MEZOPOTAMIA KURDISTAN DAILY INDEPENDENT NEWSSERVICE
Mezopotamian Development Society (Registered) GERMANY
THE MOST REQUESTED DAILY & ONLY INDEPENDENT NEWSSERVICE ON KURDISTAN FOR THE HIGHLY INVOLVED PEOPLE – email : mesop@online.de – Watch our website : www.mesop.de
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MESOP : THE IRANIAN INTEREST ON IRAQ
Iran-Iraq border fields are investment targets
Iraq is looking for international oil companies to play a large role in renewed plan for fields on border with Iran.
Iran-Iraq border fields are investment targets – An Iraqi oil worker waves in protest at a well at the Fakka oil field on Dec. 25, 2009, during a tour by journalists. Iran had temporarily taken over part of the field, in Missan province. – By JEWDAT AL-SAI’DI, BEN LANDO & ADAM AL-ATBI of Iraq Oil Report
Published Wednesday, April 20th, 2016 – Iraqi oil officials appear to have restarted a plan to jointly develop fields on the border with Iran now that many international sanctions are being lifted.The Oil Ministry is targeting three fields – one each in Basra, Missan and Diyala provinces – in this initial attempt to exploit cross-border fields, in a way that maximizes benefits and reduces the potential for political disputes.The ministry wants to establish joint venture agreements, including international partners, to gov… http://www.mesop.de/?p=73342
MESOP TODAYS QUOTATION : PRO HIJAB DAYS IN PARIS / THE LAST DAYS OF EUROPE
Bernard-Henri Levy, the French philosopher asked whether there would next be a “Sharia day, or stoning or slavery day?”
Investigative journalist and author Caroline Fourest shared a video of Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser from1956, when he mocked the Muslim Brotherhood’s pressuring him to oblige women to wear hijabs “just to refresh the memory of those who think that Muslims have always been veiled, or that it is a traditional or even “natural” emblem, rather than … being to do with the rise of (Muslim) Brothers in Egypt, or fascination with the Iranian revolution of 1979.” – http://www.mesop.de/?p=73331
MESOP TODAYS RELEVANT TWEETS & SHORT CUTS
MESOP : ASSAD KILLS KURDS TODAY AROUND QAMISHLI
Fighting between #Kurdish security police .@AsayishMedia and regime in Qamishli today #twitterkurds
Planned protest against border closure in the city of Qamislo was canceled.
#Regime fighter jets are in the air too. So far, 2 Asayish killed, one injured, when regime shot at Asayish car
Very heavy clashes between #regime and Asayish in Qamislo. H.A.T special forces arrived to support Asayish
@AsayishMedia intervened, and there are tensions close to the regime security box in the city
Asayish says Baath regime and NDF force attacked #Kurdish traffic police and Asayish
MESOP : Would mean closing of Azaz-Manbij corridor of IS
Christoph Germann @newgreatgame
According to Yeni Şafak, US plans to abandon Turkey’s “rebels” in N. Syria in favor of Syrian Kurds in nxt few weeks http://www.yenisafak.com/en/world/us-assures-pyd-of-help-seizing-cobanbey-2453065 …
Cathy @cathyotten 4h4 hours ago
Sheikh Maqsoud, Aleppo a neighborhood-sized war that civilians can’t escape http://thebea.st/1SQ1RzD via @thedailybeast
ISIS blows up Turkish tank northern Iraq: Video – ARA News http://aranews.net/2016/04/isis-blows-turkish-tank-northern-iraq-video/ … via @twitterapi
MESOP : Barzani, outlawed PKK are ‘the same,’ says Turkey’s MHP head – POLITICS http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/Default.aspx?pageID=517&nID=97685&NewsCatID=338 … via @HDNER
More on: www.mesop.de
MESOP TODAYS ANALYSIS BY ROBERT OLSON
Turkey’s Strategy for Syria & Iraq (and the PKK) – By Robert Olson (lobelog)
2016-04-20 – Turkey is in a strong position to achieve its geopolitical objectives in the both Syria and Iraq. In Iraq, for instance, Turkey’s objective after the U.S. invasion in 2003 was to ensure that the Kurdistan Region Government (KRG), led by Massoud Barzani, would become economically dependent on Turkey. This was a successful. Turkey today is by far the most important economic and political partner of the KRG with trade exceeding $12 billion. As of 2016 over 2,000 Turkish companies operated in the KRG, many of which have built the KRG’s infrastructure. Read all http://www.mesop.de/?p=73340
NORTH KURDISTAN (TURKEY)
MESOP INTEL BACKGROUNDER: Stratfor Intelligence added that Algeria has become the mediator of a back-channel dialogue between Syria and Turkey.
