Tag: Unami

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Iraqi Minister of Interior, Abdul Amir Al-Shammari, confirmed on Thursday that the security forces can ensure security and confront any challenge.

Al-Shammari’s statement took place during his meeting with the representative of the UN secretary-general, Volker Peretz, where they discussed the role of the United Nations Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) and cooperation between the two sides, according to a statement cited by the Iraqi News Agency (INA).

The Iraqi Interior Minister made it clear that the security forces are always evolving and that the Ministry of Interior is making every effort to serve the people to the best of its ability.

The Iraqi official also demonstrated how well border controls, the fight against drugs and crime, and human rights are being upheld.

Al-Shammari’s remarks follow condemnation expressed by the Iraqi government of the strikes carried out by US forces against sites belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in Jurf Al-Nasr in Babylon governorate.

The spokesperson of the Iraqi government, Basem Al-Awadi, mentioned in a statement on Wednesday that the Iraqi government considers the recent escalation a dangerous step involving an unacceptable violation of Iraqi sovereignty.

“We strongly condemn the attack that targeted the Jurf Al-Nasr area, which took place without the knowledge of the Iraqi government,” Al-Awadi explained.

At least five people were killed in the early hours of Wednesday after PMF sites southwest of Baghdad were targeted by air strikes carried out by US forces.

US Central Command forces carried out separate and precise strikes on two facilities in Iraq, according to a statement released by the US Army.

The US Army added that the strikes were a direct response to attacks on American and coalition forces by Iran and groups supported by Tehran.

The Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary, Sabrina Singh, said in a…

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Mr. President, Distinguished members of the Security Council,

 

Today we are roughly one year on from the formation of Iraq’s current Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. Since its inception, several important steps and promising initiatives have emerged. To name but a few:

 

·      Long-awaited reforms in the banking and finance sectors are now underway. One example is the launch of an electronic platform for foreign currency sales, which demonstrates the Government’s commitment to both transparency and efficiency.

·      A new Iraq Fund for Development has been established. This, coupled with the change ushered in by the recently adopted federal budget, has the potential to spur private sector investment.

  

·      The passing of a new law on social security means that, for the first time, all Iraqi workers can benefit from public entitlements, such as health insurance, as well as maternity and unemployment benefits.

 

·      And, as most of you will know, a trailblazing initiative for regional infrastructure, known as the Development Road Project, was launched some months ago.

 

·      Meanwhile, Iraq is taking further steps towards leveraging its own natural resources more effectively and responsibly, thereby aiming to reduce energy waste and shore up its energy independence.

 

·      Also, and importantly, to address the concerning issue of rapid drug proliferation, the Government has developed a National Strategy for the Prevention of Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances, among other measures.

Mr. President, I already briefly mentioned the recently adopted federal budget.

 

It charts an ambitious course for the country until the end of 2025 and includes allocations with the potential to address critical needs, such as infrastructure development and reconstruction.

 

Notably, this budget represents the highest proportionate allocation to the delivery of social services yet…

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By John Fey

Published: 5:26 am EDT September 29, 2023Published: September 29, 2023Updated: 1:56 pm EDT September 28, 2023

A unique estate in Quakertown has recently hit the market, offering a historic property with plenty of modern amenities.

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The Historic Mill was originally built in the 1700s and converted to a home in the 1900s on Unami Creek.

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The original character of the mill, with its exposed beams and rustic charm, has been retained while incorporating all the modern conveniences for comfortable living.

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It’s the perfect place to entertain guests, dine al fresco, or simply unwind in the tranquility of your own oasis.

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With four bedrooms and three bathrooms, this home is the perfect size for large families looking to live in luxury.

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Read and see more of this house at 2045 Hillcrest Road in Quakertown, listed for $949,000, on EveryHome.com.

Check out BUCKSCO.Today’s previous Houses of the Week here.

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Michelin-starred chef Kei Kobayashi and blended scotch whisky brand Johnnie Walker have collaborated on a new Blue Label release called Elusive Umami. We had a chance to talk to the chef and Johnnie Walker master blender Emma Walker about the new release, the importance of aroma, and how the name of this whisky could cause some confusion.

Kobayashi is the owner of the restaurant Kei in Paris, which earned three Michelin stars in 2020 making him the first Japanese chef to achieve that honor in the City of Light. Robb Report spoke to him over Zoom (with the help of a translator) about this new whisky collaboration and the inspiration behind it. “I feel like there’s a slight misunderstanding of this concept,” he said. “Umami is two words—the word ‘delicious’ and the word ‘taste,’ so it literally means ‘delicious taste.’ I wanted to focus on creating something delicious, not so much umami as a fifth flavor.”

In other words, don’t expect the intensely salty, savory notes you probably associate with anything labeled “umami.” Official tasting notes describe a combination of sweet and savory on the palate along with a bit of smoke and fruit, and a nose full of nutty, salty brine. The nose is of particular importance to Kobayashi, who puts fragrance front and center in his cooking. “As a chef, we have to stimulate all five senses,” he said. “But taste comes last. First is vision and second is aroma. Since whisky combines fragrance with taste, which is my speciality, I focused on how we can have those two elements coexist…

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ASG Khaled Khiari called on the Security Council to fund and institutionalize the YPS Agenda

On 28 August, the Permanent Mission of Ghana hosted an Arria formula meeting of the Security Council on “Reinforcing the implementation of the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda for a peaceful and stable Africa”. The meeting highlighted the increasing efforts to institutionalize the Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agenda at the national and regional levels and paid tribute to the African Union for its leadership on inclusion of youth. Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari, representing DPPA, called for better financial and political support to the YPS agenda. The meeting also heard from a young woman peacebuilder from the Central African Republic, Chido Mpemba (African Union Youth Envoy) and Farhad Peikar (Special Representative from the World Bank). Several Member States stressed the importance of holding regular Security Council debates on YPS and stepping up the implementation of YPS mandates in UN missions. The importance of ensuring a strong collaboration on YPS with regional organizations, such as the African Union, was also highlighted as a priority.

