UN envoy to Iraq: Liberation of Mosul imminent, ISIS days numbered
With the liberation of Mosul imminent, the international community must maintain a dual focus on defeating the remaining ISIS terrorists in Iraq, and on working towards post-conflict security and reconstruction, the United Nations envoy for Iraq Jan Kubis told the Security Council
Kubis went on to stress that the imminent defeat of ISIS must also provide an urgent impetus to address the needs of minorities, especially their ability to return to their homes
The return of all internally displaced persons to all liberated areas must be a top priority as should tackling increasing incidents of kidnapping and paying sustained attention to upcoming elections in 2017 and 2018
National reconciliation can only succeed if it reflects the aspirations of the population including women and youth,” he said.
Kubis also Urged Baghdad and Erbil to leverage their joint efforts against ISIS and to address such issues as border disputes and building a functional federation based on partnership Kubis noted that senior officials in Kurdistan recently announced their intention to hold a referendum on the region’s future later in 2017
They had indicated, he continued, that their aim was to show the world the will of the people” on the status of Kurdistan, rather than assert independence immediately
Noting that the overall rule of law remained weak, Kubis said kidnapping was becoming an increasing problem recalling that the National Intelligence Cell had met on 11 May to discuss the link between terrorism and organized crime including kidnapping. The international community must vigorously pursue accountability for crimes committed by ISIS in Iraq he said.
Meanwhile, the issue of internally displaced persons remained critical with some 700,000 people having fled their homes since mid-October he noted. Hundreds of thousands of others remain in ISIS-controlled areas, suffering lack of food and water and often finding themselves caught in crossfire.
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US general: Kurdistan’s independence is only ‘matter of time‘
The independence of Kurdistan Region from Iraq has become only a matter of time, the director of the US Defense Intelligence Agency Lieutenant General Vincent R. Stewart said in a US media statement on Tuesday.
The Kurds are planning to hold a referendum towards the independence to determine their destiny this year.
Stewart’s statement coincided with the high-level Kurdish delegation headed by President of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani visit to Washington to discuss with the decision makers in the White House about security and political issues, including the referendum issue.
Prominent Iraqi politician Hajim al-Housni commented on Kurdistan region’s referendum saying that he has known that the Kurdish people want to establish their own independent state.
He added that this requires negotiations between Baghdad and Erbil.
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Kaperoni (Dinar Guru) – …we all know the dinar is pegged to the dollar… […wouldn’t Iraq have to/want to be in Article VIII compliance before they unpegged?] I can only speculate based on the IMF docs that I have read. But I would assume so…because the raising of the value of the dinar is directly related to investment in the market economy. And without Article VIII, there is no foreign investment. Remember, the key to this is the activation of the CBI’s Capital Account which is the pipeline of sorts for money flowing in and out of Iraq. Once in Article VIII, foreign investors/ investment will begin to participate in rebuilding and privatizing Iraq. Money will be deposited into bank accounts, flow through the CBI’s Capital Account and if the dinar is not pegged, will begin to move upwards to offset inflationary pressure created by the influx of economic activity (thus the Balassa-Samuelson effect)... There are no shortcuts. The CBI needs to get in compliance with the IMF so they can transition out of Article XIV. They need deposit insurance. Once that happens, we should see things begin to move fast.
Read more: http://www.dinarupdates.com/observer
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Parliament postpones amnesty amendment and reads law for parliamentary elections
The House of Representatives ended yesterday, the first reading of the draft law the first amendment to the law of the elections of the House of Representatives, while postponing the vote on the draft amendment to the first law of amnesty.
Parliament Speaker Salim al-Jubouri announced the completion of the formalities of six requests for questioning.
This came during the session of the House of Representatives thirty-sixth held on Tuesday, headed by Jubouri and attended by 170 deputies, according to a statement.
The session witnessed the vote on a draft law to include the Judicial Institute to the Supreme Judicial Council with the aim of linking the Judicial Institute with the Higher Judicial Council as the body responsible for the preparation of judges and prosecutors.
The Council also proceeded to vote on the draft reform of the inmates and depositors, to be completed at a later session after the quorum.
During the session, MP Amer al-Khuzai, chairman of the committee of experts on the selection of the Electoral Commission Council, said that the committee “after intensive meetings completed the completion of the first phase to sort the candidates of the number of 118 candidates.” “The legislative holiday will be invested to send letters to the relevant state institutions on the eligibility of candidates for membership of the Commission.”
The Speaker of the Parliament directed the Committee to continue its work during the legislative holiday in order to interview the candidates and sort the names of candidates for membership of the Council of the Electoral Commission.
In the course of the session, the Speaker of Parliament revealed that “the House of Representatives 6 requests for questioning fulfilled its formal procedures.”
