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Major events in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and neighbouring [Kuwait News Agency](Kuwait News Agency Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) | countries in 2013 KUWAIT, Dec 25 (KUNA) -- The following is a KUNA roundup of top events that took place in the six member states of the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in addition to Yemen, Iraq and Iran during the year 2013. Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC): =============================== December 9 -- The complementary meeting of the GCC ministerial council convened in Kuwait to discuss and review the draft resolution and the draft final statement. December 10 -- The activities of 34th GCC Supreme Council Summit kicked off and was headed by His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. December 11 -- The 34th GCC Supreme Council Summit activities concluded and conferees agreed to continue negotiations regarding the six countries union stage. They also agreed on steps aimed integration of the member countries' markets, as well as establishing a untied military command and GCC police. The GCC leaders condemned the Iranian occupation of three UAE islands and acts of genocides committed by Al-Assad regime in Syria. January 8 -- GCC Secretariat General welcomed accepting its membership as an observer in the Federation of Arab News Agencies. January 26 -- The GCC-Yemen Joint Technical Committee held its 12th meeting at the GCC General Secretariat in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. February 14 -- The GCC affirmed its rejection of Iran's initiative to enlist the current circumstances in Syria and Bahrain in the agenda of the international meeting to be held between Iran and the P5+1 on the Iranian nuclear program. June 3 -- The US-GCC dialogue forum on commerce and investments kicked off at the GCC General Secretariat's headquarters. The meetings of the GCC Ministerial Council: ============================================== March 3 -- The GCC ministerial Council held its 125th session in Riyadh. It approved the agreement signed between Kuwait and Iraq to regulate maritime navigation at Khur Abdullah and the ageement to drop law suits against the Iraqi Airways. June 2 -- The GCC foreign ministers meeting held its 127th session in Jeddah, approving the GCC document on the guiding strategy of the GCC e-government. The ministers of commerce and economy: ====================================== February 19 -- The GCC and Turkey approved the 2013/2015 joint commerce and investments work plan. May 8 -- The GCC Commerce Cooperation Committee held its 46th meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. June 2 -- The GCC ministers of finance and economy held their 96th extraordinary meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. November 5 -- The GCC Chambers of Commerce and Industry Union met in Doha to prepare a study on challenges facing the Gulf economic union. Ministers of industry: ====================== May 8 -- GCC Industrial Cooperation Committee held their 36th meeting in Riyadh. September 9 -- GCC industry undersecretaries met in Riyadh to unify classifications of industrial activities and statistics and amendments proposed on the united industrial regulations law. Media: ====== January 14 -- GCC ministers of information held a consultative meeting in Cairo to prepare for the ministerial conference of the Arab league council for media ministers at the league's headquarters. May 19 -- The 15th meeting of GCC Radio officials held in Riyadh. They agreed on launching "The Voice of GCC" Radio broadcast from Kuwait during the 34th GCC Supreme Council Conference. May 27 -- GCC news agencies senior officials concluded their talks in Riyadh. September 2 -- GCC Government Social Media Summit launched in Dubai. October 1 -- GCC media ministers held their 21st meeting in Manamah, Bahrain and discussed means to support joint media action. October 2 -- GCC culture ministers held their 19th meeting in Manamah, Bahrain following which the importance of media and cultural movement in supporting relations between member countries was stressed. October 9 -- The GCC Supreme Council's Consultative Authority held its 23rd session in Muscat, Oman discussing GCC media related visions regarding the latest technological developments. Environment: ============ February 5 -- GCC environment ministers and senior officials met in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia where they adopted Kuwait's proposal on a GCC environment united centre. December 5 -- GCC environment ministgers and senior officials met in Manama, Bahrain approving a number of proposals in contribution of high quality of environment cooperation. Customs: ======== September 8 -- The fourth meeting for GCC Customs Union Authority kicked off in Riyadh to work on completing the requirements of customs union between member countries, and setting appropriate mechanisms including tobacco taxes. October 5 -- The GCC Finance and Economic Cooperation Committee during its 97th session approved the application steps of the GCC customs union and goods movement. Security Meetings: ================== March 31 -- The GCC committee in charge of protection of petrochemical installations convened its 2nd meeting in Abu Dhabi, UAE. May 21 -- The GCC heads of traffic departments concluded activities of their 30th meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. July 4 -- The extraordinary meeting of the GCC interior undersecretaries kicked off in Riyadh. September 1 -- The GCC Directors-General for Passports, Naturalization and Residency Departments discussed during their meeting in Doha joint security work and means to accelerate the process of electronic connection between member states to facilitate transport. October 1 -- The 30th meeting of the GCC Social Affairs and Development Ministerial Council commenced in Manamah and discussed means to face unemployment and the significance of the private sector's contribution in development. Health: ======= July 15 -- The Executive Board of the GCC Health Ministerial Council announced the launch of the 5th Gulf Excellence Award in the health media under the title of "Physical Activity." November 26: The participants in the Second Gulf Conference on Complementary Medicine was held in Riyadh and called for a GCC center for complementary medicine researches and inclusion of prophetic medicine. Youth: ====== May 20 -- The 27th meeting for GCC youth and sports ministers was held in Bahrain. October 8 -- Iraqi Sports and Youth Ministry announced withdrawal from the 22nd GCC football cup tournament in protest of moving the venue of the games from Basra, Iraq to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - Other GCC meetings: =================== March 16 -- GCC Heads of anti-corruption bodies held their meeting in Riyadh. March 31 -- GCC government bodies in charge of human rights held their 5th meeting in Riyadh. April 21 -- The 17th meeting of GCC countries'' secretary generals of Shura, House of Representatives and National Assemblies convened in Muscat. July 10 -- GCC Tourism Committee discussed during its sixth meeting held in Abu Dhabi the unified tourist visa. September 9: GCC culture undersecretaries during their preparatory meeting in Riyadh discussed means of electronic connection between the cultural institutions and national libraries. October 29 -- The sixth meeting of GCC Committee for Occupational Safety and Health was held in Doha. November 5 -- The 11th GCC Banking and Financial Markets Conference convened in Abu Dhabi, UAE and participants stressed the importance of enhancing cooperation between GCC countries' banking sectors. December 5 -- The Turkish-Gulf Real Estate Congress kicked off in Istanbul with the participation of a number of Gulf economic figures and more than 100 investment, real estate, and banking institutions. GCC sports: =========== October 30 -- The 23rd GCC's Water Games Championship concluded competitions in Muscat, Oman where Kuwait clinched five gold medals. November 10 -- Oman wins the second GCC Women Volleyball Championship which convened In Muscat, Oman. Saudi Arabia: Interior affairs: =============================== January 7 -- The 5th International Conference on Water Resources and Arid Environments was held in Riyadh. It was aimed at enrichment of the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Water Prize for Water. January 14 -- The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz issued two royal decrees assigning Prince Saud Bin Nayef Bin Abdulaziz as the governor of Kingdom's Eastern Region and Prince Faisal Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz as governor of the Holy city of Madina. January 21 -- The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz launched an initiative to increase the capitals of Arab financial institutions by an amount that is not less than 50 percent of its current value. The initiative also covers a similar percentage of the capitals of the joint Arab companies in order to expand the activities and boost the participation of the Arab private sector. January 21 -- The Third Arab Economic and Social Development Summit was held in Riyadh during which 21 Arab countries took part. On February 1 -- The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz issued a royal decree appointing Prince Migren Bin Abdulaziz as 2nd Deputy Prime Minister. February 5 -- The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz issued a royal decree relieving Chairman of the Capital Market Authority (CMA) Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Tuwaijri and appointing Mohammed bin Abdulmalik Al-Sheikh instead. February 12 -- The Saudi Royal Diwan announced the death of Riyadh of Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz al-Saud. Febreuary 14 -- The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abudulaziz issued a royal decree appointing Prince Khalid Bin Bander Bin Abdulaziz as the new governor of Riyadh. May 21 -- The Saudi Interior Ministry announced the arrest of 10 people, including eight Saudis, and an Iranian and Turkish nationals on charges of espionage in cooperation with the Iranian intelligence agencies. June 23 -- The Saudi government approved modification of the official working days to start on Sunday and end on Thursday. Friday and Saturday became the week-end days. August 1 -- The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz launched a number of industrial and development projects at the cost of Saudi Riyals 327 billion. August 6 -- The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulziz assigned Prince Salman Bin Sultan Bin Abdulaziz as Deputy Defense Minister. He was the Assistant Secretary General of Saudi National Security Council for Security and Intelligence Affairs. August 19 -- The Saudi Royal Diwan announced the death of Prince Musad Bin Abdulaziz. The Shura Council: ================== January 11 -- The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz issued two royal decrees allowing the participation of women in Saudi Shura Council, and forming the four-year-term 150-member new Shura Council which included 30 women. June 3 -- The Saudi Shura Council approved the agreement between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in the field of air transport. Foreign affairs: ================ October 17 -- Saudi Arabia was elected as a non-permanent member in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for 2014-1015. Riyadh rejected the nomination on grounds the UNSC needed reforms, and is practically and actively becoming capable of standing up to its responsibilities in protecting international security and safety. Achievements: ============= January 11 -- The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulziz instructed the Ministry of Finance to offer urgent relief valued at USD 10 million to Syrian refugees in Jordan. February 11 -- The General Organization of Sea Water Desalination announced establishment of world's largest water desalination plant with the capacity of up to 600,000 cubic meters per day. July 9 -- The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulziz gave instructions to provide financial aid valued at US five billion to support the deteriorating Egyptian economy. August 17 -- The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulziz issued instructions to send three field hospitals with full medical staff to Egypt. August 20 -- Saudi Arabia sent urgent financial aid valued at USD 10 million to Sudan to people affected by floods that hit various parts of Sudan. Disasters: ========== April 30 -- Civil Defense rescue teams in Riyadh announced the death of two women, two men and a child as result of the floods that hit various parts of the country. May 1 -- General Directorate of the Saudi Civil Defense announced the death of 25 people due to floods that hit the country. - Qatar: ====== Internal affairs: ================= June 22 -- Qatar Museums Authority nominated Al-Zabara city to UNESCO World Heritage sites list. June 25 -- Crown Prince Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani became Amir following abdication of the of his father, Amir Sheikh Hamad Al-Thani. June 26 -- New Amir Sheikh Tamim issued a decree forming the new government. Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa was appointed as Prime Minister. July 17 -- Qatar embarked on the first stage of its new social and health insurance regime covering female Qatari nationals aged 12 and above. November 5 -- Qatar Amir opened the 42nd annual session of the Shura council. Foreign Affairs: ================ January 27 -- Qatar covered the expenses of Syrian refugee students studying in the Syrian and Jordanian schools in Qatar. January 29 -- Qatar and Greece signed an agreement establishing a joint fund for small and medium size enterprises in Greece. March 5 -- The Qatari-Saudi joint committee signed a number of security, economic, diplomat agreements. June 18 -- Political bureau of the Taliban movement opened in Qatar. June 22 -- French President Francois Hollande opened the French-Qatari school in Qatar. August 12 -- Qatar sent urgent relief aid to Sudan for the flood victims. August 27 -- Qatar and South Korea signed an agreement on urban planning and infrastructure. October 1 -- First batch of relief aid left Doha to Pakistan to help victims of the earthquake that hit Baluchistan. Economy: ======== January 14 -- Qatar Bank Group posted record profit of QAR 8.3 billion during 2012, an increase by 11.1 percent from 2011. January 23 -- Qatar Bank Group increased its shares in the Qatar-Tunisian bank to reach 99.96 percent. March 4 -- Ooredoo telecom said its profits in 2012 were recorded at QAR 2. 9 billion. March 31 -- Qatar statistics authority announced achievement of an economic growth of 12.2 percent in 2012. National production exceeded QAR 700 billion. May 20 -- An agreement was signed to establish joint-stock Qatari energy and water company operating outside the country. The company's capital was at USD two billion. June 6 -- Qatar railway company (RAIL) announced a QAR 30 billion tender to establish a train network in the country. June 12 -- Qatar International Petroleum Marketing Company Ltd. (Tasweeq) exported the first shipment of aircraft fuel. July 22 -- Qatargas sold its first shipment of liquefied natural gas to Malaysia. September 10 -- The Euromoney Qatar Conference 2013 began with the participation of world financial figures and investors. Conferences, exhibitions, forums: ================================= January 7 -- The fourth conference for Arab Union of Electricity began in Doha. January 11 -- The international conference on speeches and debates began with the participation of 300 researchers from 38 nations. January 13 -- The international conference on transforming gas to liquid was held in the capital Doha with the participation of 400 experts from 30 countries. January 15 -- The fifth regional conference on preventing non-profit organizations from funding terrorist groups began in the Qatari capital, Doha. January 21 -- The GCC economic forum began in Qatar. January 22 -- Third anti-human trafficking conference held. February 27 -- Energy future forecast conference started in Qatar. March 12 -- The seventh edition of the World Cargo Symposium began in Doha with the participation of over a 1,000 world experts. March 31 -- Partners in humanitarian aid conference began with the participation of representatives from 70 nations. April 23 -- Qatar hosted the tenth dialogue of religions conference. June 9 -- The 10th America and The Islamic World Forum convened. July 2 -- The World First Conference For Contrive of The Holy Quran was held. November 11 -- The 4th International Businesswomen Conference began in Doha. Sports: ======= March 4 -- The Spanish Barcelona Football Club signs an advertisment agreement to wear the Qatar Airways shirts during the 2015-2016 season. August 27 -- Barcelona signed a 96 million euro sponsorship agreement with Qatar Airways. November 2 -- Italy clinched the gold medal in the 2nd World Military Championship in Doha. Ten countries took part. The Sultanate of Oman: ====================== Internal affairs: ================= January 15 -- Omani Sultan Qaboos Bin Saed starts his annual tour of the country to inspect the conditions of the Omani people. January 21 -- An Omani ammunition company was established. April 7 -- Oman shifted weekends from Thursday and Friday to Friday and Saturday for both the private and public sectors. Conferences, Exhibitions, Forums: ================================= January 15 -- Oman International Emergency Medicines Conference opened in Muscat. February 4 -- A conference entitled "Opportunities and Challenges in Attraction of Foreign Investments in the Middle East and North Africa" convened. February 11 -- UNICEF and UNESCO organized the 1st Childhood conference in the Omani capital Muscat. March 3 -- The annual conference for the Arab Federation of Stock Exchange began in Oman. May 5 -- Oman Energy and Water Conference convened with the participation of 70 renowned speakers. May 19 -- Oman Press Week began with the participation of over 400 GCC and Arab media personnel. Petroleum and Energy: ===================== March 3 -- Oman announced discovery of around 2.9 trillion cubic meters of natural gas in. the northern territories. March 10 -- Oman Oil Company announced four percent increase of its crude production. July 1 -- Oman said that its average oil production have reached 930,000 barrels per day in the first quarter of 2013. August 14 -- Oman announced that its reserves of unexcavated oil have reached 50 billion barrels and that around five billion barrels of reserves are produceable. September 4 -- Oman and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding to import USD 55 billion worth of Iranian natural gas during the next 20 years. - Major events in Yemen: Internal Affairs: ================= January 18 -- Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi issued a decree to establish a general secretariat of the conference of the comprehensive national dialogue and appointed a member of the preparatory committee for the dialogue, Dr. Awad Ahmed bin Mubarak, as secretary-general to him. January 27 -- Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi held a meeting in Sanaa with UN Security Council members and ambassadors of ten countries sponsoring the Gulf initiative and representatives of all political parties to follow up on the implementation of Security Council resolutions 2014 and 2051. February 7 -- Ten Yemeni soldiers were killed and at least 20 others were wounded in explosion of a weapons depot belonging to an army camp in Hajjah province west of Yemen. February 19 -- Yemeni Ministry of Defense declared technical fault led to a sudden crash of a fighter belonging to the Yemeni air force in the middle of a residential area of the capital Sanaa, killing 12 people and wounding nine others. February 14 -- UN Security Council threatened to impose sanctions on the former Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh and anyone seeking to undermine efforts to ensure success of the transitional process for democracy in Yemen . March 2 -- Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi threatened to refer any citizens trying to hinder the settlement policy in his country to the International Court of Justice. March 5 -- The Interior Ministry said it had punished more than 12,000 policemen and officers for crimes during performance of their duties in 2012. March 18 -- The conference for comprehensive national dialogue started in Sanaa with participation of President Abed Rabbou Mansour Hadi, GCC Secretary General Dr. Abdul Latif Al-Zayani and envoy of the Secretary-Heneral of the United Nations Jamal bin Omar. March 24 -- Representatives of the Houthis's "Supporters of God" movement suspension of their participation in the national dialogue conference in Yemen for 24 hours in protest of the assassination attempt against undersecretary of Jawf province, Abdul Wahid Abu Ras. March 29 -- Yemeni government renewed its demand for the U.S. government to hand over 90 of its detainees in two of its prisons in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Bagram in Afghanistan, and bring them back to their country . April 15 -- Yemen and the Arab League signed, at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the League, the statute of the Arab Union for Natural Reserves. April 16 -- The Yemeni government decided to establish a regional center for maritime information exchange in implementation of the Djibouti Code of Conduct on suppression of piracy and armed robbery against ships western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden. July 7 -- The Scretary General of the United Nations' envoy, Jamal bin Omar, met the Houthis leader, Abdulmalik al-Houthi, in Saada province in northern Yemen . July 9 -- The Yemeni government decided to form a ministerial committee of 12 ministers to review what has been implemented from among 20 points approved by the technical committee for national dialogue and end the injustices afflicting natives of the southern provinces and the northern province Saada. July 29 -- Central Bank of Yemen said the country foreign debt amounted to USD seven billion and US 80 million until end of May, 2013 . August 1 -- US President Barack Obama after a meeting that gathered him with Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi at the White House declared desire of both countries to strengthen bilateral relations and affirmed Washington's for Yemen's stability, unity and prosperity. August 3 -- Embassies of Britain, France, and the United States and Germany in the Yemeni capital Sanaa were shut, due to security developments. September 8 -- Office of the UN envoy, Jamal bin Omar, said representatives of factions of the Southern Movement would resume taking part in the national dialogue. November 8 -- Naval military exercises began between the Yemeni and French forces in the Yemeni territorial waters in the Red Sea. December 1 -- Steering committee of the West Asian Football Eighth Championship declared apology of the Yemeni team for not participating in the tournament to be hosted by Doha between December 25 and January 7. December 9 -- Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi declared a decree setting up a special compensation fund for employers whose lands have been seized, civilian and military personnel who have been dismissed from their jobs in the southern provinces since July 1994. Oil and Energy: =============== January 12 -- Pumping crude oil via the export pipeline resumed after a two-day stoppage as a result of a sabotage attack, carried out by tribal militants in the area Sroakh in Marib governorate in northern Yemen. May 26 -- Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi asked the Ministry of Oil to provide facilities and information to the French company Total to expand its operations in the country. May 29 -- Yemen's Safer Oil Company announced discovery of a new gas field in Marib northeast of the country with an output capacity of 7.2 million cubic feet per day. Assistance: =========== January 16 -- The Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development granted Yemen 15 million dollars for funding industries and small enterprises. February 27 -- The Yemeni government signed with the World Bank three financing agreements worth 206 million dollars related to social affairs, basic education and roads. March 7 -- The fifth international ministerial conference, "Friends of Yemen," was held in London. During the same day, Germany financial aid worth 5. 1 euros to support the political process in Yemen. March 11 -- Yemen and Japan signed an agreement under which Tokyo would provide aid worth 2.47 million dollars to support the national dialogue conference and presidential elections in 2014. March 23 -- Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KAFED), signed a loan agreement with Yemen under which the fund offers 15 million Kuwaiti dinars to help finance road projects and the rural community. March 31 -- KFAED signed an agreement with the Yemeni government to fund a project to develop a network transmission and distribution of electricity in the province of Aden, South Yemen, at a cost of 35 million dollars. April 6 -- World Food Program and the Yemeni government signed two memoranda of understanding under which the program is to provide relief assistance, worth USD 250 million, to Yemenis affected with events in Yemen in 2011. April 14 -- Yemeni government received USD 25 million worth of food aid provided by the Japanese government for supporting humanitarian and relief activities for the people. April 21 -- President of the Kuwaiti Football Association Sheikh Talal Al-Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah inaugurated the Kuwaiti team mosque which was built at the expense of the team members at a cost of USD 210,000 in Mansoura, Aden in southern Yemen. April 22 -- Yemeni government and the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development signed three agreements, worth USD 203 million, to fund reconstruction projects in Abyan in southern Yemen, equip the hospital at the University of Aden and renovate Sanaa-Hadeed main road. June 3 -- Yemen and the United States signed an agreement according to which Washington would increase its to Yemen by USD 20 million per annum, thus the annual American support for the country would reached USD 200 million. June 13 -- Arab Monetary Fund agreed to lend to Yemen USD 100 million. July 15 -- The UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs declard a plan to launch a humanitarian campaign, worth USD 702 million, to relieve more than seven million poor people in Yemen . July 26 -- Islamic Development Bank announced signing two agreements with Yemen, worth USD 18 million, as contribution to support of the program to develop rural areas the industrial zone in Hodeidah Governorate. September 8 -- Global Fund for Food Security decided to grant USD 36 million to Yemen. November 11 -- Yemeni government signed with the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development in Sanaa a new agreement worth 50 million dollars to support private small and medium industries. November 24 -- Yemen signed an agreement with Qatar according to which Doha would grant USD 350 million to southern natives. November 25 -- Yemeni government and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (FAD) signed a memorandum of understanding to finance development of local communities in coastal areas, valued at USD 11 million. November 26 -- World Food Program declared signing two agreements with Yemen whereby the WFP would allocate USD 495 million to help in tackling food shortage. Al-Qaeda and terrorism: ======================= January 16 -- Two unidentified gunmen assassinated the deputy security chief of the province of Dhamar, Colonel Abdullah Almuchka, on a Sanaa street. January 24 -- Yemen confirmed killing of the deputy chief of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, the Saudi Said al-Shihri, in a raid in Saada province in northern Yemen. February 3 -- A Yemeni state security court specializing in terrorism cases prosecuted about 200 al-Qaeda members , including 25 people of Arab and foreign nationalities. February 14 -- Suspected Al-Gaeda gunmen assassinated the security chief, and two companions, in Al-Baidaa in southeast Yemen. February 24 -- The UN Committee of Experts, tasked with investigating case of discovering arms aboard the Iranian ship Jehan-1, started investigations in Sanaa. March 4 -- Yemeni Ministry of Defense said about 11 people were killed and 16 wounded in a suicide attack by al-Qaeda militants on the popular committees; offices in the harbor, Lauder, south of Yemen. March 7 -- The interior ministry said Yemeni declared seizing a foreign ship loaded with weapons on the island Alswaba located in the Red Sea near the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb. April 8 -- Gulf of Aden Conference for Combating Terrorism was held in Sana'a, with participation of representatives of some Arab and foreign countries. April 17 -- Yemeni Ministry of Defense said five members of al-Qaeda were killed in an air strike on one of the strongholds of the organization in Dhamar province, central Yemen. April 27 -- The Chief of Central Intelligence in Hadramout, Brigadier Ahmed Abdul Razak, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in the area Fouh in the city of Mukalla, capital of the province. May 8 -- Three military pilots were killed in the province Hota, south Yemen, in an attack by unidentified gunmen. May 13 -- Tribal gunmen kidnapped, in Abyan province in south Yemen, a Swiss citizen working for the International Committee of the Red Cross -- named Daniel Kalfora . June 1 -- Suspected Al-Qaeda gunmen assassinated police Brigadier General Yahya Abrisa and Brigadier Abdul Rahman Aashkil in two separate incidents in the eastern province of Hadramout. June 5 -- Yemeni Ministry of Defense announced killing seven members of Al-Qaeda and destroying weapons caches belonging to the organization in the area, Gail Bawazeer, Hadramout, southeastern Yemen. June 10 -- Yemeni Ministry of Defense declared arrest of an Al-Qaeda chief in the region, Gail Bawazeer. June 14 -- Tribal militants blew up an oil pipeline in Marib, northeast of Yemen. July 3 -- Unidentified gunmen assassinated a colonel in the Hadramout. July 21 -- the Iranian embassy in Sanaa confirmed that unidentified gunmen kidnapped one of the embassy workers to his residence in the capital Sanaa. August 1 -- Four people were killed in a U.S. drone attack in the eastern province of Hadramout. August 21 -- Security chief Col. Ali Hadi and his nephew were killed by by elements belonging to Al-Qaeda in Aden in southern Yemen. August 31 -- Convoy of the President of the Government of National Reconciliation in Yemen, Mohammed Salem Basendwah, was fired upon by by unknown gunmen, in Sanaa . August 25 -- Six soldiers were killed and 15 were wounded in a suicide attack on their bus while traveling north of Sanaa . October 11 -- Gunmen assassinated deputy director of the Military Academy, Colonel Ali Omar Vrihan Gail Bawazeer, in Hadramout province east of Yemen. November 8 -- Five members of Al-Qaeda were killed in two air strikes that targeted a base of the organization in Abyan province in southern Yemen. November 16 -- Up to 34 people were wounded when a gunman chased by security forces threw a hand-grenade at a popular market crowded with shoppers in province of Hodeidah in western Yemen. November 18 -- Eight soldiers were killed in an ambush by gunmen suspected of belonging to Al-Qaeda in Shabwa