World Bank President Urges Reforms to Attract Investment amid Commercial Ambiguity

Economy News Baghdad – World Bank President David Malpas said the uncertainty caused by trade tensions and slowing global growth increases the need for developing countries to implement reforms that make them more attractive to private investment.

“He will urge countries to take bolder steps to improve the business climate in order to allow private companies to compete better with state-owned enterprises and generate more profitable growth and innovation,” Malbas, who is attending the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, was quoted as saying by Reuters. And jobs.

The World Bank forecast in its annual global economic outlook earlier this month that a slowdown in trade and investment flows would cut global growth this year to 2.6 percent, 0.3 percentage points lower than previously forecast.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicted a similar slowdown, mainly driven by a sharp increase in tariffs between the United States and China.

Malpas, who took over as head of the World Bank in April after spending two years in the Trump department as the Treasury’s secretary for international affairs, said he also focused on the internal development of countries and ways to grow internal trade between cities and regions.

Malpas said he would meet leaders from several developing countries including Brazil, India, Indonesia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Africa and Turkey during the G20 summit.

Economy-news.net

UN Security Council delegation lands in Baghdad for first time in nearly 30 years

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – A delegation from the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) arrived in Baghdad for the first time in nearly three decades.

The visit comes in response to an invitation made by Baghdad.

UNSC delegations to Iraq have been suspended since the invasion of Kuwait in the 1990s and ensuing sanctions against Baghdad.

A spokesperson for Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ahmad al-Sahhaf, said the one-day visit was part of Iraq’s support for “stability and reconstruction,” and would be done in a way that “confirms the sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of Iraq.”

No accompanying visit to the Kurdistan Region was announced, but could not be ruled out.

The UNSC is made up of five permanent member states – China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US – and ten non-permanent member states which serve two-year terms. Currently, those are Belgium, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Germany, Indonesia, Kuwait, Peru, Poland, South Africa.

According to Sahhaf, the international delegation and Iraqi officials will discuss the latest developments in the country as well as the growing concern in the region due to current US-Iranian tensions.

Two days before the delegation landed, A large gathering of demonstrators, some appearing to be wearing military uniforms, stormed the Bahraini embassy in Baghdad late Thursday to protest the American so-called “deal of the century” Middle East peace proposal.

The attack came as Jared Kushner, senior adviser to US President Donald Trump, is in the Bahraini capital of Manama, presenting the plan.

A political source in Baghdad told Kurdistan 24 that the event was organized with the support of notorious Iran-backed militia group Kata’ib Hezbollah, designated a foreign terrorist organization by the US in 2009.

Kurdistan24.net

Vice: Monday session will be allocated to pass education and Abdul-Mahdi will be the candidate in isolation from the blocks

Information / Special … MP for the coalition of construction Fadel Jaber, Saturday, that the House of Representatives will be allocated next Monday to pass the candidate of the Ministry of Education, among that Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi will submit the name of the new candidate in isolation from the political blocs.

Jaber said in a statement to the “Information”, “The parliament session next Monday will be allocated to pass the Ministry of Education without delay to another date,” pointing out that “Abdul Mahdi will present the name of the new candidate in isolation from the political blocs as it failed to provide a candidate receives the confidence of the House of Representatives For more than once. ”

He added that “the curriculum vitae of the new candidate will reach the House of Representatives on Sunday to see it,” noting that “Monday’s session will be the deadline for the completion of the file cabinet cabins .”

He attributed the MP for the alliance of conquest Hassan Salem, on Thursday, rejected the candidate of education Zahida al-Obeidi during the session of the parliament for a variety of reasons, most notably the discontent of the political blocs of the head of the Arab Project Party Khamis Khanjar.

The House voted on Thursday not to grant confidence to the candidate of the new ministry of education, Zahida Abdullah al-Obeidi.

The House of Representatives voted in the session last Monday not to grant confidence to the candidate of the Arab project bloc headed by Khamis Khanjar Ministry of Education Safana Hamdani

Almaalomah.com

Suron: postponement of the resolution of special grades will complicate the work of the government and Abdul-Mahdi bear the delay

Political – Kalkamz Press; confirmed the leadership of the alliance of Alaa al-Rubaie, on Saturday, that postponement of the resolution of special grades will complicate the work of the government and Abdul-Mahdi bear the delay.

