{Political: Al Furat News} The Kurdish negotiating delegation returned to the Kurdistan region, Wednesday evening, after its meeting with Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi and a series of meetings with the federal government in Baghdad.
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The head of the delegation, Vice President of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Qubad Talabani, said in a tweet on Twitter, “A while ago, we returned from Baghdad to Erbil. We are very close to a final agreement on a mechanism for implementing the budget law.” He added, “There are good intentions from both parties, and compliance with the text of the law will have a positive impact on the financial situation in the Kurdistan Region, and will direct the relations between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region towards a new stage.” The Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kazemi, met on Wednesday evening with the Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Qubad Talabani, to discuss the mechanism for implementing the financial budget law for the year 2021, and sending financial dues to the Kurdistan Region. The two parties renewed, according to a statement by Talabani’s office, “their affirmation of commitment to the budget law, in order to solve the accumulated problems, based on the law and the constitution, and to create a continuous and long-term mutual understanding.” Ammar Al Masoudi
Shafaq News/ The Deputy Prime Minister of Kurdistan Regional Government, Qubad Talabani, and the political body of the Sadrist movement stressed, on Wednesday, the need to solve all outstanding problems between Baghdad and Erbil with a “steady and unified” position.
In a statement received by Shafaq News Agency, the media office of the Presidency of the Regional Government stated that the delegation of the Kurdistan Regional Government, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, discussed with the head of the political body of the Sadrist movement in Baghdad, Nassar al-Rubaie, the bilateral relations and common bonds that unite the two parties.
He added that the two sides stressed that Iraq’s problems are the problems of the region, and the problems of the region are also part of Iraq’s problems, and they must all be resolved with a firm and unified stance.
The statement indicated that Talabani praised the role of the Sadrist movement in facilitating the passage of the General Budget Law for the year 2021.
For his part, Al-Rubaie commended the efforts of Qubad Talabani and the Kurdistan negotiating delegation in bringing the Iraqi parties’ views on resolving outstanding problems, especially with regard to the budget, noting that voting on the budget and approving it in this way will be the basis for resolving all other issues.
He expressed his hope that an atmosphere of rapprochement and optimism would prevail between the region and Baghdad to relieve all the problems that Iraq suffers from.
Today, Wednesday, a well-informed political source revealed that Parliament Speaker Muhammad al-Halbousi prevented the questioning of Finance Minister Ali Allawi, for fear that the minister would reveal dangerous files and documents.The source said, “Finance Minister Ali Allawi requested that his questioning be conducted in the Iraqi parliament remotely and from outside Iraq, and that the session be public and broadcast on the air, because he intends to present dangerous documents and evidence that will make the demonstrators storm Parliament, because of the files and evidence of major corruption cases.”And he indicated that “this matter prompted Parliament Speaker Muhammad al-Halbousi to withdraw from the questioning of Allawi, despite the appointment of the interrogation session, and al-Halbousi is currently working to push the fireball against him and in secret he is pushing deputies from Shiite political blocs to confront the Minister of Finance.”
Shafaq News/ The Iraqi Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kazemi met, on Wednesday, with Qubad Talabani, Deputy Prime Minister of Kurdistan Regional Government, head of the government delegation to Baghdad.
A statement by Talabani’s office stated that he discussed with Al-Kazemi the mechanism for implementing the fiscal budget law for 2021, and the financial dues of the region, and they reiterated, by adhering to the budget paragraphs.
The two sides also discussed developments in relations between the federal and regional governments, especially the implementation of the federal budget law, and ensuring the Kurdistan region’s share in the budget.
Qubad Talabani, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, said, “Once again, the two sides affirm their commitment to the financial budget law in order to solve outstanding problems in accordance with the foundations of the constitution and the law, and in order to establish a long-term and lasting understanding.”
The Iraqi parliament had approved the beginning of last February, the country’s financial budget for the current year, with a total expenditure value of 129 trillion dinars, and a deficit of 28 trillion.
The budget also stipulated that the Kurdistan Region would deliver 250 thousand barrels of oil per day, in addition to half of Baghdad’s other financial revenues, in return for an estimated share of 12.6 percent of the budget.
The Kurdistan Regional Government hopes to start implementing the budget items to resume the budget payments that have been suspended for nearly a year, including the salaries of the region’s employees.
{Economist: Al Furat News} Minister of Finance Ali Abdul Amir Allawi chaired, on Wednesday, the ninth session meeting of the Committee for the Preparation of the Federal General Budget Strategy for the medium term 2022-2024.
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A statement of the ministry, which the agency {Euphrates News} received a copy of today, stated that “the meeting was held in the presence of the advisors of the Prime Minister, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Planning, the ministry’s advisors, and the general managers of the ministry and related ministries, where the committee discussed, according to the statement,” the report of the medium-term strategic plan for the years (2022 – 2024) on the external and internal indebtedness and its rescheduling.
The Minister of Finance, Ali Allawi, stated, according to the statement, that “the work and steps of the committee will contribute to building a sound and stable financial situation for the country, which will enhance the approach to preparing budgets for the coming years within the financial resources available to address the delay in strategic projects.”
