Iraqi judiciary, EU mission discuss terrorism deterrence, money laundering
The President of the Supreme Judicial Council, Faiq Zaidan, the new EU Ambassador to Iraq, Thomas Seiler, and his accompanying delegation. Photo: INA
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The President of the Supreme Judicial Council, Faiq Zaidan, discussed on Wednesday combating terrorism, money laundering and organized crime with the European Union (EU) mission in Iraq.
The Supreme Judicial Council mentioned in a statement that Zaidan received the new EU Ambassador to Iraq, Thomas Seiler, and his accompanying delegation, where they talked about the support provided by the EU to the Supreme Judicial Council in combating terrorism, money laundering and organized crime.
The US Deputy Assistant Secretary for Iraq and Iran in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Victoria Taylor, confirmed last week Washington’s support for the efforts of Prime Minister Mohammad Shia Al-Sudani in combating corruption and improving the financial sector.
“We support the war waged by the Iraqi Prime Minister against corruption, which is an important goal and a common priority,” Taylor explained.
The Head of the Federal Commission of Integrity (COI), Haider Hanoun, confirmed in early October that an agreement has been reached with Russia to combat corruption and recover money smuggled abroad.
A statement issued by the COI explained that Hanoun received the Russian President’s Assistant, Igor Levitin, to review the memorandum of understanding that will be concluded between the COI and the Prosecutor General’s Office of Russia, which is concerned with combating corruption.
Hanoun elaborated that the memorandum of understanding is part of the COI’s interaction with the government’s program to fight corruption and extradite wanted criminals.
Levitin expressed Moscow’s readiness to cooperate with Iraq in confronting corruption, prosecuting criminals, and extraditing those wanted by the Iraqi judiciary.