"Tidbits From TNT" Sunday 3-3-2024

TNT:

Tishwash:  Parliament collects 150 signatures to pass the blocked laws

Although Parliament collected nearly 150 parliamentary signatures to put the stalled laws on the shelves for years, these efforts seem to clash with political consensus. 

Member of the Parliamentary Integrity Committee, Hamid Al-Shablawi, told “Al-Sabah”: “It is one of the most important legislations and laws that serve the country and segments of society and the return of state funds, in addition to those that limit corruption and enhance the role of supervisory authorities, including the state funds recovery law,” indicating that “ The Financial Supervision Law is an addition to these laws, as it allows the Financial Supervision Authority a broader scope of work.” 

Al-Shiblawi added, “The Council Presidency did not include important laws on the agenda, despite collecting signatures of up to 150,” expressing his hope that “the committee will take an active role in these legislations and within a broader course of oversight work.”

He explained, "Despite this, the hostilities continue at the level of ministers and general directors, and many large corruption files have been opened in the Integrity Committee pertaining to the Ministries of Electricity and Transport, the National Investment Authority, and files pertaining to the Ministries of Oil and Reconstruction and others."  link

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The International Monetary Fund praises the steps of the Central Bank of Iraq to support the economy

Experts from the International Monetary Fund mission praised the measures taken by the Central Bank of Iraq, which contributed to maintaining the stability of the Iraqi economy and working to raise its capabilities.

The mission said in the final statement on the sidelines of the meetings held in the Jordanian capital, Amman, that “growth in the non-oil sector returned strongly in 2023, with inflation receding. Growth in real non-oil GDP is estimated at 6 percent in 2023.

After declining in 2022, overall inflation declined from the high level it reached at 7.5 percent at the beginning of 2023, to 4 percent by the end of the same year, reflecting the decline in food and energy prices at the international level.”

The mission attributed these developments to “the return of trade financing operations to their normal course and the stability of the foreign exchange market.

After some interruptions occurred following the implementation of the new anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing controls on cross-border payments in November 2022, improved compliance with the new system, The Central Bank of Iraq’s initiatives to reduce transaction processing times have led to a recovery in trade financing in the second half of 2023. This has ensured that the private sector can obtain foreign currency at official rates for import and travel purposes.”

The mission welcomed "the initial steps taken towards establishing the Treasury Single Account (TSA), which is considered a critical tool for improving cash liquidity management."

The mission praised the efforts made by the Central Bank of Iraq aimed at getting rid of excess liquidity. The Central Bank increased the interest rate on monetary policy tools and raised mandatory reserve requirements, and also began issuing treasury bills with a maturity of 14 days last summer.

The Fund called for Supporting existing efforts by the Central Bank by consolidating unused government deposits in the unified treasury account, refraining from pro-cyclical financial policy, reducing reliance on monetary financing, and improving public debt management, noting the continuation of efforts aimed at establishing an interbank market with support. "From the technical assistance provided by the International Monetary Fund.

The mission also welcomes the steps taken by the authorities to accelerate the pace of digitalization of the economy, reduce dependence on cash and enhance financial inclusion."

 Central Bank of Iraq
Information Office
3 March 2024   link

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Tishwash:  Washington is deceiving... Iraq is moving internationally to expel its forces, and America is stalling again

 Efforts to remove American combat forces from Iraq collide with America's plan, through which it seeks to circumvent all meetings, statements and joint committees by imposing the agreement on a timetable extending for another five years, amid popular and political calls demanding the immediate exit of Washington's combat forces. 

As for the Iraqi government, it is counting on international pressure through global meetings and forums, the most recent of which is the Turkish Antalya Forum, in which Iraq discussed the necessity of completely removing foreign forces from Iraqi territory during the coming period, after the number of violations and indirect occupation constituted by the presence of these forces. 

*Procrastination and procrastination 

Speaking about this file, the State of Law Coalition describes America's efforts to set a 5-year timetable for the file of removing its forces from the country as procrastination and procrastination, while stressing that negotiations are not useful with Washington's malicious policies.  

Coalition member Ibrahim Al-Sakini said in an interview with the Maalouma Agency, “The diplomacy that Iraq pursued during the previous years led to the presence of thousands of American combat forces in the country,” noting that “talking about the exit of American forces Within five years is a joke on the chin.” .  

He continues, “One of the escalatory steps to prove the seriousness of the negotiation is closing the American embassy or the military barracks located in Baghdad,” pointing out that “Washington is exercising various types of blackmail against Iraq through the dollar issue, in order to continue its combat forces in the country."  

He added, "Washington is putting pressure on the country by seizing the money from the sale of oil in the Federal Bank in order to give up these national issues," noting that "America's effort to set a timetable extending to 5 years regarding the issue of removing American forces from the country is public procrastination and procrastination.”   

*Negotiating committees 

In addition, Member of Parliament Thaer al-Jubouri believes that forming joint committees with the United States of America will not achieve all goals, while he stressed that pressure through international meetings to remove American forces is important at this stage.  

Al-Jubouri said in an interview with the Maalouma Agency, “The support of some internal forces for the presence of American combat forces inside Iraq has weakened the position of other political forces towards expelling the occupation,” noting that “Washington is working to weaken Iraq’s combat capabilities in order to show weak protection for the country.”  

He continues, “The pretext of training and consultation is unrealistic compared to the large military presence inside Iraqi territory,” pointing out that “the scenario of negotiation and international pressure to remove Washington’s forces from the country requires greater and deeper efforts.”  

Al-Jubouri continues his speech: “Boasting about diplomacy with the United States of America are points of procrastination that are focused on in order to continue its presence in the military bases,” adding that “pressure through international meetings to remove American forces is important at this stage.” 

The American forces continue their field and military violations, in addition to controlling the Iraqi airspace and bombing security forces and civilians in a number of provinces, in addition to controlling armament contracts, and not allowing Iraq to develop the land, sea, and air military capabilities that it lacks as a result of American dominance over this file    link

Mot: ..... I Try!! -- I Really Do!!! --- BUT~~~~

Mot: Make Good Choices