[02 Dec 2013] The Kurdistan Regional Government says it has reached an...
The prime minister of Iraq\'s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region says Arbil and Ankara have agreed on the final details of an oil export deal....
The prime minister of Iraq\'s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region says Arbil and Ankara have agreed on the final details of an oil export deal.
Nechirvan Barzani says the finalization of such cooperation is a great achievement for Iraq and the Kurdistan region. He said that by signing the deal, the Kurdistan region will for the first time become a net contributor to the Iraqi national income. This, as Iraqi oil minister and his Turkish counterpart yesterday agreed that oil exports from anywhere in Iraq need the central government\'s approval. Baghdad says any independent exports from the region would be illegal but Arbil insists that it has the right to sell the oil independently.
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[15 Jan 2014] The Debate - Failing Extremism - English
On the war on Syria: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, warned that Saudi Arabia\'s...
On the war on Syria: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, warned that Saudi Arabia\'s political and religious ideology is \"a threat to the world\". Has Saudi Arabia\'s support for terrorists reached such an alarming level that UN Sec. Gen. Ban Ki Moon has said it will discuss Saudi support for terrorists in Iraq with UN members? In this edition of the debate, we\'ll discuss how isolated Saudi Arabia and its policy in Syria have become. Turkey, that has long called for the ouster of President Bashar Assad, is now calling for a shift in government policy towards Syria. In addition, we\'ll discuss how the U-S has come to recognize that their support for these insurgents has backfired, and further analyze reports of Western intel. agencies wanting to cooperate with Syria, Iran, and Russia in battling these extremists.
Guests:
- Journalist & Middle East Analyst, Sharif Nashashibi (LONDON).
- Author & Historian, Webster Griffin Tarpley (WASHINGTON).
Subjects:
1. REAX: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, warned that Saudi Arabia\'s political and religious ideology is \"a threat to the world\".
- He was referring to Wahhabism, an ultra-conservative tradition which is predominant in Saudi Arabia, a key backer of insurgents fighting the Syrian government.
2. Saudi Arabia\'s ambassador to Britain wrote an op-ed in the New York Times entitled Saudi Arabia Will Go It Alone: with statements like \"Nothing is ruled out in our pursuit of peace in the Arab World... Act independently by rejecting a seat on the UN. The way to prevent the rise of extremism: is to support the champions of moderation: financially, materially and yes, militarily, if necessary. Saudi Arabia will continue on this new track for as long as proves necessary
- This seemed to reiterate the sentiment expressed by Saudi intelligence chief Bandar bin Sultan back in October when he talked of shifting away from the alliance with the U.S.:
3. It appears Saudi support for insurgents from AL Qaeda groups to otherwise, has created havoc in the region: From Syria, to Lebanon, to Iraq: And partly in Jordan, so much so that the UN chief Ban Ki Moon has said it may discuss this with security council members?
4. Turkey, has been a supporter of President Bashar Assad\'s ouster. But now Turkish President Abdullah Gul is now calling for a shift in government policy towards Syria. President Abdullah Gul said on Tuesday that \"I am of the opinion that we should recalibrate our diplomacy and security policies given the facts in the south of our country (in Syria).\" What do you make of Gul\'s call for a change in his country\'s policy?
5. MAJOR DEVELOPMENT: The Syrian deputy foreign minister says Western intelligence agencies have been recently visiting Damascus for talks on combating extremist insurgents. Mekdad: Mekdad said that the contacts appeared to show a rift between the political and security authorities in some countries opposed to Assad. Has the US and other Western countries like France and the UK realized that support for these insurgents have now backfired?
6. If Western intel. agencies are cooperating with Syria, which by default will include Iran, then why is the US then insisting Iran not to participate n Geneva 2, or only participate on the sidelines, a precondition that Iran has rejected?
7. United States, the West, Iran, Russia, Syria and the geopolitical shift, which has left Saudi Arabia isolated: Yet the pattern of global terrorism has been sponsored by the US, Israel, and their Arab partners Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Will the US stop its support for terrorists?
8. How far will the US go to counter Saudi Arabia\'s destructive role at least regionally: Are the 2 countries headed for a clash?
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[24 Dec 2013] US slammed for condemning government over Aleppo bombing -...
Syria\\\'s official news agency, SANA, has lashed out at the US for condemning the government for airstrikes in the northern city of Aleppo....
Syria\\\'s official news agency, SANA, has lashed out at the US for condemning the government for airstrikes in the northern city of Aleppo.
SANA says Washington views the unrest in Syria in a partial, biased way, ignoring crimes committed by militants fighting the government. On Monday, Washington condemned as QUOTE \\\"indiscriminate\\\" the bombings of Aleppo which have reportedly been taking place for the past nine days. The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says 15 people have been killed in the latest airstrikes, bringing the total death toll to over 360 during the period. The group blames the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for the bombings. Damascus has not made any comments yet. Press TV can not independently verify the group\\\'s claims.
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