Spiked Camel Kava Llama Java !

[screwball]

11 hours ago, DinarThug said:

LINK

Parliamentary Finance warns of the influence of the parties on the Iraqi economy

 

 

17th October, 2019

 

The parliamentary finance committee warned on Thursday of the influence of political parties on the Iraqi economy in all its aspects, noting that the government should seek the help of economists to get out of the current crisis and end the file of unemployment through a set of measures.

Committee member Naji Redis said in a statement to the information that the national economy needs to revive to eliminate unemployment through the operation of factories and stalled factories and end the power of the parties on the border outlets and activate the private sector and stop theft of auction sale of currency in the Central Bank.

He added that "the corrupt political parties still control the capabilities of the country, and therefore those parties today represent economists, politics and security and entered in all areas of the state, while the solution of the problem of Iraq, especially unemployment requires all economists and a plan to resolve the crisis."

He explained that "the government is still not aware that it leads to the country to the loss, and therefore must develop economic plans to return to history and done by foreign countries to promote their economy and the use of experts to avoid sliding the country into crises, which does not follow."

the government is still not aware that it leads to the country to the loss, and therefore must develop economic plans to return to history and done by foreign countries to promote their economy and the use of experts to avoid sliding the country into crises, which does not follow."

 

return to history....I likely....that would be $3.24....sooner the better

[DinarThug]

LINK

The Presidency of the Republic reveals paragraphs Saleh conference

 

 

 

2019/10/18 14:05 

 

Adviser to the President of the Republic for legal affairs Amir al-Kanani, the paragraphs of the National Conference called by the President of the Republic, Barham Saleh.
 

Kanani said in a press statement, "Constitutional amendments can not be made by the Presidency of the Republic, only through a national conference," indicating "the President's endeavor to open dialogue with political forces and community and academic personalities, in addition to the importance of the opinion of the religious authority, to review the most important articles that Usually they are the obstacle in building the state."

Kanani added that "the dialogue will discuss, whether the parliamentary system is the best or the presidential system, and the relationship between the center and the region by the wealth, and how to distribute them, especially oil, as well as will discuss the powers of the provinces, and the powers of the center, and the issue of provincial councils, and the election of the governor directly Before the people or will be through the provincial council according to the current mechanism."

He added that "these amendments require a period of time up to months because of the ease of the mechanisms to amend the Constitution," stressing that "the President of the Republic is determined to amend some paragraphs as it was diagnosed many cases that require this amendment." He pointed out that "the President of the Republic adopted other topics belonging to the independent bodies referred to by the Constitution to clarify and enact a law," noting that "a lot of axes related to the issue of amending the Constitution."

[DinarThug]

Iraqi government approves third package of demonstrators' requests

 

 

Iraq

 

 18 October 2019 10:29 PM

 

 

Direct: Official documents showed the government issued a number of decisions representing the third package of actions and recommendations related to the demands of the demonstrators .

According to documents published by the Iraqi News Agency "conscious", on Friday, that the decisions include reducing the retirement age and granting salaries to the unemployed .

 

  

link

[DinarThug]

The United States increases funding to Iraq

 

 

Direct: The State of Iraq signed a memorandum of understanding worth $ 5 billion with the United States, to create jobs .

The adviser to the Prime Minister, Abdul Hussein al-Hanin, said on Friday that his country has signed with the United States a memorandum of understanding of $ 5 billion, explaining that the agreement was made between the Ministry of Finance and the Export-Import Bank of America "EXIM" , according to the Iraqi news agency "conscious ".

The recent agreement will increase the total amount of financing from the Export-Import Bank of America from three billion dollars to five billion dollars, he said .

He continued, that the agreement reflects the partnership in areas that will create jobs in Iraq and strengthen the relationship between the two countries .

link

 

Edited October 18, 2019 by DinarThug

[DinarThug]

LINK

A report issued a new classification of the economy of Iraq and lists the challenges

 

 

18th October, 2019

 

Moody's credit ratings agency said Thursday that weak institutions and slow reforms constrain Iraq's credit rating at (Caa1) with a stable outlook, according to a report issued today.

What does Caa1 mean?

Means that the country or institution has a very high credit risk to repay the debt.

The agency said that these factors in addition to the challenges of governance reduce the government's ability to deal with internal and external economic shocks and reduce the competitiveness of the Iraqi economy. The agency warned that the decline in oil prices will lead to a budget deficit this year, and that the pace of structural reforms will remain slow as major domestic and foreign political challenges continue.

What is the budget deficit?

When expenditures are greater than resources in a given economy. It is measured in relation to GDP - the sum of goods and services - to measure a country's ability to meet its obligations without problems.

The agency's deputy co-author, Alexander Bergese, said in a statement that Iraq "has made slow progress on the agenda of structural reforms, which include improving laws and legislation and developing institutions to improve public financial management." “Attempts to diversify the economy remain a challenge,” he said. The Iraqi economy depends mainly on oil, where Iraq's oil exports constitute about 95 percent of the revenues of the state budget, and therefore Iraq is greatly affected by fluctuations in world oil prices.

In addition to fluctuating oil prices, Iraq faces an internal challenge of political conflicts, the fragile security situation in some areas and the enormous task of rebuilding cities devastated by fighting with the Islamic State for three and a half years. Protests erupted in some central and southern cities earlier this month against corruption, unemployment and political elites. The demonstrations saw clashes with security forces that killed dozens and forced the government to impose a total curfew and cut off the Internet for several days.

[DinarThug]

5 hours ago, DinarThug said:

The United States increases funding to Iraq

 

 

Iraqi Finance Minister succeeds in raising the amount of US funding for the reconstruction of liberated areas to $ 5 billion

 

Washington:

The US Export-Import Bank (EXIM) signed on Thursday a memorandum of understanding with the Iraqi Ministry of Finance, focusing on the reconstruction of liberated areas and the promotion of trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.

 

Memorandum signed by the Iraqi side Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance d. Fouad Hussein, the result of extensive efforts because the Iraqi official has close relations and understandings with decision-making centers in Washington, will lead to increase the total amount of funding from the Export-Import Bank of America from three billion dollars to a total of five billion.

