Category: Politics

Baghdad The Prime Minister-designate, Eng. Muhammad Shia Al-Sudani, received the congratulations of the French Embassy in Baghdad on the occasion of his assignment to form the next Iraqi government.

In an official statement, the Embassy expressed its hope to form a government that meets the aspirations of the Iraqi people, stressing its support for the Iraqi government and people to achieve their aspirations for a better future.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Baghdad The head of the Al-Fateh Alliance Hadi Al-Amiri met this evening with the Speaker of Parliament, Muhammad Al-Halbousi.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Cairo, The works of the 87th meeting of the Executive Office of the Council of Arab Ministers of Housing and Reconstruction kicked off today at the Arab League headquarters under the presidency of Jordan.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s delegation to the meeting was led by Vice Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing Eng. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Budair.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani of the State of Qatar met today with Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah bin Amer Al-Sawaha, in the presence of Prince Mansour bin Khalid bin Farhan, Saudi Ambassador to the State of Qatar.

During the meeting, which comes at the beginning of the visit of the delegation of the Communications, Technology and Information System to Doha, they discussed ways of joint cooperation, including supporting the growth of the digital economy in the region in general and expanding the partnership between the two brotherly countries in the field of technology and innovation, in addition to motivating the digital entrepreneurship system and empowering youth and women.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

BaghdadForeign Minister Fouad Hussein confirmed today, Tuesday, that Iraq will send a delegation to Iran regarding the attacks on the Kurdistan region.

The media department of the House of Representatives said in a statement that “the Foreign Relations Committee headed The last Iranian and Turkish bombing of the Kurdistan region.

It added that “the Minister of Foreign Affairs reviewed during the hosting attended by the Secretary -General of the House of Representatives, the most important steps taken by the Ministry regarding the attack on the Kurdistan region, the first of which was the summons of the Iranian Ambassador and handing him a highly worded protest note and then the meeting with a delegation from the Iranian side at the ministry’s headquarters on the fifth of this month to discuss how to find solutions and put an end to the continuous violations of the sovereignty of Iraq, “noting that” the Minister confirmed the agreement on continuing the discussions by sending an Iraqi delegation to Iran headed by National Security Adviser Qassem Al -Araji. “

Hussein stressed during the hosting that “Iraq submitted a protest note to the United Nations and demanded that an end to Turkish and Iranian violations, and the organization issued a statement of condemnation and rejection of these violations and repeated attacks on the security and sovereignty of Iraqi lands and the lives of its citizens,” stressing that “the data of denunciation and condemnation is no longer sufficient, accordingly, the international community must have concrete steps to put an end to all the military attacks that occur frequently on Iraqi soil.

He explained that “the Iraqi government is making efforts to urge the international community to take actual measures in this regard.”

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Baghdad First Deputy -Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mohsen Al -Mandalawi, confirmed today, Tuesday, the parliament is determined to legislate the “National Security Agency” law to determine its duties and ensure the rights of its affiliates.

A statement of his office stated: “Al -Mandalawi discussed during his reception, the head of the National Security Agency, Hamid Al -Shatri, in the presence of the head of the age of the Parliamentary Security and Defense Committee, Khaled al -Ubaidi, and a number of members of the committee and MPs, the challenges facing the work of the Agency, and the most prominent needs to enhance his role and tasks in tracking blackmail, drug trafficking and crime networks and others.

The first Deputy called for the continuous coordination between the National Security Service and the Parliamentary Security and Defense Committee to provide the necessary needs to enhance its role and tasks in a way that contributes to preserving the security and interests of the country.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

BaghdadThe White House announced that Washington is not seeking to confront Russia and does not intend to send American forces to Ukraine, and no one wants this conflict to turn into a nuclear confrontation.

“We are not seeking a conflict with Russia, and President Joe Biden indicated this clearly,” US National Security Council Spokesman John Kirby said during a press conference today.

Kirby confirmed that there is no intention for the Biden Administration to send the forces to Ukraine.

He continued: “No one wants this conflict to turn into a nuclear confrontation, and we do not see reasons for that.”

He pointed out that such a development will be a disaster for all parties, including Russia, adding that Washington does not see in the current stage any evidence of Russia’s preparations for the use of weapons of mass destruction.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

President Joe Biden on Tuesday hailed a U.S.-brokered maritime border agreement between Israel and Lebanon as a “historic breakthrough in the Middle East” that allows cash-strapped Lebanon to explore potential gas deposits in the Mediterranean Sea, while giving Israel more security and stability in the volatile region.

“The agreement announced by both governments today will provide for the development of energy fields for the benefit of both countries, setting the stage for a more stable and prosperous region, and harnessing vital new energy resources for the world,” Biden said in a statement. “It is now critical that all parties uphold their commitments and work towards implementation.”

The two neighbors have been formally at war for decades and have no official communication, so the deal was brokered over several months by American officials.

Israel discovered the massive deposits off its coast in 2010, but Lebanon raised concerns that the deposits may stretch into Lebanese waters. And Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah Party has threatened to protect what it claims is its territory.

Speaking to journalists, a senior Biden administration official described the agreement as balanced.

