Adjusting The Exchange Rate Of The Dollar
Al-Sudani: All Possibilities Are Contained In Adjusting The Exchange Rate Of The Dollar
Iraq 2023/02/01 Prime Minister Muhammad Shia al-Sudani reassured the citizens that the dinar is the strongest and that Iraq's financial situation is in its best condition, and while he pointed out that all possibilities are contained in adjusting the exchange rate, which will discuss the issue of its fluctuations during the visit of an Iraqi government delegation to Washington soon, he indicated that official authorities are in force In the previous government, it was involved in the issue of tax secretariats, stressing that security and sensitive positions and positions are not subject to quotas.
Al-Sudani said, in an interview with Al-Iraqiya Al-Akhbariya: “The establishment of the Gulf Championship 25 and our team winning the cup is a great joy and the result of the effort of a team from the Council of Ministers that took important decisions within 52 days,” noting that “one of the characteristics of the success of the tournament is the mass cohesion between the Arab brothers and our people, especially the people Basra."
Dollar Rise
Regarding the rise in dollar prices, the prime minister explained that “the fluctuations in prices were not the result of a decision by the government, parliament, or the central bank,” attributing the reasons for the fluctuations in the exchange rate to “international standards and what is related to the relationship between the central bank, the US Federal Bank, and the US Treasury. And there was an agreed mechanism to control the movement of money transfers called (compliance standards) for the global banking system.
Al-Sudani added that "we always talk about the existence of forged invoices and the exit of money abroad through smuggling, and this is a reality," surprisingly, "about imports amounting to 300 million dollars per day."
He pointed out, "This explains that the currency was smuggled abroad," wondering, "What has stopped life, changed, or lost in the markets? Except for the rise in prices in some materials, during the sale of the central bank for 30, 40, or 50 million dollars per day, and in the past it was It is sold for 300, 200 and 250 million.
He pointed out that "the government has formed specialized security teams in all places, roads and ports, and sonars have been installed at the controls to detect currency smuggling," explaining, "The government is serious about measures to prevent currency smuggling, and at the same time we reassure the citizen that Iraq's financial situation is in the best cases, and we have a balance Revenues, rounds and balances, and we have the ability to purchase any material.”
High Price Solutions
And he continued, "He directed the Ministry of Commerce to exercise its role by importing materials and selling them at the official cost price in the dollar," pointing out that "the price hike procedures will be controlled by the government and the central bank's monetary policy measures."
Al-Sudani reassured his call not to acquire the dollar, and said: "The dinar is the strongest," explaining that "the decision to replace the governor of the Central Bank and the director of the Iraqi Trade Bank took place in a systematic and deliberate manner, not hasty or emotional."
And he stressed that "any official who does not provide solutions to problems is changed," pointing out that "changes are continuing in all aspects of the state, starting from the minister down to the agent, to the advisor, to the governor, to the head of the commission or the director general, anywhere and there are no red lines."
And he continued, "The government granted 3 months to all general managers in the country, and the period will end, and we started the evaluation process and gave us 6 months since the start of voting on the government program for the current ministers.
As for the agents and governors, we also gave them 6 months, and there will be a scientific professional evaluation based on indicators." To the possibility of "changing ministers in his government."
The Prime Minister said: "A high-level delegation will visit Washington on the seventh of next February to discuss more than one file, including a discussion of the fluctuations in the price of the dollar and its mechanism in accordance with the new standards."
Government Curriculum
He pointed out, "The priorities of the government curriculum are 5 titles, and one of the most important of these titles is the fight against poverty, and after three months have passed since the government's life, we have achievements, including the launch of the social research process targeting 1.7 million applications submitted for the purpose of inclusion in the social protection network, and granting a basket."
Special food quantity and quality for those covered by the social network, and the budget law will include granting additional cash subsidies that will be distributed to poor families to complete their children’s studies in schools and colleges other than the prescribed salaries.
He continued, "Service effort campaigns are concentrated in poor places to improve the reality of services in those areas," stressing that "housing projects will have the largest share for the poor."
