Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi will extend his visit to Washington to meet members of the US Congress, an Iraqi official said on Thursday.
Mr Al Kadhimi arrived in the US capital on Wednesday and was scheduled to meet President Donald Trump on Thursday to discuss security, economic and cultural ties between Washington and Baghdad.
The visit aims to wrap up a strategic dialogue launched in June to define the future of US-Iraqi relations.
“The prime minister has agreed to a request from leaders and members of the US Congress to extend his visit to the United States because they wanted to meet him in person,” Ahmed Al Rakabi, an adviser to the prime minister, said.
Mr Al Kadhimi is the highest-ranking Iraqi leader to visit Washington since 2017. He will also become the first foreign leader to visit the White House since the start of the coronavirus pandemic that has largely halted international travel, a nod to the importance the Trump administration places on good ties with Iraq.
Experts say that the two governments have limited time to work on joint projects.
"The US is having an election this November with a potential to change the administration in January, and the length of PM Al Kadhimi's term in office is unknown," Abbas Kadhim, the director of the Iraq Initiative at the Atlantic Council, told The National.
"Therefore, both sides are advised to focus on immediate and urgent challenges and aim at cultivating short-term results while setting the stage for long-term co-operation for subsequent administrations," Mr Kadhim said.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein on Wednesday for talks on diplomatic issues, energy, education, security and cultural relations.
Mr Pompeo said the US would help Iraq rid itself of rogue militias, whilst urging officials to intensify efforts to contain pro-Iran groups.
On the economic front, the two countries are co-ordinating with international financial institutions to help Iraq cope with the drop in oil prices as well as the coronavirus pandemic, the State Department said.
The two sides want to boost trade and investment, and work to increase Iraq’s domestic electricity and gas production, according to a statement released by the department.
Mr Pompeo said the US was giving an additional $204 million in humanitarian assistance to Iraqi citizens, Iraqi refugees and communities hosting refugees.
“We're committed to helping Iraq achieve economic prosperity, freedom from foreign meddling in its internal affairs, and improve relationships with its neighbours as well,” Mr Pompeo said.
“This is what the Iraqi people want too, a stable, prosperous, independent Iraq.”
Mr Al Kadhimi has already taken steps against corruption and against militias since assuming office in May, drawing praise from US officials.
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
INDIA%20SQUAD
%3Cp%3ERohit%20Sharma%20(capt)%2C%20Shubman%20Gill%2C%20Cheteshwar%20Pujara%2C%20Virat%20Kohli%2C%20Ajinkya%20Rahane%2C%20KL%20Rahul%2C%20KS%20Bharat%20(wk)%2C%20Ravichandran%20Ashwin%2C%20Ravindra%20Jadeja%2C%20Axar%20Patel%2C%20Shardul%20Thakur%2C%20Mohammed%20Shami%2C%20Mohammed%20Siraj%2C%20Umesh%20Yadav%2C%20Jaydev%20Unadkat%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Last 10 winners of African Footballer of the Year
2006: Didier Drogba (Chelsea and Ivory Coast)
2007: Frederic Kanoute (Sevilla and Mali)
2008: Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal and Togo)
2009: Didier Drogba (Chelsea and Ivory Coast)
2010: Samuel Eto’o (Inter Milan and Cameroon)
2011: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2012: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2013: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2014: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2015: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund and Gabon)
2016: Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City and Algeria)
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
Herc's Adventures
Developer: Big Ape Productions
Publisher: LucasArts
Console: PlayStation 1 & 5, Sega Saturn
Rating: 4/5