province, eastern Yemen. November 22 -- Unidentified gunmen riding a motorcycle assassinated a member of the parliamentary member and participant in the national dialogue, Abdul Karim Zaid. November 26 -- Gunmen assassinated the director of training at the Police College, Colonel Ahmed Ismail Algehdra, in the center of the capital Sanaa. December 1 -- Defense Ministry announced death of the deputy commander of the Armored Brigade 37, Colonel Ahmed Mohsen Almrphia. He was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in the city of Hadramout. December 5 -- Up to 52 people were killed or wounded in a terrorist attack that the hospital of the Defense Ministry in Sanaa. December 8 -- Militants blew up a main oil pipeline to transport in Shabwa province. December 10 -- Yemeni authorities announced that two Dutch citizens were freed after six months in captivity. December 12 -- Seventeen people were killed in an air strike by an unmanned drone in the province of Al-Bayda. Iraq: ===== Terrorism: ========= January 3 -- Twenty Iraqis were killed and 25 others were wounded in a car bomb explosion north of the province of Babylon January 15 -- A member of the Security and Defence Commission of the Iraqi List, Aifan Al-Issawi, was killed in a suicide bombing in the center of Fallujah in western Iraq. January 16 -- Twelve people were killed and 165 others were injured in a car bomb explosion in Kirkuk and Tuz Khurmatu, north of Baghdad. January 17 -- Ten members of Al-Qaeda were killed in a raid carried out by the Iraqi army that targeted their hideouts in the western province of Al-Anbar. January 23 -- Forty-five people were killed and at least 75 others were wounded in a suicide bombing at a funeral in the district of Tuz, south of Kirkuk in northern Iraq. January 26 -- Brigadier Sarhad Qader was killed in a gunfire attack by unknown assailants in the district Tuz south of Kirkuk. February 3 -- Up to 30 people were killed and 75 others were wounded in a suicide car bomb attack in Kirkuk. The bombing was followed with an armed attack against the police directorate building. February 8 -- Up to 31 Iraqis were killed and 94 others were wounded in explosions of four car bombs in Baghdad and Babil province. February 9 -- Six Iranians were killed and 50 others, including members of the Iraqi police, were wounded in an attack with mortar shells that targeted Camp Liberty, manned by members of the Iranian opposition group, Khalq. February 16 -- Brigadier General in the Iraqi Army, Awni Ali, was killed in a suicide bombing attack on him as he came out of his house with two of his companions in Tal-Afar district. February 17 -- Up to 62 people including a number of police officers and dozens others were injured in a series of explosions in different areas in the capital, Baghdad. February 28 -- Ten people were killed and 12 others were injured in a double blast in neighborhoods north-west of the Iraqi capital Baghdad. March 4 -- Up to 42 Syrian soldiers seven Iraqi soldiers were killed in an ambush by gunmen near the Iraqi-Syrian border. March 19 -- Ten Iraqis were killed and 50 others injured in three car bombs in Taji, north of Baghdad . March 26 -- Local official in Tuz Khurmatu, Qadir Al-Naimi, and member of the provincial council in Salahuddin for the Kurdish bloc, Rashid Khurshid, were killed in a bomb attack on their convoy south of Kirkuk in northern Iraq. March 29 -- Up to 26 Iraqis were killed and 65 others were wounded in a series of car bombings that targeted a group of religious centers in different parts of Baghdad. April 6 -- Ten people were killed and 25 others were wounded an attack that an electoral rally in Diyala province, northeast of the Iraqi capital Baghdad. April 12 -- Thirteen people were killed 28 others were wounded in a double bombing that targeted worshippers in the city of Baquba, the largest city in the province of Diyala. April 14 -- Najm Al-Harbi, an electoral candidate in list of Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq, was killed in attack on his motorcade in the city of Muqdadiyah north of Diyala. April 15 -- Up to 33 Iraqis were killed 65 others were wounded in a series of explosions that hit different parts of the capital Baghdad. April 16 -- Up to 21 members of the Al-Qaeda were executed after being found guilty of committing terrorist acts. April 18 -- Ten people were killed in a bomb explosion in a gymnasium west of the Iraqi capital Baghdad. April 23 -- More than 120 people were killed or wounded in clashes between Iraqi security forces and demonstrators in Hawija southwest of Kirkuk. April 29 -- Up to 14 Iraqis were killed and 89 others were wounded in a roadside bomb and four car bomb blasts in southern cities and areas Amarah and Diwaniyah, Karbala and Musayyib. May 4 -- Dean pf the College of Management and Economics at the University of Anbar, Dr. Khalil Khalaf, was assassinated by an unknown gunman in the city of Fallujah in western Iraq. May 6 -- Up to 23 Iraqis were killed 34 others were wounded in a series of bombings that hit the capital Baghdad. May 12 -- A member of the Basra provincial council, Ali Hussein Ali, was assassinated by unknown persons in the area of Abul-Khaseeb in Basra. May 15 -- Up to 59 people were killed or wounded in five blasts that targeted different parts of the Iraqi capital. May 17 -- Up to 22 Iraqis were killed and 40 others were wounded in a two bomb blasts in city of Baquba. May 20 -- Up to 22 Iraqis were killed and 60 others were wounded in a wave of bombings in different districts of the capital. In the same day 14 people were killed in two blasts in Basra. May 21 -- Fourteen people were killed and dozens others injured in two terrorist blasts in Baghdad. May 29 -- Fourteen people were killed and 35 others were wounded in a violent bombing attack that targeted a wedding party in the Jihad neighborhood southwest of the capital Baghdad. The next day, 12 civilians were killed and 54 others were wounded in three separate explosions in Baghdad. June 5 -- Up to 14 passengers died in the desert Nukhaib Anbar in western Iraq by unknown gunmen disguised as military personnel. June 7 -- Up to 15 Iranians were killed and 40 others were wounded in a suicide bombing on two buses carrying Iranian pilgrims near Muqdadiya district, located in the north east of Baghdad. The next day, 14 people were killed and 68 others wounded in a series of bombings and acts of violence in different parts of Baghdad and Mosul. June 10 -- Up to 23 Iraqis were killed and 42 others, mostly policemen and military personnel, were wounded in five car bomb blasts that targeted police stations, joint security patrols and convoy of the Army in different parts of the northern city of Mosul. On the same day, 10 people were killed in a car bomb explosion in Salahuddin province north of Baghdad. Ten people were also killed on the same day in a double bombing that targeted a popular market in Diyala province, northeast of the Iraqi capital Baghdad. June 16 -- Ten Iraqis were killed and 32 others were injured in a car bomb explosion in a market in the city of Najaf. On the same day, 13 Iraqi civilians were killed and wounded others in a series of car bombs that targeted Iraqi cities. - June 18 -- At least 12 people were killed and 28 others were wounded in a suicide bombing at a gathering of students at the gate of a university in Baghdad. June 19 -- A candidate in the local elections of Nineveh province and the head of the "United Iraq," Sheikh Yunis Al-Rammah and four of his brothers were killed in a suicide bombing that targeted a house in the district of the Urban south of Mosul. June 22 -- Up to 18 Iraqis were killed and 32 others were wounded in a suicide attack against a Shiite congregation at Al-Rahman Mosque north of the capital. June 25 -- Up to 12 Iraqis were killed and 26 others injured due to explosions that targeted two football fields in the capital Baghdad and Diyala province. On the same day, 18 people were killed and 50 others, including Turkmen officials, were killed in twin suicide bombings that targeted Turkmen protestors in Tuz, south of Kirkuk. June 26 -- Ten Iraqis were killed 16 others were wounded in a bomb blast at a cafe in Doura district south of the capital Baghdad. June 27 -- Up to 14 Iraqis were killed and 36 others were wounded in an explosion that hit a cafeteria packed with youth in Antara Adhamiya district of northern Baghdad. The next day, 19 Iraqis were killed and 42 others were seriously injured in a double suicide bombing that targeted a funeral in the district of Dujail. June 30 -- The coach of Karbala Iraqi Football team, Mohammed Abbas, was killed as a result of an assault. July 2 -- Up to 56 Iraqis were killed and 120 others were wounded in bombings in the Iraqi capital Baghdad. July 3 -- Colonel Saeed Salem Hadi, personnel of the political security (intelligence) in the city of Mukalla, Hadramout province east of the country, was assassinated by unidentified gunmen. July 5 -- Up to 14 Iraqis were killed and 34 others were injured in a suicide bombing attack on a Hussienieh north of the capital Baghdad . July 11 -- Up to 30 people killed and dozens were wounded in three terrorist attacks in Dujail, Sharqat and Muqdadiyah. July 13 -- Up to 40 people were killed and 22 others were injured when a bomb exploded inside a cafe south of Kirkuk. July 19 -- Up to 32 Iraqis were killed and 44 others were wounded in attacks, one with a bomb and the other with explosives packed into a belt worn by an attacker, in Abu Bakr Siddiq Muqdadiyah northeast of Baghdad . The next day, 14 people were killed in a series of explosions that hit the Iraqi capital Baghdad. July 22 -- Eleven soldiers were killed and 28 others were in a suicide attack on a military convoy north of the Iraqi capital. July 24 -- Up to 12 people were killed in separate attacks targeting Iraqi capital Baghdad and southern Wasit province. The next day: Up to 15 people were killed and several others were wounded in two attacks by gunmen in Amiriya west of Baghdad and the town of Muqdadiyah in Diyala province northeast of Baghdad. July 29 -- Up to 18 Iraqis were killed and 91 others were wounded in a wave of bombings in the Iraqi capital. The next day: 11 Iraqis were 18 others were wounded a car bomb explosion in the town of Tarmiya, north of Baghdad . August 6 -- Up to 23 people were killed in a series of attacks targeting different parts of the Iraqi capital Baghdad . August 14 -- Fifteen people were killed when two bombs exploded in Diyala province, northeast of the Iraqi capital. The next day, 29 people were killed in a series of bomb blasts and car bombs in the Iraqi capital Baghdad. August 25 -- Up to 52 Iraqis, mostly civilians, were killed and 119 others were injured in a wave of violence in Baghdad, Diyala province and other regions. August 28 -- Up to 40 people were killed and scores were wounded in a series of explosions in different areas of the Iraqi capital Baghdad. September 3 -- Some 30 Iraqis died and 96 others were wounded 96 in nine car bomb explosions in different parts of the capital. September 7 -- Iraqi government forces arrested Abu Abdullah Al-Masri, a chief of Al-Qaeda in Mosul. September 11 -- Up to 30 people lost their life in a suicide bombing attack at a Shiite shrine in Baghdad. On the same day , unidentified gunmen assassinated Assistant Director of the Department of Homeland Security in Kirkuk, Aydan Musa Al-Bayati, in the center of the province. September 13 -- Up to 35 people were killed and 30 others injured in two blasts near a mosque in Diyala province, northeast of the Iraqi capital Baghdad. September 30 -- Up to 45 Iraqis died and 120 others were wounded in a wave of car bombings and roadside bombs in different areas of the Iraqi capital. October 7 -- Up to 35 Iraqis died and 113 others were wounded in a series of explosions that hit different parts of Baghdad. November 7 -- Up to 22 Iraqi security personnel were killed and 26 others were wounded in coordinated suicide attacks targeting military headquarters north of the capital Baghdad. November 10 -- Twelve people were killed and 23 others were injured in bomb that exploded inside a popular restaurant in the northern city of Mosul. December 13 -- Eighteen workers, mostly Iranians, were killed and seven others were injured during an armed attack on a gas pipeline between Iraq and Iran, east of Baquba. The next day, 12 people were killed by explosion of a car bomb south of the Iraqi capital. Internal Affairs: ================= February 7 -- Iraqi forces destroyed 33 trucks loaded with large quantities of fuel while being smuggled out of Iraq. February 23 -- Iraq began digging a 230-km-long tunnel along the Iraqi-Syrian border to prevent infiltrations and smuggling between the two countries. April 28 -- Iraqi information and telecommunication authority decided to suspend eight satellite television channels for adopt a sectarian speech in the wake of the events of Hawija. - Parliamentary Affairs: ====================== January 26 -- Iraqi parliament voted on a bill which prevents any person from assuming the presidency of the Iraqi government for more than two elections and retroactively. March 1 -- Finance Minister Rafie Al-Issawi resigned, calling on the "Iraqi List" ministers to resign immediately from the government, saying "it hands were stained with the blood of innocent Iraqis." March 17 -- Up to 1,050 employees from the staff of the Electoral Commission in Iraq in Nineveh province resigned for receiving death threats. March 19 -- Sadrist ministers in the Iraqi government called for boycotting meetings of the Council of Ministers on the background of the government's decision to postpone local elections in the provinces of Nineveh and Anbar. May 4 -- Electoral Commission for elections in Iraq declared "Coalition of State Law" led by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, won majority of seats in provincial elections. June 24 -- Sadrist MP Qusay al-Suhail resigned as first vice president of the Iraqi parliament as a result of internal disputes among the Sadrists in parliament. July 4 -- The Iraqi parliament approved an agreement to set up a joint committee for cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Iraq and the Government of the State of Kuwait. Foreign Affairs: ================ June 27 -- UN Security Council voted unanimously on Resolution No. 2107, which partially relieves Iraq of provisions of Chapter VII of the UN Charter and ends task of the Special Coordinator of the United Nations responsible for missing Kuwaitis and Kuwaiti property, and transferred the mission to the UN mission for aiding Iraq, UNAMI. August 22 -- Kirkuk oil exports to Turkey stopped due to bombing a pipeline in Nineveh in northern Iraq . October 7 -- Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari received credentials of Ambassador Ghassan Yusuf Zawawi, as ambassador of Kuwait to Iraq . October 10 -- The UN mission to help Iraq, UNAMI, called for an immediate halt to all executions under way in Iraq, just hours after the execution of 42 convicts. Agreements: =========== January 17 -- European Parliament approved the agreement, Partnership and Cooperation, in Brussels, the first partnership agreement signed by the EU with Iraq that will strengthen the links between the two sides. January 29 -- The Cabinet approved the Iraq-Kuwait agreement on navigation in the Khor Abdullah. February 13 -- Iraq and Britain signed a cooperation agreement to promote trade. May 6 -- The Iraqi Air Force took delivery of three military transport planes from the US, according to a deal signed last year between Baghdad and Washington. May 26 -- Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari signed with the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations in Iraq, Martin Kobler, in Baghdad, the convention on delivery of financial compensation for damages assessed by the UN Security Council to compensate Iraqi farmers as part of the process of maintaining marks of the border between Iraq and Kuwait May 28 -- The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO in Paris signed with Iraq three agreements on "the voice of Iraq's cultural heritage" at a cost of about 3.4 million U.S. dollars. June 17 -- Iraq and the European Union signed in Baghdad the convention on establishment of a center for energy research. September 3 -- The Iraqi government agreed on a contract with two Chinese companies and one American firm to drill new wells in the field Maysan in southern Iraq at a cost of more than 347 million U.S. dollars. October 10 -- Iraqi government signed a contract with the Swiss company Satarm in Baghdad for the construction of an oil refinery at a cost of six billion U.S. dollars, with production capacity of 150 000 barrels per day . November 6 -- Transport Ministry signed a contract in Baghdad between Iraqi Airways and the business group, Bukhamseenm, the Kuwaiti Holding Company, for cooperation in the field of air transport . December 12 -- The Iraqi government struck a contract to buy 24 military plane from South Korea for the purposes of training and combat missions. Kurdistan region: ================ April 10 -- Ministry of Health in the Kurdistan region said 30 people lost their sight in the city of Irbil after receiving injections by mistake. The next day: The federal government agreed in Baghdad with the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq to the truce and the formation of joint committees to resolve the crisis between them. May 1 -- The president of Iraq's Kurdistan region, Massoud Barzani, agreed on the return of ministers and deputies of the Kurds to Baghdad to resume their work. May 9 -- Iraq's refusal to withdraw the PKK inside Iraqi territory as part of a settlement between the Turkish government party. September 21 -- The Iraqi Electoral Commission said voting percentage of the parliamentary elections of the Kurdistan region amounted to 73.9 %. September 28 -- Party the Kurdish region's president, Massoud Barzani, won local parliamentary elections. September 29 -- Six people were killed 35 were wounded in a series of explosions that targeted the headquarters of the security forces in the city of Irbil. Economy: ======= February 3 -- Iraqi market for securities witnessed the biggest shares' subscription in a single day in its history by selling 25 percent of the shares of the company Asia Cell communications. March 30 -- The North Oil Company announced resumption of oil exports from the Kirkuk oilfields to the Turkish port of Ceyhan, four days after it was bombed and damaged. April 3 -- The Iraqi Oil Ministry declared increase of the oil production to 3.15 million barrels of oil per day during March. June 25 -- The US Citibank U.S. opened a branch in the capital, Baghdad. September 21 -- Iraq began the process of oil production from the field in the province of Garraf, Dhi Qar, south of the country at a rate of 35,000 barrels per day. October 6 -- Iraq opened oil production in the Majnoon field in Basra province, one of the largest oil fields in the south of the country and the region with an initial production capacity of 175,000 barrels of oil per day. Disasters: ========= February 28 -- At least 100 people drowned in collapse of a floating restaurant on the River Tigris in central Baghdad. May 7 -- The Iraqi government earmarked more than two million U.S. dollars in compensation to victims of the flooding that swept through a number of villages and towns in southern Iraq. Sports: ====== Iraq withdrew football team from the Gulf Cup football (Khaleeji 22) in protest of the decision to move the tournament from Basra to Jeddah. Iran: Human Rights: ============= January 29 -- EU senior foreign policy and security Catherine Ashton expressed concern about the Supreme Court of Iran executions of five Arab activists from Al-Ahvaz. February 1 -- Reporters with Borders said Iran has become a "big prison" of the world for those working in the profession of journalism and bloggers. March 7 -- Reporters Without Borders called on Iran to release imprisoned journalists without conditions. March 12 -- Iran renewed its rejection of the UNHRC position, human rights rapporteur, and charged a report by the UN Special Rapporteur Ahmed Shaheed lacked neutrality and transparency. March 23 -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called on the Iranian authorities to immediately release the American pastor of Iranian origin, Saeed Abdini, who was accused of threatening national security . March 22 -- Iran rejected before the United Nations Human Rights Council a decision to extend the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights, Ahmed Shaheed, for another year. October 3 -- Reporters Without Borders condemned practices by the Iranian government threatening journalists working outside the country and intimidating their families in Iran. Nov 21 -- The International Federation of Journalists called on the Iranian government to release all detained journalists in the country. December 13 -- The United Nations announced start of an international mission to investigate cases of human rights violations in Iran. December 14 -- Iranian security authorities arrested a "spy" working for the British intelligence agency (M16) in the city of Kerman. Nuclear file: ============ January 11 -- Spanish police announced the dismantling of a network smuggling equipment used in Iran's nuclear program in violation of the embargo imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council. January 16 -- The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) delegation in Iran failed to resolve the outstanding issues in the nuclear program, especially regarding the military dimensions. February 13 -- Iran's permanent envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Ali Asghar Soltanieh said negotiations with Iran and the IAEA, held in Tehran, resulted in the settlement of some of the differences between the two parties. February 13 -- Iran announced installation of centrifuges of the new generation for nearly a month in a facility, Natanz, for enrichment of uranium by less than 5 percent. February 21 -- Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Yukiya Amano called on Iran once again to allow in international inspectors without further delay to the Parchin military site, suspected of conducting secret nuclear experiments . February 26 -- First round of talks between Iran and the Group 5+1 was held in Kazakhstan. February 27 -- The Daily Telegraph published photographs taken via satellite indicating Iran resumed operations at Arak station for production of heavy water. March 3 -- Iran announced production of 3,000 centrifuges of the new generation used in uranium enrichment. March 4 -- White House spokesman Carney said military option available to deal with Iran's nuclear file if it does not abide by the recent UN Security Council resolutions. March 12 -- US President Barack Obama in a letter sent to Congress affirmed the need to extend the decision of former President Bill Clinton in 1995 to declare a state of national emergency toward Iran, for it represented an extraordinary threat to the national security. March 19 -- Experts from the G5+1 briefed their Iranian counterparts about details of their proposals for a way out of the impasse in the negotiations. April 5 -- Iran and the G5+1 countries held difficult talks in the Kazakh capital, Almaty. May 15 -- Iranian chief negotiator Saeed Jalili arrived in Istanbul for talks with High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy in the European Union Catherine Ashton in a new round of negotiations on Iran's nuclear dossier. May 22 -- According to a report by Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Yukiya Amano, Iran's refusal to allow international inspectors enter the military site Parchin undermines the ability of the agency to conduct an effective investigation into nature of Iran's nuclear activities. June 28 -- President of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Fereydoun Abbas-Davani said his country plans to build three nuclear reactors in addition to Bushehr reactor. August 22 -- Russia and Iran expressed support for resuming talks with the six world powers about Iran's nuclear program. August 28 -- Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Yukiya Amano urged Iran anew to dispel the IAEA concerns about military dimensions of its nuclear program before start of a new round of negotiations between the two sides. October 6 -- The Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Ali Akbar Salehi, said our people were arrested for sabotage at one of the nuclear sites. October 15 -- The White House described as positive nuclear talks held in Geneva between Iran and the G5+1. October 16 -- High Representative for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton announced signing of a joint statement between G5+1 and Iran over nuclear future. October 29 -- International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) described as fruitful and objective talks it held with Iran in Vienna, where they agreed complete the debate over Iran's nuclear program after two weeks in Tehran. October 30 -- Talks between Iranian nuclear experts and G5+1 were held in Vienna amid optimistic possibility of providing Tehran concessions in return for lifting the international sanctions imposed on it. October 31 -- The group of Elders in New York hailed positive steps taken in recent weeks on the Iranian nuclear crisis. November 7 -- The spokesman for the High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union Catherine Ashton said the meeting in Geneva on Iran's nuclear program was "held in a good atmosphere." November 10 -- French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius declared failure of the foreign ministers of the Security Council five permanent members and Germany on future of Iran's nuclear program. November 11 -- President of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi said Tehran would allow IAEA inspectors to inspect the reactor, Arak, that produces nuclear heavy water. November 16 -- The European Union amended sanctions imposed on Iran in response to provisions issued by the European Court of Justice on September 6. November 24 -- Iran and the Group 5 +1 reached an agreement on Tehran's nuclear program at the Geneva Conference according to which Tehran would not use the new generation of centrifuges. November 28 -- IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano said the agency had received an invitation from Iran for a visit to the heavy water production plant in the reactor Arak on December 8. Accidents and disasters: ======================== May 11 -- An earthquake measuring 2.6 on the Richter Scale jolted areas in the east of the province of Hormozgan in southern Iran and caused human and material losses. December 28 -- Seven people were killed and 30 were injured in an earthquake that hit an area near the Bushehr nuclear complex. International sanctions: ======================== February 6 -- The United States declared measures to tighten sanctions on Iran and block access to its oil revenues and "expose" the Iranian government's violations of human rights. February 7 -- The UN Security Council discussed during a closed session a draft statement regarding a Yemeni report accusing Iran of transfer of advanced weapons to Yemen. February 11 -- According to the Times, Iran's trade in illegal gold has become an outlet for Iran to circumvent international sanctions. February 20 -- The public prosecutor presented the German Supreme Constitutional Court in Berlin with a lawsuit against two persons, a German of Iranian origin and an Iranian citizen, charging the pair of smuggling pilotless drone aircraft to Iran. March 11 -- Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union decided to expand the list of Iranian officials subject to economic sanctions to include nine other officials as a response to serious violations of human rights. March 12 -- The European Union decided to add three new Iranian figures to the list of sanctions under the pretext of violating human rights. March 13 -- US State Department announced exemption of Japan and ten European countries from sanctions in return for reducing purchase of Iranian crude oil. March 14 -- The United States imposed sanctions on a Greek businessman named Dimitris Campus and his company, Shipping Empire, and that for allegedly helping Iran evade curbs imposed on oil sales. May 9 -- The State Department imposed sanctions on four companies and one individual for providing technology to Iran that could enhance its ability to enrich uranium. May 24 -- The U.S. imposed sanctions on 20 people and entities for helping Iran missiles and manufacture nuclear weapons. May 30 -- The United States announced it would ease the U.S. ban on sales of personal communication devices and mobile devices and computer programs to enable Iran obtain Internet services and bypass censorship and restrictions. June 1 -- The U.S. Administration imposed sanctions on a group of companies related to the petrochemical industry in Iran as the petrochemical sector's second-largest source of income for Iran's nuclear program. June 3 -- U.S. President Barack Obama's signed an executive order to tighten sanctions on Iran. June 4 -- The U.S. announced new sanctions targeting the assets of Iran's leaders. June 5 -- The United States renewed exemption of South Africa, Turkey, China, India, Malaysia, South Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Taiwan of sanctions imposed on Iranian oil exports for six months. September 6 -- The United States included a network of six individuals and four companies in its list of sanctions on Iran due to their dealings with the Iranian government or on its behalf. September 7 -- The European Court of Justice ruled that the European Union would lift sanctions imposed on seven banks and Iranian companies and an Iranian citizen for lack of sufficient evidence of their involvement in nuclear proliferation activities. December 13 -- Iranian Foreign Ministry strongly criticized U.S. sanctions. Medical discoveries and inventions: =================================== January 28 -- Iran successfully launched a probe (Bi kam) into outer space carrying a monkey to 120 km altitude in preparation to send a human into space. November 9 -- The Department of Defense launched the Iranian missile production line (Hunter 2). December 14 -- Iran announced its success in sending a probe carrying a monkey into space. Internal Affairs: ================= May 11 -- Hashemi Rafsanjani announced his candidacy for the presidential elections of Iran scheduled June 14th. May 19 -- Ministry of Security announced execution of two Iranians, one charged with spying for the CIA and the other for the Israeli intelligence (Mossad). June 15 -- Presidential candidate Dr. Hassan Rohani won the polls garnering 18,613,329 votes. June 17 -- Iran's new president Hassan Rohani announced in his first press conference after winning the presidential elections his refusal to halt uranium enrichment and stressed desire to build bridges of trust with the Group 5+1. On June 18 -- The World Heritage Committee of the Organization of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) decided to scratch off Bam its cultural landscape in Iran. August 4 -- Iranian President Hassan Rohani declared readiness to hold serious and substantive dialogue over Iran's nuclear program. September 2 -- Iranian authorities released six of Slovak nationals, who had been charged with espionage, and handed them over to their country's embassy in Tehran. Relations and foreign affairs: =============================== February 15 -- Iran rejected the allegations that it transferred weapons illegally All KUNA right are reserved (c) 2013 Provided by Syndigate.info, an Albawaba.com company |