Iraqi News and Highlights Early AM Thursday 7-30-20

TLM724 Administrator BondLady’s Corner

The Commander-In-Chief Of The Armed Forces, Mr. Mustafa Al-Kazemi, Holds A Meeting With The Heads Of The National Security And Counter-Terrorism Services

July 29-2020  The Prime Minister, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Mr. Mustafa Al-Kazemi, held a meeting with the head of the National Security Agency, Abdul-Ghani Al-Asadi, and the head of the Counter-Terrorism Service, Lieutenant General Abdul-Wahab Al-Saadi.

During the meeting, they discussed the security conditions in the country, redoubled efforts to establish security and stability, and pursued criminal gangs that carry out kidnappings and murders, as well as tracking ISIS terrorist cells.

The meeting also addressed the movement of peaceful demonstrations taking place in a number of governorates of Iraq, where the Commander in Chief of the armed forces, Mr. Mustafa Al-Kazimi, directed the competent security forces, within the scope of their duties, to provide the necessary protection for peaceful demonstrations, not to use any type of violence, and to meet the legitimate demands of peaceful protesters . Media Office of the Prime Minister  https://pmo.iq/press2020/29-7-202001.htm

Legislators For {Al Sabah »: Anti-Corruption Laws Are Sufficient Provided They Are Activated

Wednesday, July 29, 2020  161  Baghdad / Muhannad Abdul-Wahab  Members of the House of Representatives cautioned that tackling corruption and reform files does not need to legislate new laws, as much as they need to activate existing laws, such as a law from where do you get this, and graft, warning that corruption has become a general phenomenon rooted, and everyone needs to cooperate to eradicate it.

Member of the Parliamentary Integrity Committee, Sabah Al-Okaili, said: The reform should start from activating the laws that work to reduce and undermine corruption, pointing out that it is legal from where did you get this, and the unlawful gain, work began in them at the beginning of the current year, and all employees have raised their receivables Finance to the Integrity Commission.

Al-Okaili added, in an interview with Al-Sabah, that the problem of corruption now is that it is no longer limited to senior officials, but rather has become a general phenomenon in many state departments, and we need a lot of cooperation from citizens with the state to limit its spread, and uproot the base of this scourge that It must be eliminated.

Al-Okaili indicated that the first steps to reduce corruption are documenting these crimes by society and reporting them by citizens or auditors to state departments, indicating that government oversight departments are very weak and do not rise to the level of the challenge posed by corruption.

Al-Ugaili pointed out that the committee demanded that the canceled offices of inspectors general be added to oversight bodies, such as the Integrity Commission and others, to benefit from their expertise and competence, but that they were transferred to other departments.

Al-Ugaili called on the Prime Minister to work to activate the system of electronic governance between departments to detect spoilers and manipulators, and to train supervisory authorities because they are weak and do not rise to counter the methods followed by corrupt.

For his part, the representative of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Diyar Barwari, indicated that the previous government identified 40 files for corruption in state agencies, and asked the House of Representatives to pass laws to combat corruption, and the modernization of the Integrity Law was a result of the demands, in addition to delegating the public prosecution and the judiciary to take on greater responsibilities In this area, including the abolition of the offices of inspectors general.

Barwari said, in an interview with "Al-Sabah": Parliament is ready to legislate laws that enable the government to eliminate the spread of corruption, pointing out that the mechanisms followed by the government against corruption are still ineffective, because corruption has many aspects and not only financial corruption, but there is exploitation Power and devote routine to get some winnings.

Berwari called on the government to activate all oversight departments and their technical mechanisms in order to reduce corruption, and to refer all corruption files to the judiciary, to announce them, and to follow them up by the public prosecution, and this requires a collective effort from society and the government.

A member of the Economic Committee Nada Shaker Jawdat believes that the measures to reduce corruption are summarized by the availability of the real will of the government to reduce corruption, and it starts from the political blocs not to protect their ministers who prove corruption files.

Jawdat added, "Al-Sabah", that the government should put in place deliberate plans to eliminate corruption, in addition to the participation of political blocs in these plans and not to protect spoilers who manipulate public money and not provide cover for them.

