News

Wednesday, 01 July 2015 09:00

Nazem Dabbagh in Talk with Jamejam Press: Infiltration in the Army is the Reason for ISIS’s Advance

Jamejam Press, relating to Al-Ramadi located in Al-Anbar province of Iraq, carried out an interview with representative of KRG of Iraq in Iran as follows:

About the reason of Al-Ramadi’s fall, Dabbagh said to the reporter of Jamejam: the Army of Iraq has not taken necessary actions to confront ISIS; they inspired them power instead. He went on: ISIS has taken an outstanding number of tanks and rocket launchers of army and even taken the command building of Iraq army called Al-Anbar operation in the west of the country under their control. In Dabbagh’s view the existence of vast differences among Iraqi leaders caused them not to realize the danger and not make any attempts to strengthen the unity among themselves. Dabbagh said: this is the fact that each of the group alone thinks of their benefits and is not unified. If these leaders thought of a democrat Iraq, they could prevent ISIS to advance and we would never witness the current events in Iraq.

In response to a question Dabbagh replied that through infiltrating in army, police and people of the region ISIS could widespread its strikes while the first tools of power is necessarily not military. The effect of information, people and the residents’ help, dare I say it, caused this ISIS to advance. Dabbagh, concerning America’s role, said: apparently America by air strikes helps the army. What is important to us is that if ISIS was not supported in Iraq, It could not gain power. He continued Iraq army asked America for help and if the USA is serious and wants to take any action, so can it, regarding its great weapons. Presently the condition of Iraq is severely worrisome.

Wednesday, 01 July 2015 04:30

Mohammad Seddigh Ahmed’s Note for Taadol Press/ Tehran, Baghdad and Erbil: a Transition to Realism

Mohammad Seddigh Ahmed (Jegarkhwein) the deputy-representative of Kurdistan Region of Iraq in Tehran, on the occasion of Fuad Masum’s first travel as the president of Iraq to Tehran, gave a note to Taadol Press as followed:

During recent years, Iran and Iraq as two important neighbor countries in the Middle East have had broadly progressing relations. Meanwhile this travel had more positive outcomes so that Masum’s travel can be considered according to this. The importance of mutual relations and political meetings, concerning the general view of regional crises and the increase of tension in the Middle East have turned out to be more than ever. During last year the emergence of new version radical-terrorist group, ISIS, has caused Iran, Iraq and Kurdistan Region’s relations entered a new stage and period which leads to collaborate and cooperate more broadly and effectively as compared to before. Indeed it must be insisted that since the new government has gained the authority and Maliki, whose mismanagement caused Iraq more critical and ISIS more powerful, has resigned, the balanced and cooperative approach with Iran has been clear more than ever.

Ultimately Ahmed, after having mentioned economic, security, culture and political issues, summed up his discussion in a way that the progress of relations between Tehran, Baghdad and Erbil can be deemed more positive and closer than before if all three sides support the current political trend in Iraq according to the correct understanding of facts and present conditions as well as insist on democratic standards and norms to solve and transit these critical and special situations on the basis of establishment of peace and security in the region and save of the regional nations from the threat of greatly and destructively tribal wars and unlimited violent and homelessness of millions people.

Wednesday, 01 July 2015 09:00

The Preparedness of the Army and People to confront Terrorist Groups

Aria News Agency- Nazem Dabbagh the representative of Kurdistan Regional of Iraq in Iran insisted on the preparedness of the army and people to confront with terrorist groups. He added: the triumph of Iraq army over ISIS group in the freed regions including Tikrit was for the participation of all forces and groups of Iraq. Dabbagh continued: people forces and Iraq army have the ability to fight against ISIS. He declared: the role of Shia authorities on the changes in Iraq to create unity and collaboration was effective and successful.

Kurdistan Region President Meets US Ambassador to Iraq

Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani met with US Ambassador to Iraq Stuart Jones in Salahaddin today. The meeting focused on a discussion of the latest political and security developments in the country and the fight against the ISIS terrorists.

The US Ambassador reiterated the United States commitment to continue to support the peshmerga forces in the fight against terror.

They also discussed relations between Erbil and Baghdad and the situation of IDPs who have sought refuge in Kurdistan.

UK Military Senior Advisor commends Peshmerga Forces

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) - Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, yesterday received the Defence Senior Advisor Middle East in the UK Ministry of Defence, Lieutenant General Tom Beckett, and his accompanying delegation.

