Iraq Press Roundup

Rafsanjani visits Sistani today?

Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, chairman of the Iranian Assembly of Experts, is expected to meet with revered Iraqi cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Sot al-Iraq reported Thursday.

Rafsanjani himself refused to confirm the meeting was scheduled, but the news service's sources said his family joined him on a visit to the holy city of Najaf.

News of the pending meeting was mixed, with some leaders saying it was expected, while religious figures denied the allegations, noting Rafsanjani operated under the authority of Iranian Supreme Leader Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and not Sistani.

For his part, Sistani is expected to consider declining the meeting because several Iraqi leaders have protested the former Iranian president's visit to Iraq, adding Sistani is keen to respect Iraqi unity and the voice of the people.

Sistani is careful to avoid appearing too close to the Iranian leadership as well, the report said. Sistani had refused to meet with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad during his historic visit to Iraq in 2008.

Turkish army moves on Iraqi border

A large number of Turkish military forces, supported by heavy artillery, are reportedly moving toward the Kurdish regions of Iraq, al-Iraq lil-Kul reported Thursday.

Ahmad Denis, the spokesman for the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, said Turkish leaders claim to have plans to occupy parts of Iraqi Kurdistan.

The PKK is a guerrilla movement active throughout northern Iraq and the surrounding region. It is considered a terrorist organization by several nations, including the United States.

Iraq, Turkish and American military forces are cooperating on efforts to tackle the militant separatist group as part of a broader effort to eliminate terrorist activity in Iraq.

U.S. military officials in Iraq share intelligence on PKK activity in Iraq with the Turkish military.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki met in December with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in Ankara to discuss the PKK issue and find ways for a bilateral solution to the threat.

Program announced to integrate the displaced

The Iraqi Ministry of Immigration and Displaced announced it is in the early stages of launching a program to integrate displaced families, al-Sabaah reported Thursday.

Ministry officials said the program would offer support to the families by helping them find suitable employment.

Samir Khalaf with the ministry said the program aims to encourage displaced families to return to their homes, adding this cannot happen without the financial support offered by a steady job.

The program includes job training and possible grants of between $2,000 and $2,500 through a program with Refugees International.

Khalaf said the program was part of ministerial efforts to close the files on the millions of displaced throughout the year.

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(Edited by Daniel Graeber)