Thursday, August 30, 2007
Iraq's parliament will not hold a vote of no confidence
Politics
(Stratfor) - Iraq's parliament will not hold a vote of no confidence for Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's government yet, but could do so if the government continues to splinter and loses majority support, Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdel Mahdi said in an interview with Reuters late Aug. 28 while visiting Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Abdel Mahdi is one of two vice presidents and could be a successor to al-Maliki, though he denies having ambitions for the position.
Labels: Adel Abdel Mahdi, Iraqi government, Nouri Al-Maliki
Iraq Business and Investment Conference in Dubai starts
Regional conference
(AME Info FZ LLC) - The vice-president of Iraq Dr Adel Abdul Mehdi opened the first Iraq Business and Investment Conference in Dubai (IBIC) as the head of a delegation of over 100 businessmen from southern Iraq. The conference attracted over 300 UAE and international businessmen interested in exploring business and investment opportunities with their Iraqi counterparts.
Panel sessions covered the legal environment for conducting business in Iraq, financing private sector business, trade and commerce and private sector banking. This was followed by parallel meetings covering specific business opportunities in the seven southern governates of Iraq chaired by their respective governors.
Dr Mehdi said 'Iraq's new investment law will facilitate investment for both Iraqi and non-Iraqi businesses by providing a secure investment environment. Business people know the capacities and resources of Iraq. These delegates are the experts brought together at this conference to present opportunities for investments across a wide range of industries. Iraq is not only oil and gas but also agriculture, infrastructure and tourism, both historic and religious.'
Five Iraqi government ministers are also attending the conference. Sessions will include presentations concerning joint ventures with state owned enterprises, investment in agriculture, free zones, construction and contracting and opportunities in reconstruction and management associated with the port of Basra.
Panel sessions covered the legal environment for conducting business in Iraq, financing private sector business, trade and commerce and private sector banking. This was followed by parallel meetings covering specific business opportunities in the seven southern governates of Iraq chaired by their respective governors.
Dr Mehdi said 'Iraq's new investment law will facilitate investment for both Iraqi and non-Iraqi businesses by providing a secure investment environment. Business people know the capacities and resources of Iraq. These delegates are the experts brought together at this conference to present opportunities for investments across a wide range of industries. Iraq is not only oil and gas but also agriculture, infrastructure and tourism, both historic and religious.'
Five Iraqi government ministers are also attending the conference. Sessions will include presentations concerning joint ventures with state owned enterprises, investment in agriculture, free zones, construction and contracting and opportunities in reconstruction and management associated with the port of Basra.
Labels: Adel Abdel Mahdi, Dubai, IBIC, Iraq Business and Investment Conference, southern Iraq
Monday, August 13, 2007
Mailki calls emergency political summit
Politics
(AFP) -- Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki called Sunday for the senior leaders from Iraq's bitterly divided communities to hold crisis talks aimed at saving his beleaguered national unity government. "I have invited major political leaders to a meeting to discuss substantial matters," said Maliki in a televised speech. "Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow could be the first meeting for these leaders to discuss the political programme and important strategic problems," the Shiite premier added.
Seventeen ministerial posts in Maliki's government are empty or filled by members boycotting cabinet meetings amid protests by many parties at Maliki's faltering programme of national reconciliation. Hopes that his so-called unity coalition can be saved now depend on the senior leadership of the rival parties cutting a new power-sharing deal that can convince the bitter Sunni minority to return to the fold. Maliki, President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, and Vice President Adel Abdel Mehdi, another Shiite, are expected to attend the crisis summit.
Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi, the senior Sunni Arab in the government and a critic of Maliki's alleged sectarian bias whose presence would be considered crucial, has not yet made it clear whether he will attend. Talabani's office also said Sunday that contacts with political blocs would take place in the next few days, without giving any details, following his talks in Baghdad with Massud Barzani, the president of Iraqi Kurdistan.
Since the US-led invasion of March 2003, Iraq has plunged into an abyss of overlapping civil conflicts that have divided its rival religious and ethnic communities, and left tens of thousands of civilians dead. Washington has warned Iraq's leaders to work harder on unity, concerned that the political stalemate could torpedo efforts to reconcile the warring factions and undermine the work of 155,000 American troops to end the conflict.
Shiite parties are suspicious of Sunni leaders whose minority sect dominated political power under executed former dictator Saddam Hussein and accuse them of supporting violent insurgent groups. Sunni leaders accuse the Shiite parties of ties with powerful neighbour Iran and condemn their alleged complicity with Shiite militias.
Seventeen ministerial posts in Maliki's government are empty or filled by members boycotting cabinet meetings amid protests by many parties at Maliki's faltering programme of national reconciliation. Hopes that his so-called unity coalition can be saved now depend on the senior leadership of the rival parties cutting a new power-sharing deal that can convince the bitter Sunni minority to return to the fold. Maliki, President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, and Vice President Adel Abdel Mehdi, another Shiite, are expected to attend the crisis summit.
Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi, the senior Sunni Arab in the government and a critic of Maliki's alleged sectarian bias whose presence would be considered crucial, has not yet made it clear whether he will attend. Talabani's office also said Sunday that contacts with political blocs would take place in the next few days, without giving any details, following his talks in Baghdad with Massud Barzani, the president of Iraqi Kurdistan.
Since the US-led invasion of March 2003, Iraq has plunged into an abyss of overlapping civil conflicts that have divided its rival religious and ethnic communities, and left tens of thousands of civilians dead. Washington has warned Iraq's leaders to work harder on unity, concerned that the political stalemate could torpedo efforts to reconcile the warring factions and undermine the work of 155,000 American troops to end the conflict.
Shiite parties are suspicious of Sunni leaders whose minority sect dominated political power under executed former dictator Saddam Hussein and accuse them of supporting violent insurgent groups. Sunni leaders accuse the Shiite parties of ties with powerful neighbour Iran and condemn their alleged complicity with Shiite militias.
Labels: Adel Abdel Mahdi, emergency political summit, Jalal Talabani, Massoud Barzani, Nouri Al-Maliki, Tareq al-Hashemi
Monday, August 06, 2007
Maliki rejects Accordance Front resignations
Politics
(Al Jazeera) - Iraqi leaders are to hold a crisis summit this week to find ways to heal sectarian splits in the national unity government. A senior Western diplomat said the talks were a "moment of truth" for Nuri al-Maliki, Iraq's prime minister, after he refused to accept the resignation of six Sunni members of his cabinet and agreed to hear their concerns.
The prime minister met Jalal Talabani, the Iraqi president, a Kurd, and Adel Abdel Mehdi, the Shia vice-president, on Sunday to discuss the resignations. Tareq al-Hashemi, who is Iraq's other vice-president and the senior Sunni Arab in the government, was not present. Al-Hashemi has been a regular critic of al-Maliki's alleged sectarian bias, but his Kurdish and Shia colleagues vowed to hold inclusive talks in the coming days.
On Wednesday, the National Concord Front, Iraq's main Sunni political bloc, said it was withdrawing its five ministers and deputy prime minister from the government coalition, dealing a blow to the government's claims to represent all Iraqis. After Sunday's meeting, al-Maliki said: "We agreed on making efforts in order to get the Concord Front back and to tackle what we are able to tackle, but not everything that they have demanded."
Abdel Mehdi said: "The prime minister's position is that he has refused to accept the resignations. This is a good thing and the door is open to discuss this topic." Salim al-Jibouri, a senior member of parliament from the front, said the ministers would still quit, despite al-Maliki's decision not to accept their resignations. He said: "We are insisting on our position. For us, the matter does not end with Maliki accepting or rejecting the resignations.
The prime minister met Jalal Talabani, the Iraqi president, a Kurd, and Adel Abdel Mehdi, the Shia vice-president, on Sunday to discuss the resignations. Tareq al-Hashemi, who is Iraq's other vice-president and the senior Sunni Arab in the government, was not present. Al-Hashemi has been a regular critic of al-Maliki's alleged sectarian bias, but his Kurdish and Shia colleagues vowed to hold inclusive talks in the coming days.
On Wednesday, the National Concord Front, Iraq's main Sunni political bloc, said it was withdrawing its five ministers and deputy prime minister from the government coalition, dealing a blow to the government's claims to represent all Iraqis. After Sunday's meeting, al-Maliki said: "We agreed on making efforts in order to get the Concord Front back and to tackle what we are able to tackle, but not everything that they have demanded."
Abdel Mehdi said: "The prime minister's position is that he has refused to accept the resignations. This is a good thing and the door is open to discuss this topic." Salim al-Jibouri, a senior member of parliament from the front, said the ministers would still quit, despite al-Maliki's decision not to accept their resignations. He said: "We are insisting on our position. For us, the matter does not end with Maliki accepting or rejecting the resignations.
"We are talking about a programme. The issue is if he accepts or refuses to accept our programme." The programme refers to the front's lists of demands that include disbanding Shia fighters and giving the bloc a bigger say in security matters. Saleem Abdullah, a spokesman for the front, said: "At the moment, we have no intention of changing our position on the resignations. It is not necessary for us to be a part of the government." However, Abdulllah also said "the door to dialogue is open, even if we are outside the government".
Labels: Adel Abdel Mahdi, Iraqi Accordance Front, Jalal Talabani, Nouri Al-Maliki, Saleem Abdullah, Salim al-Juburi, Tawafuq Front
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Talabani meets Iranian ambassador in Baghdad
Iran, Politics
(VOI) - Iraqi President Jalal Talabani on Monday received the Iranian ambassador in Baghdad Hassan Kazemi Qomi. Talabani's office said in a statement that the two sides discussed the political process in Iraq and efforts made by the Iraqi government to impose law and security and Iraq's neighboring countries' role, mainly Iran's, to realize that purpose."President Talabani highlighted the importance of boosting bilateral ties within the regional condition for the good of the two peoples," the statement added.
Earlier, Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdel Mahdi had also met with the ambassador and discussed ways to foster bilateral relations, mainly in the economic fields and Iran's important contribution in implementing energy and oil projects in Iraq. The Iranian diplomat reiterated his country's readiness to support Iraqi people and government in various domains which positively affect security and stability of the country, the statement noted.
Labels: Adel Abdel Mahdi, Hassan Kazemi Qomi, Iran, Jalal Talabani
