The Iraqi Council of Ministers issues several resolutions concerning the budget

Twilight News / Cabinet held its regular session on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi.

The Cabinet discussed the government curriculum, where it was signed by the President and members of the Council of Ministers to be converted to a document for implementation containing the details of the work, and will be published in the media during the next two days.

Abdul Mahdi stressed during the presentation of the curriculum that the Council of Ministers with all its members will have to follow the curriculum and accounting for it, calling to overcome the routine in order to achieve the goals.

During the meeting, the rules of procedure of the Council of Ministers were presented and the observations and views were taken for approval soon.

The Council of Ministers hosted the Financial Budget Team from the Ministries of Finance and Planning. Some of the texts, movements and observations were discussed and the issuance of budget instructions was accelerated.

The Council approved the minutes of the third meeting of the government program review team and the prioritization of government projects and their cost estimates within the budget estimates (2019-2022).

The members of the Council of Ministers also briefed on the draft declaration for the selection of the President and members of the Federal Public Service Council, and voted on the draft, which will be announced later and includes the conditions to be provided by the applicant for positions.

The Council of Ministers approved the establishment by the World Bank of the Fund for Recovery and Reconstruction of Iraq, and voted on the project for the establishment of the Training Center for Airmen and Airmen.

In conjunction with the Book Fair, the Council of Ministers decided to reduce customs duties on imported books.

The Council of Ministers voted to exclude employees in the institution of political prisoners from the amounts owed by their due to the error of the administration and those who were martyred from them.

The Cabinet decided to reopen a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Commerce of the Republic of Iraq and the United States Embassy in Baghdad regarding the purchase and processing of wheat back to the Council of Ministers.

Keywords: Shafaaq.com

US Treasury Announces Support to Iraq and Kurdistan to Strengthen Their Economic Position

Economy News: US Assistant Secretary of State Marshall Blingsley announced on Tuesday his country’s readiness to help Iraq and the Kurdistan region boost their economic standing.

The Kurdistan Regional Government said in a statement received by “Economy News” a copy of it, “The Prime Minister of Kurdistan met with US Treasury Secretary Marshall Blingsley.”

“The meeting discussed the situation in the region and coordination efforts between the governments of the region and Iraq with allies, especially the United States, aimed at eliminating violence and drying up the financial and economic resources of extremist groups,” the statement said.

For his part, thanked Barzani, “the United States on past and current aid provided to the Kurdistan region,” stressing that “the market of the region will be of particular importance in the development of the Iraqi economy.”

He added that “US Assistant Secretary of State Marshall Blingsley expressed his country’s readiness to “help Iraq and the Kurdistan region strengthen their economic standing.”
“I am pleased with the developments in the region in the economic infrastructure sector, reform and private sector development,” he said.

Economy-news.net

Presidential Information Office – VerifiedAccount@IraqiPresidency

FollowingFollowing @ IraqiPresidency

President of the Republic @ BarhamSalih stresses the need to end the crises suffered by Iraq over the decades through the rebuilding of the current political system and reform and to restore citizens ‘ confidence in the government. This came during his speech at the events of the Rafidain International Forum on Monday, 4-2-2019.

PM Barzani stresses financial coordination with United States

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The head of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) explained how critical Erbil can be in the fight against extremism in the financial sector in a meeting with a top US Department of Treasury official.
KRG Premier Nechirvan Barzani hosted US Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing Marshall Billingslea in Erbil on Monday.

“They discussed regional situations, attempts to have coordination between the KRG, Iraqi government and coalition countries especially the US in order to eradicate violence and eliminate financial resources of extremist groups,” read a statement from Barzani’s office.

The meeting also focused on the Kurdistan Region’s desire to grow and diversify away from its petroleum dependency.

“His Excellency Nechirvan Barzani thanked the past and current aid of the US to the Kurdistan Region and stressed that Kurdistan Region’s market will have a special significance for the development of Iraq’s economy,” read the KRG statement.

US trade delegations make regular trips to the Kurdistan Region.

“[Barzani] also said that it is KRG’s policy to support the private sector and draw foreign investors and they need the help of their friends in this regard,” the statement added.

Reducing corruption and barriers to entry for American companies has been a goal of Washington.

Billingslea “expressed his country’s readiness to assist Iraq and the Kurdistan Region in the area of strengthening their economic infrastructure and reforming governmental institutions,” added the KRG statement.

Trump is set to deliver a State of the Union Address on Tuesday that could affect aid coming to Iraq, as Trump increasingly pursues policies that rely less on intelligence and diplomatic assets and the US military on the ground.

The Kurdistan Region historically has welcomed a Western and American presence, believing it to be a bulwark against any possible action by Baghdad, Ankara, or Tehran.

Rudaw.net

Kuwaiti newspaper: Iraq paid Kuwait $ 300 million

Economy News _ Baghdad: The Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Rai reported on Monday that Iraq has paid 300 million dollars to Kuwait

The newspaper said that “Iraq finally paid Kuwait $ 300 million in payment of a series of compensation owed by Baghdad to Kuwait for the losses and damage suffered by individuals, companies, government and international organizations as a result of the Gulf War.”

