The “dollar” will make the 2021 budget difficult

Baghdad: The calls for restoring the exchange rate of the dollar against the Iraqi dinar have risen above the platform for parliamentary disagreements regarding the draft federal budget law for 2021, and the issue of revenues and the share of the Kurdistan region is no longer far from the problem of not voting.

Yesterday, Saturday, Parliament tried to get out of the “budget” crisis by holding a meeting to finalize the bill, between its Finance Committee and the Ministers of Finance, Oil, Planning, Electricity, Trade, Construction, Housing, Municipalities, Works, Labor and Social Affairs, and the Chairman of the Federal Service Council. The meeting was chaired by the second deputy speaker of Parliament, Bashir Al-Haddad, who held a press conference, after the meeting, in which he clarified what had been discussed, stressing that “the exchange rate of the dollar, its repercussions and the resulting consequences and problems and a rise in prices, in addition to solutions and ways to address these were discussed. the case”.

Al-Haddad noted that a meeting will be held with the governor of the Central Bank, and a joint committee will be formed from the government and parliament to discuss how to maintain the price without affecting market conditions and that the exchange rate is not within the budget.

He added that “the Presidency of the Council of Representatives will hold a meeting with the parliamentary blocs before the session takes place to reach an agreement to pass the budget,” expressing his “hope that the vote will be made on the bill that was included on the agenda of the Council session scheduled for Sunday.

Al-Haddad revealed that the Kurdistan Regional Government delegation agreed to the text that was agreed upon with the political blocs regarding the region’s share, indicating that “the Finance Committee in Parliament ratified this agreement and it became a fixed item in the budget.” In the meantime, the parliamentary state of law bloc joined the political blocs that objected to the exchange rate of the dollar against the Iraqi dinar and demanded that it be returned to the old price, in agreement with the Al-Fateh parliamentary bloc, which led a movement to collect parliamentary signatures on compelling the government to reduce the exchange rate.

Alsabaah.iq

Dijlah.tv

Central Bank: The new rate made significant gains

News source / The Central Bank of Iraq announced, on Thursday, that the new dollar exchange rate has made great gains.

A statement by the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, Ihssan Shamran, reported by (Iraqi Media News Agency /) correspondent, stated that “the bank pursues a quiet policy in the issues that people deal with from their viewpoints, and does not enter into discussions that affect expectations.

Shamran added, “The Central Bank believes that the new price has made great gains, the first of which is to enhance competitiveness in favor of national products, whether agricultural or industrial, in addition to strengthening the public finance resource, which is another goal of the decision.”

He explained, “The matter requires strengthening the stability of this decision and not creating shocks that would disturb citizens and affect the sustainability of their activities.”

Al-iraqinews.com

Al-Kazemi: We have made some achievements, but there are those who are trying to blackmail the state with false addresses and names

Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi said that there are attempts to distance Iraq from its role, and while he indicated that the government will protect all journalists and honorable pens that bear the conscience of Iraq in its conscience, he considered that there are showcases attempts by some to thwart any attempt by Iraq to open up to the world.

Its aim is to confuse the situation and create despair and frustration among Iraqis .

The Media Office of the Prime Minister published part of Al-Kazemi’s speech during the opening ceremony of the new Press Syndicate building, and honoring a number of families of victims of journalists in Iraq.

It says:

I am happy to be among the press and media family and to be part of this family that has given a lot to Iraq, and played a real role in making our society.

The government made a great effort and provided logistical support during the Pope’s visit, but the press and the media were the ones who conveyed the true image of Iraq.
We remember the martyrs of the press, they should always be remembered, and they should be a catalyst to convey the word of truth with reasons of conscience. It is the duty of the government to look after this important segment of the families of the martyrs of journalism.

The press should direct its criticism daily for every negative case it indicates in the Iraqi state, including the government and the prime minister .. Constructive criticism is what builds the state.

Journalists have contributed with their pens in fighting terrorism, abhorrent sectarianism and racism, and they have fought ISIS and foreign interference … Some are trying to turn Iraq into an arena for settling regional and international scores, but journalists have played a great and courageous role in confronting this matter.