“This agreement is not a win-lose agreement,” said the official, who asked not to be named, as is common practice when the White House briefs reporters. “The parties are not getting more than the other because they get different things. The win for Israel is around security, stability and economic gain. The win for Lebanon is economic prosperity, economic development, foreign direct investment and hope for an economic recovery.”

Top officials from both countries said they were satisfied with the deal, which next goes before the two nations’ parliaments.

“All our demands were met, the changes that we asked for were corrected,” Eyal Hulata, Israel’s National Security Council director and head of the country’s negotiating team, said on Tuesday. “We protected Israel’s security interests and are on our way to an historic agreement.”

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said he would convene the security cabinet on Wednesday, followed by a special meeting of the government.

“The final version of the offer satisfies Lebanon, meets its demands, and preserves its rights to its natural wealth,” Lebanese President Michel Aoun said in a statement.

Bruce Riedel, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, said each side stands to gain from this agreement.

“Israel would become energy secure,” he told VOA by email. “Lebanon, which is completely broke with high unemployment and malnutrition, would gain a new source of income. Even Hezbollah sees this as in their interest.”

But, Riedel added, “There is opposition in Israel from Netanyahu, who says the government gave too much. So, there is some urgency in finalizing the deal before the Israeli elections.”

Israel’s election is scheduled for November 1.

Will Todman, a Middle East analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the United States also benefits.

“The United States seized on a moment of opportunity for a diplomatic win,” he told VOA by email. “Israel has a less hardline Israeli government, and Lebanon has a dire economic crisis. It was, therefore, in the interests of both sides to come to a deal.”

Earlier this year, the World Bank described Lebanon’s two-year economic free fall as “one of the top 10, possibly top three most severe economic collapses worldwide since the 1850s.” Contributing factors, they say, include the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Beirut port explosion and a history of mismanagement that has led to a currency crash, an electricity crisis and catastrophic food-price inflation.

VOA asked administration officials whether the agreement included any safeguards or guarantees should Hezbollah — a powerful political force in Lebanon — act on its threats.

“The negotiations that were carried out through U.S. mediation did not include discussions with Hezbollah,” the U.S. official said. “This is with the sovereign leadership of Lebanon. We held meetings with the president, the prime minister and the speaker, and I have every assurance that the government of Lebanon intends to keep its end of this agreement, as I have on the Israeli side.”

But Todman said this agreement almost certainly has the blessing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

“The Lebanese government would not have agreed to this deal without Hezbollah’s go-ahead,” he said. “Hezbollah has celebrated the agreement. Nasrallah just said, ‘Tonight, we will not issue threats. Tonight, there will only be joy and clapping.’”

But the official stressed there are also no guarantees that there is any treasure in these still-undeveloped waters.

“It has been discovered but not drilled,” the official said. “So, it is unclear how much and where the deposits of gas are.”

Source: Voice of America

The President of the Republic met with PM Mikati and Minister Bou habib.

 They discussed the latest developments in the file of the demarcation of the southern maritime borders and the Lebanese position on the vote at the United Nations on the Ukrainian crisis.

 PM Mikati: President Aoun will address the Lebanese on the beginning of a new phase.

 We hope that it will bring good things to Lebanon after we have passed through a difficult period

 President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, received at Baabda Palace this afternoon, Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Abdallah Bou Habib, in the presence of the Director General of the Presidency of the Republic, Dr. Antoine Choucair, after the President of the Republic received the final amended official version of the proposal submitted by the American mediator, Amos Hochstein.

Following the meeting PM Mikati made the following statement:

 “I met with His Excellency the President, the meeting was related to the recent understanding that took place regarding the maritime borders. The meeting was good and His Excellency and the working group conducted a final reading of the memorandum of understanding, and in light of it, I believe that His Excellency the President will address the Lebanese in this regard, marking a stage that will be, God willing, a good one, a word of thanks must be addressed first to the Lebanese working group that devoted themselves to studying this agreement, starting with Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Elias Bou Saab, and Major General Abbas Ibrahim, Professor Ali Hamdan and Professor Antoine Choucair.

Thank you also to the American administration, which made a great effort to reach this agreement, and a thank you to the French government and the French president in particular for what they have done in the last hours, with regard to Total and the success of this agreement.

Prime Minister Mikati added: “This morning a meeting took place with Total company in the Serail and we agreed to start the excavation process as soon as the memorandum of understanding is completed. Currently, a final reading is underway by the work team and there are some small details related to translation into Arabic.

His Excellency the President will address at the Lebanese tonight or tomorrow.

Appreciation for the good news to the Lebanese about the beginning of a new phase that we hope will bring good to Lebanon, after we have passed through a difficult phase. We must also thank the army and the Hydrography Department, which made a great effort with the Lebanese technical team to reach this result.”

 Question: What is the Lebanese position on the expected vote at the United Nations regarding the Ukrainian crisis?