Al-Jubouri added that “the issue of Asanid revolutions around the question of granting the Minister questioned whether or not,” noting that “the House of Representatives submitted to the Federal Court an inquiry on the grounds and mandatory sent to the minister questioned, and the decision of the Federal Court that the requirements to answer questions asked the Minister questioned to provide questions And the documents and documents, on which the interrogation was based, to keep the origin of the evidence and evidence in the treasury of the House of Representatives.
Jubouri said that “the presidency of the Council will send all the questions to the interrogators for the purpose of scheduling dates for questioning,” stressing that “the House of Representatives is committed to hold the interrogators to be informed of the person questioned with the basil provided to him.”
The parliament also postponed the vote on the first amendment to the general amnesty law No. (27) for the year 2016. The parliament also ended the first reading of the draft law of the first amendment to the law of elections of the Iraqi Council of Representatives No. (45) for the year 2013 submitted by the Legal Committee.
In the meantime, MP Ammar Tohma, head of the Virtue bloc, criticized the version sent by the government to the law of parliamentary elections, considering that it is in the interest of large lists.
“It was supposed to be read the draft election law sent by the Presidency of the Republic instead of the draft law submitted by the government on the basis of Article (123) of the rules of procedure, which provided that the project is not true to The competent committees and then read it if it is preceded by a law dealing with the same subject, the elections. ”
The head of the Virtue bloc said that “the law of the Presidency of the Republic included a way to distribute seats more realistic and contribute to the expansion of political participation and stimulate the increase in the participation rate in the elections,” noting that “the adoption of the mechanism of distribution of seats on the highest vote of the candidates by (50% Of the seats in the constituency. ”
MP Ammar Tohma said that “the same project of the government included in some paragraphs the replacement of members and the distribution of seats within the list one of the highest voice among the candidates is further evidence on the reality of this proposal and achieve justice to a higher rate than the government project.”
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Central bank sales of the dollar fell in the auction today
Trend Press / Baghdad The sale of foreign currency by the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) on Wednesday fell to 150 million dollars, while 153 million dollars were recorded yesterday.
A statement by the bank obtained “Trend Press” a copy of it, “The volume of the amount sold today amounted to 150 million, 321 thousand, and 47 dollars, the exchange rate of 1182 dinars per dollar, with the participation of 40 banks and 10 companies for financial transfer.”
The statement said that “the sale of amounts transferred to the accounts of banks abroad, as well as the sale of cash was the price of 1190 dinars per dollar.”
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Kaperoni (Dinar Guru) – Artile: “Experts: float the currency needs to be a productive economy and not Rieia (rentier)” Quote: “…to float the currency now in Iraq can not talk about that simple, as needed to advance measures…it could be done if the transformation of the Iraqi economy from a yield to productive…” This is actually a really good article because they state very clearly that under the current conditions they cannot float the dinar…and only once the market economy begins can they do so. So we continue to wait for Iraq to set the stage for investment. Pass the needed laws, get the dinar in compliance with the IMF, etc. to move to Article VIII. Only then will we see the dinar float and rise based on market forces. I am hopeful that yet this year we can see that happen.
Read more: http://www.dinarupdates.com/observer
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Abadi: We discussed with the Saudi side the mechanisms of controlling oil prices in the global market
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said that he discussed with Saudi Oil Minister Khalid Al-Faleh the mechanisms of controlling the oil prices in the world market, while stressing that Iraq’s relations with all neighboring countries are “good”.
“We discussed with the Saudi side the mechanisms of controlling oil prices in the global market,” Abadi said at his weekly press conference.
On February 22, 2017, Saudi Oil Minister Khalid al-Faleh arrived in Baghdad on an official visit during which he met with Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and Oil Minister Jabbar al-Allaibi.
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Crude oil rises ahead of OPEC meeting
LONDON (Reuters) – Oil prices rose in European trading on Wednesday for a sixth consecutive session, gaining more ground on the back of OPEC’s possible extension of production cuts for another nine months when it meets on Thursday.
London Brent crude futures for July delivery rose 20 cents to $ 54.35 a barrel, after hitting a 19-year high of $ 54.43 the previous day.
Oil ministers from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other major producer countries will meet in Vienna on Thursday to decide whether to extend the current production agreement beyond June 30.
In November last year, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and 11 other non-OPEC countries, including Russia, agreed to cut production by 8.1 million bpd between January 1 and June 30.
Most market analysts expect the oil sector to extend production cuts for another nine months until March 2018 instead of six months as previously expected.
Read more: http://www.dinarupdates.com/showthread.php?49471-Crude-oil-rises-ahead-of-OPEC-meeting
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BGG (Dinar Guru) – I am very excited about the current state of things. I am very excited about the next short time frame… I think we are in an incredible window of time right now…and I do feel – if things advance as they have been – we could be very, very close. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but legitimately CLOSE. Unlike ever before. (keep in mind – we have been close before – the CBI had planned on 2013? sometime and put it off). According to the SIGR Report. We are close. REAL CLOSE.