Jawdat pointed out that the Iraqi laws include important clauses to limit the spread of corruption, but failure to apply them properly has contributed to the spread of corruption. Therefore, we call on the parliament and the government to activate the laws to eliminate corruption and implement it in a practical and effective way.  LINK

The Cabinet Forgives The Debts Of The Beneficiaries Of The Sponsorship Network And Gives Them A "Holiday"

Wednesday, July 29, 2020  199  Baghdad / Al-Sabah  Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi confirmed that the government is working with all efforts to overcome the challenges and meet the demands and needs of citizens, and that he directed the ministers and service departments concerned to avoid bureaucratic obstacles and work with flexible methods in implementing decisions, and who will obstruct any decision will be taken legal measures against him, that comes at a time decided The cabinet, at its session yesterday, Tuesday, granted a 75-dinar holiday for the poor who fell under the umbrella of social welfare. The council also decided to extinguish the debts incurred by the beneficiaries of the social protection network benefits.

Al-Kazimi said during his presidency yesterday, Tuesday, of the cabinet session: “The ministers must listen to the demands of citizens and take to the street and draw up plans to meet these demands. Reform plans must be matched by similar plans to accommodate the citizens’ demands. ”

He added, "There is no retreat from strengthening state institutions, and work is underway to strengthen them, and we are in the process of taking national decisions to meet the demands of our people." she was".

The Cabinet discussed in its regular session, held yesterday, Tuesday, headed by Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi, the developments of the work of the Committee to strengthen government measures in the areas of prevention and health and educational awareness, on limiting the spread of Corona virus, which is formed according to Diwaniyah Order 217 of 2020.

The Council approved the recommendations of the Ministerial Council for Human Development, and agreed to establish new halls to treat cancerous diseases, in accordance with the following decisions: Create additional halls to treat cancer patients in the National Hope Hospital, and similar ones in the National Center for Cancer Diseases, as well as expand treatment of other types of cancerous diseases And thyroid diseases, and the establishment of nuclear medicine centers in the governorates of (Basra, Najaf, Nineveh, Babil, and Anbar), according to the plan prepared for the Najaf Governorate, and assigning the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research - Department of Treatment of Hazardous Substances and atomic energy directorates to establish radioactive waste disposal systems According to the model previously applied in Al-Amal National Hospital ».

Also in the health context, the Council decided to expedite the establishment of nuclear research centers to meet the requirements and needs of the aforementioned centers, from radioisotopes as well as radioactive iodine, and decided to exclude the process of importing radioactive materials and their systems from the routine procedures followed in the Kimadia Company, and hand them over to the entity Beneficiaries upon arrival at the border outlets, to avoid the damage caused by these procedures, as well as benefit from the support provided by the European Union, which will be supervised by the Ministry of Health, and provided for nuclear activities, in providing radiation systems and training of staff, as well as the Ministry of Health and Environment, and the governorates to take the necessary measures About the decisions above, it was also decided to open a special account to support cancer research centers.

And the approval of the Council of Ministers got the disbursement of an amount (Eidiya), amounting to (75,000), seventy-five thousand dinars, for the slice of the poor who fall under the umbrella of social welfare, on the occasion of the coming of Eid al-Adha, according to what was stated in the book of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs No. 1353 on July 26, 2020 The Council also decided; Amortization of debts owed by the families that benefit from the benefits of the social protection network, which number (17552) families from all governorates, according to the detail mentioned in the letter of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs No. 1392 on July 27, 2020.

The Cabinet approved the recommendations of the committee to resolve the subject of lecturers and employees to the temporary owners without the presence of an accompanying financial cover in connection with the letter of the Ministry of Planning numbered W / 1/2/493 on July 27, 2020, and decided to appoint graduates of medical colleges, with the Ministry of Health coordinating With the Ministry of Finance to implement this decision, a committee headed by the Minister of Planning and the membership of the Ministers of Finance and Health will be formed for the purpose of establishing mechanisms to provide allocations.

