the establishment of the Iraqi army falls this year, and our dear country, Iraq, is experiencing sensitive circumstances and facing grave challenges affecting its present and threatening its future. ”
He added, "These difficult circumstances call for unity of rank and position, giving priority to the supreme interests of the country, and ensuring the safety, security and stability of Iraq and preserving its national sovereignty."
He continued: "As we recall these difficulties today, we confirm that the Iraqi army is stronger than previously and has sufficient and necessary experience, as is the case with the ranks of other security forces working together to preserve the security and future of the country."
He pointed out that "the Iraqis have the right to be proud of their army and armed forces, and this long-established military establishment, established traditions, and its soldiers, ranks and officers who have taken their lives on the path of loyalty to the nation and the people."
The Prime Minister went on to say, “On this dear occasion, we congratulate our people and all the sons of our armed forces on the anniversary of the founding of the Iraqi army, and we salute the souls of the martyrs and the wounded, and we salute the spare fighters in the various classes and formations of the armed forces who still underline the most magnificent images of heroism and redemption in defense of Iraq and its people and continue to perpetuate the victory and chase the remains The ISIS terrorist gang, preventing them from harming our people again. ”
He continued, saying, “The primary duty of the Iraqi armed forces was and will remain to defend Iraq, and we have been keen to provide the appropriate conditions for building a professional army that belongs to Iraq and raises its flag and defends it. .
He said, "This army is the son of the people and cannot be a tool for repression or interfering in political affairs in compliance with the Iraqi constitution, which defines the form, duty and role of the armed forces."
Abdul-Mahdi renewed "congratulations and blessings of our people on the anniversary of the founding of the Iraqi army," while "saluting the ranks of our armed forces, land, sea, air and army flight ... and we salute all their formations of the army, police, popular crowd, peshmerga and security services."
And saluted in the conclusion of Qula, the greedy, the makers of victory, mercy and eternity for the martyrs of IraqVictory is only from God, the Mighty, the Wise.
The American President threatens Iran with "great revenge" if it retaliates for the death of Qassem Soleimani .. and threatens sanctions against Baghdad after the Iraqi parliament called for the departure of the American forces .. We will not leave Iraq unless they pay us the price of the Donald Trump and Hassan Rouhani air base
For the third time, in less than 24 hours, US President Donald Trump has warned Iran against targeting any Americans or American interests in the Middle East region, after the killing of the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Qassem Soleimani, stressing that the United States "will strike quickly and forcefully."
US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose sanctions on Baghdad after the Iraqi parliament demanded that US forces leave the country, adding that if his forces leave, Baghdad will have to pay Washington the cost of an air base there.
"We have an air base there that is exceptionally expensive," Trump told reporters aboard the presidential plane. "It took billions of dollars to build it long before I came. We will only leave if they pay us its cost."
Trump said that if Iraq called for the departure of US forces and this was not done on a friendly basis, "we will impose sanctions on them that they have never seen before, that negotiation will be a small thing next to them."
US President Donald Trump declared that the United States would respond with a swift and possibly disproportionate strike on any Iranian strike. Trump added that his media statements would be a notification to the Congress if Iran targets any American, according to the "American Free" channel, on Sunday. The US President's statements came after Iraqi sources reported that missiles had landed in the American embassy in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.
In a quick reaction from US President Donald Trump, to targeting the vicinity of the US embassy in Baghdad, Trump said, by tweeting on Twitter, "These media releases will serve as a notification to the United States Congress that if Iran strikes any American person or target, the states The United will strike quickly, completely, and possibly in a disproportionate manner ... Such a legal notice is not required, but nevertheless! " It is noteworthy that he just heard explosions in the Green Zone and its surroundings in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, and sources added to "Russia Today", from witnesses, that the American embassy fired sirens, noting that 5 mortar shells landed in the mentioned area, and the source pointed out, that one of the rockets landed on an apartment house, wounding three people, "and that the injured were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
In the same vein, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the United States is targeting "actual decision makers" in Iran rather than targeting Iranian proxy militias in other countries.
Pompeo noted that the approach of US President Donald Trump's administration is different from previous US strategies that focused on fighting the agency's forces instead of the Iranian government itself.
Pompeo added that the United States has repeatedly warned Iran, saying: "We told the Iranian regime ... enough ... you cannot evade the use of proxy forces thinking that your lands are safe and sound."
Pompeo said that the United States "will respond against the actual decision makers, the people who make these threats from Iran ... We will take this (matter) seriously and we will defend the American people."
Pompeo's comments came in the wake of the killing of the Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force during a visit to Baghdad, during a process by the United States with drones, which followed two weeks of violent confrontation between Washington and Tehran, which began with a strike that resulted in the killing of a contractor with the American army, the United States carried militias supported by Iran, and in response, Washington attacked the militia ranks in Iraq.
Trump, through his official account on Twitter, threatened to hit Iranian targets if Tehran retaliated to kill Soleimani, as he warned against attacking 52 Iranian websites, including sites "important for Iran and Iranian culture."d
1-6-2020 Newshound Guru Adam Montana Article quotes: "Chairman of the Finance Committee, Haitham al-Jabouri, confirmed on Monday that the strategic framework agreement with the United States of America is still in effect,while he indicated that the House’s decision yesterday regarding ending the foreign presence has nothing to do with it."; "We are in contact with all relevant authorities on this issue andare keen to maintain economic relations with all countries, including the United States, and in a manner that serves the interests of our country in terms of security and economic, especially since there are large investment contracts between the two countries in important and strategic sectors." ...pretty much says it all.
1-6-2020 Intel Guru Frank26 ...Iraq is going through a change. A paradigm change. An epic historical change and because of that there is a price to pay...Iran is doing their very best to stop the forward progress of the reinstatement of the monetary reform...
1-6-2020 Guest Guru TexasSnake [via PDK] [So what do you think of all the unrest in the Middle east] I think it is kind of a smoke screen…When you look back to when Kuwait did their RV...there were similar circumstances...saying it was going to be put off and then suddenly in the next day or so it was there...It came as a surprise to most people even the ones who were anticipating it…we have a lot more intel on this one then they had on the Kuwait one.
1-6-2020 Intel Guru MarkZ [via PDK] We were told a couple key meetings went on this weekend on how to handle the roll out. With all the upset in Iraq and Iran keep in mind that almost all the revaluation in the past have happened during a lot of smoke and unrest…Looking back on the history of revaluations it does seem to me that this would be the perfect smoke screen.I think it couldn’t be better timing. What I still hear from the banking side is very positive. From the Iraq side they were still expecting it on Monday or Tuesday. They just finished their inventory of cash in circulation so will see what they have to say this week.
1-6-2020 Newshound Guru Jeff ...it's all coming together. The CBI's last requirement to delete the zeros they said that the corruption political figures had to be removed and they were. After they got rid of those corrupt official Iraq started setting the stage for the rate change...That's not just a one month step. They need time. That's why they used the whole year of '19 to set the stage. And now you can see they're already told you, this isn't my opinion...reconstruction, article 140, HCL...those items are in the budget. So what they're indirectly telling you is they have to position money for those steps...so don't worry about all that other stuff...there are no delays in this...no delays at all...
1-6-2020 Newshound/Intel Guru Francis Albert And thirdly, regardless of what your seat is, the bleachers or box seats,anyone who ispaying attention to the moves of the CBI and GOI in the past, say year...has to...has to come to the conclusion that they are going to go International which has to be at a rate higher than program. Sure one can argue and say, it will be just .10 and go up from there and could take years to get to something fun for us...or not. Remember Iraqi's only true export and that is and will be sold for Dollars till the end of time.So, unlike other Countries who want to keep their currency low, (see Vietnam) because of massive exports, (and of course China). Iraq is in a unique situation. [post 2 of 2]
1-6-2020 Newshound/Intel Guru Francis Albert Good point KAP [reference Guru Kaperoni post 1-5-2020], so all I can retort to this is, well two things: Firstly: How much content and details of news articles can we believe regardless of Country?Secondly: This would be the first time a Central Bank has lied? and if it served their purposes thinking it would help get the people to do something, they would say it to their news sources...we'll see... [post 1 of 2....stay tuned]
1-6-2020Guru BobTheTaxMan...because my crystal ball still isn't here I don't know when this thing is going to come to fruition butI've never seen things escalate this fast towards a real possibility of a window coming here shortly...
