Massoud Barzani in Baghdad on Wednesday for the first time in 6 years.. What does he bring?
The President of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Masoud Barzani, will arrive in the capital, Baghdad, the day after tomorrow, Wednesday (July 1, 2024), on an official visit, the first of its kind in 6 years.
Video for this blog is below here:
According to local reports and Kurdish sources, Barzani will visit Baghdad next Wednesday to
discuss several issues. The visit can be described as not discussing pending files, but rather as a final culmination of the end of all technical and legal discussions on all current files, at least those related to salaries and political crises, while the major files, such as the oil and gas law, as well as the file of resuming the export of the region’s oil, which has become a vicious circle between Baghdad and foreign companies operating in the region, continue.
Barzani's visit also coincides with the Turkish incursion and ground operations it is carrying out in northern Dohuk within the Kurdistan Region, while these operations came in accordance with a prior agreement between Baghdad and Ankara during the visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Baghdad.
Economist reveals the main factors that influenced the implementation of the Maronites
Nouri told Al Furat News Agency: “The main factors affecting the proper implementation of the Maronites are:
_Approval of the budget early, at least in the third month of the fiscal year
_Accuracy of financial allocations according to the priorities of the government program
-The speed of cash financing for public spending units. This concerns the duties of the Ministries of Finance and Planning, the Council of Ministers, and the Representatives
As for the executive departments, Salah added, “Transparency, integrity and quality in the use and spending of funds according to the approved financial allocations.”
He stated, “The efficiency of the executive human resources in the public spending units, based on the basics of implementing the aforementioned general budget, will greatly affect the achievement this year in terms of delays in approving the budget and delays in financing, in addition to the weakness of efficiency, transparency, integrity, and quality, especially in investment projects.”
Amin Iraq Bank: We were unable to increase our capital
Amin Iraq Bank announced that it was unable to increase its capital due to lack of subscription by investors.
The bank said that a public subscription was made to increase the capital of Amin Al Iraq Bank for Investment and Islamic Finance at Al Huda Bank, but the offered shares amounting to 50 billion dinars were not subscribed to.
He added that the subscription was extended on April 15 and ended on June 13.
The Central Bank asked banks to increase their capital to 400 billion dinars.
- Next month...the salaries of retired workers will increase
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The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs will begin increasing the salaries of retired workers next July.
The Ministry's official spokesman, Najm Al-Uqabi, said in a statement received by Al-Maalouma, “The Ministry will begin implementing the increase in the salaries of retired workers starting in July, indicating that it will be in the amount of 150 thousand dinars distributed according to a retirement formula."
He pointed out that “the maximum limit for the worker’s pension will be 700 thousand dinars according to a retirement formula.” The one who receives the minimum amount of 350 thousand will have a salary of 500 thousand after adding the increase, and so on.”
Minister of Labor: Tomorrow we will launch a World Bank grant for more than two thousand social protection beneficiaries in Dhi Qar Governorate
The Minister of Labor, Ahmed Al-Assadi, announced that the World Bank grant will be launched tomorrow for more than two thousand beneficiaries of social protection in Dhi Qar Governorate, and according to the districts (Al-Chibayish, Al-Fuhood, and Hamar) to improve the economic and living situation of families there.
Economist: Direct banking investment is prohibited by order of the Central Bank
Economic expert Mustafa Akram Hantoush explained on Sunday that the Central Bank of Iraq adopts a "strict" central policy in its dealings with the banking sector, which limits the ability of banks to engage in direct investment and finance economic projects.
Hantoush told Shafaq News Agency that this policy makes it difficult for the banking system and investors to invest their capital in new projects without obtaining special approvals from the Central Bank.
Hantoush added that the current procedures followed by the Central Bank prevent banks from entering the areas of direct investment, which hinders the banking sector from achieving a vital role in moving the national economy.
He explained that the banking system, in light of these measures, does not have sufficient capacity to play an effective investment role in line with normal banking rules, but rather the investment decision becomes subject to the directions and approvals of the Central Bank.