“The meeting of the three presidencies, which discussed several issues, including the limitation of arms to the state, the protection of diplomatic missions and the need to support the government in selecting the best for the management of institutions, was not successful in discussing the amendment of Article 58 of the Budget Law,” Rubaie said in a statement. Through the submission of a bill to amend the article by granting more time to the government until 24-10-2019, (the end of the year of the life of the government).
Adding that “the agreement to amend this article a political desire will lead to more quotas and secret agreements to obtain special grades of some blocks that try by various means to delay this file at the moment.”

“The prime minister is responsible for the delay,” al-Rubaie said. “He has embarrassed himself, although the postponement is correct and necessary, but we have to know the reasons for the delay in ending this important file.”

“The prime minister should issue an official clarification to explain the reasons for the failure to control the time-bound map,” he said.

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Iraqi prime minister under more pressure to deliver reforms

Now, Abdul-Mahdi, in office for only eight months, is facing the threat of being toppled even before his term is over.

LONDON – Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi is under increasing pressure to deliver on the range of reforms he promised despite his success to fill three key ministerial positions that had been vacant since his appointment last October.

The Iraqi parliament voted on June 24 to approve naming Yassin al-Yassiri as interior minister, Najah al-Shammari as defence minister and Farouq Amin Othman as justice minister. The post of education minister, however, remained unfilled.

Influential Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, whose al-Islah (Reform) bloc is the largest in parliament, had recently threatened to withdraw his support for Abdul-Mahdi if the prime minister did not come up with acceptable ministerial candidates within ten days.

Previous candidates for the key posts were rejected by the Islah bloc in parliament because they were viewed as corrupt or too close to Iran. These candidates were suggested by the pro-Iran al-Binaa (Construction) bloc, the second largest in parliament, led by militia leader Hadi al-Amiri.

“Now Abdul-Mahdi can catch his breath until the next crisis,” Abdul Wahid Tuama, a political analyst, told Arab News. “The performance of the government will not change and the problems facing the prime minister will not be resolved.”

Iraqis have long complained of a lack of basic services, including electricity and drinking water, as well as job opportunities. They also accuse all branches of the state of being rampant with corruption and want a government that is willing to root it out.

Mass anti-government protests demanding anti-corruption reforms, job provisions and improvement in services rocked Basra province last year and occasionally spread to other areas in the country’s southern region.

Observers said public discontent with the government played a part in the electoral defeat of former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi when he sought a second term in 2018. After failing to meet protesters’ demands, Abadi lost the tacit backing of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani as well as the political support of al-Sadr. His bloc is the third largest in parliament.

Now, Abdul-Mahdi, in office for only eight months, is facing the threat of being toppled even before his term is over. Abdul-Mahdi does not head his own parliamentary bloc; he was the consensus candidate of al-Sadr and Amiri. On June 14, Sistani criticised government shortcomings.

Al-Sadr took to Twitter on June 23 to renew his demands from the government and parliament. They include appointing government officials based on merit, not ethnic or sectarian background; improving public services; refraining from giving themselves raises, bonuses or perks; ensuring government policies are set by Iraqis for the interest of Iraq and do not come from across the border, in a reference to Iran; protecting peaceful protesters; keeping the promise of fighting corruption; protecting the country’s borders from terror and smuggling; and strengthening the country’s security forces to prevent armed sectarians from imposing their will on the people, in a reference to the country’s militias.

Having failed to appoint key ministers over seven months, it is unlikely that Abdul-Mahdi would be able to meet al-Sadr’s demands anytime soon.

In addition to pressure to deliver reforms from the Iraqi street, al-Sadr and Sistani, Abdul-Mahdi is now also facing a new opposition bloc in parliament. Abadi’s al-Nasr (Victory) Alliance and Ammar al-Hakim’s Hikma (Wisdom) Movement recently announced that they are forming an opposition to the government.

Members of the Sairoon (Marchers) Alliance, which is loyal to al-Sadr, said they are contemplating joining that opposition bloc should Abdul-Mahdi fail to deliver on his promises.

“Sairoon Alliance will carry out the questioning of the prime minister on his government programme and the reform plans set by al-Sadr. If he has valid justifications [for his actions], we will continue to support him; otherwise, we will take a different stance vis-a-vis the government, which we will announce later on,” Ghaib al-Amiri, a member of parliament for Sairoon, told Al-Monitor.

