Archive | Politics

Iraq Business News brings you the latest Iraqi politics news, keeping you up to date with the latest information and developments.

Turkish Foreign Minister visits Kurdistan to boost mutual relations

Turkey’s Foreign Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu visited Kurdistan during the week, where he met with President Masoud Barzani and the KRG Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani to discuss further strengthening relations between Turkey and the KRG; and to attend the Second Sulaimani Forum at the American University of Iraq – Sulaimani (AUIS). The Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet […]

Poverty and Unemployment Not Being Addressed

By Layth Mahdi, Agricultural Advisor. The opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Poverty and Unemployment Not Being Addressed in the Coming Iraqi Elections Iraq's poverty and unemployment is increasing every year despite the Government's efforts to implement programs to lower it. The United […]

Budget Problems go Beyond Erbil-Baghdad Crisis

By Harith Hasan for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The Iraqi parliament still has not been able to approve the draft general budget for 2014, prompting Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to warn of the possibility of a major financial crisis and […]

Baghdad's "Financial Blockade"

This article was originally published by Niqash. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Baghdad's Financial Blockade: Iraqi Kurdistan Talks Independence While Locals Strike Conflict between Baghdad and Iraqi Kurdistan over oil exports has resulted in something of a financial crisis in the northern region. […]

KRG Spokesman: Talks Useful, But No Agreement

By John Lee. Following remarks by Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Hussein al-Shahristani (pictured) that Kurdish Regional Government oil exports will go through the State Oil Marketing Company (SOMO) officials from the KRG have moved to clarify that this is not in fact the case. KRG spokesman Safeen Dizayee remarked to reporters that while discussions […]

Amb. Faily Speaks at Brookings

By John Lee. Iraq's Ambassador to the US Lukman Faily (pictured) has joined the Lebanese Ambassador in Washington Antoine Chedid and a panel of experts to discuss the growing regional crisis of Syrian refugees and potential conflict overspill from the war. The event was hosted by The Washington Institute for Near East Policy and held […]

Iraqi Kurdistan Talks Independence While Locals Strike

This article was originally published by Niqash. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Conflict between Baghdad and Iraqi Kurdistan over oil exports has resulted in something of a financial crisis in the northern region. State employees haven’t been paid, MPs are threatening to resign […]

French Delegation Arrive in Baghdad

By John Lee. The French Ambassador in Baghdad Dennis Gauer (pictured) has accompanied a delegation from the French Foreign Ministry including Jean Francois Giraud,  Head of the North Africa and Middle East Department at the ministry. Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and his ministry's head of the Europe Department greeted the delegation, and issues such […]

Iraq Buys Small Arms and Ammunition from Iran

By John Lee. An investigation by Reuters has found that Iraq has purchased $195 million worth of small arms, ammunition and infantry kit from Iran, in addition to artillery ammunition. The move will likely unnerve some observers in the US, but analysts are still divided over the extent of Iranian influence in Iraq. Touted by an […]

Chinese Foreign Minister Meets Zebari in Baghdad

By John Lee. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met his Iraqi counterpart Hoshyar Zebari in Baghdad in a rare Chinese high level diplomatic mission to Baghdad. The two men discussed increased Sino-Iraqi cooperation in areas such as oil development and arms sales. Until recently, Iraq has been frustrated by slow deliveries of weapons systems from […]

Al-Sadr - Retiring or Repositioning?

By Harith Hasan for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The announcement of Muqtada al-Sadr, the leader of the Sadrist movement, that he is retiring from politics triggered many reactions from political and popular circles in Iraq, as well as a lot […]

Urban Development in Post-Conflict Cities

By Leanne Case. Solidere Beirut: A Good Practice Example of Urban Development for Other Post Conflict Cities to Follow? So many towns and cities have failed to achieve comprehensive regeneration in the aftermath of war. This paper, an abridged version of my MSc dissertation, explores the private sector led renewal model used in Beirut, commonly […]