In the electricity file, the council approved the recommendation of the Ministerial Energy Council regarding the contract of the Ministry of Electricity with the Al-Aqsa Power Supply Company with a capacity of (200 MW), and on a line (132 KV), to Nineveh Governorate, for a period of three months starting from the date of issuing this decision, and from the allocations The Ministry of Oil, as the Council decided to refer the project of Al-Khairat Steam Station to the Hyundai company coalition, for its importance in producing electricity and ensuring the operation of the Karbala Refinery, and it was decided that the ministries, Finance, Electricity and Oil, determine a mechanism to secure 15 percent of the contract value, and considered it a condition of entry The loan is in effect ($ 225 million), only two hundred and twenty five million dollars.

Also at the session, the recommendation of the Ministerial Energy Council regarding the fracturing factor for the auxiliary factor (FCC) was approved, to develop the Basra Refinery according to the following: Approval of what was stated in the Ministry of Oil's book numbered with number / / 244, on July 27, 2020, regarding the fracturing project of the auxiliary factor (FCC) ) To develop the Basra Refinery, in accordance with the financial powers of the contract, with the commitment of the parties to the contract to the terms of the announced tender (ITB), prepared by the South Refineries Company and agreed with the Japanese JICA organization, and to approve the subject of operating the accompanying oxygen production plant in connection with the Ministry of Transport letter No. 1409 on June 30 2020.

The Council agreed to amend paragraph (I / 4) of Cabinet Resolution No. 453 of 2019, according to the following: For private sector goods, the General Authority of Customs must apply the provisions of Article (215) of the Customs Law No. 23 of 1984, and its amendments when Failure to submit the original list described in Article 27 of the aforementioned law, or to provide documents and documents in contravention of what is stipulated in Article (27 / Third), and the amount of the fine (750000, only seven hundred and fifty thousand dinars), for each document not certified by the authority The fundamentally competent, including the certificate of origin, or un-certified invoices.

The Council decided not to approve the approval of the Ministry of Agriculture for the specific specification of the previous agricultural season for the receipt of the barley crop, in order to give peasants and farmers enough time to pay attention to the qualitative specifications of the barley crop for the next season upon receipt to match the required standard, and to allow the export of barley crop through the private sector, as well as the adoption of the new standard For crops for the next year.

The Council of Ministers also granted the Minister of Finance the power to extinguish the late fines and land wages in Iraqi ports arising from the German Agency for International Cooperation, which amounts to (848686 dollars), only eight hundred and forty eight thousand six hundred and eighty six dollars, for the mechanisms provided by the said agency to the Ministry of Construction and Housing Municipalities and public works, based on the provisions of Law No. 14 of 1968, and Federal Financial Management Law No. 6 of 2019.

The Council decided to empower the Iraqi ambassador accredited to the United States of America to negotiate and sign a memorandum of understanding between the Government of the Republic of Iraq and the Hoover Institution - Stanford University, regarding the restoration of original Iraqi documents related to the period of the past regime.

On the other hand, Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi received, on Tuesday, the British ambassador to Baghdad, Stephen Hickey.

A statement of the Prime Minister's Information Office, which was received by Al-Sabah, stated that during the meeting, the course of bilateral relations between Iraq and the United Kingdom was discussed, and ways of developing them, and strengthening and enhancing joint cooperation in various fields.

The current situation, current developments in the region, issues of common concern, and security efforts to counter terrorism were also discussed in order to enhance security and stability in Iraq and the region. In addition to coordinating the effort with international organizations to support the Iraqi economy and government reforms in this field.   LINK

The Ministry Of Communications Is Preparing To Invest Optical Lines In The Country

Wednesday, July 29, 2020  462  Baghdad / Israa Samurai  The Ministry of Communications blamed the "market owners" for the reasons for the poor internet service, while stressing its readiness to invest in optical lines in the country.

The Director General of the General Company for Communications and Informatics at the Ministry, Basem Al-Asadi, told Al-Sabah that the weak internet service is due to dependence on the owners of the constellations in marketing the service in an incorrect way, by making more than one subscriber on the service links, which weakens their quality and makes them in constant fluctuation, noting that The Ministry is seeking to introduce the optical cable system into service by activating the work of its FTTH project in order to end the crisis of service degradation.