PM Mikati: The vote will be tomorrow, within the context that the Lebanese government has taken since the beginning of the Ukrainian crisis

Source: Presidency of the Republic of Lebanon

Riyadh, The Saudi-Chilean Parliamentary Friendship Committee of the Shura Council, led by the Shura Council member and Chairman of the Committee Dr. Ibrahim bin Mahmoud Al-Nahhas, met here today with Undersecretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Chile Ximena Fuentes, and her accompanying delegation.

During the meeting, Dr. Al-Nahhas reviewed the Shura Council’s work and its roles, stressing the importance of working to enhance the joint bilateral cooperation between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Chile in various fields, especially with regard to parliamentary work between the Shura Council and the Chilean Parliament.

For her part, the Undersecretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Chile expressed her thanks for the warm reception and hospitality, stressing the need to increase the communication between the two countries in various fields.

During the meeting, they discussed a number of common issues between the two countries in all fields and ways of enhancing and developing them, especially in the parliamentary field between the Shura Council and the Chilean Parliament.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) President Fahd bin Hassan Al Aqran at his office in Riyadh has received AFP Bureau Chief in the Gulf Talek Harris and his accompanying delegation.

Talks during the meeting reviewed issues related to news exchange, training and discussing cooperation aspects between the two agencies in a way that contributes to developing their services and benefiting from their expertise.

Following the meeting, Harris and the delegates toured various administrations and section of SPA and listened to a briefing about the mechanism of preparing and publishing news and how to deal with news and reports arriving from various sources from inside and outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and broadcasting them in several languages through SPA website and social media outlets.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

​President Aoun: “We hope to complete all arrangements related to the demarcation of the southern maritime borders within days after the indirect negotiations went a long way”.

President Aoun: “The launch of the oil and gas exploration process marks the beginning of a new impetus for the economic recovery process”.

Patriarch Minassian to President Aoun: “You sacrificed and risked a lot for the sake of the country. You took firm and courageous positions in the interest of Lebanon”.

Patriarch Minassian briefed President Aoun about his trip to the Vatican to follow the canonization file of the late Patriarch Cardinal Krikor Pedros Aghajanian”.

President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, met the Armenian Catholic Patriarch of Cilicia, Patriarch Raphael Pedros XXI Minassian, today at Baabda Palace.

President Aoun assured Patriarch Minassian on the eve of his trip to the Vatican, that he hopes to complete all the arrangements related to the demarcation of the southern maritime borders within the next few days, after indirect negotiations led by the American mediator, Amos Hochstein, have advanced a long way, and the gaps that were negotiated over the past week have narrowed. 

In addition, President Aoun considered that reaching an agreement on the demarcation of the southern maritime borders means the start of the process of exploration for oil and gas in the Lebanese fields located within the exclusive economic zone, which will achieve the beginning of a new impetus for the process of economic revival.

Moreover, the President praised the role played by members of the Armenian Catholic community, along with members of other sects, in contributing to the recovery of Lebanon as soon as possible.

At the beginning of the meeting, Patriarch Minassian gave a speech in which he thanked President Aoun for the sacrifices he made for the sake of Lebanon.

Patriarch Minassian said: “You have sacrificed and risked a lot for the sake of the country, since you assumed the responsibility of leading this country, beginning with its valiant army until it handed you the presidency of Lebanon, which is going through an unenviable period of regression, which prompted you to take firm and courageous stances in the interest of our homeland, Lebanon. That is why we wanted to visit you today, and thank you for everything you have done for this country and its steadfast people”.

“We came as representatives of our sect, which, despite its small number, has been and continues to witness throughout history its strong presence, represented in serving this country and its people, and sowing the seeds of coexistence and brotherhood among its children. This Armenian Catholic sect who sincerely loved this country and harmonized with its children, had lived and tasted hunger, war, prosperity and success. This sect, in its patriarchal seat, from the monastery of Our Lady of Bzommar, which seems silent but toils, works and prays through its priests who are scattered at home and abroad, for the sake of Lebanon.  We pray today and ask God to pour out His abundant blessings upon you so that you can save Lebanon and its people from this dark tunnel and bring it to the shore of relief and prosperity” Patriarch Minassian added.

Patriarch Minassian also briefed President Aoun on the objectives of his visit to Rome, most notably following up the file of the canonization of the late Patriarch Cardinal Krikor Pedros Aghajanian, and researching a number of issues of concern to the sect. 

There general situation in the country and the work of the patriarchal institutions in the humanitarian, social and apostolic fields, especially during the difficult circumstances that Lebanon has been going through in the past years were also tackled.

Patriarch Minassian was accompanied on the visit by Beirut MP Jean Taluzian, patriarchal assistant, Archbishop Georges Asadorian, Patriarch’s secretary Father Narek Minoian, and the patriarch’s public relations and media official, Charbel Bastouri.

Statement:

After the meeting, Patriarch Minassian made the following statement:

“Our visit to His Excellency the President was friendly, as I told him the reason for our travel to Rome, which is to initiate the claim of His Holiness Cardinal Aghajanian, who was the Armenian Catholic Patriarch in difficult years, and who worked for the independence of Lebanon.

I wished President Aoun to reach a better future for our country, Lebanon”.

Source: Presidency of the Republic of Lebanon