General Beckett discussed the latest security developments in the region in general and in the Kurdistan Region in particular. He also discussed continuing and increasing trainings for Peshmerga forces by the UK military.

He commended the Peshmerga forces who courageously confront the Islamic State terrorist organization, ISIS. He lauded the protection they provide to all people in the Kurdistan Region regardless of their ethnic and religious backgrounds.

He informed the Prime Minister that the Peshmerga forces are successful in the training programmes and they satisfactorily fulfilled their tasks.

General Beckett also discussed the situation in the areas under the control of ISIS. He stressed the need for cooperation and coordination among all forces, including Iraqi and Kurdistan forces, in order to defeat the terrorists.

Prime Minister Barzani thanked the UK government for supporting and assisting the Kurdistan Region since the terrorist threat emerged. He expressed his wish that training programmes for the Peshmerga forces continue and increase.

He hoped that the ongoing satisfactory coordination and cooperation between coalition forces and the Kurdistan Region would continue and expand, which are vital to eliminate terrorist threats.

President Barzani Visits Kuwait

Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani arrived in Kuwait City on Saturday on an official visit to hold meetings with the Emir of Kuwait and other senior Kuwaiti officials.

On his arrival, the President and an accompanying senior KRG delegation were welcomed at Kuwait City airport by Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah, the First Deputy Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister of Kuwait.

President Barzani is due to also visit Abu Dhabi in this Gulf visit to meet with the leadership of the UAE. In both countries, the President will discuss bilateral relations, the threat of ISIS terrorists,and the plight of Iraqi IDPs who have sought refuge in Kurdistan.

Kurdistan Region President Sets Date for Presidential Elections

Kurdistan Region Presidency’s Chief of Staff Fuad Hussein announced that President Masoud Barzani has set the 20 August 2015 as the date for presidential elections in the Kurdistan Region. He added that the President has tasked the relevant KRG authorities to ensure fair and free elections are held for the President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Kurdistan Region President Meets Emir of Kuwait

Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani met with the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and other senior leaders of the State of Kuwait on Sunday to discuss bilateral relations and the political and security developments in the region.

The meeting between the President and Kuwait’s Prime Minister Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah focused on strengthening political and economic relations between the Kurdistan Region and Kuwait, including encouraging investment by Kuwaiti businesses in Kurdistan.

Kuwait’s Crown Prince Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah hosted a luncheon for President Barzani and his accompanying delegation.

The President also visited Iraq’s embassy in Kuwait City where he was welcomed by Ambassador Mohamad Hussein Bahr Al-Ulom.

President Barzani Meets Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed of Abu Dhabi

Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani met with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan ,Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces, in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

The President and the Crown Prince discussed the political and security situation in Iraq and in the region, especially the threat from ISIS terrorists. President Barzani expressed his hope that the UAE and its companies can further contribute to the development of the Kurdistan Region.

They also discussed the plight of hundreds of thousands of Iraqi IDPs who have sought refuge in Kurdistan.

PM Barzani and Egyptian Ambassador discuss bilateral relations

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) - Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani yesterday received the Egyptian Ambassador to Iraq, Mr. Ahmad Hassan Darwish, and his accompanying delegation.

Ambassador Darwish highlighted historical relations between Kurdistan and the Egyptian people, hoping to expand those relations particularly in the economic fields of trade and investment. He pointed out that Egyptian investors are keen to boost investment in Iraq in general and in the Kurdistan Region in particular.

He praised the determination of Peshmerga forces in their fight against the Islamic State terrorist organization, ISIS. He also commended the Kurdistan Regional Government, KRG, and the people of Kurdistan for accommodating and offering assistance to over 1.7 million refugees and internally displaced people, IDPs, who fled ISIS repression and took refuge in the Kurdistan Region.

Regarding relations between the KRG and the Iraq Federal Government, Mr. Darwish expressed his wishes for the settlement of differences through dialog on the basis of the federal Constitution.

Prime Minister Barzani reiterated the historic relations between the two nations, expressing the KRG’s readiness to develop and strengthen bilateral relations and provide assistance to Egyptian investors. He highlighted continuing victories by Peshmerga forces in the war against ISIS and mentioned the anticipated military operation to liberate Mosul.

On relations with Baghdad, he emphasized that the Iraq Constitution must be implemented fully, and expressed the Kurdistan Region’s desire to settle issues with Baghdad through negotiations.

Regarding the issue of displaced people, Prime Minister Barzani affirmed that his government and the people of the Kurdistan Region will continue to do their best to assist and accommodate refugees and internally displeased people.