Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (R) and Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Al Hakim meet in Moscow, Russia, 30 January 2019. EPA
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (R) and Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Al Hakim meet in Moscow, Russia, 30 January 2019. EPA
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (R) and Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Al Hakim meet in Moscow, Russia, 30 January 2019. EPA
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (R) and Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Al Hakim meet in Moscow, Russia, 30 January 2019. EPA

Russia vows to help Iraq battle terrorism after US withdrawal from Syria


Mina Aldroubi
  • English
  • Arabic

Russia pledged on Wednesday to support Iraq in fighting ISIS and to re-establish security ties between the two states, especially as the US plans to withdraw troops from Syria.

Baghdad declared victory against ISIS in December 2017. The group seized a third of the country in nearly three years ago, but since losing the majority of its caliphate, the group has maintained sleeper cells and resorted to guerrilla tactics.

“We are interested in actively helping you tackle this challenge. Let us discuss all these matters,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told his Iraqi counterpart Mohammed Al Hakim on Wednesday.

The Russian official stressed the importance of re-establishing security in Iraq. He expressed hope that a planned US pullout from Syria will not be used to expand Washington’s influence elsewhere in the region.

"We expect that US military presence in Iraq will meet its stated goals, namely, to fight terrorism and help the government to stabilise the situation, and not to somehow solve the geopolitical tasks in the region that are unilaterally pursued by Washington,” Mr Lavrov said during a press conference in Moscow.

Russia is aiming to boost ties with Iraq to challenge American influence in the country. Moscow has so far invested millions of dollars in Iraq’s energy sector and has opened a command centre in Baghdad under an intelligence-sharing agreement with Iraq, Iran and Syria aimed at combatting ISIS.

Both ministers praised the work of Baghdad’s intelligence centre.

Mr Lavrov confirmed that Russia will enhance Iraq’s capabilities to counter terrorism and to enhance their military cooperation.

On his part, Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammed Al Hakim confirmed that Russia’s military and security cooperation will guarantee an ISIS defeat in Syria and Iraq.

In Syria, Iraq’s military has conducted several airstrikes against ISIS since last year, with the approval of President Bashar Al Assad and the US-led coalition fighting the insurgents.

Baghdad has maintained close relations with Syria throughout civil war that has killed 400,000 people in its first six years, United Nations envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura estimated in 2016. The death toll could be much higher as the civil war remains ongoing almost three years on.

Iraq’s former Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al Jaafari visited Damascus last October and met with his Syrian counterpart Walid Al Moualem and President Bashar Al Assad.

Mr Al Hakim said in early January that Iraq will support efforts in restoring Syria’s membership in the Arab League eight years after it was expelled from the organisation.

The Iraqi official also stressed that the withdrawal of all forces from Syria, claiming that it will help revive the country's political process.

A member of Syria's Arab Shaytat tribe who has joined a Kurdish-led alliance fighting ISIS in northern Syria, walks amid debris in the of Baghouz on January 27, 2019. AFP
A member of Syria's Arab Shaytat tribe who has joined a Kurdish-led alliance fighting ISIS in northern Syria, walks amid debris in the of Baghouz on January 27, 2019. AFP

Mr Al Hakim said that there are ongoing discussions to find ways of ending Syria’s war and defeating terrorism in the country.

Meanwhile, King Felipe VI of Spain arrived in Iraq for a surprise visit on Tuesday in what marked the first trip for a Spanish monarch in 40 years to the war-torn country.

The king, whose country is a part of an international coalition fighting ISIS in Iraq, held talks with the commander of the coalition and showed his gratitude for their efforts.

“Thank you for what you do and for how you do it, you’re a source of pride for all Spaniards,” King Felipe told Spanish troops.

Hundreds of Spanish military experts currently reside in Iraq.

King Felipe also met with Iraqi President Barham Salih at the presidential palace.

He was accompanied by the Spanish Minister of Defence Margarita Robles Fernandez and Ambassador Stemman.

King Felipe's visit comes after a series of world leaders landed in Baghdad since the start of the new year, including US President Donald Trump. His unannounced trip drew criticism for his failure to meet Iraqi leaders.

MATCH INFO

Day 2 at Mount Maunganui

England 353

Stokes 91, Denly 74, Southee 4-88

New Zealand 144-4

Williamson 51, S Curran 2-28

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Suggested picnic spots

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Umm Al Emarat Park
Yas Gateway Park
Delma Park
Al Bateen beach
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Zayed Sports City
 
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2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)

2007 Grace Bijjani  (Mexico)

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Gender pay parity on track in the UAE

The UAE has a good record on gender pay parity, according to Mercer's Total Remuneration Study.

"In some of the lower levels of jobs women tend to be paid more than men, primarily because men are employed in blue collar jobs and women tend to be employed in white collar jobs which pay better," said Ted Raffoul, career products leader, Mena at Mercer. "I am yet to see a company in the UAE – particularly when you are looking at a blue chip multinationals or some of the bigger local companies – that actively discriminates when it comes to gender on pay."

Mr Raffoul said most gender issues are actually due to the cultural class, as the population is dominated by Asian and Arab cultures where men are generally expected to work and earn whereas women are meant to start a family.

"For that reason, we see a different gender gap. There are less women in senior roles because women tend to focus less on this but that’s not due to any companies having a policy penalising women for any reasons – it’s a cultural thing," he said.

As a result, Mr Raffoul said many companies in the UAE are coming up with benefit package programmes to help working mothers and the career development of women in general. 

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While you're here
Pakistan v New Zealand Test series

Pakistan: Sarfraz (c), Hafeez, Imam, Azhar, Sohail, Shafiq, Azam, Saad, Yasir, Asif, Abbas, Hassan, Afridi, Ashraf, Hamza

New Zealand: Williamson (c), Blundell, Boult, De Grandhomme, Henry, Latham, Nicholls, Ajaz, Raval, Sodhi, Somerville, Southee, Taylor, Wagner

Umpires: Bruce Oxerford (AUS) and Ian Gould (ENG); TV umpire: Paul Reiffel (AUS); Match referee: David Boon (AUS)

Tickets and schedule: Entry is free for all spectators. Gates open at 9am. Play commences at 10am

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
SCORES

Yorkshire Vikings 144-1 in 12.5 overs
(Tom Kohler 72 not out, Harry Broook 42 not out)
bt Hobart Hurricanes 140-7 in 20 overs
(Caleb Jewell 38, Sean Willis 35, Karl Carver 2-29, Josh Shaw 2-39)

Match info

What: Fifa Club World Cup play-off
Who: Al Ain v Team Wellington
Where: Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
When: Wednesday, kick off 7.30pm

The Pope's itinerary

Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport


Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial


Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport