British ambassador talks about his country’s role in “supporting reforms” with the IMF and the World Bank
Baghdad today – Baghdad… The British Ambassador to Iraq, Stephen Hickey, said that the visit of the Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kazemi to London witnessed the AGREEMENT WITH THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND AND THE WORLD BANK TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC REFORMS IN IRAQ, indicating that the Ministry of Finance is now in negotiations with the International Monetary Fund to obtain loans to support the economy and hold elections .
Hickey said in a televised interview on Friday and followed by (Baghdad Today), that “during the visit of the Iraqi government delegation, headed by the Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kazemi, to Britain, LONDON TOOK IT UPON ITSELF TO SUPPORT THE IRAQI ECONOMYAND BROUGHT TOGETHER the INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND and the WORLD BANK with the IRAQI GOVERNMENT DELEGATION, To SUPPORT the ECONOMIC REFORMS UNDERTAKEN BY BAGHDAD, and this is what is happening now, “indicating that” AL – KAZEMI HAS AN OPPORTUNITY AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIC REFORMS AND HE RECEIVES SECURITY FROM BRITAIN AND THE EUROPEAN UNION countries. ”
He added, “The Minister of Finance, Ali ALLAWI, is NOW in NEGOTIATIONS WITH the INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND, TO OBTAIN LOANS, to SUPPORT THE ECONOMY and PREPARE FOR ELECTIONS.” The International Monetary Fund had recently announced that it had received a request for emergency aid from Iraq .
“The Iraqi authorities have requested emergency assistance under the Rapid Financing Instrument, in a long-term arrangement, TO SUPPORT THE PLANNED ECONOMIC REFORMS,” the fund said in a statement, adding that “discussions are ongoing regarding the authorities’ request for emergency assistance . ”
On January 24, Finance Minister Ali Allawi told Bloomberg that Iraq was in talks with the IMF to obtain a $ 6 billion loan .
Allawi indicated that Iraq may request an additional $ 4 billion in low-cost loans from the International Monetary Fund’s government reform program.