The political system after 2003 went through difficult and complex circumstances that sometimes produced disappointments, and the press must play its role in creating hope. Theater, art, poetry, song and journalism are all opportunities for the love of life, and this is what we need.

Weapon does not build life, and some will not make us surrender to arms … Weapon builds nothing but pain, and leaves only pain.

There are those who think that by using weapons they will threaten the state or frighten the prime minister and the government, and by God we will not fear anyone except those of our consciences..

We do not want to go in the country to a civil war, or to a spiral of blood, for we have reaped a lot of blood, and we do not want Saddam’s experience to be repeated. By making blood and transforming our youth and women into fuel for wars …

There are achievements, but there are those who try to blackmail the state with false titles or names.

There is a global position on Iraq. Everyone wants to come here and contribute to the construction, and there are international delegations racing to visit Iraq.

We all have to work to achieve prosperity not only in Iraq, but in the region, and Iraq must play a role in this path. There are those who are trying to obstruct the return of Iraq to the international community and to the civilized society under titles that do not deceive the people.

This government came in difficult circumstances .. The wrong policy over the past 17 years has led to a popular movement that produced this government, and that is why its mission was only to prepare for early and fair elections, and the press has a great role to play in preparing society to participate in these elections.

What happened in terms of social problems and popular movement was due to doubts about the integrity of the past elections, and the same mistake should not be repeated.

This government is working day and night not only to provide normal conditions for the elections, but to provide a reform process in sectors that need a long time to accomplish.
This government succeeded in putting forward a plan for economic reform …for the first time since 1970, and we reduced dependence on oil in the budget that was submitted to the House of Representatives …

We went to activate the private sector, agriculture, industry, trade and reconstruction. We must give the opportunity to the rest of the sectors.

There are those who bet that the government, in the seventh month of last year, will not be able to pay salaries. Thank God, the government succeeded in securing the salaries of state employees despite the attempts of some to stop them in October and the second, and some were betting on the collapse of the central bank, but the bank added 4 billion dollars to the reserve during Three months.

Yesterday witnessed the rise of the country’s credit rating, and Iraq rose to a higher degree in the international rating, and this constitutes a restoration of confidence in the Iraqi economy.

The political conflict should not lead to the spread of false information in order to create despair and frustration among the people. We must create hope and the future and dream of a better Iraq, and this is the responsibility of journalists by conveying the facts.

There are attempts to distance Iraq from its role, as well as silencing the honorable voices. The government will protect all journalists and all the honorable pens that bear the conscience of Iraq in its conscience.

There are some showcasing attempts by some to thwart any attempt by Iraq to open up to the world, and the present day in Baghdad aims to confuse the situation and create despair and frustration among Iraqis.

Nasnews.com

Joint statement issued from the virtual meeting between Al-Kazemi and the King of Saudi Arabia

Al Furat News: The Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kazemi, and the King of Saudi Arabia, Salman bin Abdulaziz, held a virtual meeting via video.

A statement by the Prime Minister’s Office stated that the Euphrates News Agency received a copy of it “based on the solid and historical fraternal ties and ties between the Republic of Iraq and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and their brotherly peoples, and to strengthen the bonds of relations between them, and their sincere desire to develop them in various fields, on firm foundations and principles in Presented by Arab and Islamic brotherhood, good neighborliness and common interests, and upon the generous invitation of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, a virtual meeting was held today, remotely, between Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi and King Salman.

The two sides noted “the well-established historical fraternal relations between the two brotherly countries and peoples, and praised the level reached by these relations and contacts between them.”

They also stressed “the role of the Iraqi-Saudi Coordination Council in a way that serves the interests of the two brotherly countries and peoples and the importance of expanding and strengthening the horizons of bilateral cooperation in various fields, especially political, security, trade, investment and tourism, in order to complement the efforts made and the positive results achieved from the mutual visits of officials between the two countries during the past period.” .

Saudi Arabia appreciated the efforts of the Iraqi government to achieve security, stability and development in the Republic of Iraq, while the Republic of Iraq appreciated the initiatives provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Republic of Iraq in the field of confronting the Corona pandemic (Covid-19).