Hantoush stressed that this approach lacks the concept of "financial liberalization" for banks, which would provide the banking sector the opportunity to enter the Iraqi market directly and support investment opportunities, while adhering to banking and legal controls.
He stressed that reviewing these policies may be a necessary step to activate the role of banks in supporting economic projects and enhancing investment in Iraq.
Japan.. New banknotes using "3D" images
link this is from Iraq's news
Japan is set to issue new banknotes that will use, for the first time in the world, advanced holograms, as an anti-counterfeiting measure.
The Japanese Kyodo News Agency said that this change is the first in the design of Japanese currency in 20 years, explaining that the size of the printing of the face value numbers on the new 10,000-yen, 5,000-yen and 1,000-yen banknotes will be larger than on the current issues, so that all people can easily recognize them, while the tactile marks will make it easier for the visually impaired to know their value.
The process of printing currencies using the new technology is scheduled to begin next Wednesday.
By the end of March next year, approximately 7.5 billion new banknotes will be printed.
Kyodo quoted the government as confirming that the current banknotes will remain valid even after the new banknotes are introduced.
Prime Minister's Advisor Announces Iraq's Completion of Integration Steps by Providing Safe Environments to Attract Investment
The financial advisor to the Prime Minister, Mazhar Mohammed Salih, identified on Sunday the important strategic, field and organizational factors that encourage international investors to work in Iraq, while pointing out two basic starting points for the development of the investment environment in the country.
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani confirmed last week, while chairing the eighth meeting of the Higher Committee for Reconstruction and Investment, that Iraq has become a safe and attractive environment for capital from international companies, and a preferred market for businessmen and investors, thanks to the facilities and legislation provided by the government since its formation.
Saleh said, in a statement reported by the official news agency, and reviewed by "Al-Eqtisad News", that "the Prime Minister's statement regarding the development of the investment environment in Iraq comes from two main starting points: the first is Iraq's completion of its integration steps in providing safe and appropriate environments to attract foreign investment in Iraq, the latest of which is our country's accession to the agreement sponsored by the United Nations and called the Singapore Investment Agreement."
He added, "This agreement seeks to improve the investment climate in member states by enhancing transparency and fair regulatory procedures, in addition to providing mechanisms for resolving disputes between investors and countries through faster mediation or international arbitration, which gives investors a legal means to guarantee their rights, all of which are factors that the government of the Republic of Iraq believes in to encourage international investors to invest in our country with high resources."
Saleh stressed that "the Singapore Agreement and joining it is an important step towards enhancing international trade and investment, which contributes to achieving economic growth and improving economic relations between international groups."
He added that "the second part, which the Prime Minister referred to, is the momentum of the natural and human material resources of an important strategic country like Iraq, which ranked ninth among the countries of the world in terms of natural resources, and first in the world in possessing one square kilometer of resources in the ground."
He explained that "the geographical location of Iraq, which connects European countries by land with Asian countries by sea, encouraged the launch of the Development Road project, which took its executive steps from the Faw Port upwards within the construction of the dry canal and the upcoming related industrial, agricultural and service projects and in accordance with an important regional and international cooperation framework to attract global investments."
He pointed out that "all these strategic, field and organizational factors represent a positive invitation for international investors to work in Iraq under the direct sponsorship of the executive authority to facilitate their work and with high-precision legal protection."
Al-Sudani: The world has realized the importance of Iraq's stability for international and regional security
Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani confirmed that the world realized the importance of Iraq’s stability for international and regional security, during his reception of the delegation of the European Foundation for Dialogue and Development.
During the meeting, according to a statement received by {Al-Furat News}, Al-Sudani reiterated “the importance of the cultural and social diversity enjoyed by the Iraqi people, which represents a social wealth that supports communication between fraternal factions, and consolidates unity of ranks against extremism, which represents an ideology alien to our people and its history.” ".
Rais stressed the government's "continuous support for this diversity, and the strengthening of places of worship for all religions and sects and freedom of practices in them, and throughout Iraq, which is full of mosques, Islamic mosques, Christian churches, Sabian-Mandaean and Yazidi temples, and the rest of the components of the Iraqi spectrum."
