Keeping Iraq from war is government’s top agenda, says foreign minister, 5 NOV

 Keeping Iraq from war is government’s top agenda, says foreign minister

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Iraqi government has fundamentally worked to keep the country away from wars, as it is not in the interest of conflict-ridden Iraq to slip into another round of instability, according to the chief diplomat.

Iraqi Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister Fuad Hussein’s remarks came during the inauguration of the 7th Conference of Ambassadors in Baghdad, where top Iraqi diplomats, prime minister, and lawmakers attended.

The diplomat highlighted the “dangers” the Middle East is currently dealing with, insisting it’s in Baghdad’s interest to avoid slipping into a war.

“It is the fundamental of government’s work,” Hussein said, referring to efforts to keep the country from conflicts.

The remarks come as the region is witnessing an unprecedented cycle of Israel-Hamas conflict that is feared to escalate into a regional conflict since Oct. 7.

Iraqi militia groups have threatened Israel recently with rocket attacks if it continues its “aggression” in the besieged Gaza Strip, where over 9,000 people, most of whom women and minors, have been killed.

The Iraqi Islamic Resistance Group even claimed responsibility for a rocket attack on one of the Israeli cities in retaliation for Tel Aviv’s ongoing ground operations in the Mediterranean enclave.

Attending the four-day conference, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani reiterated the country’s “unwavering” support for the Palestinian people.

He also insisted that Iraq would remain a "key factor for peace" and would not be part of conflicts. 

Iraq in recent years has adopted a “balanced approach” in its foreign policy, according to the country’s diplomats.

The Baghdad Conference III planned to be held in late November for “economic integration and regional stability", has been postponed due to “regional events”. French President Emmanuel was set to attend.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/33043-Keeping-Iraq-from-war-is-government%E2%80%99s-top-agenda,-says-foreign-minister

legislator accuses U.S. Federal Reserve of manipulating the forex market in Iraq, 5 NOV

 legislator accuses U.S. Federal Reserve of manipulating the forex market in Iraq

Shafaq News/ Iraqi lawmaker Moeen al-Kadhimi on Sunday attributed the Iraqi government's failure to control the U.S. dollar exchange rate against the Iraqi dinar to the restrictions the U.S. Federal Reserve has imposed on external transfers from Iraqi banks. 

"The U.S. Federal Reserve is impeding the necessary daily transfers the merchants need to meet to complete their transactions," the member of the parliament's finance committee told Shafaq News Agency. 

Traders, according to al-Kadhimi, "had to purchase green banknotes from the parallel market in order to complete their deals, which amounts to 150 to 200 million dollars daily.

"

"This, among other factors, sent the U.S. dollar exchange rate against the national currency soaring, despite the government's plans and measures undertaken by the Central Bank and relevant authorities," he explained. 

The lawmaker said that Iraq should seek long-term policies to free its financial system from the U.S. growing financial restrictions, calling for depositing the revenues from Iraq's oil deals in the central bank instead of the U.S. Federal Reserve.

Al-Kadhimi proposed using other hard currencies in oil deals in a bid to mitigate the Federal Reserve's financial restrictions, which he believes are rooted in political motives.

"Despite the fluctuations and increases in the dollar exchange rate, the Iraqi markets remain relatively stable when considering to the overall monetary situation," he said.

https://shafaq.com/en/Iraq-News/legislator-accuses-U-S-Federal-Reserve-of-manipulating-the-forex-market-in-Iraq

It’s been controlled?? Iqd exchange rate BY NADER FROM MID EAST

"RV UPDATE" BY PIMPY, 5 NOV

 Pimpy 

 Looks like Al-Sudani is taking a stance letting the world know Iraq is trying to avoid getting involved in this little scuffle that going on in the Middle East.  He's make it perfectly clear Iraq's already been through a lot and although they support their brothers over there in Palestine they are not going to get in the middle of this and they are not going to cause a ruckus with the United States...

  I still think they're going to go in increments  but that doesn't mean you won't wake up one day and all of a sudden you find out the damn exchange rate's been reinstated...

 Things are still looking really good for Iraq.  They still manage to be keeping their nose out of what's going on over there in the Middle East even though it starting to escalate...

 I still think the Iraqi dinar is going to go up in increments.  I'm anticipating them to do at least one increase before the end of the year.  It looks like they don't have any choice and I'm curious to see what they're going to do...

Al-Sudani calls for a joint international action to aid besieged Gaza in a meeting with Blinken: official, 5 NOV

Al-Sudani calls for a joint international action to aid besieged Gaza in a meeting with Blinken: official

Shafaq News/ Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani met with the U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, who arrived in Baghdad on his first visit to the Iraqi capital as the U.S. top diplomat on Sunday.