Allawi stressed that “it will proceed to link long-term goals easily with future budgets to provide tools and procedures for preparation for financial departments and to prioritize activities to achieve the strategic objectives of the projects in proportion to the country’s financial revenues.”
Baghdad – Mawazine News , a presidential statement revealed, on Wednesday, details of the President’s talks, Barham Salih, with a delegation from the World Bank. The statement, which Mawazine News received a copy of, stated that “President Saleh received today, at the Peace Palace in Baghdad, the Vice President of the World Bank Group for the Middle East and North Africa, Farid Belhaj, and his accompanying delegation.” He added, “The meeting during which the importance of strengthening cooperation between Iraq and the World Bank was emphasized, supporting financial reforms and economic structures associated with what would raise their efficiency, in addition to work and coordination to combat corruption and reduce its effects, support investment and the private sector and benefit from human wealth, especially young people.” in the process of building a healthy, sustainable economy. Saleh stressed, according to the statement, that “the government is working on economic reform plans, addressing the structural imbalances of the national economy, combating corruption and recovering its returns through international coordination, providing citizens’ requirements, securing good living conditions, and facing challenges related to the economy, climate change, and environmental protection as a priority in sustainable development.” Coordination and benefit from international experiences in this regard. For his part, Farid Belhaj expressed his pride in “the World Bank’s partnership with Iraq and its importance,” stressing the World Bank’s commitment to “supporting the path of economic reform that Iraq has embarked on, and providing assistance and advice in order to move forward in achieving this.” Ended 29/A43
The President of the Republic, Barham Salih, received, on Wednesday, the Vice President of the World Bank Group for the Middle East and North Africa, Farid Belhaj, and his accompanying delegation, to discuss ways to combat corruption and support investment.
The media office of the President of the Republic said in a statement that “Nass” received a copy of it (June 2, 2021), that “during the meeting, the importance of strengthening cooperation between Iraq and the World Bank, and supporting financial reforms and economic structures associated with what would raise their efficiency, in addition to work and coordination, was emphasized. In order to combat corruption and reduce its effects, support investment and the private sector and benefit from human capital, especially young people, in the process of building a healthy and sustainable economy.
Saleh pointed out that “the government is working on economic reform plans, addressing the structural imbalances of the national economy, combating corruption and recovering its returns through international coordination, providing citizens’ requirements, ensuring good living conditions, and facing challenges related to the economy, climate change and environmental protection as a priority in sustainable development, in coordination and benefit.” of international experience in this regard.
For his part, Belhaj expressed his pride in the World Bank’s partnership with Iraq and its importance, stressing the World Bank’s commitment to support the path of economic reform that Iraq has embarked on, and to provide assistance and advice in order to move forward in achieving this.
Baghdad / Obelisk: The World Bank revealed, on Wednesday, June 2, 2021, that about 2.7 to 5 million Iraqis are threatened with poverty as a result of the Corona pandemic and the drop in the price of a barrel of oil. To support multiple sectors in Iraq.
Wael Mansour, Senior Economist of the World Bank, said in a televised interview that the World Bank has nothing to do with determining the exchange rate in any of the countries it deals with, pointing out that the World Bank does not have any position regarding changing the exchange rate in Iraq and did not talk about it with any Iraqi party. Whether it is the government, the central bank or the House of Representatives, the decision is sovereign par excellence.
He added that the bank looks at these prices from an economic perspective, and sees whether the downward or upward movement helps increase the country’s competitiveness and growth, and this is not a unilateral measure that should accompany other reforms related to economic growth and investments in infrastructure and human capital.
He pointed out that the financial budget resources from outside the oil sector are estimated at 8% of the total budget resources, stressing the need to proceed with real reforms, as in the white paper proposed by the government, including improving collection from customs and taxes, and how to benefit from these resources to increase non-oil revenues.
He added that this requires a plan to increase the fiscal space for the state to invest these resources in strategic sectors such as education, health, social protection and infrastructure. Non-oil revenues must be raised to meet the needs and provide quality public services to citizens, and the need for policies and investments in sustainability should not be overlooked. The environment, especially as the future is heading towards the so-called green growth.
Regarding loans, he indicated that the World Bank did not grant this year any new loan to Iraq, indicating that there is a diversified financial portfolio estimated at $1.8 billion of projects in multiple sectors, including the reconstruction of areas liberated from ISIS, including for the sectors of electricity, education, health and technical assistance to the Ministry of Finance. Planning and social safety nets.
He resumed saying: We always look forward to working with the Iraqi government in case it requests new projects, noting that the World Bank is moving forward with a project that helps speed up the vaccination process by bringing in additional quantities of vaccines so that Iraq can confront the pandemic and we are always on the side of Iraq when it requests projects New.
He explained that Iraq was hit by two shocks during the year 2020, one from the drop in oil prices, and the other due to the Corona pandemic, stressing that the World Bank estimated the contraction of the Iraqi economy during the past year by 10.3%, due to the contraction of oil production as a result of the OPEC + agreement, as well as the pandemic that affected the sector Services, which represent about a third of the Iraqi national economy, due to frequent closures.