Al-Sudani mentioned, “The attempt of terrorism to dismantle this heritage and historical fabric, and the victory of the Iraqis and their overcoming that ordeal, and the recovery that Iraq is now going through in various fields, just as the world has realized the importance of Iraq’s stability for international and regional security, and what the government has followed in its program strengthening the principle of government of services and community care.” “And setting priorities in public service, economic reform, combating corruption, and fighting poverty and unemployment, to enhance the value of citizenship.”
Al-Sudani also explained to the European Foundation delegation “the nature of the constructive relations that the government has adopted with the countries of the world, and the prospects for fruitful partnerships with the countries of the European Union and the agreements and memoranda of understanding that have been signed, or with neighboring countries and regional countries, through adopting the principle of mutual interests, which is one of the results of the stability of the Iraqi experience, despite the problems it faced that the Iraqis overcame through democratic construction and consolidation of constitutional institutions of government, in the best way among the forms of democracies existing in the region.”
The Prime Minister addressed "the events in Gaza and the continued brutal aggression against our Palestinian people, stressing Iraq's firm and principled position, and stating that the government is working with the countries of the region to prevent the expansion of the conflict arena, in addition to continuing to send relief and humanitarian aid."
For its part, “the delegation of the European Foundation expressed its appreciation for the warm reception, and praised the tangible state of stability in Iraq, through the tours it made in the capital, Baghdad, and its briefing on various development projects, stressing the necessity of conveying this image away from attempts to mislead.”
The Iraqi resistance threatens the entity: If you attack Lebanon, we will escalate our operations and target America’s interests
The Iraqi Resistance Coordination threatened the occupying entity with escalating qualitative operations against it if it attacks Lebanon and targets American interests in Iraq and the region, while indicating that the Basra-Aqaba oil pipeline is the starting point for bringing Iraq into a project that extends to normalization with the entity.
The coordination media stated in a statement received by “Ishan” that “the Iraqi resistance coordination met following the threats of the Zionist-American enemy to launch a comprehensive war against Lebanon and its valiant resistance, and the coordination decided that if the Zionists carry out their threat, the pace and type of operations against them will escalate, and the interests of the American enemy will be Criminals in Iraq and the region are legitimate targets for the men of the resistance, (Indeed, this is what we do to criminals).”
She added, “The massacres and genocide that our people in Palestine are exposed to - supported by America - necessitate taking firm stances towards the normalization countries, not supporting them with Iraq’s oil and money, and perhaps the Aqaba-Basra oil pipeline, which drains Iraq of huge amounts of money, without economic benefit.” For the country, it is considered the starting point for introducing Iraq - the country of Ali, Al-Hussein, and the pure Imams (peace be upon them) - into a malicious project that paves the way for normalization with the Zionist entity, (and you will see the criminals on that day bound together in shackles).”
A delegation from the Kurdistan Regional Government arrives in Baghdad
An informed source stated, today, Monday (July 1, 2024), that a delegation from the Kurdistan Regional Government arrived in Baghdad to discuss the outstanding problems regarding the border crossings.
The source told Baghdad Today, "A delegation from the Kurdistan Regional Government, including the Minister of Interior, Reber Ahmed, the Minister of Finance and Economy, Awat Sheikh Janab, and the Director General of Customs and Border Crossings, arrived in the capital, Baghdad."
He added, "The delegation will discuss some of the outstanding problems between the two parties regarding customs, crossings and border outlets."
- Popular Movement: The American Embassy obstructs Iraq’s accession to the Belt and Road Initiative
The popular movement for Iraq to join the Belt and Road Initiative accused the US embassy on Sunday of obstructing Iraq's access to the Iraqi-Chinese agreement.
The head of the regulatory body, Hussein Ali Al-Karaawi, said in an interview with the Maalouma Agency, “The American embassy in Baghdad is moving directly to thwart the Belt and Road project.”
