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From Jewish News One. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.

In a blow to freedom of the press in Iraq, the country's media regulator has announced it has suspended the licences of ten satellite news networks, including Qatar-based Al Jazeera.

The Communication and Media Commission (CMC) regulator took the action after accusing the networks of inciting violence through their coverage of deadly clashes triggered by a security force raid on a Sunni Muslim protest camp last week:

(Source: Jewish News One)

Reporters Without Borders firmly condemns yesterday’s decision by Iraq’s Media and Communications Commission to suspend the licences of 10 foreign-based satellite TV channels for “inciting violence and sectarianism.”

Reporters Without Borders said:

“This draconian and disproportionate decision has seriously endangered freedom of information. Although the media must act responsibly, they are just doing their job when they cover Iraq’s current serious divisions and tension.

“We urge the Media and Communications Commission to quickly rescind this decision and to allow the media to cover all developments of general interest throughout the country.”

Iraq has experienced sectarian conflicts for years but the surge in violence of the past week suggests that it could escalate into civil war at any time. More than 230 people have been killed and at least 350 have been injured in a wave of Sunni protests against Shiite Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki’s government.

The satellite TV stations affected by the ban have all been covering these developments. Some carried speeches by Sunni leaders on 26 April urging young men to take up arms against the government. The Media and Communications Commission subsequently announced it was suspending the licences of “certain satellite TV channels using a language that encourages violence and sectarianism.”

Nine of the ten TV stations are Sunni-financed. They include Qatar-based Al-Jazeera and Dubai-based Al-Sharqiya, which is owned by a rich Iraqi businessman and has many viewers among the Iraqi public. The other stations are Baghdad, Al-Sharqiya News, Al-Fallujah, Babylonian, Salah Al-Din, Al-Tagheer, Al-Gharbiya and Anwar 2.

The decision to suspend their licences is widely seen as way of silencing the government’s opponents. As the stations are all based abroad, the Iraqi government cannot prevent them from broadcasting, but their Iraq-based crews will no longer be able to cover events and move about the country.

(Source: Reporters Without Borders)

By Mustafa al-Kadhimi for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.

A few days ago, Iraq handed over the Arab League presidency to Qatar a year after taking the reins, thus marking its return to the Arab political sphere and confirming its intention to occupy its natural space in the Middle Eastern balance of power after having achieved full sovereignty.

At first glance, one would think that Iraq was unfortunate to have taken command of the Arab League when the region was experiencing unprecedented turmoil and as the Arab Spring revolutions swept across it, successively changing regimes through popular uprisings that changed the Arab mood and coincided with the outbreak of the bloody conflict in Syria and its surrounding regional divisions. These complex conditions may have constituted, however, a perfect chance for Iraq to succeed in filling its seat as head of the Arab League for a full year.

Iraq, whose political system is still affiliated with the emerging regimes in the Middle East — which were until two years ago the preserve of old political regimes whose rule extended for decades — found itself more comfortable and experienced in terms of dealing with the recent Arab Spring regimes, especially in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and Yemen. Its relations with those countries have become better than they were under the previous regimes.

Moreover, Iraq received the presidency at a time when the Arab League, founded in the 1940s, needed different approaches and systems to go with the changing Arab mood and the emergence of trends that favor standards of modern democracy, human rights, peaceful transfer of power and ballot boxes. All those terms are supposed to be points of strength for Iraq, such that it can offer experience in them.

What's more, Iraq received the presidency in the midst of the Syrian crisis that had been raging near its borders, a crisis that it affects and is affected by. Iraq, which fought a civil war and was plagued by security turmoil, could turn into a real reference for countries that are witnessing increasing turbulence and need more expertise in this area.

By Omar al-Shaher for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.

In light of Iraq’s complicated political and security climate, even the most optimistic could not expect Baghdad International Airport (pictured) to have 125 flights — even including both arrivals and departures — in a single day.

The Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority ranks Baghdad International Airport as the largest airport in Iraq. It registered 125 flights on March 20, probably the highest number of daily flights in the history of this airport, which suffers from major problems in terms of infrastructure, equipment and services.

Iraq witnessed a series of attacks this month amid a severe political crisis between the Shiite-led government and Sunnis and Kurds who demand a greater role in the government.

In 2006, at the height of the civil war in Iraq, Baghdad airport had more than four flights per day. Yet those currently in charge of the airport expect a significant increase in aircraft movement in the next few months, as part of a plan to advance commercial aviation and maximize its revenues in a country where 92% of the annual budget relies on oil money.

Commercial aviation in Iraq has witnessed significant improvements over the past two years, after relative security stability was achieved in the country.

Iraqi Airways, the national carrier of Iraq, seeks to start flights to new destinations, while Baghdad itself is becoming a popular destination.

This month, the first Iraqi Airways flight took off from Britain and landed in the Sulaymaniyah International Airport in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, after the route had been suspended for 23 years.

By John Lee.

During its participation in the 24th Arab Summit held in Doha, the Iraqi delegation headed by His Excellency the Vice President Dr. Khudair al Khuzaie, with Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and their accompanying delegation, met a number of Arab kings, presidents and leaders.

The delegation met Emir of Qatar Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, His Majesty King Abdullah Bin al Hussein of Jordan, the Emir of Kuwait Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and the Algerian Prime Minister Mr. Abdul Melik al Sallal, and discussed bilateral relations and ways to develop them for the interests of their countries.

At the request of the Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmed Davutoglu, the Iraqi delegation met him and both sides expressed willingness to resolve disagreements and to turn the pages of the past.