He pointed out that "the solution to the housing crisis lies in building integrated cities according to a long-term economic situation that will not burden the citizen in paying, and it will be granted to groups for free and to other groups by installments over a period of time so that the citizen receives a housing unit in a city that contains decent services," pointing out, " The issue of housing in Iraq will witness real solutions according to the vision of building integrated cities that will be available to the poor and middle-income citizens.
Budget File
Regarding the budget, Al-Sudani explained that he “desires a budget that is compatible with the government program and is not like the previous budgets that were approved, as it is not reasonable to put forward a program, priorities, and the budget in another valley,” pointing out that “all previous mistakes were the incompatibility of the budget with government programs.” .
Regarding determining the exchange rate in the budget, Al-Sudani stressed that “the decision is taken according to the paths and the economic situation in the country,” noting that “all possibilities are contained in adjusting the exchange rate.”
Appointments File
And the Prime Minister pointed out, “The lecturers have been present in schools voluntarily for years and without pay, and after that they were transferred to Resolution 315 by previous governments, and they began working in this manner as contracts, and in the Budget Law for the year 2021, it stipulated that whoever has contract service is 5 years.”
It is proven to the permanent staff, but in the Food Security Law, the years of contractual service were reduced to two years or more, and it is fixed to the permanent staff, and there are those who have more than five years and a financial allocation that demands the implementation of the law.
He explained, "The previous government called on the ministries to raise the lists of those who are eligible for confirmation in accordance with the Food Security Law," explaining, "The current government took the decision to confirm contracts without hesitation, but at the same time we stopped appointments, whether they were in the form of contracts, wages, or even in the form of voluntary work."
And he continued, "Any official government agency that issues an order to appoint contracts or wages contrary to the announced decision is referred to investigation," stressing, "In the budget law, appointment will be suspended until further notice, except for medical training," noting, "The government has solved problems for employees who have a legal basis." With the existence of a financial allocation determined by the competent and financial ministry accordingly, the decision to install was taken.
Theft Of The Century
Regarding what is known as the theft of the century, the prime minister stated that "the case was pursued by me when I was a deputy, that is, before I became prime minister and I had its priorities, and I hoped that it would be opened while I was in the government," noting that "this file was opened during the time of the previous government." .
He added, "The rest of the defendants liquidated their money and fled, with the exception of the accused, Nour Zuhair, who was arrested during his attempt to escape," explaining that "the decision to arrest or release him was not a governmental decision, but rather a judicial one."
He stated that "Nour Zuhair is the black box, and he is now under the control and disposal of the judiciary in investigation and recovery, as the money he stole was distributed among a group of influential politicians, banks, personalities and media professionals," noting that "upon his release, he began the process of recovering his money, to return it at the same time." to the state."
And he continued, "These politicians, media professionals, and banks denied the existence of the money they have," explaining that "there are effective official bodies in the previous government involved in the case, and the papers and names will be revealed soon by the judiciary."
And he stated, "Some of them began to return the money in the form of payments, which were handed over to the judge, and the first payment was initiated," explaining, "The uproar raised by some about his release came because it is not in the interest of these people for Nour to remain in prison so that he does not demand money from them."
He pledged that "the government will not leave the rest of the wanted persons in the case, and there is a specialized team from the security services that is chasing them inside and outside Iraq and they will be extradited," pointing out that "we have now circulated in Interpol orders to arrest them in all countries, as we went to France and signed an agreement with the agency." French Anti-Corruption.
Anti-Corruption
And he stated, "Our procedures in combating corruption are legal, studied, and supported by documents and papers that are being investigated and the suspect is arrested with evidence," noting that "we have started with a qualitative procedure, which is the disclosure of financial disclosure according to the principle of where did you get this from?"
And he continued, "The law will be amended to include any person who has become abnormally rich by checking his money," explaining that "the money that is stolen is at the disposal of those close to the accused, as the former director of the Tax Authority who was recently arrested turned out to have 11 properties in the name of his wife, because of theft, and there are investigations for everyone suspected of being involved in theft.”
He pointed out that "corruption is the real threat to the Iraqi state after ISIS, as it disrupts services and all projects and programs," calling on citizens to "cooperate with the oversight agencies in providing real information and not defamation, misinformation and forgery that waste effort and time."