Read more: http://www.dinarupdates.com/observer
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Industry: We want to cooperate with the UAE in the field of energy
Economy News BAGHDAD, He confirmed minister Industry And minerals Mohammed Ayaa Sudanese, Wednesday, desire Iraq Cooperation With Country United Arab Emirates at fields energy Multiple, Indicating to have Iraq Centers Research Specialized And sophisticated .
And he said Declaration Journalist To the Ministry Industry Received ” economy News ” version from him, That ” Sudanese he met During His visit Current to me Country United Arab Emirates Arabic United Nations Bockel Ministry energy Doctor rain Neyadi And search Frames Cooperat Common at fields energy Different And possibility Support Capacity Iraq Specialized by this the field In the presence of Delegation Iraq the official Which Includes President body Investment And the counselor Economic development To the President Ministers Number From Officials Governmental organizations And men Business Iraqis addition to me actor Ministry Foreign Affairs at Country United Arab Emirates And Ambassador Republic of Iraq at Abu Abu Dhabi .
He drew To ” desire the government Cooperation With Country United Arab Emirates at fields energy Multiple And their uses From During exchange Of experience Transfer Technology And benefit From Experiments Successful at Country United Arab Emirates by this Domain ” , Pointing out to me That ” Iraq Owned Centers Research Specialized And sophisticated at fields energy And cadres Enough And Experiences Accumulated “.
“It is important Use Experiences Experiences Arabic And foreign To develop this is Possibilities And upgrading In the centers And studies Research And scientific As a pillar Basic And important To implement Projects Pioneer Serving And contribute at Investigation Development Economic . ”
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It’s said that no greater love has a man than this — that he should lay down his life for his friends.
Vice President – Mike Pence
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Iraqi troops recapture half of biggest western Mosul district
Iraqi troops have gained control on part of the biggest west Mosul district and killed a number of Islamic State militants in an airstrike.
In statements on Friday, the War Media Cell quoted the Nineveh Operations Commander, Lt.Gen. Abdul Amir Yarallah, as saying that the 9th armored division retaken the northern part of 17 Tamuz (July 17) in the western side of Mosul.
In other statements, WMC said dozens of IS fighters were killed in airstrikes in western Mosul.
Iraqi fighter jets launched several airstrikes that destroyed booby-trapping workshop and vehicles and killed dozens of militants on Rifaie district.
“An IS headquarter and booby-trapping workshop were destroyed, while dozens of militants were killed on al-Zanjili district,” the statement added.
Iraqi forces have been sweeping through northwestern neighborhoods over the past two weeks in a way to invade the strategic Old City.
More than 16,000 IS members were killed since beginning of operations in Mosul, Brigadier General Yahya Rasool, the military spokesperson, said in a press conference on Tuesday declaring that 89.5 percent of western Mosul was liberated with only a few districts remaining under the militants’ control.
Eastern Mosul was liberated in January after three months of battles. Another major offensive was launched in February to retake the western side.
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U.N. says 200,000 more people could flee Mosul as fighting intensifies
The United Nations said on Thursday up to 200,000 more people could flee Mosul as Iraqi forces push into the last districts held by Islamic State militants.
Iraqi authorities and aid agencies are already struggling to cope with a surge in displacement since security forces opened a new front against the militants in Mosul earlier this month.
Backed by a U.S.-led coalition, Iraqi forces have dislodged Islamic State from all but about 12 square km (5 square miles) of the city and are seeking to claim victory before the holy month of Ramadan in less than two weeks.
The militants, however, still control the Old City, where they are expected to make their last stand in the densely populated, narrow streets that are impassable for armored vehicles.
“As military operations intensify and move closer to Mosul’s Old City area, we expect that up to 200,000 more people will flee,” Lise Grande, the U.N.’s Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq said in a statement, describing the figures as “alarming”.
“The numbers of people who are moving are now so large, it’s becoming more and more difficult to ensure civilians receive the assistance and protection they need.”
Nearly 700,000 people have fled Mosul since the start of the campaign to retake the city last October, seeking refuge either with friends and relatives or in camps.
Human Rights Watch said on Thursday the Iraqi army and other local security forces had forced over 300 displaced families to return to districts of Mosul that are still at risk of attack by Islamic State.
“These families should not be forcibly returned to unsafe areas and areas that lack adequate water, food, electricity, or health facilities,” said Lama Fakih, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch.
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Al-Rashid: Our predecessor to pensioners up to 3 million dinars
Al-Rasheed Bank announced on Thursday that it is providing advances to retirees up to 3 million dinars, stressing that the borrower must have a smart card from the bank exclusively.