During the bilateral meetings , the delegation discussed issues of Iraq's relations with the Arab countries, exchanging views on the 24th Arab Summit, the Doha Declaration, proposals and initiatives presented by a number of Arab countries to promote cooperation, Arab solidarity in addition to discussing ways of activating work mechanisms of the Arab League.

(Source: MoFA)

Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari headed the Arab League Council at the ministerial level on Sunday. In the opening session minister Zebari gave a speech in which he stressed the achievements of the Iraq's presidency to the 23rd Arab Summit, indicating the Iraq's positions towards the issues of the Arab region, particularly the Palestinian issue and the Syrian crisis.

The Minister said in his speech that Iraq supports the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people, condemned the acts of violence and murders, called for stopping the bloodshed and stick to a political and peaceful solution, support the national dialogue, and reject all forms of foreign interference.

Regarding the representation of the Syrian opposition in the Arab League, Iraq reserved to give the seat of any Arab country, including Syria, because it contradicts with the AL Charter.

Minister Zebari touched upon Iraq's achievements during chairing the Summit in terms of Arab and international initiatives and conferences hosted by Baghdad throughout the past year. Minister Zebari, handed over Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Al Thani, the Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, the presidency of the Summit.

Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim gave the speech of the presidency of Qatar and thanked the Iraqi presidency, which was distinct. The AL Secretary-General thanked the Government and people of Iraq for their achievements, stressing that Baghdad returned to holding conferences and meetings of Arabs in Iraq.

The Council discussed several issues including the Palestinian issue, the Syrian crisis, the development and reform of the Arab League as well as economic development issues in the Comoros Islands, Somalia, Sudan and elsewhere.

The meeting was attended by Labeed Abbawi, Undersecretary of Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Dhia Al Dabbas, Head of Arab Department, Ambassador Qais Al Azzawi, Permanent Representative of Iraq to the AL, Ambassador Jawad Al Hindawi, Iraq's Ambassador in Doha.

(Source: MOFA)

By John Lee.

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) can be deployed again to Iraq and Yemen.

Philippines Labour Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) governing board has approved a resolution allowing deployment to the two Arab countries, reports Peninsula Qatar.

(Source: Peninsula Qatar)

Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari has chaired the Ministerial Meeting of the Follow-up Commission on the implementation of decisions and commitments to Baghdad Summit in Cairo.

The Commission includes its Troika of the Summit; Libya, Iraq, and Qatar, and Troika of the Ministerial Council; Kuwait, Lebanon, and Egypt. The meeting was present by Secretary General of the Arab League, Nabil Al Araby, and foreign ministers of Lebanon, Adnan Mansour, Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al Khalid Al Hamad Al Sabah, and from Egypt, Mohamed Kamel Amr.

The Secretary General praised the Iraqi Presidency for the summit, and said it implemented all decisions of the Baghdad Summit. He also asked Minister Zebari to mention the conferences proposed by Iraq, such as: the First Arab Conference for the Development of the Culture of Legal and National Awareness, that will be held on 10 to 12 of the current month, and the Conference of Experts to Activate the Bylaw of the Arab Parliament, scheduled for the period from 19 to 20 of the current month as well, and (Baghdad, the Capital of Arab Culture Festival) on 23/3/2013.

The meeting approved the recommendations and the final report.

(Source: MOFA)

By Karin Laub, The Associated Press. Used with permission by Iraq Business News.

An Iraqi telecom company raised nearly $1.3 billion Sunday on Baghdad's small stock exchange in one of the region's biggest share offers in years — a sign of investor confidence in the fledgling private sector despite violence that still plagues the country.

In a reminder of Iraq's volatility, several suicide attackers on foot and in two explosives-laden cars assaulted a provincial police headquarters in northern Iraq, killing at least 15 people and wounding 90. Rescue workers led away dazed survivors, including veiled women climbing over debris, and pulled several mangled and scorched bodies from the rubble.

The level of violence has dropped sharply since the worst sectarian fighting in 2006-2007, yet bombings and shootings still kill dozens of people every month. Investors say the continued security risks, along with concerns about official red tape and corruption, have restricted the growth of Iraq's private sector.

Iraq sits on vast oil reserves, and foreign investment has focused heavily on the government-controlled energy sector.

So it was good news for the Iraq economy when nearly two-thirds of the money raised by the telecom company came from foreign buyers.

"Iraq is a very difficult place to do business in," said Shwan Taha, head of Rabee Securities, the brokerage firm that organized Sunday's share float of Asiacell, one of Iraq's three main mobile phone service providers. "Iraq came out of a long dictatorship. We had 30 years of war and sanctions. We missed a lot of trains, not only one."

Qatar Airways has introduced its latest gateway in the Republic of Iraq with the launch of scheduled flights to the central city of Najaf.

Following its move into Iraq six months ago with the start of flights to both the capital Baghdad and Erbil, the Doha-based airline has inaugurated new services to its third city in the country.

On the back of passenger demand to Iraq, Qatar Airways viewed expansion as being vital, fuelled by the country’s reconstruction drive.

The arrival of Qatar Airways’ flight QR 742 at Al Najaf International Airport was welcomed by a traditional water salute followed by a reception presided by local officials. Fathi Al Shehab, Qatar Airways Senior Vice President GCC, Levant, Iran and Indian Subcontinent, led an official delegation on the flight from the airline’s head office in the Qatari capital Doha.

With three Iraqi routes now in its stable, Qatar Airways takes its frequency across Baghdad, Erbil and Najaf up 50 per cent to 12 services each week.

Najaf, to be operated four-times-a-week, becomes destination number 124 in the airline’s global network spanning cities across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America.

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