Iraqi President from Halabja: We Must Work Together to Avert Recurrence of Past Tragedies

Iraqi President Barham Salih. (Reuters)
Iraqi President Barham Salih. (Reuters)
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Iraqi President from Halabja: We Must Work Together to Avert Recurrence of Past Tragedies

Iraqi President Barham Salih. (Reuters)
Iraqi President Barham Salih. (Reuters)

Iraqi President Barham Salih urged on Sunday the residents of Kurdistan to cooperate with the sons of Basra, Mosul and other Iraqi cities for the benefit of the entire country.

“We must work together to avert the recurrence of the tragedies of the past,” he declared from Halabja city during the second day of a visit to the Iraqi Kurdistan Region.

He kicked off his visit by laying a wreath on the monument for the victims of the 1988 chemical attack against the city by the former Saddam regime.

Addressing the gatherers at the event, Salih said that Halabja has become a symbol of the sacrifices of the Kurdish people.

“We will prove, however, that through hard work, it will become a symbol of prosperity, development, coexistence and social peace,” he stated.

He stressed that he sought to visit the city soon after his election as president to demonstrate the presidency’s gratitude to the major sacrifices that the entire region has made.

On the separation of Halabja from the Sulaymaniyah province to its transformation into the fourth Kurdish province, he said: “This is a very important message that has reflected the importance the regional government places on this area.”

“The federal authorities’ backing of this decision was an important step in the right direction and we hope that reconstruction would commence in this region as soon as possible,” he continued.

Salih then held talks with a number of local officials to listen to their needs and grievances, saying he will relay their demands to the federal government officials.



China's Xi Visits Morocco, Meets with Crown Prince

Chinese President Xi Jinping. Reuters
Chinese President Xi Jinping. Reuters
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China's Xi Visits Morocco, Meets with Crown Prince

Chinese President Xi Jinping. Reuters
Chinese President Xi Jinping. Reuters

Chinese President Xi Jinping made a short visit to Morocco on Thursday, according to state media from both countries.
Xi was welcomed in Casablanca by Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan and the visit reflected the strong bonds of friendship, cooperation, and solidarity between the Moroccan and Chinese peoples, Morocco's MAP said.
The Crown Prince and Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch met Xi at the airport, where Xi and Hassan had a "cordial conversation", China's state broadcaster CCTV said.
Xi made the visit after being in Brazil for the G20 Summit.
China has stepped up investments in Morocco's infrastructure and rail sector in recent years.
Morocco's geographic location close to Europe, its free trade agreements with key EU and US markets and its existing automotive industry, make it attractive to Chinese electric vehicle battery makers.
In June, Chinese EV battery manufacturer Gotion High Tech picked Morocco to set up Africa's first gigafactory for a total cost of $1.3 billion.