Author: sndmin

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein arrived in the Sultanate of Oman on an official visit. Hussein said in a tweet on the (X) platform, "We arrived in the Sultanate of Oman on an official visit, during which we will discuss strengthening bilateral relations between our two countries in various political, economic and cultural fields." He added: "We will also work to explore new horizons for cooperation in a way that achieves the interests of our two peoples and supports the stability and development of the region." Source: National Iraqi News Agency

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced today the release of an Iraqi citizen who was kidnapped in Homs, Syria. The statement said that the Iraqi citizen Abu al-Hassan Hamid Musaed, who was kidnapped three weeks ago in al-Bayada area in Homs countryside, after coming from Basra Governorate to marry a Syrian girl, was released. The statement added that "thanks to the tireless efforts made by the Iraqi embassies in Damascus and Beirut, in cooperation with the Iraqi National Intelligence Service, and direct communication with the security leadership in the Syrian government and the Lebanese security agencies, represented by the Intelligence Command, the citizen was released." The ministry explained that "the gang that carried out the kidnapping had demanded a ransom of $500,000, but the Iraqi embassy and the Iraqi National Intelligence Service were able to release him without entering into any negotiations with the kidnappers, indicating that the perpetrators will be dealt with in accordance with the law by the competent authorities." The ministry affirmed its "firm commitment to protecting its citizens abroad, expressing" its appreciation for the fruitful cooperation between the Iraqi security services and their counterparts in Syria and Lebanon, which contributed to achieving this success. Source: National Iraqi News Agency

The head of the National State Forces Alliance, Ammar al-Hakim, stressed the importance of preserving and respecting the constitution and the judiciary. Al-Hakim said in a statement on the occasion of the International Day of Democracy, that "the nature of the democratic system and the political stability that followed in Iraq were the result of the sacrifices of the Iraqi people in confronting dictatorship and terrorism and building their new experience, which necessitates all national forces to contribute to strengthening and consolidating this experience, and encouraging the legislative and executive authorities to benefit from the experiences of countries in political, institutional, financial and economic reform of the country, and adapting the experiences to the Iraqi reality." He added, "It is necessary to preserve and respect the constitution and the judiciary as they are the main reference in democratic systems." Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Minister of Interior Abdul Amir Al-Shammari discussed with the Algerian Ambassador to Iraq, Jihad Al-Din Belkas, the file of combating drugs and cross-border crimes. The ministry stated in a statement: "The minister met in his office today with the ambassador who congratulated the minister on the occasion of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad, praising the great efforts made by the Iraqi security services during the visits." The two sides discussed the file of combating drugs and ways to eliminate this scourge, as well as the importance of exchanging information and enhancing coordination in intelligence efforts and cross-border crimes. The two sides discussed cooperation in the field of training and capacity building, as the minister invited Algerian students to study at the Iraqi Police College, and invited his Algerian counterpart to visit the country. They also discussed issues related to granting visas, residence and other topics of common interest. Source: National Iraqi News Agency

The head of the National State Forces Alliance, Ammar al-Hakim, stressed the importance of agriculture as one of the sectors and reduces dependence on oil. The alliance stated in a statement: "Al-Hakim met in his office today with a delegation of farmers and peasants from Al-Zubair district and areas west of south Basra and a number of representatives of the 315 oil sector engineers and daily workers for the year 2022 and graduates of oil institutes, in the presence of the MP, Ali Shaddad Al-Faris." Al-Hakim listened to their demands and discussed with them the agricultural reality and ways to accumulate positives in the previous stage as Iraq reached self-sufficiency in several crops. Al-Hakim stressed the importance of agriculture as one of the sectors that can make us independent of oil and reduce dependence on oil and the rentier state, stressing the support of farmers with fertilizers, equipment, fuel and various agricultural components. He stressed the importance of optimal investment of water throu gh mechanization and modern technology, indicating the importance of fresh water in the coming stage, calling for attention to livestock and explaining that agriculture is an ideal solution to environmental and climate problems. He called for fairness to the segment of engineers in the oil sector. Al-Hakim stressed the need to oblige foreign operating companies to employ Iraqi engineers and workers who did not have the opportunity to be appointed by the government, stressing the importance of training and development to create a generation capable of our oil industry in all its sectors. Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fouad Hussein, met with a number of Omani journalists in the Sultanate of Oman. At the beginning of the meeting, the Minister stressed the depth of the historical relations between Iraq and the Sultanate of Oman, pointing to the importance of coordination to hold the joint committee between the two countries in Baghdad soon, and the necessity of economic and strategic openness to Oman. During the dialogue with the journalists, a number of regional and international issues were discussed, most notably Iraq's role in the war on the Gaza Strip, and the urgent need to save the Palestinian people. The Minister also referred to the current efforts of the Iraqi government in the field of reconstruction, providing services, and achieving economic development. In another context, Fouad Hussein touched on the development road project, stressing its importance as a positive and fruitful partnership, as it will be a safe passage that contributes to accelerat ing the transport of goods at the regional level. Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani received the champion athletes who won various medals and advanced positions in the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. Al-Sudani congratulated the achievement of the champions who embroidered their chests with colored medals in the Paris Paralympics, and raised the Iraqi flag in front of the world, appreciating the efforts of the Paralympic Committee, the training staff, and their honorable families. He also stressed the government's commitment to supporting sports and athletes and overcoming all obstacles, and announced honoring the Paris Paralympics champions with a monthly grant and a plot of land, according to Law No. 6 of 2013. Al-Sudani referred to "receiving the golden champion Najla Imad a few days ago, who carries a story that is not limited to a gold medal, but rather represents a title for sacrifice, courage and determination of Iraqi women, as she excelled and became a world champion despite losing her limbs in a terrorist operation, so she became the talk of the whole world, while the terrorist went to the dustbin of history, stressing that her story and the stories of the rest of the champions deserve to be included in the school curricula, as they all involve heroic positions and sacrifices." The Prime Minister also referred to "what sports represent in terms of political, economic and social action and influence, and its ability in more than one event to unite Iraqis with all their components, stressing the government's keenness to support the sports sector and make it one of its priorities, and the beginning was by supporting the organization of the 25th Basra Gulf Championship, followed by supporting a large number of programs and initiatives, foremost of which is the Champion Making Initiative, which includes games Olympic and Paralympic, stressing the provision of all care and support for effective and distinguished sports. Source: National Iraqi News Agency