The Al-Sadiqoun parliamentary bloc criticized the Iraqi representative’s failure to leave the United Nations General Assembly during Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech today, September 30, 2024. The Al-Sadiqoun parliamentary bloc believes that this is inconsistent with Iraq’s position against normalization or attendance at international forums where the entity has representatives.
The failure of the Iraqi representative, Ms. Sahar Al-Qaisi, to withdraw during the United Nations General Assembly meeting, during the speech of the usurping Zionist entity’s president, Benjamin Netanyahu, was strongly condemned by the Sadiqoun Bloc in a statement. This occurred at a time when the majority of representatives from nations around the world who reject the crimes and aggressive practices of this entity had already withdrawn.
The bloc believed that Iraq’s official and popular position, which has consistently stated its rejection of any normalization or presence in international forums where representatives of this illegitimate entity are present, was in complete contradiction with this behavior.
She said that Iraq’s historical position of supporting the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights cannot be ignored because it is seen as an unjustified concession and does not represent the Iraqi people’s will.
The Sadiqoun bloc urged the Iraqi government and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to clarify their official position on this behavior and to hold accountable anyone who harms Iraq’s image in the eyes of the international community. The group also emphasized that Iraq takes a firm and supportive stance regarding the rights of the Palestinian people and that it opposes any normalization or interaction with this entity that engages in occupation and terrorism against Arab and Islamic peoples.
As a large portion of the hall was empty, delegations from numerous nations, including Turkey, Iran, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait, left. During Netanyahu’s speech, the hall also heard voices rising.
The majority of the Arab and Islamic delegations that boycotted Netanyahu’s speech before the United Nations General Assembly were shown in video clips with empty seats during the speech. The Israeli delegation attempted to overcome this embarrassment by deliberately applauding him continuously throughout his speech.
Launch of the second phase of the PROSPECTS partnership in Iraq The Government of Iraq has officially launched the second phase of the PROSPECTS partnership in Iraq, which is funded and led by the Netherlands Government.
With a total investment of 46 million USD over four years, this project aims to offer refugees, internally displaced people (IDPs), and vulnerable host communities in Iraq comprehensive social support. In close collaboration with Iraqi authorities, the program is being carried out by five organizations: UNHCR, UNICEF, ILO, IFC, and the World Bank.
Senior members of the Iraqi government, including members of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), the Netherlands Embassy, PROSPECTS partners, and youth representatives from both the refugee and host communities, attended the launch event in Baghdad.
H.E. Dr. Ahmed Saad, the Minister of Youth and Sports, stated:
“By providing Iraq’s young people and the most vulnerable population with the skills and opportunities they need to succeed, the PROSPECTS program is an essential initiative.” We are building a brighter, more sustainable future where every young person can contribute to the country’s development by working with our partners.”
Ms. Zakya Salih Abdulkhaleq, the Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs in the KRG, emphasized the program’s impact on youth employment and vocational training. According to the statement, “The PROSPECTS Partnership in KRI created job opportunities and provided vocational training for youth, which contributed to the reduction of unemployment in the region.”
“Because it supports the establishment of a comprehensive social protection system in the region, KRG considers the Cash Transfer Project under PROSPECTS for poor and vulnerable households and individuals in Duhok governorate to be a strategic project for the region.”
The Kingdom of the Netherlands’ Ambassador to Iraq, Her Excellency Janet Alberda, made the following comment:
“In the first phase of the PROSPECTS partnership, we achieved excellent results, but this crucial work must be continued. We need to make sure that all of the displaced communities in Iraq receive real, long-lasting solutions. People should be able to choose where they want to live on their own, bringing with them the knowledge, skills, and opportunities they’ve gained along the way.
The Netherlands’ flagship PROSPECTS program promotes increased collaboration between humanitarian, development, and private sector actors to support Iraq’s long-term stability, demonstrating the country’s substantial commitment to the humanitarian-development nexus. The first phase’s accomplishments, which included enrolling nearly 4,000 displaced children in secondary education, providing microfinance loans to over 130 refugee entrepreneurs, and providing vital civil documentation to over 45,000 IDPs, are built upon in the second phase.
From 2024 to 2027, the PROSPECTS Partnership’s second phase will concentrate on four main pillars:
The goal of the Protection and Social Protection pillar is to make sure that all refugees, internally displaced people, children, and people at risk of becoming stateless, even those with complicated cases, can get their basic civil documents. Legal assistance will be provided to refugees and asylum seekers to ensure their access to asylum and prevent refoulement, and legal assistance will be provided to IDPs and IDP returnees to access civil documentation. Additionally, this will aim to strengthen legal frameworks to better protect individuals at risk of statelessness, refugees, and asylum seekers. The Education and Learning pillar will strive to provide refugee children, particularly the most vulnerable (girls and children with disabilities), with access to a high-quality education comparable to that of students in the local community. It will also aim to equip young people with the necessary skills for entry into the labor market. Through enabling policies and mechanisms, the Employment with Dignity pillar will concentrate on providing displaced people and their host communities with access to decent jobs and economic opportunities. The Critical Infrastructure pillar will try to restore infrastructure that was damaged or destroyed by the conflict, like schools’ water and sanitation facilities. Iraq is home to over 324,000 refugees, 87% of whom reside in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KR-I), as well as over one million internally displaced people, 134,000 of whom are residing in 21 IDP camps in the KR-I. Although Iraq has made significant advancements in terms of stability and development, it is still essential to continue working with partners in order to guarantee a prosperous future for all of its citizens. The second phase of PROSPECTS will make sure that refugees, internally displaced people, and host communities get long-term solutions. This will give them the freedom to choose their own futures and use the skills and opportunities they’ve learned through the program.
The commitment of all parties involved was reaffirmed at the launch event to continue providing long-term, measurable solutions for Iraq’s most vulnerable populations.
The PROSPECTS program is one component of a larger global initiative that is being carried out in eight nations that host refugees in the Middle East, North Africa, East and Horn of Africa, and Great Lakes regions.
FIREFLY:The census is now...November 20th and the 21st. We will have a curfew during those days.
THEY ARE SHOWING ADVERTISING THAT THE KUWAIT DINAR IS AT $3.58 BY FIREFLY, 29 SEPT
FIREFLY:There are TV commercials advertising that the Kuwait dinar is at $3.58. They are talking about our new border agreement with Kuwait. The fact they bring up this rate tells me they want to talk about our new rate against it.
FRANK: They are talking to you about Kuwait because they need an example to show you what is about to happen to your currency, your purchasing power, to show you what is going to happen to your exchange rate. There will be a change coming.
Rafidain Bank announced, today, Friday, the continuation of updating data and information to ensure safety from suspicions of money laundering.
The bank's media office stated in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), that "in implementation of government directives and instructions of the Central Bank of Iraq / Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Office, the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Reporting Department at Rafidain Bank conducted field visits to the bank's branches in Baghdad and the governorates," noting that "the risks of money laundering and terrorist financing and the mechanisms to combat them and report suspicious transactions and monitor them using available means and methods."
He added that "the visits concluded with auditing the work of liaison employees and following up on updating the (KYC) form, which ensures the safety of customers' funds and accounts from any suspicions of money laundering," noting that "due diligence measures are taken for companies and customers according to the Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Law."