He added, "The American ambassador in Baghdad is working in every way to prevent Iraq from joining the Chinese Khazam Initiative, while at the same time there is negligence and collusion from the government towards the Iraqi interest by responding to projects that serve America's interests, " noting that "these moves are considered blatant interference in Iraq's internal affairs."
He explained, “All evidence and data confirm that the one behind the obstruction of the implementation of the Chinese agreement is the American embassy, calling for the closure of the American embassy and the expulsion of its ambassador from Iraq.”
today july 1 2024
Parliament awaits consensus to pass a package of laws
Member of the Parliamentary Legal Committee, Arif Al-Hamami, confirmed that the suspended laws in Parliament require political consensus.
Al-Hamami said in a press interview, “The important laws are the laws that come from the government, while the suspended laws within the House of Representatives require political consensus, the most prominent of which are the oil and gas laws and the general amnesty.”
He added, "All the laws whose legislative procedures have been completed are still being completed and work is underway to resolve them."
The first legislative term of the second legislative year ended on June 10, after the term was extended from May 10 last year.
Postponement of pensioner salaries distribution until tomorrow due to bank holiday
An informed source expected that the distribution of retirees' salaries would be postponed until tomorrow, Tuesday, due to the date of their distribution coinciding with the holiday of all banks today, Monday, due to the implementation of the semi-annual inventory.
The source explained to Shafaq News Agency that all banks in Iraq are closed today to conduct semi-annual inventory and financial systems operations, which affects the process of distributing salaries.
The source pointed out that the Ministry of Finance and the retirement departments are working to expedite the necessary procedures to ensure that salaries are paid as soon as possible after the end of the bank holiday.
It is noteworthy that the semi-annual inventory process carried out by banks includes reviewing accounts and ensuring conformity of financial records, which is a periodic procedure carried out in order to maintain the accuracy of financial and banking operations.
Selling cash dollars to travelers
Later, in our letters numbered 4604/8/9 on 4/17/2024, 5061/8/9 on 4/25/2024, and 270/1/9 on 6/2/2024, in order to ensure that travelers receive cash dollars and spare exchange companies from passing transactions Unsound, the following is decided .. For more , click here
text of the doc
1/1
Iraqi Trade Bank Exchange companies currently operating in airports Exchange companies category (A, B) All selling cash dollars to travelers
good greeting ....
Later, in our letters numbered 4604/8/9 on 4/17/2024, 5061/8/9 on 4/25/2024, and 270/1/9 on 6/2/2024, in order to ensure that travelers receive cash dollars and spare exchange companies from passing illegal transactions.
Salima decides the following:
Determine 7/14/2024 as the final date for starting the mechanism mentioned in our books above. The aforementioned banks and exchange companies operating at the airport are entitled to a lump sum commission of (15,000) dinars from the customer for each transaction, and the exchange companies outside the airport collect it for the benefit of the companies and banks operating at the airport according to a mechanism that determines between the two parties the banks and companies operating at the airport and the exchange companies.
outside the airport).
The above-mentioned banks have the right to charge exchange companies no more than 2 dinars for every 1 dollar in amounts
The receiving window on behalf of exchange companies.
Al-Rashid and Al-Rafidain Banks opened outlets at airports (Baghdad, Basra, Najaf), and the Iraqi Trade Bank opened outlets at airports (Baghdad, Najaf, Basra, Sulaymaniyah, Erbil).
. Exchange companies must transfer their dealings to one of the above-mentioned banks no later than 7/11/2024.
The continuation of the work of the exchange companies currently operating at Al-Rayyan, Al-Fanjan, Sama Baghdad, and Al-Qand airports, in addition to
The banks mentioned above, with the possibility of contracting with other exchange companies.
with respect.
Washington warns Baghdad against becoming a "corridor" between Iran and Lebanon
The United States is trying to "neutralize Iraq" in the crisis that has been raging for months in Gaza and the Red Sea, and the possibilities of war in southern Lebanon.
Washington recently warned Baghdad against becoming an "Iranian corridor" between these conflicts, and is also planning to impose sanctions on violators.
It appears that the new US sanctions list may include part of the Popular Mobilization Forces, after a draft by Congress that is believed to affect the head of the Judicial Council.