The UN Commission on Compensation for the Damages of the Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait has obliged Baghdad to pay $ 4.6 billion in cash, but these payments have been suspended since October 2014 due to security challenges and budgetary problems faced by Iraq, but the payment was resumed at 0.5 percent of Iraq’s revenues Starting from 2018, and will increase annually until the end of 2021, by 300 million dollars every three months.

Economy-news.net

Iraqi parliament’s policy fails to hold a session to “end” the US presence amid conflicting statements by his presidency

The failure of the House of Representatives to mobilize members to hold an emergency meeting discuss the end of the US presence through military bases inside Iraq.

This comes at a time of conflicting positions within the Council, on the law of the removal of US forces, until it reached a difference in the positions of the President of the Council Mohammed Halbusi and his deputy Hassan al-Kaabi, especially after the confirmation of US President Donald Trump, the survival of its forces in Iraq;
Parliament Speaker Mohamed Halboussi said that Iraq still needs the efforts of the international community in the fight against terrorism, which is contrary to the position of Hassan al-Kaabi, his deputy for the alliance of others.

Halaboussi said that his country still needs the efforts of the international community in the fight against terrorism and to fulfill its obligations to Iraq and support his government.
Al-Halbusi said that the Iraqi parliament will work in coordination with Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi to know the actual need for foreign forces.

It comes hours after US President Donald Trump announced the maintenance of a US military base in Iraq so Washington could watch Iran.

“One of the reasons we want to keep US troops is because we want to watch Iran somehow because Iran is a real problem,” Trump said in an interview with CBS.

Despite the speaker’s speech, which appeared less severe, but a member of the Presidency of the House of Representatives Hassan al-Kaabi, said in a statement: “We deplore US President Donald Trump’s statement on the extension of the US presence in Iraq, and justified by monitoring neighboring countries.”

He added: “Everyone has the responsibility to act urgently; to end the US presence, and not to allow Iraq to be a launching pad for aggression or control of any state.”

He stressed that “the House of Representatives will work during the next legislative term, to enact a law that includes the termination of the security agreement with America, as well as the termination of the presence of trainers and advisers American and foreign military in Iraqi territory.”

Keywords: Shafaaq.com

BGG ~ Halaboussi and others (Salih included) should be a little more cautious with their arrogant rhetoric. This, in typical Iraqi fashion… so grateful and appreciative… NOT!!

Maliki and Talabani agree on a “common factor” to establish a “new phase” in Iraq

The head of the coalition of state law, Nuri al – Maliki, received in his office, Monday, the deputy head of the Kurdistan Regional Government Kebad Talabani and the delegation accompanying him.

During the meeting, they discussed all the issues on the political and security scene, and the ongoing dialogues in the Kurdistan Region to form a regional government, according to a statement by Maliki’s office.

“The two sides exchanged views on the political situation and the need to find a common understanding that brings together the political forces, in order to establish a new phase, which is one of its components political and security stability,” according to the statement.

Keywords: Shafaaq.com

BGG ~ While this is a little troubling that anyone, anywhere is talking to Maliki – keep in mind, this is just a visit by Talabani to the Baghdad area and this was only one stop on long list. I doubt it was a very important stop… however, Maliki may still hold some political sway over parts of the political machine. The good news? The Kurds are fully engaged with the central government right now. This is very good news.

Halabousi discusses with Kubad strengthening cooperation between the center and the region

(Baghdad: Al-Furat News) President of the House of Representatives Mohamed Halabousi discussed with the Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Kurdistan Region, Qubad Talabani, to strengthen cooperation between the Center and the region.

This came during a meeting at his office in Baghdad on Monday, Deputy Prime Minister of Kurdistan Region, Qubad Talabani and his accompanying delegation.

He added that “during the meeting discussed the current political and security situation in the country, ways to strengthen cooperation between the Center and the region, as well as discuss a number of topics of common interest, and emphasize the need to resolve outstanding problems in accordance with the Constitution.”

Alforatnews.com

URGENT The President of the Republic approves the budget law

(Baghdad: Al-Furat News) President of the Republic Barham Salih, on Monday, the Federal Budget Law for the current year.

Saleh said according to a presidential statement received by the agency {Euphrates News} copy of it today, “the need to provide basic services for citizens, and start the stage of construction and reconstruction, commending the efforts that contributed to the preparation of the draft budget and study and legislation, whether in the government or the House of Representatives.”

Alforatnews.com

Central warns against dealing with electronic trading companies on currencies and gold

Economy News _ Baghdad – The Central Bank of Iraq warned Monday of dealing with electronic trading companies by selling and buying currencies and gold.

The bank said in a statement received “the economy News” a copy of it, “Recently spread in the capital Baghdad and the rest of the provinces, brokerage companies dealing with the electronic trading of the sale and purchase of currencies and gold, polarizing a large segment of the public investors, so the Central Bank of Iraq warns investors to deal with These companies, being working outside his neck. ”

“There is no legal framework to regulate the work of these companies,” he said. “A multilateral committee of the Central Bank of Iraq has recently been formed to establish the legal framework for the work of these companies.”

Economy-news.net