Turkey more preoccupied by Syrian Kurds than Assad government: Stratfor
WASHINGTON,— AFP – Ankara is more focused on the Kurdish issue rather than on the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad, according to “shadow CIA” Stratfor. The Turkish authorities are more concerned about the potential creation of an independent Kurdish state than the ruling Syrian government, the US-based intelligence assessment company Stratfor said in a report on Tuesday. Read all http://www.mesop.de/?p=73316
MESOP : HDP DEMIRTAS ABOUT THE BACKGROUND OF TALKS WITH ERDOGAN
Turkey rejected return to talks with Kurdish rebels – opposition leader
* Kurdish politician says PKK had agreed to resume talks – * Government knew party had contacted guerrillas, he says – * Accuses authorities of crimes during security operations (Adds official’s response to allegations)
21 April 2016 – By Ayla Jean Yackley – REUTERS – ISTANBUL, April 20 Militants of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) wanted a return to talks with the Turkish government a few months ago amid the worst violence in decades but Ankara rejected the overture, an opposition party leader said on Wednesday.A 2-1/2-year peace process between the outlawed PKK and the government broke down last July Read more http://www.mesop.de/?p=73333
WEST KURDISTAN (SYRIA)
MESOP Syria Special: IRANIAN TROOPS “IN TEARS” – No “Strategic Victory” — What Does Russia Do Now?
20 April 2016 – eaworldview Umer Karim and Scott Lucas write: On 11 and 12, Iranian troops — including Revolutionary Guards and special forces — and their allied militias were heavily defeated by rebels and Jabhat al-Nusra south of Syria’s largest city Aleppo.
The Iranian-led force was trying to regain territory that had been taken by a sudden rebel-Nusra offensive on April 1, including the town of al-Eis on the Aleppo-to-Damascus highway. For the first time, the 65th Air Brigade and other Iranian Army units were in battle alongside Revolutionary Guards.But by the end of two days of assaults, all that the attacks could show were more than 100 casualties, many of the bodies littered on a hillside where they were cut down by Nusra defenders. At the funerals of special forces, Iranian commanders were seen in tears. Read all http://www.mesop.de/?p=73311
MESOP : US AMBASSADOR ROBERT FORD PRO PKK/PYD / HNC CONDITIONS: “allow the PYD to take part in negotiations only if they cut all ties with the government and join opposition”
Syrian Kurds should be represented at Geneva peace talks as ‘separate delegation’
21 April 2016 – MESOP / SPUTNIK – Syrian Kurds should be represented by a separate opposition delegation to the Geneva intra-Syrian talks, but this is difficult given there is no unity among this large part of the Syrian population, a former US ambassador to Syria told Sputnik on Wednesday. Read all http://www.mesop.de/?p=73349
MESOP OVERVIEW “INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF WAR” – RUSSIAN MILITARY ACTIVITY IN SYRIA / MARCH 15 – 18 APRIL 2016 (BY ISW) – DEATILED !
Russia remains a decisive actor in Syria despite announcing its limited drawdown on March 14. It has since reshaped the nature of its deployment and military operations in ways that continue to bolster the Assad regime’s position on the ground as well as at the negotiating table, while allowing Russia to maintain its strategic military foothold along the Eastern Mediterranean. Russian military contributions continue to shape the battlefield momentum of pro-regime operations through the deployment of alternative assets to theater such as advanced rotary wing attack aircraft. Russia retains the capacity to escalate its fixed-wing strikes to support pro-regime operations, as shown in operations against ISIS in Palmyra in late March and more recently against armed opposition forces in Aleppo.Read all http://www.mesop.de/?p=73321
MESOP : GOOD JOKE BY CAPTN KERRY ! HE KNOW THEY WILL DO THE CONTRARY
Kerry to Iran: Pressure Assad to Secure a Political Solution
21 Apr 2016 – Heba El Koudsy – Asharq al-Awsat – Washington- During the Tuesday New York meeting, holding both U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and the Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif, each of Washington and Tehran laid forth a score of heated issues for discussion. – Washington employed a ‘carrot and stick’ approach throughout its discussions with Zarif. Diplomatic sources reveal that, during deliberations, Kerry asked Zarif to urge the Iranian government to practice its power over Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as to secure a political solution for the Syrian conflict. Read all http://www.mesop.de/?p=73337
SOUTH KURDISTAN ( IRAQ)
MESOP : OBAMA FAVORS BAGHDAD – US: $415 million aid for Kurdish Peshmerga will go through Baghdad