Elmer:
Not in today
Artmeister:
Not in today
Catnip:
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ARTICLE 1-A (from PM Mahdi's website; posted only on Arabic side, not on English side)
Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi receives a phone call from German Chancellor Angela Merkel
The Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi received a phone call from German Chancellor Angela Merkel, focusing on discussing security developments and the current crisis and its repercussions on the security and stability of the region and the world and the position of the Iraqi government and parliament represented by the withdrawal of foreign forces, the preservation of Iraq’s sovereignty, and the escalation taking place in light of the current crisis.
The German chancellor expressed her support for Iraq’s security and stability, the importance of continued cooperation between Iraq and European Union countries to combat terrorism, and the need to seek to avoid war and ward off its risks to global peace and security and work to reduce escalation.
Media office of the Prime Minister
January 6-2020
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ARTICLE 1-B (from PM Mahdi's website; posted only on Arabic side, not on English side)
The Prime Minister, Mr. Adel Abdul-Mahdi, receives a phone call from the Prime Minister of the UK
Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi received a phone call from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson,
The Prime Minister explained the rationale for events, the sequence of events, the decision of the House of Representatives to withdraw foreign forces, and affirmed Iraq’s constant desire to strengthen its relations with the international community and achieve common interests, the government’s steadfast pursuit of establishing positive cooperative relations and not allowing Iraq to be turned into an arena of conflicts, and the importance of continuing international cooperation against ISIS.
The British Prime Minister affirmed his great sympathy for Iraq and his understanding of the difficulties he faced, and affirmed the United Kingdom’s full commitment to respect the security, stability and sovereignty of Iraq and the strengthening of friendship between the two countries and his desire to visit Iraq, calling for action through diplomatic channels to defuse the crisis and reduce escalation.
Media office of the Prime Minister
January 6-2020
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ARTICLE 1-C (from PM Mahdi's website; posted only on Arabic side, not on English side)
Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi receives the US ambassador
Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi received, Monday afternoon, the US Ambassador to Iraq, Matthew Toller, and reviewed the developments of events and the position of the Iraqi government.
The Prime Minister stressed the need for joint action to implement the withdrawal of foreign forces in accordance with the decision of the Iraqi parliament and to put relations with the United States on sound foundations, stressing the seriousness of the current situation and its possible repercussions, and that Iraq is making all possible efforts to prevent the slide of an open war.
The Prime Minister pointed to the consistent policy pursued by the government to establish relations with all and not to enter into the policy of axes and that the strength of the Iraqi government is in the interest of everyone, and he affirmed Iraq’s keenness that its relations be based on cooperation and mutual respect and preserving its security, stability and national sovereignty.
Media office of the Prime Minister
January 6-2020
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ARTICLE 1-D (from PM Mahdi's website; posted only on Arabic and English side)
Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi receives the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations
Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi received, on Monday afternoon, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Iraq, Jenin Hennes-Blackshart, and expressed her condolences and those of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq and his support for its security and stability.
The Prime Minister clarified the position of the Iraqi government after the recent security developments and its message to the House of Representatives and the decision of the Council to withdraw foreign forces from Iraq, and affirmed Iraq’s keenness to continue its relations with the international community and that its relations are based on the exchange of common interests and respect for its sovereignty and non-interference in its internal affairs.
Media office of the Prime Minister
January 6-2020
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ARTICLE 1-E (from PM Mahdi's website; posted only on Arabic side, not on English side)
Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi receives the Chinese ambassador in Baghdad
The Ambassador of the People's Republic of China in Baghdad conveyed the Chinese Premier’s regards to the Prime Minister and his condolences to the martyrs who fell in the American bombing and his support for the Iraqi government.
This came during Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi’s meeting with the Chinese Ambassador to Baghdad, Mr. Zhang Tao, who praised the Prime Minister’s role in preserving the security, sovereignty and unity of Iraq and strengthening relations between the two countries, stressing that China will remain a close friend of Iraq.
The Prime Minister thanked the Chinese leadership and China's positive stances towards Iraq in the Security Council and its defense of Iraq’s rights in international forums, adding: that America has contributed with Iraq in the war against ISIS, and we do not want to become a party to any conflict and do not accept that Iraq becomes a stage for liquidation The calculations, and the Prime Minister stressed that the United States exists by an Iraqi decision and the withdrawal of its forces is an Iraqi decision as well and it is in its interest that the Iraqi government be strong and not the opposite.
