Iraq is on the “white list” of countries in the fight against money laundering

{Economic: Al Furat News} The financial and economic advisor to the Prime Minister Mazhar Muhammad Salih said that Iraq is currently on the white list of countries in applying international standards in combating money laundering.

Saleh said in a press statement, “Iraq succeeded in curbing financial waste and combating money laundering by building experienced supervisory bodies that are committed to laws and regulations related to the financial and banking system,” explaining that “the package of financial reforms and effective measures to pursue sources of funds, led Iraq to restore the confidence of society.” international financial and commercial transactions.

The Prime Minister’s advisor added that “Iraq fought a war on money laundering gangs and pursued transfers, deposits and concealment operations with high efficiency at home and abroad,” noting that “the Anti-Money Laundering Office and the Money of Crime and Terrorism Office, which is financially and administratively independent and carries out information coordination work, is closer to the Intelligence Unit.” Finance”.

Saleh pointed out that “the office receives instructions and directions from the Supreme Council for Combating Money Laundering, Crime Funds and Terrorism, and includes in its membership representatives of ministries and agencies related to combating money laundering and financial crimes.”

He pointed out that “the crimes investigated by the Anti-Money Laundering Office relate to the transfer, transfer, deposit and concealment of funds as criminal outcomes, related to a wide spectrum that falls within the definition of funds, whether in cash or in kind, such as real estate, antiquities and many others that are considered a financial crime for which the law is held accountable. Iraqi No. 39 of 2015”.

The Prime Minister’s advisor confirmed that “Iraq is a member of the International Labor Organization for the Middle East and North Africa,” explaining that this membership helped Iraq implement international standards in combating money laundering and exit from the gray list and enter the white list of countries that combat money laundering.

Last Thursday, the European Commission delegation delivered a letter to Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi, which included removing Iraq from the European Union’s list of countries with high risks in the field of combating money laundering and terrorist
financing. According to the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In May 2020, the European Commission classified Iraq, along with other countries, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, Yemen, Iran and North Korea, on the list of countries that pose financial risks to the European Union, due to the shortcomings in combating money laundering and terrorist financing.

According to the Vienna Convention of 1988, the crime of money laundering is the transfer or transfer of funds with the knowledge that they are derived from any crime or crimes, with the aim of concealing or disguising the illegal source of funds or with the intention of helping any person involved in the commission of such crime or crimes to evade legal consequences for his actions.

Alforatnews.iq

An Economist Reveals The Reasons For The Increase In Central Bank Sales Of The Dollar And Raises Exciting Questions

Earth News / The economic expert, Manar Al-Obaidi, revealed today, Sunday, the reasons for the increase in the Central Bank’s sales of the dollar, while asking questions to several government agencies.

Al-Obaidi said in a statement received by Earth News, “In order to clarify the picture, it is necessary first to understand the mechanism of the foreign currency sale window,” noting that “most of Iraq’s revenues are in US dollars, given that 92% of the Iraqi government’s revenues are from oil sales, and the Iraqi government’s expenses are mostly From the dinar, given that 90% of government expenses are operational expenses (salaries + subsidies + other service expenses).

Al-Obaidi added that “on the basis of these two rules, the government needs to sell the dollar and buy the dinar through the Central Bank, as the Ministry of Finance sold during this year to the Central Bank an amount of 33 billion US dollars to the Central Bank, which has to provide local cash to cover the value of dollar purchases. From the Ministry of Finance in order to cover the needs of the Iraqi government.”

He pointed out that “the sources of the dinar at the Central Bank are:

1. Local bank deposits of Iraqi dinar
3. Depositing government institutions from the Iraqi dinar
4. Dollar sales to the local market through the foreign exchange window, which is the largest part
5. Issuing and printing additional cash

And he indicated that “in the event that the first and second points are not sufficiently available to the Central Bank, the bank is forced either to increase dollar sales through the window to cover the dinar, or to print new cash to cover the need of the Iraqi government,” explaining that “the Central Bank’s sales of dollars through the currency sale window. Since the beginning of the year, it has reached nearly 28 billion dollars, meaning that the difference is about 5 billion dollars in favor of the Central Bank, in which the value of cash in dollars increased at the expense of the dinar.

