Some “Iraq News” Posted by Clare at KTFA 2-5-2025
KTFA:
Clare: Prime Minister Approves New Date for Iraq Investment Forum
2/3/2025 Baghdad –
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani has approved a new date for the Iraq Investment Forum, scheduled to take place from April 12-13, 2025.
According to a letter from the Prime Minister's office, received by The Iraq News Agency-INA , "The Prime Minister's approval has been granted to hold the Iraq Investment Forum on April 12-13, 2025, for the necessary arrangements in light of the Prime Minister's approval." LINK
Clare: Iraq is heading to implement the first historical transfer operation through the international (TIR) system
2/5/2025 Baghdad-
The International Road Transport Union (IRU) announced during its visit last week that Iraq is heading towards implementing the first historic transport operation through the international road transport system (TIR).
The union stated in a statement, followed by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), that "a delegation from the International Road Transport Union (IRU) visited Iraq last week to lay the foundation for the first cross-border transport movement in the country within the international road transport system (TIR).
It explained that "Iraq is close to achieving a historic achievement in cross-border trade, as the first transport operation under the umbrella of the international road transport system is expected to take place soon, as this event represents a turning point for the country and a major step towards full integration into the recognized international system for customs transit."
It added that "during the past week, the International Road Transport Union (IRU) held key discussions with stakeholders in the public and private sectors, reinforcing Iraq's commitment to modernizing the trade sector and adopting international best practices."
It pointed out that "a specialized workshop was organized during the visit, focusing on the importance of international agreements of the United Nations, such as the TIR Convention and the European Convention on the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road. Experts highlighted the vital role of these agreements in simplifying cross-border trade, enhancing trade security, and reducing road accidents. Discussions also addressed the importance of professional excellence in the land transport sector and developing strong regulatory frameworks to support it."
The statement continued that "cooperation between the public and private sectors was one of the main themes of the meetings, as its essential role in achieving these goals was emphasized," noting that "effective coordination between government authorities and the private sector is a crucial factor in ensuring the smooth implementation of the TIR Convention and the European Convention on the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road, which enhances Iraq's position in regional and global trade."
It concluded that "as Iraq prepares for this achievement, it stands on the threshold of a new era in the field of transport and international trade, as it adopts global best practices to enhance efficiency, security, and economic growth." LINK
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Clare: Confirming Shafaq News news.. Al-Sudani calls on the State Administration Coalition to hold a meeting in Baghdad
2/5/2025
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani called on Wednesday for members of the State Administration Coalition to hold a meeting at the government palace next Saturday, February 8, 2025.
A statement issued by Al-Sudani's office explained that the latter's call for holding the meeting aims to "discuss the general situation in the country and examine a number of files at the national level."
The State Administration Coalition called for an emergency meeting next Saturday at the government palace in the capital, Baghdad, to discuss a group of "important" issues.
An informed source told Shafaq News Agency that the most important of these issues is the recent escalation against the Federal Court after it issued the federal order to stop the implementation of the three controversial laws.
The Iraqi political arena has witnessed rapid development since yesterday, Tuesday, after the Federal Court issued a judicial order to stop the implementation of the general amnesty laws, amend the Personal Status Law, and return the properties to their owners in Kirkuk.
This decision prompted the Sunni forces to escalate their stance against the court, as official work was suspended in three Sunni provinces in protest against the decision, amid hints of other escalatory steps such as withdrawing from parliament and the government, and organizing protest demonstrations, the beginnings of which began in the city of Mosul today.
In contrast, the Coordination Framework announced its support for the court’s procedures, stressing its constitutional right to monitor the laws.
It is noteworthy that this decision came after a number of representatives filed an appeal regarding the parliament’s collective voting on the laws, while observers are awaiting a final decision from the court in the coming weeks.
Earlier today, the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council issued a fatwa that it is not permissible to suspend the implementation of laws enacted by the House of Representatives before they are published in the Official Gazette, while it considered that the law amending the Personal Status Law and returning properties to their owners requires delaying the issuance of any decision related to them. It stressed that the courts in the country are obligated to implement the general amnesty law.
The "State Administration" coalition includes the Shiite parties (the Coordination Framework), the Sunni blocs (the Progress and Sovereignty Alliance), and the Kurdish parties (the Kurdistan Democratic Party, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan), and since its formation it has aimed to support a consensus government to ensure the stability of the political process and implement agreements between the political blocs. LINK
Clare: The Ministry of Commerce directed to expedite the completion of financial statements for budgets of previous years.
2/5/2025 Baghdad /
Minister of Trade Athir Dawood Al-Ghariri directed, today, Wednesday, the financial and budget departments to complete the financial data for the budgets of previous years and send them to the Financial Supervision Bureau for the purpose of approval and submission of comments, no later than the tenth of next May.
The ministry said in a statement that "Al-Ghariri stressed during an expanded meeting held in the presence of the general administrations of the grain trading and manufacturing companies, the administrations of the relevant departments, and a number of assistants to the general managers, the need to assume responsibility for preserving public money.
He pointed out that the approval of these budgets is an achievement that contributes to the return of entitlements as revenues to the general budget, in addition to limiting the companies' shares of their profits and the ministry's revenues.
The minister confirmed that the ministry has achieved a remarkable achievement by obtaining second place among government agencies in the file of combating corruption and integrity with a rate of 99.35%, which was not achieved in previous years, pointing to the adoption of the principle of reward and punishment in evaluating performance and not being lenient with the lazy who do not adhere to performance and implementation plans. LINK
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Clare: Trump Restores Tough Line on Iran—Includes Watch on Iraqi Banks, Gulf States Transshipment of Prohibited Goods
NSPM-2 directs the Secretary of State to “take immediate steps” to ensure Iran does not use Iraqi banks to evade sanctions or Gulf ports to transship prohibited goods.
WASHINGTON DC, United States (Kurdistan24) On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump revived the tough line toward Iran that he pursued during his first term in office.This was laid out most clearly in two documents released by the White House: “National Security Presidential Memorandum/NSPM-2” and “Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Restores Maximum Pressure on Iran.”NSPM-2 is addressed to 17 senior officials at 16 U.S. government agencies, including the State Department.
It contains four directions to the Secretary of State. One aims to prevent Iran from using the facilities of regional states to circumvent the renewed U.S. sanctions.
That direction has two parts. One part is to maintain a watchful eye on Iraq’s banking system, which Iran has used in the past to evade sanctions. The second part is to prevent Gulf countries from acting as transshipment routes for Iran’s import of prohibited goods.
Thus, NSPM-2 directs the Secretary of State to “take immediate steps in coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury and other relevant agencies to ensure that the Iraqi financial system is not utilized by Iran for sanctions evasion or circumvention and that Gulf countries are not used as sanctions evasion transshipment points.”
Iran as Major State Sponsor of Terrorism
The view of Iran, as expressed in NSPM-2, is the reverse of that held by the Biden administration, when it took office in January 2021. It believed then that U.S. pressure on Iran, which had been Trump’s policy, was a major source of regional instability. So, it adopted an accommodating position toward Tehran.
But that policy failed. There was no reduction in tensions, rather they increased, particularly after Hamas’s brutal Oct. 7, 2023, cross-border assault into Israel.
Eventually the Biden administration came around to the view that Iran was, indeed, an aggressive power. It posed a threat to the region and had to be contained, as President Joe Biden told Congress in his March 2024 State of the Union speech. LINK