A readout issued by al-Sudani's bureau in English said the meeting touched on the "escalating events in the Gaza Strip" and "emphasized the need to contain the crisis and prevent its expansion." 

The two statespersons called for "coordinating efforts" to deliver essential aid supplies to Gaza in a bid to address the "deteriorating humanitarian situation of the Palestinian people." 

Prime Minister al-Sudani reiterated Iraq's "steadfast and principled stance against the Zionist aggression on Gaza" and called for an "urgent ceasefire and reopening of border crossings" to prevent the exacerbation of Gaza'a "humanitarian crisis, which has tragically affected civilians, including women and children." 

The premier urged the "international community" to take action against the "daily massacres" committed by Israeli forces, the targeting of hospitals and shelters, and the "ethnic cleansing" of the Palestinian people.

"Blinken expressed the United States' commitment to delivering humanitarian aid to the people in the Gaza Strip, and he emphasized the willingness of the U.S. government to maintain bilateral coordination and cooperation with Iraq to promote regional and international stability," the press release read.

Yesterday, Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah issued a warning that the expected Blinken visit would be met with "an unprecedented escalation." 

Earlier today, Blinken landed at Baghdad’s international airport, donned a ballistic vest, and traveled by Black Hawk helicopter to the Green Zone, a remnant of the U.S. occupation of Iraq after its 2003 invasion. 

At the U.S. ambassador's residence, he was briefed on threats to U.S. facilities before heading to the prime minister's office.

Speaking to the press after his meeting, Blinken said his meeting with the prime minister was "good" and "productive" and said he made clear that attacks by Iranian-backed groups against US personnel are totally unacceptable.

"It was very important to send a very clear message to anyone who might seek to take advantage of the conflict in Gaza to threaten our personnel here or anywhere else in the region: Don’t do it," Blinken told reporters after meeting al-Sudani.

Blinken said he reiterated in his meeting with the premier that the US will "do what's necessary to protect our personnel and military facilities." They also discussed making sure the conflict in Gaza does not spread into the wider region.

The U.S. top diplomat will travel to Turkey later on Sunday, where protests were already underway.

https://shafaq.com/en/Iraq-News/Al-Sudani-calls-for-a-joint-international-action-to-aid-besieged-Gaza-in-a-meeting-with-Blinken-official

Blinken, al-Sudani held talks on hindering forcible displacement of Gazans: U.S. diplomat, 5 NOV

Blinken, al-Sudani held talks on hindering forcible displacement of Gazans: U.S. diplomat, 5 NOV

 Shafaq News/ The U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, on Sunday said that Palestinians should not be "forcibly displaced" outside Gaza, which has been under brutal Israeli bombing that left nearly ten thousand dead since October 7.

Blinken, who paid an unannounced visit to Iraq earlier today, is on a tour in the Middle East amid growing tension after the eruption of a war between Israel and Hamas last month.

"The Secretary and the Prime Minister discussed the conflict between Israel and Hamas and the need to prevent the conflict from spreading, including in Iraq," spokesperson to the U.S. Secretary of State, Matthew Miller, said, "the Secretary discussed the humanitarian situation in Gaza and our continued commitment to coordinating with Iraq and our other partners in the region to ensure sustained and safe access to food, water, medical care, and other assistance required to meet humanitarian needs."

Miller said that Blinken and al-Sudani discussed "the need to ensure that Palestinians are not forcibly displaced outside of Gaza." 

Critics say Israel's strikes are often disproportionate, considering the large number of civilians killed. Large areas of residential neighbourhoods in northern Gaza have been levelled by air strikes. The UN office for humanitarian affairs says more than half the remaining residents, estimated at around 300,000, are sheltering in UN-run facilities.

Israeli planes again dropped leaflets instructed the civilians to head south during a four-hour window on Sunday. Crowds were walking down Gaza's main north-south highway carrying baggage, pets, and pushing wheelchairs

The UN said about 1.5 million people in Gaza, or 70% of the population, have been forced to leave their homes due to the bombardment. Food, water, and the fuel needed for generators that power hospitals and other facilities is running out. No fuel has come for nearly one month, the UN Palestinian refugee agency said.

Blinken, according to Miller, urged al-Sudani to hold accountable those responsible for the attacks on U.S. personnel in Iraq "and fulfill Iraq’s commitments to protect all installations hosting U.S. personnel at the invitation of the Iraqi government." 

"Secretary Blinken made clear that the U.S. will defend its interests and personnel," Miller said.

Rocket and drone attacks on U.S. and coalition troops have stepped up in Iraq and Syria since Hamas' attacks on Oct. 7 sparked an unproportional Israeli military agression in Gaza.

https://shafaq.com/en/Iraq-News/Blinken-al-Sudani-held-talks-on-hindering-forcible-displacement-of-Gazans-U-S-diplomat

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