The Prime Minister said that China is a strong and important partner of Iraq and the agreement with China has become an issue of public opinion in Iraq, and that our people clearly realize its importance and we will work to achieve it without hesitation, and we hope China will support us in all issues concerning Iraq internationally.
For his part, the Chinese ambassador affirmed that his country strongly supports Iraq and pays attention to the development of relations with Iraq, which is a reliable partner for Iraq. We will work to rebuild it, support the government and the Iraqi people, and put the agreement between the two countries into practice. We hope to enhance Iraq’s role in the Belt and Road Project, and we are also keen to increase security cooperation The military, stressing the continued work of the Chinese diplomats and Chinese companies and their presence in Iraq.
Media office of the Prime Minister
January 6-2020
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ARTICLE 2 (from Government of Iraq twitter account)
At the time this report was submitted, there are no new tweets posted on the Government of Iraq twittier account.
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ARTICLE 3
Abdul-Medi discusses with Barzani close cooperation in a manner that preserves Iraq’s security, national interests and sovereignty
1/6/2020 22:58
[Baghdad-where]
Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi telephoned the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Masoud Barzani.
According to the statement of the Information Office of the Prime Minister, during the call, discussions were made on developments in the events, the nature of the contacts taking place around them, the Iraqi position on them, the continuation of joint national work and close cooperation in a manner that preserves Iraq’s security, national interests and sovereignty.
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ARTICLE 4
Iraqi protestors declare innocence from parliament and give the government 4 days to choose a president
02:05 07.01.2020
The Iraqi demonstrators in the main sit-in square that leads the great popular revolution since the beginning of last October and until now have given the president of the republic, Barham Salih, until next Friday to choose a president for the interim government, declaring innocence from parliament and considering its decisions as illegal.
The demonstrators, in a statement issued by them from Tahrir Square, received a reporter "Sputnik" in Iraq, on Monday evening, a million revolution in the provinces of the country, the largest and most severe of the demonstrations of the first of October last year, if no president is chosen for the interim government.
The protestors of liberation considered that what happened yesterday in the parliament session are acts that are not related to the national interest, and that they are trying to plunge Iraq into an international conflict that has nothing to do with it, and send a negative image of it as a totally biased state in favor of an axis against another axis, which we reject reject We completely consider it an aggression against our homeland by a brutal authority that was the first to defend its interests, not the interests of other countries, and reject sub-affiliations in favor of belonging to the homeland. "
To confront the challenges they described as grave, the protesters demanded in their call to the people of the country, "to stand up and stand seriously against those who are trying to destroy the homeland by sticking it into" foolish "adventures, back to the dark ages we experienced, and we got out of their miracles in miracle, in response to non-national interests, regardless of who they are The intended destination, in or outside the authority. "
They stressed the speedy and without any delay, and no later than the tenth of January this year, by the President of the Republic choosing an interim Prime Minister, and as defined by his conditions from the square, working to prepare the appropriate ground for the holding of early and fair elections, and under international supervision for a period not exceeding six months.
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ARTICLE 5
Urgent US military officially informs Iraq of taking measures to get out of the country
1/6/2020 23:01
[Follow-up]
On Monday, the US-led international coalition forces responded to a request by the Iraqi parliament, including the departure of foreign forces from Iraq, revealing its preliminary procedures for repositioning.
"In deference to the sovereignty of Iraq, and as requested by the Iraqi parliament and prime minister, the joint task force command will - The process of solid determination, by repositioning the forces during the coming days and weeks. "
"In order to carry out this mission, coalition forces must take specific measures to ensure a safe and efficient exit from Iraq," he added.
He explained, "There will be an increase in helicopter flights in and around the Green Zone in Baghdad."
He pointed out that "this increase in helicopter will be by aircraft (47-CH, 64-AH and 60-UH)", and a portion of these aircraft will be for the purpose of escort and protection only. "
And, he said, "The coalition forces will take all measures to reduce and reduce the inconvenience to the public, indicating that" for this reason these missions will be carried out during the night hours, because this will help to exercise caution and the withdrawal will not be understood as more forces being brought in. "
He continued, "Where we start implementing the next stage of operations, I emphasize the value of our partnership, and invite you to us to support your republic at the time of need during the defeat of ISIS, we respect the sovereign decision that demanded our departure."
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