ARA News – 20 April 2016 – ERBIL – The United States will send the $415 million aid for Peshmerga forces to Baghdad as part of the ongoing united Iraq policy of the Washington Administration.“It all goes to assistance that the United States is providing to the Government of Iraq as it conducts a campaign plan against Daesh inside their country. And as we’ve said before, everything, all our aid and assistance, will continue to go through the government, the central government of Iraq in Baghdad,” US State Department spokesman John Kirby said. Read all http://www.mesop.de/?p=73319
MESOP : FORWARD TO KURDISTAN INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM
Socialist leader: Kurds should withdraw from Iraqi govt and declare independence
HEWLÊR-Erbil, Kurdistan region ‘Iraq’,— The head of Kurdistan Socialist Democratic Party in Iraq’s Kurdistan region stated the withdrawal of the Iraqi Kurds from Baghdad is inevitable and the Kurds should prepare themselves for independence. Muhammad Haji Mahmoud told Golan weekly in Erbil that there is no Kurdish participation in the Iraqi government and the actions of Sunni and Shiite factions are in such a way that Iraq has been divided into three party, adding that the lines have clearly demanded the Kurds in Iraq to leave Iraq. He added that due to the situation now and the ties between Erbil and Baghdad it is necessary for Kurds to leave Iraq and agree on holding an independence referendum and declaring independence, reiterating that the region can defend its interests after declaring independence as it has Peshmerga forces. www.mesop.de
MESOP : Origins Of Iraq’s Ethnosectarian Quota System / MUSINGS ON IRAQ BY JOEL WING
Iraq’s ethnosectarian quotas are a mainstay of the country’s political system. There are arguments going on about it right now as Prime Minister Haidar Abadi is unsuccessfully trying to name his own ministers without having to follow them. Most people blame the American Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) for institutionalizing the quotas when it put together the Iraqi Governing Council based upon sect and ethnicity, which was then duplicated in the interim government led by Iyad Allawi and every administration afterward. What is far less known is that the opposition to Saddam came up with quotas long before the U.S. invasion. Read all http://www.mesop.de/?p=73323
MESOP SPECIAL : Do We Need Laws & Lawyers in Kurdistan?
By Jegr Nathim: Jegr Nathim: Born in 1988 and living in Hawler, he graduated from Salahaddin University’s law college (“where they taught us for four years how not to think!”)
“Congratulations on an outstanding result”, said the gracious lady from the assessment and awards unit at the University of South Wales in the UK. “You will be awarded the Clark’s legal prize for the best performing LLM student!” she continued as she handed me out my Masters in Law certificate. Read all http://www.mesop.de/?p=73335
MESOP “SADR INTERNATIONAL “ – Sadr Calls for International Political Intervention in Iraq
With the Iraqi parliament still deadlocked on cabinet reforms, cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has called for new protests, the resignation of senior politicians, and political intervention by the United Nations and Organization of Islamic Countries to hold early elections. The move is a significant escalation from his previous demands. Sadr’s statement comes a day after returning from Beirut, where several Iraqi political figures were holding meetings. Sadr reportedly met with Hezbollah officials and other Lebanese politicians who tried but could not broker a deal between him and former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. www.mesop.de
MESOP “MUSINGS ON IRAQ” BY JOEL WING : US Increasing Troops & Operations In Iraq Once Again
21 Apr 2016 07:13 AM PDT – The United States has once again upped its participation in the war in Iraq for the second time in two months. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter was in Baghdad and announced a troop increase and greater participation. More trainers and artillery were being sent, Apache helicopters would have a bigger role, and the Kurds were getting financial help as well. In March2016 the U.S. sent marines covertly to Ninewa. Read more http://www.mesop.de/?p=73347
EAST KURDISTAN (IRAN)
Iran & the U.S. Constitution – A victory for terror victims—and the separation of powers.
April 20, 2016 7:24 p.m. ET – WALL STREET JOURNAL – The Supreme Court isn’t always the “least dangerous” branch that Alexander Hamiltonen visioned. But a 6-2 majority did show self-control on Wednesday in a case involving terror and the Constitution’s separation of powers.Since 1976, Congress has waived sovereign immunity to allow victims of terrorism to sue foreign governments, but such judgments are naturally difficult for U.S. courts to enforce in practice. The courts have ruled for more than 1,000 casualties or family members of Americans killed in attacks sponsored by Iran, and for years they attempted to collect damages by freezing $1.75 billion in bonds held in New York by Bank Markazi, the Iranian central bank. Read more http://www.mesop.de/?p=73345