A deputy close to the government, Muhammad Al-Sudani, told Al-Mada that “the United States recently asked Iraq not to be a corridor to Lebanon.”
It is expected that at any moment Israel will launch a war on southern Lebanon, while Iraqi factions have announced their willingness to participate there.
The representative, who preferred to remain anonymous, confirmed that “Washington did not clarify the details of what is actually required of Iraq in this matter, but the warning came in general and perhaps related to airports.”
The representative clarifies that Washington "has not yet requested to prevent or inspect Iranian aircraft passing through Iraq towards Syria and Lebanon." Iran has recently begun, according to some information, to transfer the weight of militants from Syria to Lebanon due to the intensity of Israeli bombing and airstrikes in Damascus. On the other hand, in a remarkable development, Baghdad is preparing to receive Hamas, according to what leaders in the “Frame” group said, while an advisor to Al-Sudani denied this news. Iraq's involvement in the crisis between the West and Iran threatens to expose the country to retaliatory strikes, as happened at the beginning of this year, or to issue sanctions against individuals and institutions. Some leaks indicate the possibility of sanctions being issued against the Hashd Security Directorate in the Authority, which had issued a few days ago a decision to relieve its head, Abu Zainab al-Lami, and then retract that decision. On the other hand, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry rejected, on Saturday, a new draft resolution within the US Congress that might affect Faiq Zaidan, head of the Judicial Council.
The Republican Decision
: Mathal Al-Alusi, a former deputy to Al-Mada, says, “The American Republican Party will hold an expanded and dangerous conference next week, not only to support the party's presidential candidate, but also to discuss policies in the region.”
Al-Alusi adds, "Republicans believe that what is happening in Iraq and in Iraqi institutions is because of the tolerance of the Democrats (the Democratic Party) with the Revolutionary Guards, so they want to stand against these positions."
The former representative points out that there are “harsh reactions” from the Republican government if the party comes to power. “They will punish every party close to the Revolutionary Guard or that worked with it, whether individuals or institutions.”
Republican Representative Mike Waltz, a member of the Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committees in the US House of Representatives, said that he would submit an amendment to a draft law that would consider the Supreme Judicial Council in Iraq and its president “as assets controlled by Iran,” according to a report published by the Washington Free Beacon website. . In this regard, Ahmed Al-Yasiri, head of the Arab-Australian Center for Strategic Studies, says, “Regardless of whether Congress rejects or accepts the draft resolution, it is a dangerous precedent for the first time after 2003 to accuse the judiciary of “political bias.” Al-Yasiri, in contact with (Al-Mada), confirmed that “this project is not to fight the judicial institution, but rather to punish the President of the Council, and the accusations against the Chief Justice are related to the fact that the judicial decisions contributed to influencing the democratic path of the political process.”
According to the American report, the head of the Judicial Council is among “the leading forces working to advance Iran’s interests in Iraq and help Tehran’s militias gain a foothold in the country.”
The head of the Arab Center points out the need for the Judicial Council and the rest of the official institutions to respond to what was stated in the allegations of the US Congressman, and not just reject the project. He added, "For the judiciary to place America's targeting of Iran on the agenda disturbs all of Iraq. No one accepts that the judiciary in his country be targeted, but as Iraqis we want to know the reasons that prompted this project, and the truth of the accusations."
On the other hand, Al-Yasiri says that because of the crisis in Gaza and the Red Sea, “Washington wants to reduce Iran's influence in Iraq, and this was clear from the words of the American ambassador (referring to the new candidate for Washington's Embassy in Iraq, Tracy Ann Jacobson), who also spoke a few days ago in Congress.” "The necessity of cutting off Iran's arms."
The researcher in political affairs confirms that “America in the coming period will increase pressure on Iran, especially if Trump (Donald Trump) returns to power, and the measures will increase the logistical interruption, which are escalating measures in Iraq regarding the issue of economic “Sanctions, stopping banks, monitoring remittances, and then the turn has come to target some Faction leaders and then to the judiciary.”