The US Embassy in Baghdad commented, “We are proud to partner in areas that will promote job creation in Iraq and strengthen the relationship between our two countries.”

link

[Gypsygirl11]

5 billion.....must be nice. Can only be a good sign, right?

 

[Jaygo]

32 minutes ago, Gypsygirl11 said:

5 billion.....must be nice. Can only be a good sign, right?

 

Here’s how it went.. “Ok Mr Trump. You give us 5 Billion USD and we will give you 5 Billion IQD. We are going to revalue our currency SOON to a little over $1.00. Your country will make a massive amount of money in this transaction and we are all happy. Ok? Thanks!” 😂

[DinarThug]

Deputy: a radical solution to all the problems of the oil file by law and political blocs intent on legislation

 

Economie

2019-10-19 | 05:13

Alsumaria News

 

 

MP of the Kurdistan Democratic Party bloc Mohammed Shaker, Saturday, that the legislation of the oil and gas law will be a comprehensive and radical solution to all problems in the management of the oil file, pointing out that the political blocs are determined to legislate the law as soon as not postponed as happened in previous sessions.

Shaker said in an interview with Alsumaria News, "The oil and gas law is an important and very necessary laws to regulate the process of dealing with oil wealth in the provinces and the region by the federal government," noting that "Article 112 of the Constitution referred to how to address the file of oil management in the provinces Producing and provincial legislation by law for this matter. "

Shaker added that "the law was supposed to legislate since previous sessions, but the differences of views and differences prevented the realization of this caused the lack of legislation until the moment," pointing out that "the legislation of the law will be the root and final solution to all problems related to the management of the oil file, which has become all Political blocs are fully convinced of it. "

Shaker said, "The political blocs are determined to legislate the law as soon as not to postpone it, as happened in previous sessions."

link

[DinarThug]

LINK

Abdul-Mahdi adviser : We are working to correct the constitutional and political system

 

 

19th October, 2019

 

Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi's economic adviser said on Saturday the government is determined to make comprehensive adjustments in the economy in line with the demands of the street.

Abdul-Hussein Al-Hanin said in a statement to the information that "large economic packages will be issued by the government during the next few days in order to meet the demands of the Iraqi street," noting that "there are constitutional amendments as well as correct the course of the political system in a comprehensive way for the government to work perfectly."

"The government sent the election law after consulting the media and the people, and the parliament must pass a new law that represents the aspirations of the street," Hanin said. 

[DinarThug]

size=7]Call for papers and studies for the Second Scientific Forum of the Network of Iraqi Economists: 10-13 April 2020[/size]

 

19/10/2019

Paper call

 

Second IEN Symposium 10-13 April 2020 in Beirut

Call for papers and studies

The Second Scientific Forum of the Network of Iraqi Economists: 10-13 April 2020

The main address of the forum will be:

Towards an effective economic / development strategy and policies

First: The reasons and objective reasons for holding the second scientific forum

After the first Scientific Forum of the Iraqi Network of Economists was held in Beirut in March 2013 (see documenting the proceedings of the Forum on the Iraqi Economists Network), Iraq was exposed in the middle of the year following two major crises. The first, the ISIS terrorist gangs occupied areas of central / northern Iraq in June 2014. The second, financial / economic, was the beginning of the collapse of oil export prices in September 2014. The continuation of these twin crises has had sequential effects. The first consequences were internal and external population migration and the destruction of aspects of infrastructure, productive assets and institutional structures in central / northern Iraq, not to mention the societal, political and security implications. The second consequence was the underfunding of public budget expenditures and the shortage of foreign currency. Between them, the economic consequences of these crises revealed the nature and pattern of the productive / rent structure of the Iraqi economy.

During the years 2003-2013 (prior to the occurrence / continuation of the two crises), which was characterized by increasing oil revenues, despite armed operations and insecurity, non-oil GDP grew by a tangible rate of about 9% per year.. The most important activities generating this growth are: the “public government” and the ownership of the housing and other non-oil / “non-commodity” activities. The public government (public administration, public health, education, social security, armed forces) and ownership of the role of housing have contributed to more than half of the non-oil output growth. Other non-oil activities (other than agriculture and manufacturing) have generated more than two-fifths of non-oil output growth. On the other hand, the total output of agriculture and manufacturing contributed only a small percentage to the population growth rate. That is, the most important sources of non-oil output growth are activities that are largely related to oil production / export, through generated demand directly or indirectly related to public budget expenditures.

After the double crises, the consequences of the decline in oil revenues and the sabotage caused by the occupation of ISIS terrorist gangs, especially in the central / northern regions, especially in the fields of construction, agriculture, manufacturing and government use, have had a significant impact on the decline in non-oil GDP. Non-oil output decline during the years 2013-2018 was about ( -4%) annually . In these years, the main reasons for this decline were the decline in the output of construction, agriculture (and, to a lesser extent, manufacturing) and the general government. [1]On the other hand, other activities contributed positively to the growth rate of non-oil output, especially transport, communications and storage, which significantly reduced the impact of negative contributions to the outputs of building and construction, agriculture / manufacturing and general government. Oil revenues increased during 2017-2019, but the increase was less than the growing need to finance public budget expenditures, and hence their relatively weak impact on the non-oil output growth / decline. This effect has also limited the overall commitment to the IMF program 2016-2019 , particularly in determining public consumption expenditure and hence government use.

The water crisis, which began three decades ago, was exacerbated by the scarcity of supply from neighboring countries, on the one hand, and the wasteful use of it internally, on the other, both of which were exacerbated by the modest supply and demand management of water policies.

Since 2003, economic management orientations have consisted of economic principles and ideas that have appeared in various documents, some of which focus unclearly / systematically on the role of the market / private sector in the development process and without identifying a “constructive / realistic” role of the state in this process. Attitudes, some of which run counter to the historical experience of various countries, both formerly and now capitalist and emerging, have prevailed in the great importance of sound public policies in guiding and achieving a fruitful development process, whether through direct or indirect participation, or both, with investment, support and protection. Therefore, the adoption of some general prescriptions for international institutions, which are not studied in terms of their effectiveness in Iraq, and fragmented in practice, since 2003, effectively reduced the effectiveness of economic management to limit its role to "manage" the field of aggregate demand, in particular consumption, through the public budget.

The consequence of these trends was the modest clear investment programs (in serious development plans) medium / long term and modest concrete implementation of investment programs contained in the general budget. As a result, in the absence of a serious, detailed sectoral, temporal and administrative investment productivity roadmap in national development plans to achieve the transition from a rentier to a diversified economy, public services continued to be lacking (the best example being electricity, education, health, etc.). Inadequate demand for the workforce, and inadequate and deteriorating aspects of infrastructure, and modest non-governmental employment opportunities.

Despite significant security improvements over the last two years, modest rehabilitation and development of transport, energy and trade infrastructure, etc., on the one hand, persistent non-pro-active legislation / practices on the other, persistent corruption on the other, and low level of protection Effective tariffs for national products, on the fourth hand, etc., over the past decade and a half, have exacerbated / emerging the following consequences:

Private internal and external activity lags behind the development process, including reluctance to undertake productive projects with tangible potential to generate employment opportunities for the growing number of people entering the labor market annually. As economic management (including national development plans ) continued to be modest in supporting sustainable development, it led to growing unemployment in a situation of high population growth (by international standards) supported by modest population policy between encouraging or reducing population growth. As a result of the low demand for productive and productive investment projects by both public and private sectors, the foreign investor was allowed to be a “contractor” in the so-called “investment opportunities”. Foreign companies carry out projects agreed with ministries / public institutions, including financing their establishment, as loans to these ministries / public institutions, guaranteed by the public budget, to carry out projects that the budget has been unable to finance. This includes infrastructure, production and service projects. As a result, foreign investment, in this way, has essentially become a means of financing public projects rather than necessarily increasing the contribution of private activity to the development process. As a result, part of the public / budget-sector investments are financed through external borrowing. But the continuation of these trends and the expansion of borrowing leads to the possibility of the emergence of signs of a financial crisis that may be exacerbated in the future, as the economy is linked to external loans, with serious economic and social consequences, when the oil revenues, through the public budget, are unable to meet the foreign debt service. The continued narrowing of the non-oil production base to finance public budget revenues will drive increased dependence on oil (and gas) by expanding its production and export capacities. On the other hand, the prospects for slowing growth, and possibly reduced use of oil in the world, including fossil fuels, in the future, are also pushing to increase the capacity and production of oil (and gas) in order to obtain revenues before the erosion of global use in the long term.

(E) The persistence of these consequences / trends is unlikely to lead to a process of sustainable economic development and diversification in which internal private activity contributes essentially, as the underlying economic / market philosophy, after 2003, is based.

On the other hand, the problems related to controversial articles in the Constitution and the problems raised between the federal government and the Kurdistan region and the possibility of raising similar problems with the provinces, especially oil producers in the future, to pressure will negatively affect the effectiveness of economic management and performance in the future. This will be exacerbated by the absence of a comprehensive social contract between the people of the same country in different regions. In a related context, despite the great and successful efforts in the expulsion and a solid victory over most remnants of ISIS terrorist gangs and serious attempts to unify the country on the road to the implementation of the provisions of the Constitution, especially during 2017/2018, but these attempts are weakened by the persistence of these problems and differences.

In light of these prospects, consideration of these implications and an attempt to find an alternative development strategy and policies is an urgent requirement for economists, and other professionals involved in policy and economic process, to be considered, analyzed and debated for recommendations. Therefore, the title and proposed topics of the upcoming forum to be held by the Iraqi economists in Beirut / Lebanon on 10-13 April 2020 revolve around this strategy and policies.

Organizers believe that this meeting will also provide an opportunity for participants to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the establishment of the network of Iraqi economists and to review and evaluate its achievements.

Therefore, we invite all economists and those interested in Iraqi economic affairs in general, and the official decision makers, in particular, to submit abstracts of research / studies / papers / presentations (Abstracts), in Arabic or English, in areas that fall within the framework of the following proposed axes by 30 November. The research / study / paper / presentation will be submitted no later than the end of February 2020, after the subject has been approved by the Scientific Preparatory Committee for the proposed forum.

Abstracts should be sent no later than 30 November 2019 as an Office Word file with scientific and professional biography by e-mail at info@iraqieconomists.net.

Second: The proposed axes

Governance, Social Contract, Federalism, Constitution, Corruption

Rentier.

Governance and social contract.

Requirements to amend the Constitution.

Federalism and State Effectiveness.

Corruption.

Development strategies and economic management

Economic management, quotas and corruption: the reality and requirements of a capable national administration.

Economic diversification: strategies for diversification and its requirements.

Sectoral strategies, industry, agriculture, housing, water, etc.

Economic policies and plans.

Effectiveness of economic plans.

Effectiveness of economic policies.

Oil & Gas Sector

Level of production and future of oil in the global energy landscape.

The reality and future of oil contracts.

The problem of managing the oil sector between the federal government and the Kurdistan region.

Oil and Gas Law.

Federal Council for Oil and Gas.

The problem of continued burning of gas.

Oil manufacturing operations.

Water requirements for oil / gas operations.

Water: scarce in disposable and wasteful use

Prospects for water availability for Iraq.

Waste of use in Iraq and possible policies to achieve good use.

Political and strategic differences and their relationship to water.

Continued weak cooperation among neighboring countries on joint management of water exploitation.

Your activity

Reviewing and evaluating the activity of the private sector in the productive sectors (agriculture, industry, construction) and in the service and commercial sectors (commercialization)

Economic Policies: A survey of policies that encourage and hinder private activity.

Is private activity able to contribute effectively to economic diversification and sustainable development?

How can the state promote private activity?

Panel discussion between representatives of private activity and those responsible for economic policies in Iraq.

Financial, monetary and trade policies and evaluation of government initiatives for economic reform

General budget and fiscal policy.

Monetary policy.

Foreign exchange policy and exchange rate.

Foreign Trade Policies.

Population and labor market

Population growth and development of age groups.

Labor Market: Reality and Determinants of the Labor Market in Iraq.

Supply and demand in the labor market.

Unemployment and societal hazards.

Is there an appropriate population strategy and policies in Iraq?

Housing: problems and treatments

Iraq Housing Survey.

Estimation of housing deficit.

State strategies.

The impact of housing deficit on economic and social stability.

Public Services: Is the public / public sector capable of providing public services to the population: reality and prospects.

Electricity.

Education.

the health.

Social Welfare.

etc.

The role of service sectors in economic development

Banking and Financial Services

National and foreign insurance sector

Social issues

Rentier and community development since 2003.

Peace, social conflict and the future of identity politics.

Sectarianism and political and administrative quotas.

Clan and city clan.

National Identity: Plurality of loyalties and policies to strengthen the national dimension.

Economic data

Data sources.

Institutional Data Handling.

Databases and ease of use.

Interdependence between data providers.

Other topics?

Recommendations

The venue will be announced at the beginning of 2020

October 18, 2019

[1]In contrast to the period 2002-2013, details of the contribution of activities to the non-oil output decline for the period 2013-2018 are not shown in the text. This is due to the fact that the trends in the decline in the body were calculated from the comparison of GDP data (in constant prices) issued by the Central Bureau of Statistics for the years 2013-2018, a series containing “final” figures (“actual” in the terms of the system) for the years 2013-2016. “Preliminary” for 2017 and 2018. Any subsequent revision to 2017 and 2018 figures may change the results. This is all the more important, as “official statements” indicate an improvement in agricultural output, especially cereals, in the 2018/19 season compared to the previous season. This is in contrast to the preliminary figures of agricultural value added (constant prices) in 2018 compared to 2017 in the data of the Authority, issued in December 2018 and February 2019, respectively.

 

link

[DinarThug]

Parliament resumes its sessions on the 26th of this month

 

Politics 2019/10/19 20:03 253 Editor: nn   
Baghdad Today - Baghdad BAGHDAD (Reuters) - 

The parliamentary legal committee said on Saturday that the Iraqi parliament would resume its sessions after taking a holiday because of the 40th visit. 

The committee member Salim Hamza, in a special statement to (Baghdad today), that "the Iraqi Council of Representatives, will reconvene its meetings, on Saturday, corresponding to 26 October."

"So far the agenda of the next session has not been set. It is prepared 24 hours before the session, but it will include a vote on a package of reforms, as will be during the vote on the reshuffle," Hamza said.

On Friday (11 October), the MP of the Saraon Alliance, Hadi, confirmed that the parliament postponed the vote to pass the candidates to take over the ministries of industry, immigration and communications instead of their current ministers, until after the visit of forty, to check their resumes in this period.

Hadi said (Baghdad today), "The House of Representatives postponed the vote on the candidates to take over the three ministries, in its previous meeting, in order to audit their own records, and find consensus among all political blocs to pass."

"The parliament is keen to support the government in its action on the reshuffle and the" reformist ".

The House of Representatives voted on Thursday (October 10, 2019), the selection of Suha Hussein, Minister of Education, and Jaafar Sadiq Allawi, Minister of Health to replace Ala Alwan, who accepted the resignation of parliament in the same meeting, and postponed the vote on three candidates to take over the ministries of immigration, communications and industry, before raising His session until after the visit of the Arbaeen Imam Hussein (peace be upon him).

link

[DinarThug]

Deputy: Investors come to Iraq for a short time and then alienate for these reasons

 

Economie

2019-10-19 | 05:44

 

A member of the parliamentary economy and investment committee Nada Shaker Jawdat, on Saturday, a number of reasons said that it makes investors "alienate" from Iraq shortly after they came to the country, indicating that the sober international companies will come to Iraq in case of repairing all problems.

Jawdat said in an interview with Alsumaria News, that "the sovereignty of Iraq is the most important, and Iraq buys what he wants who wants and the process and the type of armaments and the goods we import are the ones that impose on us the market we are moving on," noting that "there are priorities, which determine the nature of the deals we make Regardless of the satisfaction or anger of some countries because we will not be prisoners to a certain point. "

Jawdat added, " Iraq is a very huge investment environment, especially as it suffers from a lack of infrastructure, services, industry and agriculture, which makes all the countries of the world view Iraq as a promising investment center and Tkalb it," pointing out that "the problem is not the countries that continue in our country but based on the mechanisms of creation A promising investment environment that attracts investors. "

She continued, "All investors come to Iraq for a short period and then alienate for several reasons, including corruption and poor banking operations and poor import operations for the tools they need and bureaucracy all makes the investor alienate and leave the country on the grounds that he does not find the right environment for him to work," stressing that "in any case Repair all problems, sober international companies will come to Iraq and the citizen will feel the obvious difference in services and development. "

link

[Gypsygirl11]

11 hours ago, Jaygo said:

Here’s how it went.. “Ok Mr Trump. You give us 5 Billion USD and we will give you 5 Billion IQD. We are going to revalue our currency SOON to a little over $1.00. Your country will make a massive amount of money in this transaction and we are all happy. Ok? Thanks!” 😂

That's right!!! Except you're not supposed to use the word "soon"! 

Now this article says end of Feb 2020. Hey, at least it's in the news. We wait and hope. 

Enjoy the weekend.

[DinarThug]

LINK

Expectations to return Iraq under Article VII after its removal from the Human Rights Council

 

 

19th October, 2019

 

Legal expert Ali al-Tamimi expected on Friday to return Iraq under Chapter VII after being removed from the United Nations Human Rights Council because of the killing of demonstrators and the suppression of protests and the implementation of arrests without warrants.

Al-Tamimi said today that the Human Rights Council is composed of 47 countries and is linked to the United Nations General Assembly. It follows the human rights in the world. As a result of the abuse of power, the General Assembly has the right to refer the matter to the Security Council for action.

He added that Iraq came out of Chapter VII by resolution 2390 of 2017 and has been converted to Chapter VI to resolve problems with Kuwait, and with these violations due to the demonstration, it is considered a violation of human rights and therefore the Security Council may decide to return Iraq to Chapter VII or original international and threatening peace and human security.

On Thursday, Iraq lost its membership in the UN Human Rights Council in the four-seat Asian Group competition to Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and the Marshall Islands.

[DinarThug]

28 minutes ago, DinarThug said:

Expectations to return Iraq under Article VII after its removal from the Human Rights Council

 

 

Iraqi Foreign Ministry: We will renew our membership in the Human Rights Council in the future

 

by vBulletin® by Ali EjamIraq News11 Hours ago

 

 

Baghdad - “Liberation squares”

 

 

 

Foreign Ministry spokesman said Ahmad al-Sahaf said his ministry would renew Iraq's membership of the Human Rights Council in the future after losing it a few days ago.

`` Iraq is currently a member of the Human Rights Council of the United Nations General Assembly from 2017 to the end of 2019, and we have had an active positive role in it, and we worked hard to keep the Council's resolutions and actions from politicization, '' the journalist said in a statement.

 

 

Al-Sahaf justified the failure of Iraq by saying that "as far as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is concerned with mobilizing international support to vote for the renewal of Iraq's membership in the Council for another two years, we would like to assure everyone that the Ministry has actively sought to obtain this support, and has made great efforts until the last hours, has succeeded in Obtained promises from 130 countries, including permanent members of the Security Council; and actually won 121 votes, a difference of two votes on qualification, but some of these countries did not keep their promises, and refrained from voting in our favor; because of Iraq's initial positions at the regional and international levels. Its hard about some political events, and security, which seems to be what they are compatible with the orientations of some countries' policies, did not vote for us. "

link

 

Edited October 20, 2019 by DinarThug

[DinarThug]

LINK

Electronic payment undermines corruption and guarantees the rights of beneficiaries

 

 

 

2019/10/20 13:07 

 

 

Renews calls to face corruption in a real and effective adoption of advanced technology and used internationally, including what was adopted locally through the competent companies, which interacted with the public, as electronic payment is the most important joints that must be adopted to face corruption and to convey the reality of government performance For a better phase by completing operations electronically, without the need for friction of the employee with the beneficiary.

The importance of e-transactions came in the Prime Minister's speech, and accepted by a number of economists and specialists, after everyone realized that the adoption of advanced technology is an imperative need to be the seed of economic reform.

A qualitative leap

Financial Adviser to the Prime Minister d. The appearance of Mohammed Saleh stressed that "the adoption of advanced electronic payment technology represents a qualitative leap in the advancement of transactions and government performance, as it can benefit from the success of the experience of electronic payment in the financial sector, in other business sectors, especially those involving financial levy, and here can rely on effort Successful localization and employ it to achieve success in this important direction."

Local voltage

He added that "the work to raise government performance needs to take advantage of technological developments, and here we must pay attention to the local effort on electronic payment, and expand its activity to achieve more than the benefit of the completion of work on time and provide employment opportunities for young people directly to workers in this sector and indirect in sectors Supporting." A speech to the Prime Minister on 9 October included the adoption of several measures, including stopping the state at a time that will determine the payment of any amount in paper currency, but identify sukuk and smart card that prevents the manipulation of funds, and encourage those who receive sukuk to open bank accounts to get rid of money laundering and corruption.

Effective performance

In turn, a member of the Baghdad Economic Forum Jassim Al-Aradi said that "the process of economic reform sought by the country requires the adoption of mechanisms for the work of the court is not manipulated, and relying on electronic payment mechanisms that must be adopted in all dealings without the need for friction between the references different institution name This will ensure effective performance, coupled with a calendar control by a particular entity and strong control during the implementation of works or projects or the performance of different institutions. He pointed out that "the importance of the performance of institutions to be fast and professional away from complexity, and that there is one window with regard to projects and summary transactions and the payment of fees and dues and others through electronic channels, and thus we have already started a new phase of work and put the train on the right track."

The new phase

He pointed out that "the reality of electronic payment in Iraq has developed a lot, and that the Central Bank is aware of the importance of this trend and its positive impact on the economy of the country, and was able to adopt tools to communicate with the community to accept the new phase in dealings and shift towards the electronic community," indicating the importance of cooperation with There is a complementarity between the central instructions and the national performance, especially as Iraq has companies that have achieved international awards at the level of electronic payment.

He pointed out that "the next stage requires that the efforts of all to join forces to move the labor market and provide employment opportunities and the advancement of the national economy, and that everyone put national interests in the first and only choice, especially as the country can provide major employment opportunities to accommodate local and external human resources needed here and there. But this requires an organization and plans and an attractive environment for international investment."

###############

Electronic payment undermines corruption and guarantees the rights of beneficiaries 
 LINK 

[DinarThug]

LINK

Araji on the amendment of the Iraqi Constitution: is impossible .. Here the real problem

 

 

 

2019/10/20 13:21 

 

 

Former Deputy Prime Minister Bahaa al-Araji said on Sunday that the amendment of the Iraqi constitution is "near impossible" among the cause of the real problem.

 

Araji said in a statement received (Euphrates News) a copy, that "can not implement calls to amend the Constitution because it has stipulated to amend the same conditions for legislation, which is not rejected by at least three provinces," adding, "Therefore, the amendment closer to impossibility in practice If this amendment is not consensual."

He pointed out that "the real problem is not in the provisions of the Constitution, but in its application and interpretation, and therefore the practical step to address lies in the legislation of laws detailing the articles and paragraphs of the Constitution and does not leave room for interpretation and interpretation, especially with regard to the distribution of wealth, oil and gas and the powers of the authorities, regions and governorates." Araji concluded his statement that "each of these paragraphs are the subject of dispute." 

[DinarThug]

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Iraq discusses with the World Bank initiatives that support strengthening the role of the private sector

 

20th October, 2019
 

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Fuad Hussein, on Sunday, with the World Bank Group CEO, Marzar Hassan in Washington initiatives that support the strengthening of the role of the private sector as an effective economic partner in the revitalization of the Iraqi economy.

A statement issued by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Fuad Hussein, received by "Economy News" a copy of it, that "the latter met with the World Bank Group CEO, Mr. The role of the private sector as an effective economic partner in revitalizing the Iraqi economy.

"The government has adopted a comprehensive policy of economic reform by laying the foundations for combating red tape, corruption, introducing technology, and using advanced international expertise in building economic sectors in all its activities," the deputy prime minister said.

[DinarThug]

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Kurdish deputy: agreement is close with Baghdad

 

 

 

2019/10/20 18:01

 

A delegation from the Kurdistan region, headed by the Minister of Finance and Economy, will visit Baghdad.

 

The deputy chairman of the Finance Committee in the Parliament of Kurdistan Heffidar Ahmed in a press statement on Sunday, the provincial delegation will soon visit Baghdad to discuss oil files, and the budget and the region 's share of it."

He added that "the agreement with Baghdad soon, but the demonstrations in Baghdad have delayed meetings".  The situation is now different, the meetings will continue," he said.

[DinarThug]

General Iraqi demonstrations have radical demands

 

- 6 Hours Have Passed

 

The Iraqi event on the 1st of October was a revolution, because revolution means change. In particular, Sistani, Moqtada al-Sadr and then Khomeini and Khamenei, for the first time, the Shiite masses dared to hit their pictures with slippers and burn them on the heads of the witness.

The change removed the respect of some tribal chiefs, whose youth had fallen out of obedience and joined the revolution. Their clans from participating in public demonstrations on the 25th of this month does not seem to be feasible.

Therefore, the aim of this youth revolution, which killed thousands of demonstrators dead and wounded, was not only to tackle corruption and corrupt people.

The central slogan, which will mark the events of Friday, the 25th of this month, "Iran Libra Libra Baghdad remains free," meaning Iran leave Iraq and go out Baghdad will remain free,and these demonstrations will be preceded by a general strike of the educational and teaching staff and students, Iraqis recall the indignation of the Iranian ambassador Baghdad Erg Masjedi in an interview with the Iraqi channel "Dijla", away from any diplomatic fitness, which threatened that "Iran and in the event of military aggression from the United States, will respond strongly and bombard the American presence in Iraq or anywhere else," stressing the need to get out US troops from Iraq From all the countries of the region.

He said that "the Americans interfere in the affairs of the region and in the affairs of Iraq, and the Americans should expect a response if they cause any problem to Iran," noting that "getting the Americans out of Iraq or from any other point in the region is necessary, their presence causes escalation and insecurity in the region."

My mosque is acting like a ruler in Mesopotamia. Thus, the Wilayat al-Faqih parties installed the ambassador of Tehran as a single official to manage the affairs of Iraq. The Dawa parties, the Majlis al-Hakim, the Badr gang, and the Popular Mobilization militia, Erj Masjid Sultan, culminated in the control of the country and the slaves. In the embassy of my mosque. ”

Throughout its modern history, Iraq has not undergone a situation in which Iran has controlled its affairs, as it has in the past 16 years.

Indeed, as diplomats say, Iran's threat to Iraq by Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps officer Erj Mosjedi grossly violates international law as well as his duties and duties as his country's accredited ambassador to another country. The jus cogens accepted by the international community are the principle of the failure of States to threaten the use or use of force in international relations, i.e. against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, as stipulated in article 2, paragraph 4. The lobe The first of the Charter of the United Nations, and reaffirmed in many international legal instruments, most notably General Assembly resolution 22/42 of 18 December 1987, which included a detailed identification of all relevant cases, which prohibit the declaration and invoke any pretext to make a threat To another State (operative paragraph 3 of

Masjedi's remarks violate the essence of his work as an ambassador whose primary mission is to improve relations between his country and the country he is accredited to. Sooner rather than later.

Masjidi's reckless statements unequivocally affirmed the Iraqi government's dependence on Iran and its failure to stand up to it. The Iraqi government stood in the 1980s and fought and broke Iran after eight years of fierce war. But the Iraqi demonstrators will remain committed to their peacefulness on the 25th of this month, despite knowing that this peaceful will not prevent the Baghdad government from retaliating with weapons, even heavy from it.

The Arabs

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The presidential system instead of the parliamentarian maneuvering Iran's parties to resolve the crisis in Iraq

 

- 12 Hours Have Passed

 

BAGHDAD - The pro-Iranian Shiite hawks in Iraq are pushing for a popular protest movement, launched earlier this month, to cover the transformation of the political system that governs the country from a “parliamentary” to a “presidential”, enabling them to re-establish power without a quota. With Kurds and Sunnis.

According to the Iraqi constitution in force, the parliament, which is elected by the people, is the main source of authority. It elects the president of the republic and votes to accept the prime minister's government program and give members of his booth confidence.

In order to accommodate the reality of sectarian and ethnic pluralism in Iraq, the political parties formed after 2003, followed the formula of a three-polar system, which consists of what is known as the three presidencies, the presidency of the parliament and the presidency of the Republic and the prime minister.

This formula was linked to an unspoken quota-based system, in fact a representative of each of the three main constituents, the Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds, would get one of these three positions, provided that the most important position went to the larger component.

Although the Iraqi constitution did not provide for such a thing, the Shiites have monopolized the position of prime minister, the most important in the Iraqi regime, since 2003, by virtue of their majority, while the post of President of the Republic, which has largely formal powers to the Kurds, became the post Speaker of the share of the year.

Although this division seems convenient for all, especially with appeasations that can be obtained by the component that does not like his higher position, by granting his representatives important government positions later, as always happens with the Kurds, but in fact produced a system unable to meet the requirements of the state, requires The broader spectrum of forces agreed on any important decision, emptying the idea of democracy from its content, and allowed the spread of side agreements between the forces to achieve their own interests, and caused the spread of corruption.

For the first time since 2003, a spontaneous Iraqi protest movement is inspired by deep gaps in the Iraqi political system, demanding real reform, or overthrowing it, which happened in early October, causing an earthquake for the political class, and almost toppling it.

Because the affairs of power have been held by the Shiite political elite since 2003, Shiite political forces have confronted the recent protest movement in various forms, from repression to declaring support in the hope of absorbing it and breaking its momentum.

But part of the Shiite elite has found in the protests an important lever to re-centralize power by eliminating the headaches of quotas, which require the involvement of Sunnis and Kurds in the system, allowing pro-Iranian Shiite parties to seize control of the country.

In this context, came the assertion of the President of the coalition of law Nuri al-Maliki, that "the presidential system is the most appropriate in Iraq," commenting on the slogans of reform and overthrow of the political system, which appeared during the protests in October.

Al-Maliki, who ran the country as prime minister during two elections between 2006 and 2014, and handed it off from nearly a third of its territory, after ISIS occupied it, believes that the transition to the presidential system in Iraq is "the solution," but said that "the beginning of correcting the political process is starting Of amending the constitution. ”

Maliki does not rule out the call for early elections, against the backdrop of bloody protests in the country, but he believes that achieving stability now is the first.

Although al-Maliki personally led the bloody crackdown on Shiite protests against corruption in 2011 and Sunni against political discrimination in 2013, he called on current Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi to hold accountable the “aggressors against the demonstrators” who came out in the recent protest movement.

Observers believe that "Maliki's choice, may be ideal for Iran at the moment, especially through the gateway to the presidential system, which allows the president to excel everything, unlike the parliamentary system that imposes on the head of power, the prime minister, some restrictions.

Politicians are talking about widespread Iranian fears that the Iraqi protests could lead to the overthrow of the political system, putting Tehran's interests at great risk, with growing resentment among protesters who blame it for the rise of corrupt parties to power under the guise of religion.

Observers believe that the presidential system may be an Iranian solution to the situation in Iraq, enabling Tehran to circumvent the demands of the protesters.

Maliki does not speak on his own about the importance of the main regime in Iraq.

Al-Khazali, who is very loyal to Iran and whose name was associated with horrific violence during the period of sectarian violence after the overthrow of the former regime, believes that "the parliamentary system in Iraq is corrupt," calling for "the transition to the presidential system."

The Arabs

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[DinarThug]

Washington paves the way for US troops to move from northern Syria to Iraq

- 11 Hours Have Passed

 

WASHINGTON - All 1,000 troops withdrawing from northern Syria are expected to move to western Iraq to continue the campaign against ISIS fighters and “to help defend Iraq,” Defense Secretary Mark Esper said.

"The US withdrawal is well underway from northeast Syria," Esber told reporters on his way to the Middle East. "We are talking about weeks, not days."

He said the withdrawal was carried out through aircraft and ground convoys. "The current plan is to relocate those about 1,000 troops in western Iraq," he said.

Diplomatic sources in the Saudi capital Riyadh said that the US defense secretary will arrive on Sunday in the Saudi capital Riyadh, starting a tour in the Middle East and Europe.

The Saudi monarch is expected to receive US Secretary of Defense Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz and his crown prince on Sunday, the sources said.

The sources added that the US Secretary of State will assure the Saudi leadership of his country's commitment to the security of the Kingdom and to defend American interests in the Gulf region against any regional threats, especially from Iran.

The sources pointed out that Esber will visit the American soldiers, who have recently arrived at the Prince Sultan Air Base in the city of Al-Kharj (80 kilometers southeast of Riyadh), before departure to Brussels, where he will discuss with the ministers of NATO countries (NATO) “a number of issues to coordinate The next steps in the campaign against ISIS, and reinforce the importance of ensuring a lasting political solution to the crisis in Syria. ”

A senior US official said the situation remained unstable and plans could change.

Any decision to send additional US troops to Iraq is likely to be closely scrutinized in a country where Iran is increasingly influential.

"This is the current plan. Things can change between now and when we complete the withdrawal, but this is the plan to act now," the official said.

It was unclear whether US forces would use Iraq as a base for ground attacks in Syria and air strikes against Islamic State militants.

The additional US troops will be added to the more than 5,000 US troops already in Iraq to train Iraqi forces and help ensure that Islamic State militants do not resume their activities.

Although Esber said he had spoken to his Iraqi counterpart and would continue talks in the future, some in Iraq were likely to view the move with skepticism.

Iraq faces a political crisis after mass protests killed more than 100,000 people and wounded 6,000 during the week of October 1.

Esber said the ceasefire in northeastern Syria was generally coherent.

"I think the cease-fire seems to be generally coherent. We see stability of the lines, if you will, on the ground and we receive reports of intermittent fire, this and that, that doesn't necessarily surprise me."

There are fears that Turkey's incursion into northeastern Syria would allow ISIS fighters to make gains and escape militants from jails guarded by Kurdish fighters.

Esber said the United States is still in contact with Kurdish fighters and appears to be continuing to defend those prisons in areas they still control.

The Arabs

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Edited October 21, 2019 by DinarThug

[DinarThug]

"Washington Post" reveals .. Uprising Lebanon and Iraq against the corruption of sectarian governments!

 Sunday 20 October 2019

 

 

Special: Translation - Lamis El Sayed:

Huge unexpected protests erupted across Lebanon last Thursday.

While the protests erupted over the government's plan to tax WhatsApp calls, a popular correspondent app, the underlying causes of the anger were much deeper.

The Lebanese are suffering from a deepening economic crisis, including stagflation, public debt, a halt to the sale of hydrocarbons, last month, and the interruption of ATMs.

Mismanagement in the government has led to protests in 2015 against the removal of garbage, but at the same time there can be no denial of a slight improvement in government performance in recent years.

But this did not forgive the government's failure to manage the forest fires last week, and the burning of large areas of "Beirut" due to failures in the fire planes.

The Washington Post has seen that the recent protests in Iraq in Tahrir Square in Baghdad and Lebanon's protests cannot be explained this time on the basis of the sectarian divisions that dominate the country, but oppress the class. The poor are in a unified uprising against decades of monetary policies in favor of the rich.

Lebanon's sectarian past and economic present

The power of the sectarian system in Lebanon demonstrates how the institutional structure of the political system and the political economy work in unison in a way that weakens the competitive alternatives on the ground.

Corruption in the public and private sectors helped facilitate the post-war political economy, but at a cost that pushed public finances to the brink of collapse, with the public sector swelling beyond 1990 to between 310,000 and 400,000 employees and retirees. In 2018, salaries, wages, and public benefits amounted to $ 46 billion, or 35 percent of government expenditures, equivalent to 21.29 percent of total government spending of $ 216 billion, from 1993 to 2017. While the rich To make the most of salaries, benefits, and wages, lower-tier employees do not get 50% of what rich employees do.

Therefore, the main objective of last week's protests in Lebanon seems to be to seek the possibility of activating political action outside the sectarian system that has caused a huge gap between the poor and the rich.

What about Iraq?

The “Iraq” protests were met with violent repression by state security forces and reinforced by Shiite militias. This campaign is led by sectarian political elites that emerged after 2003, with the support of Iran, uniting demonstrators against the failure of the political elite to provide basic services.

The experience of Iraq with sectarianism is a recent one. The attempt by ethnic politicians and exiled sectarians, the US occupation authority and Iran to build a racial-sectarian political system emerged after 2003. Although 16 years of political conflict And the sectarian civil war has left deep scars, sectarianism is not firmly established in Iraqi politics.

But like Lebanon's most established sectarian political system, the imposition of a new order on Iraq, after 2003, contributed to the infiltration of state resources, public offices, and political mobilization by ethnic and sectarian groups, acknowledging that access to Iraqi state resources is not Only by ethnic and sectarian political elite. Consequently, the public sector expanded from 850,000 employees in 2004 to between 7 and 9 million in 2016, with about 25% of public funds lost in plans fraught with corruption charges. The use of sectarian political elites to access subcontracts, border crossings, ports and even gas fields to support their sectarian client networks is well known.

The protests in Iraq, though not subject to any particular political leadership, have developed rapidly, with the aim of renouncing cronyism, corruption, unemployment, crumbling infrastructure and militant sectarian militias in the south of the country. While protests have largely spread in Shiite-dominated areas, they have not been dominated by any sectarian slogans.

In the end, the protests were met with extreme violence by the political elite defending the sectarian political system and the client political economy that serves their interests and those of foreign sponsors. The fact that the political elite was forced to use massive violence against demonstrators, who resist sectarianism and nepotism after 2003, reflects the weakness of the regime in Iraq.

Is reform possible?

In both the ongoing protests, "Iraq" and "Lebanon," the people's demands for responsible governance, economic relief and an end to corruption run counter to the concept of sectarianism based on identity. But will the economically motivated protests calling for the fall of the sectarian system stimulate Iraqi or Lebanese politicians to actually reform?

So far, in Iraq, the response has been repression by the state and sectarian militias, with a horrific death toll in return. While violence has put an end to political protests at the moment, it has been at the expense of growing discontent with the current regime.

While the government, in Lebanon, has already responded to the withdrawal of the WhatsApp tax, people's demands for reform are far from over. Sectarian economic political elites face a choice, in which the government prefers to continue to use sectarianism and corruption to preserve its social, economic and political interests. But the protests indicate that the post-war political economy of sectarianism is deadlocked and that many people who were expected to follow the rules of the sectarian system are refusing to do so anymore.

In both Iraq and Lebanon, people revolt against the social and economic violence and social discontent caused by the sectarian system for a better future that transcends sectarian identities and solidarity, contrary to what is seen by world public opinion that everything that goes on in those countries has to do with opposition. Sectarian interests.

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Coordination of the demonstrations in Iraq put 10 steps to move and escalation on 25 October

 Monday, October 21, 2019

 

 

Baghdad - Writings

The Coordinating Committee for the demonstrations in Iraq late on Sunday evening, October 20, 2019, the features of the map of rallies and demonstrations scheduled to start 25 October.

According to the coordination of Sadr City, the most prominent points I took concerning the city of Al-Thawra, which consisted of 26 Iraqi citizens, included several points as follows:

First, the gathering will take place at 9:00 am in the exhibition square near the "Canal Road" and then go to Tahrir Square, and then the road to the Republic Bridge to the Green Zone.

Second, to emphasize the peacefulness of the demonstrations without any violence on the part of the demonstrators and to work to depict every movement or action by the demonstrators to avoid the desolation of some subversive elements.

Third, the coordination of the demonstrations said that the main objective of the demonstration is to enter the Green Zone in a peaceful manner and work to expel all deputies and heads of political blocs, as well as work to sit in front of the homes of politicians in the Green Zone, even if Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi.

Fourth, the meeting concluded that the demands of the demonstrators were limited to the prosecution of the killers and those who ordered them to fire, with the resignation of all three deputies and presidencies and the start of early elections under the supervision of international observers with integrity.

The meeting ended in its fifth article to ask the demonstrators that if the shooting or government forces or other violence in the face of them, stay in their positions and maintain their bodies and document those who shoot through private cameras.

The sixth item on the agenda of the movement during the 25 October demonstrations assured the demonstrators not to infringe on any building or government institution; because it is ultimately the king of the people and those sitting there are temporary persons.

It also called on the demonstrators not to attack any member of the security forces or the army or the police;

In the case of the Iraqi government did not respond to the demands of the demonstrators, the eighth item emphasizes the taking of escalatory measures, including civil disobedience and sit-in on public roads and in front of ministries and government buildings and other unexpected steps.

The coordinator demanded that the demonstrators pay attention if the internet service is cut off, and that communication between them should be made through communications or telephone messages; to maintain the momentum of movement and revolution on the ground and that the presence of the tracking from October 25 onwards.

The coordinating committee of 26 Iraqi citizens was keen to clarify that it has nothing to do with any party or religious or political figure;

The statement concluded by stressing the demonstrators not to let down their homeland and the blood of their martyrs and to bring out all victory for Iraq.

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