Latest news with #Qassimal-Araji
Shafaq News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq's Security Chief defends Iran border memorandum
Shafaq News – Baghdad Iraq's National Security Adviser Qassim al-Araji met US Chargé d'Affaires Steven Fagin on Saturday to discuss the recent border security memorandum between Baghdad and Tehran. According to a statement from the adviser's office, al-Araji outlined the document, which provides for tighter border control, anti-smuggling measures, and action against infiltration, confirming that "Iraq's policies are guided by national interests and sovereignty, while pursuing balanced relations with both regional and international partners." Fagin, in turn, reaffirmed US support for Iraq's balanced diplomacy, praised ongoing efforts to return displaced families, and noted plans for an international conference in New York to press countries to repatriate nationals from Syria's al-Hol camp. The memorandum, signed last week in Baghdad under Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's sponsorship, was presented by Iraqi officials as a memorandum of understanding rather than a binding treaty. Washington rejected the deal, calling it 'inconsistent with US objectives' and harmful to Iraq's existing security institutions. Iraq countered that it is a sovereign step to strengthen stability and border security.
Shafaq News
04-08-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq to close al-Hol file by end of 2025
Shafaq News – Baghdad Iraq will officially shut down the al-Hol Camp file by the end of 2025, National Security Advisor Qassim al-Araji announced on Monday, concluding a years-long effort to address ISIS-related repatriation of Iraqis. Located in Syria's al-Hasakah province, the camp holds 40,000 to 50,000 people—primarily displaced Syrians and Iraqis from ISIS-linked families—within a setting long described as a breeding ground for extremism amid ongoing security warnings. Since 2021, Iraq has carried out 28 repatriation operations from al-Hol, including 11 this year alone. In the latest return, 233 families—812 individuals—were brought back. Previous waves included 865 people in April and 935 in June, bringing the total number of returnees to 15,000. Of those, 10,000 have been reintegrated into their communities, while 5,000 remain in rehabilitation at al-Jadaa Camp near Mosul.
Shafaq News
10-07-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
Iraq committed to ending Kurdistan salary deadlock
Shafaq News – Erbil/Baghdad The Iraqi government is determined to end the ongoing salary crisis in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq's National Security Advisor Qassim al-Araji revealed Thursday. Speaking during a visit to the graves of Kurdish leader Mullah Mustafa Barzani and his son Idris Barzani, al-Araji confirmed Baghdad's 'serious commitment' to financial justice for public employees in the Region, emphasizing the need to resolve disagreements between Erbil and Baghdad 'under the constitution and applicable laws.' While describing the issue as a priority for the Iraqi government, he pointed to the formation of a high-level ministerial committee to fast-track the resolution. The dispute escalated in May after Baghdad linked wage disbursements to Erbil's full handover of oil exports to the state-run SOMO company and stricter controls over non-oil revenues. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) rejected the terms, arguing they exceeded the scope of earlier agreements and insisting it had already met its obligations. To break the impasse, a KRG delegation arrived in Baghdad on Monday for talks. According to MP Sabah Sobhi of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), these high-level meetings will soon resolve the salary and oil file.
Iraqi News
27-01-2025
- Politics
- Iraqi News
Al-Araji: The state's top national security interest is the psychological and educational counseling system
National Security Advisor Qassim al-Araji stressed on Monday the importance of activating the psychological and educational counseling system in the education and higher education sector in Iraq to protect generations and protect them from the dangers of wrong behaviors and negative phenomena. Al-Araji said in a speech during the first national conference for psychological and educational counseling, which was held in Baghdad under the auspices and supervision of the Prime Minister, Muhammad Shia Al-Sudani, and in cooperation and coordination between the National Security Advisory and the Ministries of Education, Higher Education and Scientific Research with the support of the United Nations Development Program, and attended by the reporter of the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "The National Security Advisory, was interested in supporting and activating the psychological and educational counseling system in the education and higher education sector in Iraq because it is a supreme national security interest for the state and society and a necessary requirement to protect generations and protect them from the dangers of wrong behaviors and negative phenomena." He added that "the National Security Advisory, with the formation of the current government, prepared a scientific methodology and strategic planning through meetings, training programs, recommendations, field visits, evaluations, careful follow-up, high coordination and national conferences, as this great work was done through high coordination and institutional partnership with the ministries of education and higher education." He added that "the presence of the National Security Advisory in this file is to coordinate between the two ministries and secure what we can of support for them and follow up the strategic psychological cell to achieve all the goals in a psychologically healthy and sound school environment and a university campus dominated by noble educational values and scientific sobriety," stressing that "work can only succeed or achieve its goals through real cooperation between the ministries of education and higher education and seriously." He pointed out that "there are many important issues that we must pay attention to, as the Endowment Offices can benefit from the free million-man gatherings during huge religious events with guidance, advice and guidance on the scourge of drugs, which is no less dangerous than terrorism that kills the family and society, as well as on rationalizing the consumption of electrical energy, as well as how to deal with the source of life (water)."