Al-Yasiri points out that the latest US Congress draft is “an early warning to the Iraqis” of harsh measures to come, expecting that “Congress will not succeed in passing the law, but it is a dangerous law and Trump may use it later or if the two parties (Democrat and Republican) agree at another time.”
Kurdistan delivers more than 70 billion dinars to the federal government in non-oil revenues for the month of March
Today, Monday (July 1, 2024), the Ministry of Finance in the Kurdistan Region announced the deposit of more than 70 billion dinars in the federal government’s account as non-oil revenues for the month of March.
A statement from the ministry, seen by Baghdad Today, said: “The Kurdistan Regional Government sent non-oil revenues for the month of March to the Iraqi Ministry of Finance.”
She added, "The regional government deposited 70 billion 130 million 250 thousand dinars in the Erbil branch of the Central Bank of Iraq as the federal treasury's share of non-oil revenues for March 2024."
According to the agreements between the federal government and the regional government, oil and non-oil revenues are delivered to the federal Ministry of Finance at specific rates in order to pay the salaries of Kurdistan employees.
Raising the alert status" at military bases.. The Pentagon reveals the reason
The US Department of Defense "Pentagon" revealed on Monday the reasons for raising the state of alert in US military bases in Europe, which came due to a group of factors and is not related to a specific threat.
"Our European Command is taking steps out of precaution and increased vigilance," said Pentagon deputy spokeswoman Sabrina Singh.
Singh's statements came after several American media outlets reported on Sunday that the US military had raised the alert level at a number of its bases to "Charlie", the second highest level.
This level is applied "when an incident occurs, or when intelligence is received indicating that some type of terrorist act or targeting of individuals or facilities is likely," the US military states on its website.
Singh also explained on Monday that "the aim of our naval movements in the Mediterranean is to enhance regional stability and enhance deterrence and there are no plans for evacuation at this stage."
She added, "These movements were previously scheduled and provide additional capabilities for our forces in the region."
Regarding the temporary dock designated for distributing aid to Gaza to alleviate the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the famine-threatened sector, Singh said, "It is still in Ashdod port and we are still assessing the situation to determine when it will be re-installed on the Gaza shore."
Singh said on Friday that the US Central Command (CENTCOM) had dismantled the temporary dock and moved it to the port of Ashdod in Israel due to expectations of high waves at the end of last week.
The President of the Republic denounces American attempts to undermine the Iraq
judiciary
Rashid said in a statement, “We condemn the statements of the Republican representative in the US Congress, Mike Waltz, which not only affect the person of the head of the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council, Judge Faiq Zidane, but also affect the independence of the Iraqi judiciary, which is a fundamental pillar of the state.”
He added, “Here we affirm that the Iraqi judicial system is one of the most solid independent judicial systems in the region and is the guarantor of achieving justice, supports the rule of law, and guarantees the legitimate rights of citizens to live a free and dignified life, and the security and political stability that Iraq is witnessing is only clear evidence of that.”
Rashid stressed that "such irresponsible statements, if repeated, may affect the nature of bilateral relations between Iraq and the United States of America."
Rafidain Bank announces the implementation of the comprehensive banking system in 31 of its branches in Iraq
Rafidain Bank announced today, Tuesday, the implementation of the comprehensive banking system in the Pharmacists Branch in Basra, thus joining the branches that have activated the comprehensive system in Baghdad and the governorates, in addition to the border crossing branches (Zurbatiya - Safwan - Arar - Trebil).
Thus, the number of effective and completed branches of the system becomes (31) branches, in an important step to strengthen the banking system, achieve its requirements, and move away from paper work and completely towards electronic systems.
The bank confirmed in a statement today that the digital transformation plan and the adoption of the comprehensive banking system are proceeding according to the set timetables to include all the bank’s branches in the implementation of the system, especially since the priorities and adoptions of the government program include electronic transformation in financial transactions, reducing the circles of routine for citizens, shortening time, simplifying procedures, overcoming obstacles, and intensifying efforts to improve the level of services provided to customers and completing their transactions.
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