He explained that “the Central Bank is forced to increase its sales of dollars with the increasing demand for the local currency from the Ministry of Finance and in order not to increase its issuance of a new monetary mass that may lead to an increase in inflation as a result of the rise in the monetary mass.”

Al-Obaidi pointed out that “the question is not directed to the Central Bank exclusively about the reasons for the rise in dollar sales through the window, but rather the questions are directed to:

Ministry of Finance: What is the need for the increasing demand for the dinar, which means an increase in the Iraqi government’s expenditures in the absence of a budget?

The Ministry of Commerce: It was noticed that the import licenses granted by you increased, and in light of them, the demand for buying dollars increased. Does Iraq actually need these imports, in light of which the licenses are granted?

Ministry of Finance, General Customs Authority: With the increase in the value of remittances related to imports and the increase in import licenses granted by the Ministry of Commerce, no significant increase in the Authority’s revenues was observed despite these rises, which means that a large part of the imports enter through unofficial ways and not through your authority, which means that there is a shortcoming in control of ports and customs?

The Ministry of Industry and Agriculture: The local product is still below the required level, which increases the country’s need to import and deplete foreign currency. and cultivation??

Anti-Money Laundering Unit: Are the procedures for verifying funds transferred out of funds from the correct sources and all audit procedures correct according to international standards, or has Iraq become a fertile market for money laundering?

Al-Obaidi concluded by saying that “the answer to these questions is more important than being attached to the central bank’s sale of the dollar for reasons not related to the economy as much as to interests and politics.”

Earthiq.news

Al-Maliki comments on the decision to appeal the resignation of the Sadrist bloc’s deputies

Information / special… A member of the State of Law coalition, Abbas al-Maliki, commented today, Sunday, on the decision to appeal the resignation of the Sadrist bloc’s deputies to the Federal Court to return to the House of Representatives again, while stressing that these decisions will confuse the political reality and the Iraqi people.

Al-Maliki said, in an interview with the “Information” agency, that “this legal behavior of the Sadrist movement is correct and that they have submitted an appeal to the competent court with the aim of challenging their resignation. From a logical and mental point of view, I say that the withdrawal of the Sadrist movement was not a judicial, legal or political decision on the other hand, but it is It was a withdrawal of the bloc’s will.”

He added, “It is not permissible for the Sadrist bloc to challenge a decision that it took, and no one forced it,” noting that “such behavior will lead to more confusion in the Iraqi political and social reality and disregard the Iraqi political, legal and judicial norms.”

A member of al-Maliki’s coalition explained that “political action must be solid and based on the foundations of moderation, logicality and balance, and so behaviors that seem far from logic and balance,” pointing out that “political blocs must determine their options from the beginning. Or it leaves politics and plays a new role.

Al-Maliki continued: “As for political action and others outside it, what is the fault of the Iraqi street to bear such decisions, actions and confusing steps?”

The legal expert, Mohsen Al-Ugaili, had confirmed earlier today, that “from a legal point of view, the resignation does not need a vote,” and it is likely that “the Federal Court will dismiss the case when it looks at it from a legal point of view.” Done/25 SR

Almaalomah.me

The Federal Court receives an appeal against the resignation of the Sadrist MPs

Shafaq News / A judicial source said on Sunday that the Federal Supreme Court will consider an appeal against the validity of the dismissal of the Sadrist bloc deputies at the end of this September.

The source told Shafak News Agency; That “the Federal Supreme Court received a suit to challenge the acceptance of the resignations of the Sadrist bloc’s deputies by the Presidency of the House of Representatives (No. 181 / Federal / 2022)”.

The source added; The Federal Court set the date for the first session to consider the case on September 28.

On June 13, al-Sadr directed deputies of the Sadrist bloc in the Iraqi parliament to hand over their resignations to the speaker of the parliament, Muhammad al-Halbousi, while he thanked his allies in the “Save the Homeland” coalition and told them that they “are in a solution.”

Parliament Speaker Muhammad al-Halbousi signed the resignations of the Sadrist bloc’s deputies, in the presence of the parliamentary bloc’s leader, Hassan al-Adhari, and then commented, “Their resignations took place reluctantly,” referring to efforts made to dissuade al-Sadr from this step.

