New US Ambassador arrives in Baghdad

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PressTV-Violence killed 961 Iraqis in August: UN
According to the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), a total of 691 Iraqis lost their lives last month, and 1,016 others were injured.

The UN mission added that there were 473 civilians among those killed, while the number of civilian injuries hit 813. Violence also claimed the lives of 218 members of the Iraqi security forces, and 203 others sustained injuries.

A large number of the fatalities were recorded in Baghdad, where 231 civilians were killed and 676 others wounded.

A nice welcome for http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/010920163
New US Ambassador arrives in Baghdad
The new American ambassador to Iraq arrived in Baghdad on Thursday, saying he looked forward building further the relationship between the United States and Iraq.

Silliman has many years of experience in the Middle East. Since joining the Foreign Service in 1984, he has served at posts in Jordan, Haiti, Pakistan, Tunisia, Kuwait, and Turkey.

He has also previously served at the US embassy in Baghdad. From 2011 to 2013 he was Minister-Counselor for Political Affairs and then Deputy Chief of Mission.

Silliman replaces Stuart E. Jones, who was ambassador from 2014 to 2016.

In a message wrapping up his tenure as ambassador, Jones cited American military and humanitarian support for Iraq, saying that, while the United States is the top international donor in Iraqi, “I’m humbled to say that the true leaders in providing humanitarian assistance are the people of Iraq. It is the people of Iraq that have provided and extraordinary lesson to the international community in generosity. You’ve taken more than 3 million displaced, in your homes, mosques, and communities.”

“We want to see a prosperous, secure, unified and democratic Iraq that serves the aspirations and wellbeing of all Iraqis,” he added.

The US embassy in Baghdad, at 104 acres, is considered the largest embassy in the world. It opened in January 2009.

 

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US envoy supervises Baghdad-Erbil talks - Iraqi News
All the crucial decisions by Baghdad and Erbil are made under the US supervision.
A Kurdish member of the Iraqi parliament said that the latest talks held between the delegation of Kurdistan Regional Government and senior officials in Baghdad in August were under the direct supervision of the United States.

MP Sirwan Sirini said, “The US Ambassador to Iraq supervised the meetings held on August 29th, between the KRG delegation and Baghdad officials to discuss the current issues existing between the two sides,” adding that, “All the crucial decisions by Baghdad and Erbil are made under the US supervision.”

“KRG remains in talks with Baghdad and tries to settle the issues through dialogue and mutual understanding until Kurdistan Region decides its secession from Iraq,” he added.
http://rudaw.net/english/opinion/06092016
A delegation from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) visited the Iraqi capital Baghdad late last month where they met with Prime Minister Haider Abadi and leaders of Iraqi political factions.

Some PUK officials later said that they had discussed with Abadi the question of Kurdish independence and had in fact gone there to get Baghdad’s view on this subject. In reality that was not the main purpose of the delegation’s visit, but in discussing the deadlock between Erbil and Baghdad they had also touched on this subject.

They reported that Iraqi PM Abadi had said that Iraq will not stop the Kurds from achieving that right but that there should be a clear understanding between both sides when the decision to separate is finally made so that Kurdistan and Iraq could become two good neighbors.