In media circles, Abadi is already being discussed as possibly being Iraq’s next prime minister should Abdul-Mahdi step down.

“Sairoon and other political groups have asserted that Abadi might be the most likely successor should Mr. Adel Abdul-Mahdi resign from the premiership,” Ihsan al-Shammari, a political pundit who has worked as a media adviser to Abadi, told Rudaw English.

The opposition bloc, however, has itself come under criticism. The Hikma Movement is reportedly lobbying for government posts while declaring itself as an opposition party. It already has one governor in office as well as five director-generals in a number of ministries.

Thearabweekly.com

UN Security Council members urge Iraq to implement Article 140 of the permanent constitution

The members of the UN Security Council on Saturday urged the federal government to apply Article 140 of the permanent Iraqi constitution.

“The council supports the international team to investigate the crimes committed by a sympathetic organization in Iraq,” members of the council delegation told a news conference in Baghdad today.

Members of the UN Security Council voted to support the Security Council to rebuild the areas freed from the grip of the militant group, as evidenced by grants and loans at the Kuwait conference.

The members stressed the need to preserve the security and stability of Iraq and to play its role in the region and the world.

On Article 140 of the Constitution, members of the delegation said that “this subject was discussed with a number of Iraqi officials, as well as with the United Nations mission in the country.”

“We support the implementation of the country’s permanent constitution, and we encourage adherence to it.”

Shafaaq.com

Sadiqon announces the completion of all corruption files of the ministries of oil and electricity

BAGHDAD – The Sadigoun parliamentary bloc on Saturday announced the completion of all files of corruption of the ministries of oil and electricity, while stressing that it will announce the files adopted during the period.

The head of the bloc, Adnan Vihan, in a press conference held in the House of Representatives with the participation of the members of the cluster, followed by / Mawazin News /, “The mass Sadikon and commitment to us the directives of the reference and commitment to the electoral program and the most important of the fight against corruption compiled files on the most important resource of the Iraqi state, That the documents are objective and away from any political targeting and achieve integrity in financial resources. ”

He stressed that “the honest parliamentary commitment to a specific period of time to complete the investigation with the competent regulatory bodies and the announcement of results in cooperation with those bodies,” pointing out that “the bloc will announce the files adopted in the coming period, which will witness files of corruption, which will be issued weekly to the media.” End n / a

Mawazin.net

President Saleh receives the President of the Kurdistan Region and stresses the importance of relying on the Constitution on outstanding issues

Baghdad today – Baghdad: The President of the Republic Barham Salih, in Baghdad, on Saturday, the President of the Kurdistan region, Nechirvan Barzani, while stressing the importance of relying on the Constitution on outstanding issues between the region and the Center.

Saleh’s office said in a statement received by “Baghdad Today” that the latter “received in Baghdad today, the President of the Kurdistan region, Nechirvan Barzani, and a comprehensive discussion of the situation and political developments and security in the country.”

“The importance of coordination and consultation among all parties, the need to rely on the Constitution and the national interest on outstanding issues and access to common visions to overcome obstacles to the provision of services to all Iraqis,” Saleh said.

In turn, the President of the Kurdistan region expressed his serious desire to “start constructive dialogues and achieve common understandings with the federal government on topics and files of common interest.”

During the meeting, he also discussed political developments at the regional and international levels and stressed the need to keep away from conflicts and crises, the statement said.

Baghdadtoday.news

A letter open to the Prime Minister of Iraq, his people and his economy first

Samir Nusairi – Two days ago, in the media and social media, there is a change in the leadership positions of the private agencies. On the basis of what is specified in Article 8 e in the Budget Law 2019 that the 2019/6/30 date for the termination of proxy positions for all the leading positions in the Iraqi government.

I believe that the application of this article transparently and without prior political intentions means that the competent authorities in the government and in the House of Representatives reassess those who hold these positions by adopting important and fundamental criteria that begin first and foremost from a analytical and analytical view of the results of the work of the official in the post. And what he and his team was able to achieve from the national achievements and have a direct impact on achieving the central objectives of the previous and current government within the hubs of its government programs approved by the House of Representatives.