The political impasse worsened after the resignation of Sadr’s representatives, who demanded the dissolution of the Iraqi parliament and the holding of early elections.

Tensions escalated sharply on Monday, August 29, when Sadr loyalists stormed the government palace inside the fortified Green Zone after their leader announced his “retirement” from politics.

But Sadr’s supporters left the Green Zone on the afternoon of Tuesday, August 30, 2022, after he personally asked them to withdraw within an hour, reflecting his great influence on his followers and which earned him his reputation as a ruler.

Shafaq.com

Al-Halbousi’s initiative came in agreement with these political parties

Shafaq News / A close associate of Parliament Speaker, Muhammad al-Halbousi, revealed new details about the initiative put forward by the latter, related to the national dialogue sessions to resolve the political crisis.

Al-Maqrib told Shafaq News Agency, “The political initiative put forward by Al-Halbousi came and the consensus between the Sovereignty Alliance, the Sadrist Movement and the Kurdistan Democratic Party,” noting that “this initiative is supported by these three parties.”

The source also indicated that “communication between the parties to the (Save a Homeland) coalition is still ongoing, and there are many steps that come in coordination between these three parties, the latest of which is the initiative announced by Al-Halbousi, which will be supported by Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi, the sponsor of the national dialogue sessions.”

Earlier this morning, Parliament Speaker Muhammad al-Halbousi stressed the need to agree on a number of matters before proceeding with holding the next national dialogue sessions, most notably setting a date for early elections in the country.

Al-Halbousi said in a tweet to him on the social networking sites “Twitter”, “The agenda of the upcoming national dialogue sessions must include a number of things that the political process cannot proceed without agreement on them: setting a date for the early parliamentary elections and the provincial elections at a maximum date.” The end of next year, and the election of the President of the Republic, the selection of a government with full authority, agreed upon and trusted and reassured by the people and their political forces.

Among the issues raised by Al-Halbousi is the reinterpretation of Article 76 of the Constitution, the abolition of the shameful circumvention in the manipulation of the provision of this article, which occurred under political pressure after the 2010 elections, adding the adoption of the Federal General Budget Law, proposing at the same time to maintain or amend the Parliament Elections Law, as well as legislating a law Federal Supreme Court and according to Article 92 of the Constitution.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives also referred to “the redeployment of military and security forces of all kinds, and the Ministry of the Interior is exclusively responsible for the deployment and imposition of security in all cities, and the rest of the forces will be in their natural place in the training and deployment camps determined by the military and security leadership to provide everything necessary to be prepared with the for any emergency.

He stressed the need for “the immediate return of all the innocent displaced people who were displaced from their homes and have not been able to return to it until now.”

He also called for “regulating the relationship between the federal government and the government of the Kurdistan Region with a public agreement for the people until the adoption of the oil and gas law.”

Today, Monday, Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi is scheduled to invite the political forces and parties to hold a dialogue session with the aim of overcoming the political crisis facing the country.

An informed source told Shafaq News Agency, that Al-Kazemi is working to hold a meeting next Monday for all Iraqi political forces in order to find solutions to the political crisis.

He added that the meeting was threatened with cancellation or postponement, as happened previously, if it was boycotted by some political forces, led by the Sadrist movement.

Shafaq.com

The Iraqi Prime Minister is trying to gather the parties in a new round of dialogue next Monday

Iraqi sources revealed efforts by Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi to hold a new round of dialogue, in which the political parties would gather, to discuss the possibility of dismantling the political crisis in the country, and finding solutions.

This is taking place at a time when the political scene in Iraq is still blocked , and opportunities for dialogue between the two sides of the political equation “ the Sadrist movement ” and the “coordinating framework” have diminished, amid the failure of all the initiatives put forward for dialogue during the recent period.

According to a government source who spoke to “Al-Araby Al-Jadeed”, on condition of anonymity, Saturday, “Al-Kazemi made contacts with most of the political parties, in an effort to pave the way for the possibility of holding a new round of political dialogue,” noting that “Al-Kazemi’s move was widely accepted by most parties.” Except for the Sadrist movement, which did not specify a clear position on it.”

