Al-Fatah: Dialogue rounds with Washington did not yield anything

Member of the Fatah Alliance, Salam Hussein, confirmed today, Tuesday, that the rounds of dialogue with Washington regarding the withdrawal of American forces have not yielded anything so far.

Hussein said in a statement to Al-Maalouma Agency, “The Iraqi reality rejects the American presence, whether military or as advisors,” noting that “negotiations to schedule the exit of American forces do not need all this time.”

He added, “The American side does not provide any assistance to Iraq and there must be an undermining of their influence in the country,” noting that “America has goals and plans and we do not believe that the negotiations will produce results.”

He explained that “the issue of the withdrawal of American forces is very difficult and the government is required to know the truth about this presence, in addition to clarifying the work of the committees tasked with their withdrawal,” indicating that “Washington’s statements about ISIS activity are evidence of the negativity of the negotiations.”

Defense Minister Thabet Al-Abbasi headed the delegation of the Republic of Iraq on an official visit to the United States of America, which will hold the second round of talks to end the mission of the international coalition in Iraq.

Almaalomah.me

24 billion of which went abroad.. More than 26 billion dollars in sales of the Central Bank of Iraq in 6 months

The total sales of hard currency in US dollars by the Central Bank of Iraq during the past 6 months, during which the auction was opened, amounted to more than 26 billion dollars.

Shafaq News Agency correspondent stated that the Central Bank sold during the past 6 months in which the auction was opened 26 billion, 539 million, 598 thousand, and 281 dollars, at a monthly rate of 4 billion, 423 million, 266 thousand, and 380 dollars.

The highest dollar sales were in May, when sales amounted to 5 billion, 257 million, 79 thousand, and 903 dollars, while the lowest sales were in January, when sales amounted to 4 billion, 95 million, 583 thousand, and 404 dollars.

Our correspondent indicated that foreign remittance sales during the past 6 months amounted to 24 billion, 105 million, 770 thousand, and 121 dollars, an increase of 89% compared to cash sales, which amounted to 2 billion, 565 million, 785 thousand, and 811 dollars.

shafaq.com

Sources: Iraq looks forward to withdrawal of international coalition forces starting in September

Four Iraqi sources reported that Iraq wants the US-led military coalition forces to begin withdrawing starting next September, and to officially end the coalition’s work by September 2025, with the possibility of some US forces remaining in a newly negotiated advisory capacity.

Reuters quoted Iraqi sources and American officials as saying that the Iraqi position is being discussed with American officials in Washington this week at a security summit, and that there is no official agreement to end the alliance or any timetable associated with it yet.

The two sides are meeting in Washington this week to determine how to transition the U.S.-led coalition’s mission based on the threat posed by the Islamic State group, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a briefing, adding that he had no further details.

US-led forces invaded Iraq in 2003, toppling former President Saddam Hussein, then withdrew in 2011, only to return in 2014 to fight ISIS at the head of the coalition.

Shafaq.com

Mustafa Sand indicates violations in the allocations of Al-Sudani’s office: He used the emergency budget in his favor

Member of the Parliamentary Finance Committee, Mustafa Sand, pointed out, on Tuesday, violations in the allocations of the office of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani within the 2024 budget tables.

Sand told Shafaq News Agency, “We noticed that the allocations for the Prime Minister’s Office have more than one aspect. The first aspect is the increase in allocations and the transfer of allocations in other sections for the purpose of reducing the form in front of the tables, especially the funds, the development fund, and others.”

The second violation, according to Sand, “is in spending, especially in the emergency budget,” adding, “We have a report from the Financial Control Bureau that proves about 80% of the violations in the mechanisms for spending the emergency budget.”

Sand criticised “spending three billion dinars on renovating the guest house”, pointing out that “the allocations for the Red Crescent, camps and some projects have a political and electoral aspect”.

He pointed out that “the emergency budget is for emergency events such as fires, floods and disasters, but what happened was additional spending for the Prime Minister’s Office in full view of all political blocs.”

Sand added, “The financial expenditure for the emergency budget last year reached 150 billion dinars, while this year it did not exceed 50 billion dinars.”

He explained that “the disbursement rate in the Development Fund was 1% in 2023, and the government punished the governorates that disbursed 30%.”

Shafaq.com

Parliamentary Integrity: We will investigate the changes made to the budget tables

The Parliamentary Integrity Committee announced, on Monday, its intention to investigate the changes that occurred in the budget tables, noting that the challenge to the budget tables before the Federal Court is still pending.

Committee member Hadi Al-Salami told Al-Maalouma Agency, “Parliament opened an investigation into the loss of 15 trillion dinars after tampering with the budget tables.”

He added, “The House of Representatives approved the 2024 general budget schedules without any change, noting that the budget will be returned again for the purpose of ratification by the Presidency of the Republic.”

He added, “The major responsibility lies with the supervisory authorities to uncover the circumstances of the changes that occurred in the budget tables.”

Almaalomah.me

Al-Mandlawi: The current legislative session will witness the enactment of important laws

The expanded meeting of the heads of parliamentary blocs and committees, headed by Acting Speaker of Parliament Mohsen Al-Mandalawi, agreed today, Monday, to expedite the resolution of the issue of electing a new Speaker of Parliament and to set a timetable for approving important laws.

