BAGHDAD (NINA) — Iraqi newspapers published in Baghdad on Monday, October 19, focused on a proposed meeting between Iran and the Gulf states in Baghdad, calls for constitutional amendments, and other issues, including reports of negotiations between Iraq and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) over obtaining financial loans.

Under the headline, “Upcoming Meeting to Bring Gulf States and Iran Together in Baghdad,” Al-Zawraa newspaper, published by the Iraqi Journalists Syndicate, reported that Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein had announced the conclusion of the 52nd session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which adopted the Baghdad Declaration.

Hussein also expressed the government’s intention to host a meeting in Baghdad bringing together Iran and the Gulf states.

Speaking at a press conference following the conclusion of the session, Hussein said, “We have put forward an initiative, and we will work to hold a meeting in Baghdad bringing together the Gulf states and Iran.”

He noted that holding the session in Baghdad carried significant domestic and international messages, demonstrating that Baghdad is secure and capable of hosting delegations from across the world.

Hussein added that Iraq had previously chaired the Arab Summit and now is hosting the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, reflecting clear solidarity among participating countries with Iraq.

The foreign minister stressed that the Palestinian cause and Qudis were at the top of the conference’s agenda, particularly regarding the delivery of humanitarian assistance, reconstruction efforts, and the protection of Qudis. Discussions also addressed regional crises, challenges facing Muslim-majority countries, and counterterrorism efforts.

Hussein further said Iraq had proposed an initiative for a meeting in the “6+1” format, emphasizing that countries in the region had a responsibility to put forward initiatives because they were directly concerned with regional developments.

He added that Iraq would continue consultations with the relevant countries, with the assistance of the OIC secretary-general, to achieve mutually satisfactory outcomes.

Al-Sabah newspaper, published by the Iraqi Media Network, focused on calls to amend certain provisions of the Iraqi Constitution.

In its editorial, the newspaper wrote that the call made last Thursday by Chief Justice Faiq Zaidan, head of the Supreme Judicial Council, to review the Constitution and amend some of its provisions coincided with the 21st anniversary of the referendum that approved and ratified the document.

The editorial described the adoption of the Constitution as a pivotal event in Iraq’s modern history following the fall of dictatorship, noting that it had served as the foundation for the political process that followed.

The article argued that calls to amend certain constitutional provisions did not conflict with the respect owed to the Constitution, nor did they undermine its status as the supreme legal framework for resolving disputes and settling differences.

“On the contrary, addressing any shortcomings, if they exist, and clarifying ambiguous or contentious provisions would be the strongest expression of our respect for the constitutional text,” the editorial stated.

It further noted that Iraq’s Constitution had been adopted during an exceptionally sensitive transitional period, amid highly fragile security and political conditions.

According to the newspaper, the referendum and subsequent ratification of the Constitution would have been nearly impossible at the time without the courage and sacrifices of Iraqi citizens, the guidance of the religious authorities, and the support of the international community.

The editorial maintained that these extraordinary circumstances inevitably influenced some constitutional provisions, leaving certain articles open to multiple interpretations and preventing the document from addressing every issue with sufficient clarity and precision.

Against this backdrop, the newspaper said, Zidan’s call was significant because it sought to refine the constitutional text in ways that would strengthen the Constitution and eliminate potential ambiguities in the understanding, interpretation, and implementation of its provisions.


In economic news, Al-Zaman newspaper reported that Iraq had begun negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to obtain financial loans.

The newspaper quoted economic expert Ziad al-Hashemi as saying that Iraq had submitted a request for loans from the IMF, making it, according to his assessment, the first country in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to take such a step.

Al-Hashemi added that sources within the Fund had indicated that negotiations between Iraq and IMF officials had begun, amid indications that the international institution was moving toward supporting the country’s efforts to secure financial assistance.

He said the move toward borrowing raised questions about the government’s position on its decision to devalue the Iraqi dinar. He noted that the prime minister had previously justified the currency devaluation as a means of avoiding more painful measures, including external borrowing.

According to Al-Hashemi, returning to borrowing from the IMF contradicts the justifications previously put forward by the government and reflects what he described as continued financial mismanagement.

He also warned that any potential loans could be conditional on measures aimed at controlling public expenditure and increasing government revenues. Such conditions could also involve reducing subsidies in several sectors, particularly fuel, electricity, and other areas that account for substantial public spending. / End




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