Iraqi News Early Friday AM 2-25-22
Iraqi News Early Friday AM 2-25-22
TLM724 Administrator BondLady’s Corner
The Iraqi government defends its white paper days before summoning the Minister of Finance to Parliament
Posted On2022-02-25 By Sotaliraq Friday - February 25, 2022 The outgoing Iraqi government, headed by Mustafa Al-Kazemi, defended the reform paper called the "White Paper", related to the economic sector, which it had previously presented to the political blocs and Parliament when the government was formed two years ago. Finance Minister Ali Abdul Amir Allawi said in a statement yesterday (Thursday) that "the White Paper plan and its projects represent the main pillar of economic reform in Iraq." The statement added that "Allawi, Vice Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Economic Reform in Iraq, chaired a meeting that included the undersecretaries of the various ministries in charge of the White Paper projects, in addition to the reform cell team charged with following up on the implementation of those projects."
Allawi indicated, according to the statement, that “the white paper plan and its projects represent the main pillar of economic reform in Iraq, as although it targets government performance, its effects extend to include the entire economy,” stressing that “the white paper is a vision presented by the current government and has begun to implement, which is It represents a road map for implementing reform for future governments because of their purely professional economic nature, and there must be a clear will to implement them.”
He also called for "the need to show sufficient professional flexibility to complete these projects in coordination between the various ministries involved in the implementation."
The meeting witnessed, according to the statement, "viewing the electronic program for measuring, evaluating and progressing performance for the levels of implementation of various projects, six months after the start of implementation, as the international support provided to Iraq for the implementation of these projects and the need for coordination between the various ministries, the reform cell and the international parties providing that support were discussed."
And the Iraqi Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kazemi, launched, since last August, the process of implementing the white paper, and supervised its follow-up and implementation.
The white paper for economic reform was part of the government program that Al-Kazemi presented to the political forces, and then it was approved by Parliament. Al-Kazemi announced at the time:
“We strongly aspire to restore the country’s economy to its strength after the situation reached very low levels as a result of rampant corruption,” noting that “this plan would rebuild the Iraqi economy in a proper manner that achieves sustainable development for the country.”
It is noteworthy that Finance Minister Ali Allawi refused, last week, an invitation to him to attend a session of a special committee in Parliament, headed by First Deputy Hakim Al-Zamili, and considered this in a strong letter to the Prime Minister that it was an unacceptable interference in government affairs.
While Allawi indicated that he was ready to put confidence in him in a formal session with a full quorum of members of Parliament, and at an invitation signed by the representatives, he confirmed that he would not attend the session called by Al-Zamili to discuss the issue of the dollar exchange rate.
Indeed, the Special Committee held a meeting attended by the Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq, Mustafa Ghalib, and a number of officials, in the absence of the Minister of Finance. In this context, the Presidency of Parliament sent an official invitation to Minister Allawi, signed by about 100 deputies, to the parliament dome, next week, to defend his view on the issue of the high dollar exchange rate and the white paper.
Allawi and a large number of Iraqi economic experts believe that raising the dollar exchange rate against the Iraqi dinar was and still is a sound economic measure that strengthened the balance of the foreign operation in the country, and stopped an imminent collapse in the economy that could have withdrawn due to the government’s inability to secure salaries. Baghdad: «Asharq Al-Awsat» LINK
Economist: The Rise In Oil Will Not Continue And Will Return Slightly Above Its Normal Levels
Economie Friday, February 25 2022 4:38 PM Special / National News Center The economist, Basil Al-Obaidi, revealed, on Friday, that the oil price war is not reliable and will not last more than a month or two.
Al-Obaidi said, in a statement to the National Center Agency, that "the global economy is largely dependent on Russian and Ukrainian oil and gas, and therefore it is not in the interest of these countries to push for a prolongation of the war between the two sides, especially the countries of Europe and some African countries."
He pointed out that "the rise in oil prices will not serve Iraq much because it is a matter of time, and therefore the economic management needs successful tools to reap the largest amount of benefits during the temporary rise phase."
He pointed out that "the war of the Russians and Ukraine will have one benefit at the global economic level, which is the rise in oil prices slightly above normal, since most countries will start storing the largest amount of oil as a strategic stockpile." https://nnciraq.com/114691/
A New Jump In Oil Prices, And Brent Records 101.80 Dollars A Barrel
Economie| 08:53 - 25/02/2022 Follow-up - Mawazine News: Oil prices recorded, on Friday, a new jump of about 3 percent, as the Russian invasion of Ukraine fueled global supply fears as markets prepared for the potential impact of trade sanctions on crude oil exporter Russia.
Global benchmark Brent crude rose $2.72, or 2.75%, to $101.80 a barrel, after rising to a high of $101.87.
US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude touched a high of $95.64, and it last rose $2.70, or 2.9%, to $95.51 a barrel. Ended 29/A4 https://www.mawazin.net/Details.aspx?jimare=185646
UN Blackshart: The Iraqis Are Looking To Form Their New Government
Thursday 24 , February 2022 18:17 | political Number of readings: 35 Baghdad / NINA /- The representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Iraq, Jeanine Plasschaert, said that the Iraqis are looking forward to forming their new government. She added in her briefing before the Security Council that the Iraqi leaders must overcome their political divisions.
She stressed the importance of dialogue between Baghdad and Erbil to end outstanding problems.
She explained that Iraq is facing a fragile situation due to the scarcity of water and the lack of arable land./End https://ninanews.com/Website/News/Details?key=958948
Iraq To The United Nations: We Look Forward To A Bigger Role In The Reconstruction Of Infrastructure And The Return Of The Displaced
Political | 05:55 - 25/02/2022 Baghdad - Mawazine News Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein met on Friday with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the United Nations headquarters in New York, to discuss the latest developments in Iraq and the region.
A statement by the ministry stated that Mawazine News received a copy of it, that the minister expressed Iraq’s thanks to the United Nations for its support in various fields, the efforts of the United Nations mission in Baghdad, and the assistance it provides to displaced families in cooperation with international organizations to provide the necessary necessities to enhance security and stability for Iraq, adding : We look forward to a greater role for the United Nations in the efforts to rebuild the infrastructure of Iraqi cities, and for the return of the displaced to their areas of residence.
Hussein praised the role of the United Nations and the Security Council in supporting the electoral process in Iraq, noting that political forces are intensifying their dialogues; To form the new government and provide the necessary atmosphere to preserve constitutional timings, referring to the Federal Supreme Court’s approval of the final results of the Iraqi parliament elections for the year 2021, and its decision on the constitutionality of the first session of the Iraqi parliament, which was held on December 9, 2022, which led to the election of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and his deputies.
The Minister touched on Iraq's relations with neighboring countries as well as the Arab Gulf states, and stressed that Iraq's current policy is based on the principle of dialogue, communication, building good and balanced relations to solve outstanding problems, and avoiding the use of force; Because it complicates solutions and threatens regional security.
For his part, the Secretary-General of the United Nations congratulated Iraq, "We congratulate you for the Security Council's adoption of Resolution No. 2621 on February 22, 2022 and the unanimous vote on the resolution."
Antonio Guterres affirmed: We are committed to full support for Iraq, and we highly value its role in building bridges between the surrounding regional countries and gathering opposites at one table, as he did at the Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership. He hoped that the Iraqi government would continue this fruitful foreign policy and create an atmosphere of dialogue between countries. And for Iraq to exercise this pivotal role in the region.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Secretary-General of the United Nations expressed his strong desire to visit Iraq.
For his part, the Minister expressed his happiness to receive the Secretary-General in Baghdad and to inform himself of the situation in Iraq and the changes that have taken place, and he is fully welcomed by the Iraqi people. Ended 29/R77 https://www.mawazin.net/Details.aspx?jimare=185687
To read more current and reliable Iraqi news please visit BondLady’s Corner: