America announces $ 345 million to support the return of the displaced to their areas

by **claud39** Sun Dec 06, 2020 10:55 am

America announces $ 345 million to support the return of the displaced to their areas

12/06/2020

Economy News - Baghdad

The US ambassador to Iraq, Matthew Toller, announced that his country has provided $ 345 million to support the return of displaced Iraqis to their areas.

Tueller said in a press interview broadcast on the US embassy website and followed by "Economy News" that America continues its work in support of Iraq in the fields of security, economy and human rights, as well as assistance in connection with the Corona pandemic.

He added: America has provided 345 million dollars to ensure the continued return of the displaced and displaced to their areas that witnessed terrorist acts.

He continued that America discussed with the Ministry of Health to ensure that Iraq obtains vaccines for Corona virus, pointing to continuing work with the Ministry of Finance on funding the US government for investment projects.

Toller affirmed his country's assistance to US companies that do business in Iraq, revealing his intention to participate in the follow-up sessions of the "strategic dialogue working group" related to energy and security plans during the next month.

https://economy-news.net/content.php?id=23019

by **claud39** Sun Dec 06, 2020 10:57 am

[size=57]Iraq and the United States restore dialogue[/size]

06/11/2020

America announces $ 345 million to support the return of the displaced to their areas 4d2730e6114b4f4c5d3ee54bae7f96e1627faa5d

America announces $ 345 million to support the return of the displaced to their areas 4d2730e6114b4f4c5d3ee54bae7f96e1627faa5d

After months of rocket fire and colder relations, Iraq and the United States are resuming dialogue, via a video conference organized on Thursday. However, no progress is expected for a long time.

Relations between Iraq and the United States are heating up. The authorities of the two countries have scheduled a videoconference this Thursday, June 11.

This return to dialogue is explained by the arrival of a new prime minister in Baghdad, the former intelligence chief Moustafa al-Kazimi , who is considered close to the Americans and his Arab allies. And above all, for the moment, the pro-Iran factions are in retreat.

"US-Iraqi relations will not be redefined overnight"

But videoconferencing will only be the start of a long process without any drastic changes in prospect, warn experts and officials. Together, senior officials from both countries are defining the major topics which will then be assigned to committees for long-term discussions.

"US-Iraqi relations will not be redefined overnight," assures Robert Ford of the Middle East Institute. But, "for once, there are the right people, at the right place and at the right time", continues this former American diplomat who himself took part in the last "strategic dialogue" in 2008.

At the time, the United States had established the conditions for their departure after invading Iraq. Since then, their troops have returned, much fewer, at the head of a coalition against the Islamic State group.

More than two and a half years after the "victory" over the jihadists, the thousands of American soldiers in Iraq will once again be a central subject. Because after thirty rocket attacks against Americans, the assassination in January by Washington of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and his Iraqi lieutenant in Baghdad, anti-American sentiment has flared up again. A rocket fell on Wednesday in the highly protected green area of Baghdad, where government and diplomatic buildings are located, without causing any casualties.

Shiite deputies also voted to expel foreign soldiers and Washington threatened to strike dozens of paramilitary sites.

The impact of the new Prime Minister

But the arrival of Mustafa al-Kazimi changed the situation. The man has taken the reins of a country in the midst of an economic crisis and which still demands justice for some 550 demonstrators killed in the repression of an unprecedented revolt.

If his predecessor Adel Abdel Mahdi never managed to get an invitation to Washington, Moustafa al-Kazimi, in office for a month, already has his card for the White House this year, according to two government officials. "There was a problem of trust with the old cabinet, that has changed," insists one of them.

In this climate, all subjects will be discussed Thursday, first and foremost that of American soldiers. "Will we still be able to fly surveillance drones? Do the Iraqis still want our information?" Asks a high-ranking American officer in the coalition.

Already, the coalition is only on three Iraqi bases, against ten previously. However, a drastic reduction seems highly improbable as the jihadist threat remains present, argue the other countries of the coalition, suspended from the American-Iraqi dialogue, for which they are not party.

With AFP and Reuters

https://www.france24.com/fr/20200611-l-irak-et-les-%C3%A9tats-unis-r%C3%A9tablissent-le-dialogue