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BAGHDAD Iraq has sent a formal request to President Joe Bidens administration for a date to resume strategic talks on bilateral relations and the withdrawal of remaining U.S. combat forces, Iraqi officials said Tuesday.

The talks, which began in June under the Trump administration, would be the first under Biden, who assumed office in January. The discussions are meant to shape the future of the U.S.-Iraq relationship.

Relations between the two countries have been fraught with tension, particularly following the U.S. airstrike in January 2020 that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis just outside the Baghdad airport.

Outraged, Iraqi lawmakers, spurred by Shiite political factions, passed a non-binding resolution to oust U.S.-led coalition forces from the country following the attack.

Relations have improved since Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi took over the helm of Iraqs government in May. But some parties, notably parliaments Iran-backed Fatah bloc, continue to call for the withdrawal of U.S. forces.

So far, two sessions of strategic talks have been held in June and August. Among the issues on the agenda laid out ahead of the talks were the presence of U.S. troops in the country, militia groups acting outside of state authority and Iraqs dire economic crisis. The U.S. blames Iran-backed Shiite Iraqi militias for numerous attacks targeting U.S. personnel and interests in Iraq.

According to three government officials, Iraq recently sent an official memo to the U.S. requesting a date for a new round of discussions on bilateral relations and specifically, the withdrawal of remaining combat forces.

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The memo was given to U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Mathew Tueller earlier this month, they said, adding the Iraqis hope to have the discussion in April. The officials spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media. No immediate date has been set.

Iraqi and U.S. officials have said they support a scheduled withdrawal of forces from Iraq, but questions remain over time-frames and the scope of the threat posed by the Islamic State group.

According to the Pentagon, the number of U.S. troops in Iraq has dropped to about 2,500 over the past months.

View original post here:
Iraq wants new round of talks over withdrawal of remaining US combat forces - Military Times

Baghdad, 25 March 2021 Amid a global shortage of COVID-19 vaccines, Iraq has finally received 336,000 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine through the COVAX Facility, a partnership co-led by Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi-The Vaccine Alliance and the World Health Organization, alongside key delivery partner UNICEF.

The AstraZeneca vaccines manufactured by SK-Bio Institute of South Korea, arrived on Thursday, 25 March 2021, and were received at Baghdad International Airport by the Minister of Health, Iraq, His Excellency Dr Hassam Mohammed Al-Tamimi, accompanied by the teams of the MOH, WHO and UNICEF. This is a historic step towards the global goal to ensure equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines around the world and is part of a first allocation of vaccines to Iraq. Further consignments of 1.1 Million COVAX vaccine doses are planned for Iraq in the coming weeks and will continue to cover 20 per cent of the population before the end of 2021.

The COVID-19 pandemic still has a long a way to run in Iraq and around the world, as intense transmission is ongoing and is putting enormous pressure on hospitals, intensive care units and health workers. While the preventive measures can be effective in reducing transmission of the virus, their effectiveness depends on strict application by all citizens. The arrival of the vaccines and the launch of a nationwide vaccination campaign will be a game changer in the battle against COVID-19. However only when more than 80% of the eligible population are reached, will a significant reduction in transmission be achieved.

Today, vaccines that were expected in the country since the last week of February have finally arrived. Although Iraq finalized all the requirements for the COVAX facility in time, delays in the global production and shortages of vaccines within the COVAX Facility delayed this shipment. The vaccines received today have recently received the Emergency Use Listing from the World Health Organization and will be a game changer in the response to COVID-19 Pandemic in Iraq, said His Excellency Dr Hassam Mohammed Al-Tamimi, Minister of Health, Iraq.

The Ministry of Health will immediately dispatch these vaccines to all departments of health in Baghdad, in all governorates and Kurdistan to be used for protecting people within the priority groups according to the national vaccine deployment plan and framework, continued His Excellency the Minister of Health

This is a historical landmark in the response to COVID-19 in Iraq, receiving and utilizing these vaccines is a step in the right direction in controlling the pandemic in Iraq. Indeed, these vaccines have proven to be very safe and effective in preventing COVID-19 infections, with its associated risk of hospitalization and death, said Dr Ahmed Zouiten, WHO Representative, Iraq.

We wish to congratulate the Ministry of Health and the Government of Iraq for all the efforts deployed for the response to COVID-19 in general, and for securing the arrival of these life-saving vaccines in the country. As more vaccines are receiving the WHO Emergency Use listing, and more doses of vaccines are manufactured globally, we will be looking forward to receiving more allocations and more vaccines from the COVAX facility in the coming weeks and months, added Dr Ahmed

"UNICEF and WHO have been working with the Ministry of Health around the clock to make sure that Iraq has enough syringes, vaccination cards, and state-of-the-art cold chain facilities to store the vaccines safely, in anticipation of this day. We have also trained thousands of health workers in vaccination centers across Iraq. We have been waiting for this day for months. Vaccines are among the greatest advances of modern medicine. They are a protective shield, keeping families and communities safe, explained Mr. Paul Edwards, UNICEF's acting Representative to Iraq.

While these vaccines are being rolled out, the Ministry of Health, WHO and UNICEF urge all people in Iraq to continue observing public health measures that are in place, such as wearing masks at all times, physical distancing, air ventilation, proper hand hygiene and avoiding congested gatherings and settings.

For more information please contact:

Dr Saif M Badr. Ministry of Health and Environment.

Mob: +9647901925907. Email: dr.saif.moh.iraq@gmail.com

Ms Pauline Loyce Ajello, WHO

Mobile: +9647818774262. Email: ajellopa@who.int

Ms Baraa Shaba, WHO

Mobile: +9647800010244 Email: shabab@who.int

Mr Innocent Kafembe, UNICEF

Mobile: 964 751 015 0949. Email: ikafembe@unicef.org

For more about COVAX, visit: https://www.gavi.org/covax-facility

Read more:
Iraq receives the first delivery of COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX Facility [EN/AR/KU] - Iraq - ReliefWeb

There are continuing threats from Iranian-backed militants. There are threats from ISIS and al Qaeda. That said, the 2002 AUMF doesnt help us deal with any of these threats, Meeks said. Our forces would stay under Iraq under the 2001 AUMF, and the president can always defend America and our forces under Article II [of the U.S. Constitution].

Democratic leaders in both the House and Senate have already committed to moving legislation to replace the 2001 authorization with one that is better aligned with the threats in the region, after presidents from both parties have used it to expand U.S. military activity not specifically authorized by Congress. In the meantime, with the support of a significant cohort of Republicans, Democrats are moving forward with a clean repeal of the 2002 authorization, which passed during George W. Bush's presidency.

Biden invoked his Article II powers last month when he ordered retaliatory airstrikes against Iran-backed militant groups in Syria that were responsible for attacks on U.S. interests and citizens in the region. But progressives criticized Bidens decision, noting that Congress hadnt authorized the strikes and arguing that they were likely to further inflame tensions with Iran.

In response, the White House said Biden supports getting rid of the outdated AUMFs and working with Congress on replacement measures, though talks are in the very early stages.

The Republicans who opposed repealing the 2002 authorization said that like with the 2001 measure, it should be replaced because Iraq is still home to terror groups that threaten the U.S.

I think we have the same goal in mind, we just have a different way of getting there, Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, the committees top Republican, said of the effort to scrap the 2002 authorization.

McCaul called for consultations with executive branch officials and the Iraqi government first in order to craft a replacement.

Real AUMF reform requires Congress and the administration working together on actual text to replace the aging 2001 and 2002 AUMFs to provide authorities needed to keep the American people, and, most importantly, our deployed troops, safe from terrorists, McCaul said.

The House has already passed measures to repeal both the 2001 and 2002 authorizations as part of annual defense and spending bills, but those provisions were eventually removed due to opposition from the Senate and the Trump administration.

The 2002 authorization has not been used to justify significant military operations in Iraq, with the exception of former President Donald Trumps invocation of the AUMF last year after he ordered a strike that killed Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani.

Read more from the original source:
House panel votes to repeal 19-year-old Iraq war authorization - POLITICO

On March 4, 2021, the Parliament of Iraq passed the Law on the Accession of the Republic of Iraq to the New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, which, upon being published in the Official Gazette, will formally ratify the countrys anticipated accession to the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards 1958 (the New York Convention).

This step is just the latest in Iraqs ongoing plans for economic recovery, which includes an increasing willingness to adhere to international dispute resolution norms. The objectives of Iraqs reconstruction programme are described in detail in its 2018 Framework Paper

The New York Convention will apply in Iraq with respect to: (i) recognition and enforcement of awards made in the territory of another contracting state (the so-called reciprocity reservation); (ii) awards arising out of disputed contracts which were of a commercial nature, as defined by Iraqi law (such as commercial transactions and practices stated in Articles 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the 1970 Commercial Code (the so-called commercial reservation); and (iii) arbitration agreements concluded, or arbitral awards rendered, after the date of accession (the non-retroactivity exception).

In the past, foreign arbitral awards were only enforceable in Iraq if they were issued in a country that is a signatory to the 1983 Riyadh-Arab Agreement for Judicial Co-operation (the Riyadh Convention), or a country that has a specific treaty on judicial cooperation with Iraq, such as Egypt and Jordan. Although there are 18 signatory states to the Riyadh Convention across the Middle East and Africa, the convention was of limited use for investors, principally because it does not permit enforcement proceedings against Iraqi government entities. Moreover, the requirements for enforcement under the Riyadh Convention could delay the enforcement process by, for example, requiring a certificate from the originating judicial authority certifying that the award was final.

By comparison, the New York Convention now has 167 signatories around the world, does not require awards to be certified by the originating judicial authority, and permits enforcement against state entities.

In recent years, Iraq has seen its civil law system change significantly in an effort to attract foreign investment. Notably, Iraq endorsed the use of arbitration by investors (such as Article 27 of the Iraqi Investment Law 2006), as well as arbitration of disputes concerning government contracts (Article 11 of Regulation No. 1 of 2008 Regulations for Implementing Government Contracts). In November 2015, Iraq ratified the ICSID Convention.

Iraqs decision to accede to the New York Convention was originally announced in the Iraqi Council of Ministers Decree of 2018, shortly before the International Conference for Reconstruction of Iraq, which was co-headed by the World Bank and the European Union in February 2018.

Iraqs accession to the New York Convention could be an indication of adhesion to more neutral dispute resolution mechanisms and greater enforceability, with only limited grounds for non-enforcement of awards. It is hoped that this, in turn, will likely facilitate continued investment in Iraq and further development of its economy as it continues its reconstruction.

Link:
Iraq will become the 168th signatory to the New York Convention - Lexology

The United States and Iraq must work together to bring about better opportunities and economic prosperity for the Iraqi people to help secure a stable, democratic and growing Iraq. Given its resources, people, history, and resilient democratic governance, Iraq has the elements and the potential to deliver a bright future for its citizens and ultimately through sustained economic growth provide a higher standard of living that is felt throughout society.

The Biden Administration is being led by appointees at the highest levels who have deep experience with Iraq and its challenges. This includes President Joe Biden himself who was responsible for the Iraq portfolio as President Obamas Vice President. In February, President Joe Biden spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi affirming U.S. support for Iraqs sovereignty while also highlighting the importance of advancing the U.S.-Iraq Strategic Dialogue and expanding bilateral cooperation.

It is encouraging that the bilateral Strategic Dialogue was invoked in this first call between heads of state. The dialogue is a high-level government-to-government platform that has been utilized by prior Administrations to engage on a range of topics. While security and political issues are certain to remain at the forefront of this Administrations focus, it is our aspiration at the U.S. Chamber to work with the Biden Administration on reimagining the U.S.-Iraq relationship through the prism of economic and commercial opportunities and challenges. We know that the private sector is a stabilizing force and its strength should be harnessed, acting in cooperation with partners in government, to tackle real challenges that can have broad benefits and impact.

So where to begin? The U.S.-Iraq Business Council (USIBC) recommends 4 Big Ideas for the new Administration to consider as areas to strengthen and advance the U.S.-Iraq strategic partnership.

1. Institute a U.S.-Iraq Health Dialogue with Private Sector Participation

As we come through the pandemic, there is an opportunity to drive reforms and create new partnerships in the healthcare sector that have the potential to have a broad and positive impact on Iraqis. Iraq certainly has the human talent to excel in this field; however, there is a massive bureaucracy and antiquated policies and systems in place that stymie new collaborations and access to innovative health solutions. Under the umbrella of the Strategic Dialogue, the USIBC recommends establishing a U.S.-Iraq Health Dialogue focused on reform and cooperation in healthcare. And, it is imperative that the private sector be a part of this ongoing discussion.

2. Prioritize Capturing Flared Gas & Gas Infrastructure Development

Another absolutely vital issue to address is Iraqs gas flaring. Not only are billions of dollars that are badly needed for investments in infrastructure and healthcare being burned and depriving Iraq of needed economic benefits and electricity, the gas flaring is also imposing environmental and health challenges to local communities.

The USIBC encourages the Biden Administration to call for a special meeting of the recently reestablished U.S.-Iraq Energy Joint Coordinating Committee to prioritize assisting Iraq with its goal of ending gas flaring and becoming energy independent and developing an action plan, timeline and incremental benchmarks. By stepping up to work with Iraq on gas flaring, the Biden Administration has an opportunity to demonstrate leadership on one of its top global prioritiesclimate changeand, in doing so, help Iraq tackle an issue that has implications for its economy, independence, and environment. The USIBC and our member companies are ready to go.

3. Support Reforms to Iraqs Financial Sector

Similar to healthcare, developing a modernized financial services sector in Iraq can bolster U.S. investment and private sector participation that will have a positive ripple affect across the entire economy. Private sector commercial banks in Iraq should be empowered to play a material role in financing private sector projects that generate employment and economic growth with co-financing from U.S. and other international partners. While state banks are crucial for Iraqs development, private banks should also play a role in creating credit and taking deposits particularly for small businesses and individuals. Well-capitalized private banks should be allowed to compete for government contracts and to accept government deposits.

The USIBC recommends the U.S. Treasury Department and Iraqi Ministry of Finance and Central Bank of Iraq, under the umbrella of the U.S.-Iraq Strategic Dialogue, launch a Banking Reform Working Group. The USIBC will serve as a resource for private sector input and recommendations to the working group and encourages both governments to put this on the agenda for their discussions during the upcoming World Bank and IMF Spring Meeting in April.

4. Encourage Development of Special Economic Zones to Mobilize Investment and Stimulate Job Creation

Another idea to animate and diversify U.S. private sector participation in Iraq is to establish Special Economic Zones (SEZs), perhaps through pilot projects in Basra and Kirkuk. Since SEZs operate under their own legal frameworks, U.S. companies could avoid some of the pitfalls they have faced doing business in Iraq. With a few early successes, it is possible the Government of Iraq would be spurred to implement broader and substantive economic reforms to compete. SEZs would make a great topic for the upcoming bilateral discussions that will occur during the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings.

Enacting Change and Strengthening the Relationship

While were recommending 4 Ideas, there are dozens of additional areas that deserve our attention and support. But if we were going to focus on one more, it would be to recommend that the U.S. government leverage its influence to facilitate, between the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government, the development of a sustainable federal budget that can meet the needs of all Iraqis. Having more predictability in the budget process would instill greater confidence with investors and the business community and bring greater continuity to the pipeline of projects needing investment.

There is a real opportunity to get beyond the traditional issues with Iraq and dig deep into challenges that, if addressed, can have a real impact. U.S. businesses are willing and have the expertise, capacity and desire to be a part of the solution. We look forward to partnering with the Biden Administration to engage Iraqi leaders as we come through the pandemic to endeavor for a shared future of inclusive economic growth and development.

Read the full report here.

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Reimagining the U.S.-Iraq Economic Relationship: 4 Ideas for the Biden Administration - uschamber.com