With regard to regional issues, the two sides agreed to “intensify cooperation, coordination and exchange of views on issues and issues of concern to the two countries on the regional and international arenas, in a way that contributes to supporting and strengthening security and stability in the region, and the need to keep them away from tensions and their causes and the joint endeavor to establish security and stability pillars, and in this context.” Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi affirmed his support for the Saudi initiative to end the crisis in Yemen.

According to the statement, King Salman invited the Prime Minister to visit Saudi Arabia to meet Prince Muhammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, to discuss ways to strengthen relations between the two countries and the two brotherly peoples and discuss all issues of common interest, and for his part, the Prime Minister expressed his appreciation. And accept the invitation.

King Suleiman asked Al-Kazemi to “convey his greetings to his brother, the President of the Republic of Iraq, wishing him and the Prime Minister good health and happiness, and for Iraq more progress and prosperity.”

The Prime Minister also expressed his thanks and appreciation to King Salman and the Crown Prince, and his best wishes for good health and to the Saudi people for further prosperity and progress. ”

Alforatnews.com

Iraq and Qatar affirm the work to activate the joint economic committee and to strengthen cooperation

Baghdad / Al-Masala: Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein announced, that work will continue to activate the economic committee between Iraq and Qatar.

Hussein said during a joint press conference with Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani that he is working to activate the Iraqi-Qatari joint committee on economic issues.

For his part, the Qatari minister said that we discussed how to develop relations and strengthen cooperation between Baghdad and Doha, stressing that there is an important opportunity to support the stability of Iraq.

He pointed out that there is consensus between the two countries on the regional situation.

In a related context, the President of the Republic, Barham Salih, received at the Peace Palace in Baghdad, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, in the presence of Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein.

The Media Office of the Presidency of the Republic stated in a statement that the Qatari Minister delivered to the President of the Republic a written message from His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, which included an official invitation to his sovereignty to visit Qatar.

He added that they discussed bilateral relations between the two countries, and ways to enhance them in the service of the common interests of the two brotherly peoples, in addition to developments in the relevant regional and international situations.

According to the statement, Saleh said that the countries of the region have a great responsibility to overcome crises and tensions by coordinating efforts to support dialogue and push the paths of political solution in settling problems in them, and work to stabilize the foundations of regional stability, confront terrorism and extremist ideology, and support opportunities for economic and commercial cooperation and development.

He continued that ensuring the security, stability and sovereignty of Iraq is a basic foundation and a common interest for the security and stability of the entire region and the interests of its people.

For his part, the Minister affirmed Qatar’s support for joint work with regional and international parties to preserve the region’s security and stability, indicating his country’s commitment to support the security, stability and sovereignty of Iraq, and to enhance joint bilateral cooperation in various fields.

Almasalah.com

New government statement regarding salaries and allowances in the 2021 budget and exchange rate adjustment

Today, cabinet spokesman Hassan Nazem, made new statements regarding salaries and allocations in the 2021 budget, while indicating that the government cannot predict when the budget will be approved.

The new allocations added to salaries in the 2021 budget must be launched. We are now in a crisis. There must be remedies for the deficit in salaries due to the change in the exchange rate and the deficit that affected salaries.

If the budget is approved and taxes are fixed on employees’ salaries, their value will decrease after the rise in prices, and there must be treatments through allocations, and this is what we think about.

There is no truth to the statement quoted by me that the government is not bound by any change in the exchange rate by Parliament. A government spokesperson may not be stoned in absence of a possible change of exchange.

The current government has positive links with the Kurdistan region, and there is a sense of comfort in the discussions, and there is a complex currently related to the region’s share in the budget and it is still under negotiation.

This node has prolonged and persisted and must be resolved. Now we will enter the fourth month without finding solutions for some of the contract, including the region’s share.
We cannot predict when the budget will be approved next Saturday or not.

Regarding the Corona pandemic, the world is moving towards opening up with the availability of Iraq, and we in Iraq will open up with the global situation by providing the vaccine, which is the most important option.

The spread of the vaccine means moving towards openness and normal life, and there will be a meeting of Arab tourism ministers in Saudi Arabia next month to issue an Arab decision regarding openness to the global status of tourism.