He pointed out that the ministry is preparing for the transitional stage, by converting the Internet service from "Wi-Fi" to the optical cable, and delivering a optical razor to every home, stressing that all preparations have been completed to announce investment projects in Baghdad and the provinces to activate the optical network system, pointing out that the country needs from 6 to 8 million FTTH lines, and what has already been accomplished is approximately 650,000 lines only due to the dominance of some of the implementing parties over the project in previous years in order not to introduce it to the service, because it is a beneficiary of the Wi-Fi project and the weak internet and controls the companies marketing the service.

Al-Asadi stated that after these political and government changes that have recently weakened their influence, especially after the significant support that the General Secretariat has provided to the project at the present time, this year will be a crucial year for the optical cable project and its implementation.

For his part, spokesperson for the National Internet Project and Earthworks company Mustafa Saadoun told «Al-Sabah» that there is no connection to the slow internet service with the 3G service, and that the information related to this is inaccurate.   LINK

Private Sector Federation and Economic Road Map

Wednesday, July 29, 2020  44  Baghdad / private  The voices calling for the unification of the private sector and for it to have a representative before public institutions and the international community rise to reflect the true picture of its performance, capabilities and extent of its effectiveness in changing the shape of the national economy towards a better stage that will be a first stop for the sustainable development train.

The first vice-president of the Baghdad Chamber of Commerce, Hikmat Al-Daqqaq stressed that "the importance of the private sector has a bloc bearing one of the names under which its umbrella meets all professional organizations and unions, to be chaired by a person known for his integrity and patriotism and who holds a road map that promotes the economy and represents the visions of local organizations to develop the reality of the labor market Patriotism. "

Uniting effort

The role of the private sector in reviving the economy is important and pivotal, but it needs him to move to the stage of uniting the effort and steer clear of the state of dispersion that he experienced during the past period. In front of the state institutions that wish to have a single body that represents the sector The private".

Proof of existence

He added that "the stage the country is going through requires proving the presence of the private sector, by creating effective and influential economic edifices in the development process, as it requires heading towards joint-stock companies with a positive impact on the economy, and is specialized and with great economic feasibility that benefits the local market and addresses a whole The problems that the country suffers from, and are established with private sector capital and the Rafidain and Rashid banks, the central bank and the pension fund contribute to it, as joint-stock companies can be established in the construction sectors and other in the food industries and a third in the agricultural sector and the idea can extend to The tourism sector. "

It is noteworthy that "the past decades witnessed the establishment of a number of joint-stock companies that achieved profits and fed the local markets with many important materials, but were affected by the reality of the situation And blinked. "

Federal budget

He pointed out "the importance of re-establishing joint-stock companies, as they provide the federal budget with the necessary financial resources and reduce waste in public money."

He stressed that "the private sector is able to achieve a multiplicity of financial resources, and this requires the initiation of a safe working environment that enhances the executive capabilities of companies and attracts more capital towards The Iraqi labor market. "   LINK

A Strategic Plan

Wednesday, July 29, 2020  50  Haider Kazem Al-Baghdadi  Everyone in the fields of economics is aware of the need to adopt a course of action that promotes the national economy, and is based on a systematic comprehensive strategic plan that takes into account the transition from one region to another after its full completion and implementation periods Selected.

Iraq is in urgent need to prepare for a broad stage of work based on the solidarity of the efforts of all public and private institutions, for everyone to contribute to an important stage in the history of the country, and we are preparing for a transition phase from regression and economic slack to the work stage The real serious.

We have a large volume of work in all regions of the country that can accommodate local, regional and international efforts, and thus the volume of work cannot be carried out randomly. Rather, it is necessary to organize the capabilities, classify sectors and their joints, and start from the important and gradually we reach the reconstruction train to all Stations.

The comprehensive strategic plan has become an important matter and we seek to develop the economy and achieve a multiplicity of resources by activating all sectors that can generate significant revenue, especially as Iraq has sectors that can be described as permanent and inexhaustible oil and feeds the general federal budget with the necessary funds, as we can create an economy Achieving development Sustainable.

There is no harm in being close to international planning mechanisms and benefiting from successful global experiences in the world, and here it is necessary to establish advanced planning centers that can be an international initiative by involving international planning experts in managing these centers, to achieve the results that we aspire to achieve in the coming years It can address chronic economic problems The country suffers.