Assistant Secretary-General Jenča meets with Cyprus leaders to advance peace efforts

Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and Americas in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations Miroslav Jenča visited Cyprus from 27 to 29 August. The visit was part of the UN’s continued engagement with the parties to explore common ground on the way forward on the Cyprus issue. He met separately with the Greek Cypriot leader, Nikos Christodoulides, and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Ersin Tatar, among others. Recent developments on the ground and operational issues related to the mandate of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus were also discussed. He also met with…

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An international conference was convened on August 21 at the headquarters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), near Paris, to address the political prisoner massacre that took place during the summer of 1988 in Iran.

Among the distinguished guests and speakers, was the former Chief of UNAMI Human Rights Office in Iraq (2012), Mr. Tahar Boumedra, Director of the Justice for the Victims of the 1988 Massacre in Iran (JVMI).

Drawing from his own experience as the former UNAMI Human Rights Office Chief, Mr. Boumedra recalled his observations and pointed out that during his tenure, he directly witnessed atrocities committed by the pro-Iranian regime government in Baghdad.

He highlighted the government of Nouri al-Maliki deliberately starving and depriving political refugees in Camp Ashraf of necessary medical care while poisoning the potable water with uranium-contaminated substance. Mr. Boumedra stressed that these actions amounted to a blatant crime of denying people sustenance.

The full speech of Mr. Tahar Boumedra’s speech follows:

 

Madam Rajavi, brothers and sisters, eminents, specialists, here with us. My experience is very hard in Camp Ashraf. And I would like to borrow the statement, Cheller’s statement, that you do not need a PhD to recognize a crime.

What I personally witnessed is that a government decides to starve a population and they do it under the supervision of the United Nations. I witnessed when the convoys bring in provisions to Camp Ashraf, the Iraqi government used to stop the convoy before the camp, expose the provisions, the food, to 50 degrees centigrade sun, three days out of the camp to make sure that the food perishes before they allow it into the camp. So, we…

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Attachments

Distinguished participants,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am honored to be speaking at this event, which is coming during the preparations for the conduct of the Provincial Council elections planned for 18 December.

Let me start by stating what should be obvious, that is that women, like men, have equal rights and equal potential to contribute to social development and to political life. However, as we know, women face many challenges when it comes to their role in public life and politics, including participation in elections. It is important that we take the opportunity of the forthcoming elections to promote an environment in which women can achieve their potential and make their own specific contribution.

In this context, we commend the Government of Iraq for establishing the High Committee to Support Women’s Political Participation in the forthcoming Provincial Council elections.

We welcome the recent launching of the Committee’s workplan and look forward to working with the Committee in close coordination with the Independent High Electoral Commission, the institution tasked with overseeing elections which also undertakes initiatives to promote the role of women as candidates and voters.

We are pleased that the High Committee workplan is based on good practices and lessons learnt from the work of the previous committee set up for the October 2021 elections. Good practices include the establishment of hotlines by the Ministry of Interior to receive security-related complaints from women candidates, and the appointment by the Supreme Judicial Council of judicial investigators to examine complaints of violence against women candidates, online and offline.

Dear participants,

UNAMI’s work relating to the elections in Iraq is based on text of UN Security Council resolution 2682 (2023), adopted last May, which requires us to advise, support, and assist the Government of Iraq, the Independent High Electoral Commission and other…

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Attachments

Prime Minister,

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

When remembering the untold suffering of the Yazidi community in the district of Sinjar, words come up short.

Too many lives were lost; too many families were ripped apart; and too many traumas were inflicted on people who did not deserve them.

Today, we are listening, and we will hear directly from brave voices and listen to their tragic accounts of what happened. Importantly, we will also listen to their perspectives on what must happen next.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have not forgotten – nor will we forget. To prevent such atrocities from reoccurring, undying memory is a collective duty.

But as I have said many times: this memory must not be static. The most powerful form of remembrance is the one that compels action.

In August 2019, I publicly shared my shock after one of my early visits to Sinjar. Five years after the horrific violence, which culminated in heinous crimes against the Yazidis, and many others, the need for action was still so clearly visible and so painfully palpable.

In other words: while the people of Sinjar urgently needed to rebuild their lives, they were facing immense obstacles. Obstacles due to discord on stable security structures and a unified administration.

In October 2020, so almost three years ago, agreement was reached between Baghdad and Erbil. At last. The Sinjar Agreement, which focused on governance and security arrangements, as well as the much-needed reconstruction of the district, was a first but important step in the right direction.

And, the UN was hopeful. Hopeful that the Agreement would be the start of a new chapter for Sinjar. One in which the interests of the Sinjari people would come first. One in which all actors, no matter their background or affiliation, would stand up…

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