Relations With Political Parties
The Prime Minister stated, "The relationship with the coordination framework and others is good, based on understanding and consensus in accordance with the national interest, and there is a ministerial platform and clear commitments in accordance with the constitution and the law that we are working on, and our weekly meetings are continuing," pointing out, "Our government program includes priorities and voted on by the Council of Ministers, and I am currently implementing it." .
And he stressed, "Our periodic meetings with the State Administration Coalition, which includes all entities, discuss the general situation and what has been implemented from the government program."
Security And Civilian Positions
He explained that "security and sensitive positions and sites are outside any investment or political interference and are not subject to quotas," pointing out that they are "subject to professional controls."
And he stressed, "The appointments of the security services are made through purely professional procedures, in coordination with the concerned official," pointing out that "the security proposals that are presented to us are studied, evaluated, and the decision is taken."
He explained, "All political forces supported the government's approach that the security sites be managed by professionals from within the security establishment, and this is agreed upon," pointing out, "The talk about appointing relatives is incorrect, and whoever declares this must provide evidence."
Relationship With America
Al-Sudani stressed that "the United States is a friend and a strategic partner, and all political forces support that," explaining that "our position is clear and explicit, which is that Iraq does not need combat forces, as there are security services capable of controlling security in Iraq against any threat." .
He stated, "The presence of the current international coalition needs to rearrange the form of the relationship, in a legal and transparent manner that is announced before the political forces and parliament," explaining that "the government is conducting dialogue with the international coalition, as we formed in our meetings in the National Security Council a team of security agencies to conduct this dialogue." Soon, the final formula will be reached so that it is declared, clear and explicit, regulating the form of this presence.”
Foreign Visits
Al-Sudani stated, "We started with visits to regional and foreign countries according to the principle of productive visits and relations, that is, non-protocol. When we decided to go to Germany, we started preparing a file about the visit 3 months before the travel date," pointing out, "When we signed memorandums of understanding with Siemens, he stated Some say that they are agreements similar to the previous notes, and this is not true.
He added that "an official German delegation will visit Iraq in less than a month to attend the signing ceremony of important projects in the field of electric energy."
Visit France
Regarding France, he indicated that "there is a strategic agreement signed two years ago between Iraq and France that was studied and we found it important to go in a clear-cut agreement in all sectors," explaining that "our visit to France took place at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron."
He pointed out, "During my visit, I sat in the French Employers' Organization, which consists of a round table for French labor companies, and I talked about the horizon of investment, fields, and the need of French companies, but I was surprised that more than half of those present work in Iraq," pointing out, "This is positive indicator.
Regarding the Baghdad metro and the suspended train, he explained that "this project is stalled despite the fact that its designs and studies are complete," stressing that "the issue of the suspended train has been resolved, by agreeing to hold talks between a team from the concerned company and a team from the government to agree on the price."
Associated Gas
Al-Sudani said: “The largest number in the budget is allocated to salaries, followed by the electricity sector, since we allocate from 8 to 10 trillion dinars to import gas, so when investing associated gas and filling the need, the sums allocated to this sector will go to other projects such as housing, health, education, and others,” explaining, “ The gas investment file is considered the first for me, and there is a personal follow-up on my part.”
He continued, "This project includes abundant financial and job opportunities."
Al-Faw port
The Prime Minister stressed that "the port of Faw continues to be implemented, and this year the implementation rates will be accelerated," noting that "from now on, we have begun to think about how to operate the port."
And he indicated, "We are in contact with international companies to complete the port and operate it according to modern management," explaining that "our meetings are continuing with the consulting company and the Turkish side to reach an agreement and extend a railway."
He stressed, "Two days before I went to France, I met with the consulting company, and the paths were determined and the project was fully handed over with the aim of agreeing with the executing company," noting that "all these projects are strategic and will change the reality of the economy in Iraq."
He pointed out, "We are working diligently and resolutely on strategic economic projects that will bring about a quantum leap," noting that "there is an army of specialists and experts working on that."