The bank’s assistant director Muataz Abdul Rasul said that “the bank is still continuing to grant advances to retirees according to his pension and the amounts ranging between one million and 500 thousand dinars and two million dinars and three million dinars.”
Abdul Rasul said that “the interest on these advances up to 7% and the duration of payment of five years,” stressing that “the pensioner must be a smart card from the bank exclusively.”
It is worth mentioning that the Bank of Rasheed started in 2017 by granting salaries to employees of ten salaries according to certain mechanisms and controls.
Read more: http://www.dinarupdates.com/member.php?47292-MadDScout
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Economist: The decline in reserves of the Central Bank came because of the bank’s entry as a financier of many banks
The economic expert Bassem Jameel Antoine, said today that the decline in the reserve of the Central Bank came due to the entry of the bank as financier of many banks to save the process of development and economic decline.
Antoine said in an interview for the “trend” He added that “the central bank gave treasury bonds to the Iraqi government to fill the deficit of 21 billion dollars, the equivalent of 21 trillion dinars,” noting that “the Iraqi economy in decline in revenue due to low oil prices.”
“The Iraqi economy needs radical treatments through its transformation from consumer to producer through the activation of the productive sectors of agriculture, industry and tourism.”
He pointed out that “If these amounts withdrawn from the Central Bank for development purposes acted to develop the productive sectors and the private sector in particular Vakhov and consider the economy is good,” noting that “the amounts paid to salaries and non-productive sectors and does not cover the rate of interest you borrow is a mistake.”
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BGG (Dinar Guru) – Article: “Iraq offers compensation settlement and Kuwaiti debt against investment” Quote: “…the meeting also discussed the file of compensation with the State of Kuwait and ways to settle through the window of investment inside Iraq.“. two separate items talked about – how to pay back Kuwait (not to be confused with) – their eagerness to settle investments inside Iraq? One of the big problems needing dealt with – is they have few mechanisms in place to safe guard investors. Why would the IMF care about Iraqi investors. They don’t – this is referring to OUTSIDE investors. Period. Really good news – entering final talks – it appears.
Read more: http://www.dinarupdates.com/observer/
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Kaperoni (Dinar Guru) – Article: “ATMs for MasterCard card users” …it is fun to watch all the pieces be put in place for the economy to take off. Iraq is literally going from the stone age to the 21st century with technology in a few years.
Read more: http://www.dinarupdates.com/observer/
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Adam Montana (Dinar Guru) – [What will happen to the other major currencies when the CBI RV’s the IQD/USD exchange rate? The countries using the EUR, the GBP, the CHF, the JPY, and the CNY all have international corporations invested in Iraqi oil with contracts based on today’s exchange rates. How will a radical upward IQD/USD RV (which effectively decreases the value of the USD against the IQD) affect the EUR/USD and the GBP/USD and the CHF/USD and the JPY/USD and the CNY/USD exchange rates? Will these other major global currencies also be devalued and what in your opinion will that do to an already stressed global economy?] This is a great question, because it opens up the floor to discuss how an RV is really a zero-sum game, mostly because we are talking about a fiat currency. When the FED prints more USD, we don’t actually gain that money. It just dilutes the dollar a little bit more. IQD, and an RV of the currency, works the same way, just on a global scale. My opinion is that almost every other currency will take a slight hit, and then rebound once the IQD rate stabilizes, and within about a month all currencies will be back to normal… except the IQD will be dramatically different than it was a month prior.
Read more: http://www.dinarupdates.com/observer/
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Iraqi Dinar/Dollar auction 05-24-17 (most recent listing)
Currency Auctions Announcement No. 3449
This daily currency auction was held in the Central Bank of Iraq on the 05-22-2017
| DETAILS | NOTES |
| Number of banks | 39 |
| Number of remittance companies | 10 |
| Amount sold at auction price (US$) | 150,321,047 |
| Amount purchased at Auction price (US$) | —– |
| Total offers for buying (US$) | 150,321,047 |
| Total offers for selling (US$) | —– |
Read More: http://www.dinarupdates.com/observer/
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| CURRENCY | CODE | SELL | BUY |
| US dollar | USD | 1184.000 | 1182.000 |
| Euro | EUR | 1327.856 | 1327.192 |
| British pound | GBP | 1535.293 | 1534.525 |
| Canadian dollar | CAD | 874.575 | 874.138 |
| Swiss franc | CHF | 1218.985 | 1218.375 |
| Swedish krona | SEK | 136.374 | 136.306 |
| Norwegian krone | NOK | 141.623 | 141.553 |
| Danish krone | DKK | 178.380 | 178.291 |
| Japanese yen | JPY | 10.659 | 10.654 |
| Special Drawing Rights |
SDR | 1637.946 | 1637.127 |