Planning is one of the most important stages in building an effective economy at the level of the region and the world, especially in a country like Iraq that possesses a set of elements that are represented by natural and human resources that can be used to serve the economy, especially since global partnerships realize the importance of the Iraqi economy on the global workplace, and can be a partner Strategically achieved sustainable development.   LINK

Kuwaiti Security Forces Arrest An Iraqi Involved In Money Laundering Operations

Praatha News Agency138 2020-07-29  A Kuwaiti newspaper revealed the arrest of an Iraqi who was involved in money laundering operations inside Kuwaiti territories, noting that he lives in a fugitive house and has a wide network of relationships.

"Al-Qabas" newspaper, citing sources, reported that "the security services continued the process of arresting the accused and those involved in money laundering cases, and managed, on the evening of yesterday, to arrest an Iraqi resident, who lives in one of the luxury homes in the South Surra area, in addition to five citizens who manage auctions Electronic precious watches sale.

She added that "the State Security Agency continued to monitor and monitor the Iraqi accused for more than two weeks after receiving dangerous information about his criminal activity in money laundering, and it was found that he has a wide and complex network of relationships with various spectrums of society, participates in social occasions, and maintains in his diwaniya in the South Surra area annual events At a high level, some prominent figures are calling.

The newspaper continued, "Investigations are still ongoing with the accused, who turned out to have a passport (Article 17) even though he is Iraqi, noting that the accused has bloated financial accounts, suspicious financial transactions and astronomical numbers." Suspect

http://burathanews.com/arabic/news/373654

Oil Prices Are Stable Due To Concerns About Demand

Praatha News Agency102 2020-07-29  Oil prices stabilized on Wednesday, while a record increase in Corona injuries in some US states led to growing concerns about fuel demand in the world's largest crude consumer, erasing early gains in oil following a sudden drop in US crude stocks.

Brent crude futures rose three cents, or 0.1 percent, to $ 43.25 a barrel by 0529 GMT, after falling 0.4 percent on Tuesday.

US West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell six cents, 0.2 percent to $ 40.98 a barrel, and had lost 1.4 percent in the previous session.

Crude inventories in the United States fell by 6.8 million barrels last week to 531 million barrels, according to data from the American Petroleum Institute on Tuesday.

Analysts had expected an increase of 357 thousand barrels. US government data will be released on Wednesday.

But growing Covid-19 infections keep fears of low oil demand persisting, leading to market glut with the announcement of record numbers of coronavirus infections worldwide, including the United States, the largest consumer of crude.  http://burathanews.com/arabic/economic/373652

The Cabinet Secretariat Announces The Suspension Of Official Working Hours Next Week

Praatha News Agency225 2020-07-28  The General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers announced the suspension of official working hours in government institutions during the coming week on the occasion of the blessed Eid Al-Adha, coinciding with the rise in temperatures in countries that exceeded the fifty-degree Celsius mark.

The Secretariat of the Council of Ministers said in a statement that "the permanence of the suspension will be in line with the vacation approved by the Supreme Committee for Health and National Safety {Combating the Corona Virus Pandemic], which starts from next Thursday, July 30 and until August 8, 2020." Rolling Eyes

The Supreme Committee for Health and National Safety decided to impose a comprehensive curfew on the days of Eid Al-Adha, provided that the ban would be reviewed after the Eid holiday, while obliging citizens to follow all preventive measures.   http://burathanews.com/arabic/news/373617

The Suspension Of Official Working Hours In Kurdistan 5 Days, Starting From Friday

Time: 7/29/2020 15:36:24 Read: 1,443 times  {Baghdad: Al Furat News} The Kurdistan Regional Government announced today, Wednesday, a five-day official holiday, starting from 7-31-2020, and until Tuesday 4-8-2020.

A spokesman for the Kurdistan Regional Government, Gutiar Adel, said in a statement, that the holiday includes all official institutions in the Kurdistan region, where work will resume next Wednesday.

The statement called on citizens to adhere to preventive measures, during the holidays, to face the Corona pandemic.   LINK

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