He pointed out that the Corona pandemic and the drop in the oil price had affected poverty rates and raised them between seven to fourteen percentage points, or about 2.7 to 5 million Iraqis who are threatened with poverty as a result of the pandemic and the fluctuation of the oil price.
He indicated that the World Bank is now in the process of discussing with the Iraqi government the issue of accelerating the vaccination process, purchasing additional quantities of vaccines, and supporting the health sector to confront this pandemic, and through our current portfolio, we are helping with issues related to growth so that the Iraqi economy can recover quickly, especially the recovery of the private bottom.
He added that the World Bank does not impose sovereign conditions on any country in return for granting loans, stressing that the bank’s mechanism for granting loans depends on three things.
As for the second, there are caveats related to governance. We stress the issue of governance, especially related to the projects we finance, if it is in terms of combating corruption, transparency, and access to information in order to avoid any obstacles or problems, noting that the third is related to the request of any government to support the budget. The condition there is coupled with a reform plan. Clear, and that the macroeconomic framework is sustainable in order to ensure that such a loan actually contributes to confronting any crisis that arises or contributes to growth or reducing poverty rates.
And he indicated that Iraq is not a bankrupt country as it is the fourth largest oil-producing country and has great economic and human capabilities, and a large market, but Iraq suffers from economic structural problems, including excessive dependence on the oil sector, which constitutes 95% of its exports and 90% of budget revenues, as well as It constitutes about 60% of the real economy, so any fluctuation and decline in oil prices leads to financial obstacles and a deterioration in growth.
He added: Iraq also suffers from an inflated size of the public sector in the economy, losses in the electricity sector, which requires increasing support every year, and a weakness in the volume and type of public and private investment, stressing that Iraq is aware of these obstacles and has already begun to focus on solutions to these structural problems.
He concluded his speech by saying: The solutions were mentioned in the white paper, and this is an ambitious plan for reform, as it accurately diagnoses the economic problem in Iraq, and we hope that Iraqi officials will speed up its implementation.
The economic advisor to the Prime Minister, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, revealed that work is continuing to build five industrial cities within five governorates, returning the step as the nucleus of a promising renaissance for the Iraqi economy. Saleh confirmed in a statement to the official Al-Sabah newspaper, that work is to build industrial cities within five governorates, one for each of Baghdad, Basra and Dhi Qar, in addition to two cities in Najaf governorate, working according to organized rules issued by the sectoral government agency, describing it as “the nucleus of a renaissance.” The renewable private industrial sector in Iraq, and a solid foundation in the investment economies of the single governorate, as it is an essential tool in the operation of the unemployed labor force,” noting that it “needs the support of the governorates’ administration for it, especially in the field of infrastructure.” Saleh pointed out that “the industrial cities are among the priorities of planning and industrial renaissance in the countries of the civilized world, limiting industrial investments to areas that are mostly integrated with each other, far from residential cities, that require availability of physical infrastructure, as one of the positive external economic factors in order to enhance the integration of manufacturing units and filling each other’s needs as industrial inputs and outputs. And he indicated that “the greater the inputs and outputs within a single industrial city, it will make the average production cost to its minimum in most cases, as well as spreading competitiveness in work, upgrading quality and constantly introducing and improving technology in a manner consistent with the production movement within the single industrial city,” noting that “industrial cities It remains a high and important investment attraction, whether for national or foreign investment, as long as the land and infrastructure are available in those cities.”
Baghdad / Obelisk: The head of the Iraqi Commission for Radioactive Sources, Kamal Hussein Latif, revealed, on Tuesday, June 2, 2021, that the uses of the reactors that Iraq intends to build are purely peaceful and cannot be otherwise.
In a statement received by Al-Masala, Latif said that the reactors that Iraq intends to build are intended for the production of electricity and cannot, in any way, be converted to other uses.
He added: Even if any country wants to violate the technical specifications of the peaceful reactor, it will not be able to do so because the design of power reactors does not technically allow to deal with fuel pens in a different way, being completely closed.
He added that any change that occurs in those pens would be considered a violation of the work protocols and guidelines of the International Atomic Energy Agency, as well as the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, to which Iraq joined in 1972, and the nuclear fuel safeguards system that defines an accurate and peaceful fuel mechanism, all of which do not allow the improper use of nuclear energy.
He concluded his speech by saying that the design and type of the reactor does not allow for any unauthorized application, pointing out that the major countries know perfectly well that this type of reactors of the third and third generation are specifically dedicated to producing electricity only.
The history of the Iraqi nuclear program dates back to the mid-1950s, when initial understandings began with the Soviet Union to build a reactor for peaceful purposes.
It is noteworthy that the Iraqi Authority for the Control of Radioactive Sources had confirmed, on the 3rd of last November, that 5 countries are candidates to establish a new reactor in Iraq, namely the United States of America, Russia, Argentina, South Korea and France.
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