Al-Mandlawi’s media office stated in a statement received by Al-Maalouma Agency that “Al-Mandlawi chaired an expanded meeting of the heads of parliamentary blocs and committees, to develop a legislative map and activate the oversight role of the council during the current new term.”

He added, “The meeting discussed the projects and laws submitted by the government, and it was agreed with the heads of the blocs and committees to set a timetable for approving important laws that meet the needs of various segments of society.”

Al-Mandlawi said, “The past period witnessed voting on a number of laws, including those that have been suspended for years,” indicating that “the current session will witness the enactment of important laws.”

He called for “expediting the resolution of the issue of electing a Speaker of the Council in a way that contributes to the stability and activation of the performance of the legislative institution.”

He discussed with the heads of parliamentary blocs and committees “mechanisms to enhance the oversight role and the work plan for the current legislative session,” directing all committees to “submit oversight reports on the performance of ministries, agencies and entities not affiliated with a ministry, in addition to quarterly reports to the relevant committees on the implementation of budget schedules and the application of the government program.”

Almaalomah.me

US-Iraq Joint Security Dialogue Launched in Washington

The US Ambassador to Baghdad, Alina Romanowski, announced the start of the joint security dialogue between the United States of America and Iraq in Washington, today, Monday.

Romanowski said on her account on the “X” platform, “Security officials from the United States and Iraq will discuss the future of the international coalition mission and strengthening security cooperation between our two countries.”

Negotiations between Baghdad and Washington resumed last February, with the adoption of a deliberate and gradual reduction, leading to the end of the mission of the international coalition forces to combat ISIS, according to official Iraqi statements, to be followed by two other rounds in March and April.

There are about 2,500 American soldiers in Iraq, as part of the international coalition led by Washington since September 2014. The soldiers are distributed across three main sites in Iraq: Ain al-Assad base in Anbar, Harir base in Erbil, and Camp Victoria adjacent to Baghdad International Airport. In addition to the American forces, there are French, Australian, and British forces operating within the coalition forces, and others within NATO in Iraq.

Shafaq.com

Finance Minister: Iraq has great economic potential

Finance Minister Taif Sami confirmed Sunday, July 21, 2024, that Iraq has “great economic potential.”

A statement from the ministry said that Sami “received today a delegation from the US Embassy to discuss ways to enhance economic and financial cooperation between the two countries, in addition to discussing a number of issues of common interest.”

She stressed the “Iraqi government’s keenness to strengthen its relations with the United States in various fields, including the economic and financial fields.”

She pointed out that “Iraq has great economic potential, and that the Iraqi government is working to create a favorable investment environment to attract foreign investments.”

For his part, the US embassy delegation stressed “the United States’ readiness to support Iraq in its efforts to achieve economic development, expressing their welcome for cooperation with Iraq in various fields, including the financial and business sector,” according to the statement.

The two sides discussed “the challenges facing the Iraqi economy, ways to enhance American investment in Iraq, and cooperation in the field of combating money laundering and terrorist financing.”

Burathanews.com

Parliamentary Integrity Committee responds to manipulation of budget tables: We have not received any official letter

The Parliamentary Integrity Committee said that it had not received any official letter or letter regarding the news of tampering with the federal budget tables for the year 2024.

Committee member Hadi Al-Salami told {Euphrates News} that: “So far, the House of Representatives has not received any official letter or letter from the relevant executive authorities regarding the issue of manipulation or a problem in the budget tables for the year 2024.”

He pointed out that “if the issue is proven, the Iraqi judiciary is present to provide evidence and proof to the competent courts so that the judiciary can have its say on this matter.”

Al-Salami confirmed that “so far, there is nothing official for the House of Representatives and everything that has been circulated in the media, and we have not seen any priorities, and therefore this matter remains in doubt unless there is evidence and proof on the subject.” An informed source told {Euphrates News} that a group of representatives are planning to approach the Federal Integrity Commission to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the manipulation of the budget tables and refer it to the judiciary.

Alforatnews.iq

Iraq participates in UNCTAD meetings to join the World Trade Organization

Al-Maalouma / Baghdad – The Ministry of Trade announced today, Saturday, its participation in the technical meetings of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Istanbul, regarding the accession of Arab countries to the World Trade Organization.

The ministry stated, in a statement received by Al-Maalouma Agency, that it “participated in the technical meetings organized by UNCTAD in Istanbul, which will last for two days, to discuss the experiences of Arab countries in joining the World Trade Organization.”

The Director General of the Department of Foreign Economic Relations, Riyadh Fakher Al-Hashemi, who represented the Ministry of Trade in these meetings, said, according to the statement, that “the meetings discussed the outcomes of the thirteenth ministerial conference of the World Trade Organization, the process of Arab countries’ accession to the organization, and how Iraq can benefit from these experiences in its process of joining. The importance of trade in services in supporting the economies of Arab countries and enhancing their growth was also reviewed.”

He stressed that “Iraq’s participation in these technical meetings enhances the experience of the Iraqi negotiating team and pushes it to move forward, and in an accelerated manner, towards achieving full accession to the World Trade Organization, as the exchange of knowledge and experiences gained from these meetings will have a significant positive impact on improving Iraq’s negotiating capabilities and achieving its economic goals.”

The statement indicated that “this participation is part of the ongoing efforts made by the Ministry of Trade to strengthen Iraq’s international economic relations and take advantage of the available opportunities to enhance economic and commercial development in the country.”

Almaalomah.me