Baghdadtoday.news

Exclusion of passing the budget by majority in the Saturday session

Baghdad: Member of Parliament, Melhan Al-Mukoutar, ruled out that the 2021 budget will be passed during next Saturday’s session by a majority, indicating that
Large budget problems, especially with the Kurds, need to be solved in depth, while the head of the Economic and Investment Committee revealed in the Council Parliament, Ahmed Salim Al-Kinani, on stopping loans and sovereign guarantees in the 2021 budget, as they burden the state.

Al-Makoutar said in an interview with Al-Sabah: “The Kurdish delegation that came to Baghdad was at a high level and did not reach a conclusion regarding the region’s share in the budget,” stressing that “approving the budget is necessary and everyone is awaiting approval, especially the citizens, despite hold (ing) it ».

He added, “The Kurds have many requests in the budget, and there are disagreements about increasing the region’s oil production,” noting that “the differences are strong and there will be complications in the scene unless there are quick solutions.” Saying: “The decision is with the Presidency of Parliament, which has more direct ties to the heads of the blocs than the deputies, and it is negotiating with them in this regard, so
If there is no agreement, the budget will not go by the majority. Nevertheless, it is not easy to predict what will happen with this affair ».

In addition, the Chairman of the Economy and Investment Committee in the House of Representatives, Ahmed Salim Al-Kinani, said to Al-Sabah: “The committee sent notes to the Finance Committee regarding the 2021 budget to stop sovereign loans and guarantees because they burden the state in terms of economic ».

He added, “The committee focused on mainly supporting the private sector, in cooperation with the Ministry of Planning to set up a specific mechanism to settle more than 300 investment projects that are lagging by terminating or completing their contracts by other investors or a settlement between the government and investors,” noting that “there are thousands of these.” The projects have not been resolved yet, but they are followed up by the subcommittee in the Ministry of Planning.

Alsabaah.iq

Parliamentary government debate over the authority to change the exchange rate

Baghdad: Controversy continues and opinions are presented regarding changing the exchange rate of the dollar between executive government agencies and legislative bodies, while the latter, especially the Legal Committee, confirms that it can amend the Central Bank Law within 6 days, which is the dominant body over the validity of the decision on the exchange rate, government and other legal parties stress Only the ability or power of parliament to intervene in this matter, and that the matter is up to the Central Bank of Iraq “Exclusively.”

Member of the Parliamentary Legal Committee, Hussein Al-Aqabi, told Al-Sabah: “It is true that changing the exchange rate in the law is within the jurisdiction of the Central Bank of Iraq, but legalizing any expense or revenue is part of the legislative authority’s function, this principle is in the hands of the legislative authority, and the bank’s jurisdiction.

The Central Bank is a secondary jurisdiction that is not authentic. Parliament is the one who granted them this jurisdiction in the Central Bank Law, and Parliament can amend the law from A to Z within six days only. ”

He noted that “one of the central bank’s responsibilities is to maintain the stability of the Iraqi market economy, not to raise prices and exhaust the poor classes, as changing the exchange rate has caused harm to 60 percent of the Iraqi people, so the government must recognize the mistake and back down from this decision.”

On the other hand, the advisor to the Prime Minister for Financial Affairs, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, said in an interview with Al-Sabah: “The contradictions between the political blocs on the issue of changing the exchange rate of the dollar will affect the movement of supply and demand, which creates turmoil in the movement of the market, especially since this Expectations are not settled until now, “indicating that” the rise in prices is one-off and does not continue into the future, and I think that this (color information) is based on wrong expectations. ”

He pointed out that “the ways of importing continue without stopping, so expectations regarding the general level of prices will stop at a stable point, and the means of commodity supply are now wide open, whether in terms of financing or in fixed foreign currency in their rates to finance foreign trade in various forms, so I think that the rise Prices will stabilize in the future, and will not remain on this adverb”.

Alsabaah.iq

The Finance Committee finishes printing the last version of the budget … and expectations of amendments

BAGHDAD – Mawazine News: A representative source said, on Saturday, that the Parliamentary Finance Committee has completed printing the last version of it, pending the session.

The source said, “The 2021 budget is ready for voting, and the Finance Committee has completed printing the last version of it pending the convening of the session.”

He added, “We expect amendments to take place at any moment,” pointing to “the agreement to confirm contracts in some ministries and to appoint and direct those with the medical and health professions.” Ended 29 / A43

Mawazin.net