In order to be clear and specific and direct and in the best interest of Iraq and its national economy. He called on Dr. Adel Abdul Mahdi, the Prime Minister of the distinguished. He is an economist who knows all the areas of success and failure in the Iraqi economy and who are the symbols of success who have achieved economic steadfastness and to take steady steps to achieve economic stability during the years Previous.

What concerns us here is the role played by the Central Bank of Iraq and its achievements and bright points during the lean years (2015-2019), in which Iraq suffered from economic and security shocks and was able to policies, procedures and wise applications of monetary policy to support the national economy and contribute directly to the economic steadfastness And decisive victory over terrorism because military victory can not be achieved without steadfastness and economic support.

Therefore, through the review, analysis and evaluation neutrality and transparency of the Iraqi economic situation and in particular is achieved by the ministries and economic institutions in Iraq from a competent point of view has been reached facts and evidence and signals and achievements confirm that the Central Bank of Iraq proved to be the economic institution through its important achievements in supporting the economy National economic resilience and strive to accomplish economic stability, according to the main objectives of the strategy and sub-working side -by- side and fruitful cooperation with the special representative of the Iraqi Association of banks of the banking sector and this is what really achieved as it contributed to the The victory over terrorism and accompanied by another victory is the steadfastness and economic victory, which was the team of the Central Bank of Iraq a key role and leading in achieving.

The most important of which is the support of the state treasury, the stability of the exchange rate, the recovery of the Iraqi dinar, the reduction of inflation and the maintenance of its share of less than (2%). And to maintain a 160% cash reserve as a cumulative accumulator in accordance with the latest IMF standard with gold reserves within an excellent record rate. The third is the Arab and the 37th globally, in addition to its adoption of standards and controls that comply with the requirements of international standards of compliance and Kavhh money laundering and terrorism financing and liquidation of up to 700 international Note registered on the Iraqi banking system and our exit from the area of ​​monitoring and follow-up according to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and strict adherence to achieving basic goals And the activation and consolidation of new visions for the applications of monetary policy and the important thing that is achieved is the stability of the exchange rate and reduce the gap between the official price of the US dollar and the parallel price is a key objective of monetary policy
and the implementation of the policy of re-trust banking transactions with Iraqi banks and Arab and foreign banks and seeking to build a solid banking sector and continuing To make extraordinary efforts to improve the banking reputation of international financial institutions and organizations and correspondent banks.

And building strong relations with Arab and foreign central banks and international financial organizations. The Security Council’s invitation to the Governor of the Central Bank in his rare event to present the achievements in the field of combating money laundering and financing of terrorism. The procedural, regulatory, Which aims at achieving financial stability and developing the banking business technically, structurally and organizationally, and raising the percentage of financial coverage to the target percentage, where he prepared and laid the foundations of financial and technical appropriate to the reality of the Iraqi economy and banking mechanisms, which formed a solid base on the domestic and abroad. All these achievements have prompted the Arab bank governors to elect the Governor of the Central Bank as the current governor of the Arab Monetary Fund and as the chairman of their board in the next session, a vivid embodiment of Iraq’s economy recovering from its crises and that is a tribute to the Iraqi people and its economic, financial and banking institutions.

The Prime Minister is required to implement Article 58 in the budget of 2019 in accordance with transparency and respect for the principle of public service in the service of society and to be honored the achievement of national economic achievements and they are on the agency’s site and install and motivate them to complete the triumphant march in the service of Iraq and its people and economy. With appreciation.

Read More: Iraqakhbar.com

The document .. a request to postpone the vote on the candidates of the Governor of the Bank and the President of the Audit Bureau

Al-Sumerian News: A document signed on behalf of the Chairman of the Finance Committee, Haitham al-Jubouri, includes a request to postpone the vote on the candidates of the Governor of the Central Bank and the head of the Financial Control Bureau until the meeting of the Committee.

A parliamentary source revealed on June 27, 2019, the nomination of Ali Abdul Amir Allawi to the post of Governor of the Central Bank, Salah Nuri Khalaf for the post of head of the Financial Control Bureau, Mohammed Abdul Mahdi Mohammed Taqi Hakim for the post of adviser to the Prime Minister, Fayadh Hassan Nima for the post of Undersecretary of the Ministry of Oil, Hamed Younis Saleh Al-Zobaie for the post of Undersecretary of the Ministry of Oil, and Adel Karim Kak Ahmed for the post of Undersecretary of the Ministry of Industry.

Alsumaria.tv