The same source indicated that “Al-Kazemi seeks to hold the session next Monday,” stressing that “he is waiting for the Sadrist movement to respond to his initiative.”

Al-Kazemi had sponsored a round of dialogue that took place on August 17 last, attended by leaders from the “ Coordination Framework ” coalition and other forces, as well as the United Nations representative in Iraq, Jenin Hennis-Plasschaert, while the “Sadr movement” was absent from her, which caused the failure of the round that was held. It had no output.

The “Coordination Framework” alliance, which is an ally of Iran, is pressing towards the possibility of dismantling its crisis with the “Sadr movement”, in order to obtain the opportunity to form the new government, which is rejected by the “current”.

Earlier, the leader in the “framework” Saad Al-Mutalibi called on the moderate political leaders to “double their national efforts and search for a real way out that satisfies the conflicting parties,” noting in a press statement that “with the exhaustion of all opportunities to achieve comprehensive national reconciliation between the political parties, we hope that Moderate leaders search for national solutions for the gathering of political leaders to open the door to constructive dialogue and a new page of relations and joint work to choose a strong government capable of advancing the country.

He stressed, “the need to redouble efforts and search for a real way out that satisfies the opposing parties.”

Iraq is experiencing a period of relative calm, following the decision of the leader of the “Sadr movement”, Muqtada al-Sadr, to end the sit-ins of his supporters inside the Green Zone, after armed clashes between his supporters and the security of the “Popular Mobilization”, last Monday, which left dozens of dead and hundreds wounded, while the “Framework” coalition is hesitant Coordinating Committee” by heading towards his desire to start the steps to form a government.

Clashes erupted after al-Sadr retired from politics, as hundreds of his supporters demonstrated inside and outside the Green Zone and in other provinces, and clashed with the security of the Popular Mobilization, which caused the deaths of dozens of demonstrators and wounded hundreds, amid security confusion.

The country is experiencing the longest crisis of its kind, as differences between the political forces have prevented the formation of a new government since the last elections that took place on October 10, 2021.

Rawabetcenter.com

Compare this move to Gamal Abdel Nasser.. A former official: Al-Sadr’s move has not been done by anyone in 90 years

Shafaq News / A former Iraqi official described the “resignation” of the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, as a “brilliant political move” that no Iraqi leaders have made for 90 years, while comparing his step to the late Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser.

And the former deputy Iraqi envoy to the United Nations, Faisal Al-Istrabadi, said in an interview with CNN that the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, made a brilliant political move. In 1932, no one has definitely done that in the republic since 1958,” he said.

Al-Istrabadi continued by saying, “There is a tradition that the late Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser started by submitting your resignation and then demonstrators taking to the streets asking you to stay in power. I would not be surprised if something similar did not happen.”

Istrabadi doubted that “Al-Sadr will retire,” asserting that he “finds it hard to believe that Al-Sadr is really heading away from power after he has been in it for so long. If he really did, I would be the first to say it, but I doubt it, and I will believe him when I see that”.

The leader of the Sadrist movement had announced his final resignation from political action, on August 29, 2022, while armed confrontations erupted after his angry supporters went to the headquarters of the Governmental Palace, the stronghold of the prime minister, so that al-Sadr returned again, on August 30, 2022, and demanded the withdrawal of his armed and unarmed supporters from the Green Zone. And end their sit-in, which extended for about a month.

Shafaq.com

Al-Sadr’s minister attacks the coordinating framework for holding a parliament session and makes an appeal to Iran

Shafaq News / The so-called “Minister of the Leader” who is close to the leader of the Sadrist movement Muqtada al-Sadr expressed, on Wednesday, his strong dissatisfaction with the determination of the coordinating framework, which includes Shiite political forces, to hold a session of the House of Representatives in preparation for proceeding with the formation of the federal government, while describing this The stances emanating from the framework are “insolent.” I consider that the Sadrist movement has become their “first enemy by all available means”, with the exception of violence, if they do not declare mourning for the victims of the “Ashura Revolution” protests.

Al-Iraqi said in a post on social media today, followed by Shafak News Agency, that “I was not surprised, not for the blink of an eye, by the positions of (the shameless coordinating framework) or by his (insolent militias) when they announced, with rudeness, uniting the entire people, its reference and its sects, that they are proceeding with the convening of Parliament to form ( Their insolent government) and the blood of (executed people) is still treacherous from the peaceful demonstrators and the bullets of their dirty militias have not dried up, as if the slain was a terrorist or a Zionist and had nothing to do with the (sect) or the (homeland).”

And he added, “Yes, that is rudeness beyond rudeness. They have no religion, no morals, and they do not have a little (honor of adversity) what a (shameless trinity) that does not know the meaning of reform, revolution, peace, or people’s suffering at all.”

The Minister of Al-Sadr refers to the “impudent triad” within the coordinating framework, who are: the State of Law coalition led by Nuri al-Maliki, the Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq movement led by the dissident from the Sadrist movement, Qais Khazali, and the Wisdom Movement headed by Ammar al-Hakim.

The Minister of Al-Sadr added, “This group adored corruption, money, and vice, and fed on them like an animal that fed on virgins, so it was no longer even fit for food. They loved corruption, from which they feed and their strength grows, and they did not try, even for once, to expose a single file of corruption as if they were infallible.”

He added, “They not only love corruption, but they also hate reform and reformers, and they dance to their (martyrs) once and their (withdrawal) from Parliament once and from the demonstrations again, as if the martyrs and those who withdrew from a nationality that is not Iraqi and from a minority that does not have millions of lovers and belongings in this country.

Al-Iraqi continued by saying, “It is insolence, gentlemen. It is the struggle of existence, their presence in power and the despicable corrupt junta whose demise has come, and you should know that I did not and will not hesitate to write this article, although it is severe or some consider it outside the contexts of politics, but it is the bitter truth that must be The speakers pronounce it and the idiots utter it, otherwise the silent one is a mute devil who does not love the homeland.

The Leader’s Minister concluded his speech by saying, “From here, if they do not declare mourning, then let them consider me and the movement from today their number one enemy by all available means and away from violence and assassinations that the corrupt decided to describe their opponents with,” adding, “This is my appeal to the neighbor Iran to rein in its camel in Iraq or else Fall away when I regret it.”

Shafaq.com

Mishaan Al-Jubouri: Comprehensive Change Will Happen In Iraq If I Reveal Everything I Have

Earth News / Former MP Mishaan al-Jubouri said today, Sunday, that comprehensive change will happen in Iraq if I reveal all my corruption files.

Al-Jubouri wrote in a tweet on the “Twitter” platform, which was viewed by Earth News, “If the former governor, Ammar Al-Jabr, fulfills his promise and reveals everything he has, and I take a similar decision and reveal all that I have, then I am sure that the Sadrist revolutionaries will head to other headquarters and will not leave them before the big heads are toppled. Which leads to comprehensive change that saves Iraq from the grip of a tyrannical and corrupt group.”

Earthiq.news

After scandals escalated, the central bank ousted a company that mediated in the currency auction

Baghdad: On Sunday, the Central Bank of Iraq announced the withdrawal of the license of a mediation company for the sale and purchase of foreign currencies for violating the instructions and confiscating its 50 million dinars insurance, at a time when leaks and scandals increased about the currency auction.

In a statement, the bank said, “In view of the violation of the (Al Habib) company to mediate for the sale and purchase of foreign currencies, the provisions of the instructions regulating the work of mediation companies and the purchase of foreign currencies, it was decided to withdraw the company’s license.”

He added, “It was also decided to confiscate its insurance deposited with the bank amounting to 50 million dinars in favor of this bank,” calling on the Ministry of Commerce to “cancel the certificate of incorporation granted to the company in addition to writing off the company’s name from the records and providing the Central Bank with the certified liquidation letter.”

And the latest revelations about scandals in the currency sale auction, were what was revealed by competent authorities that the banks of the clutch, Al-Ansari and the Middle East, affiliated with businessman Ali Ghulam, were granted about $2.5 billion during the 50-day period preceding the date of the exchange rate change, amounts equivalent to 30% of the sales of the Central Bank. During that period.

Yesiraq.com