"Saturday News" Posted by Samson at KTFA 8-15-2020
.KTFA:
Samson: Qatar is the richest country in the world, Burundi is bottom and Iraq ranked 82nd
15th August, 2020
The "Global Finance" magazine, which is specialized in classifying the countries of the world, revealed that Qatar ranked first in the world in the richest countries in the world, while Burundi ranked 82nd among these countries
The magazine said in a report published on its website for the year 2020 and seen by "Al-Eqtisad News", that "Qatar ranked first out of the 191 countries listed in the list of the richest countries in the world, with the per capita income of GDP amounting to 132,886 dollars, followed by Macau and an income of 114,363 dollars. , Followed by Luxembourg with an income of 108.951 dollars, followed by Singapore ranked fourth, "noting that" the country of Burundi in Africa is among the top countries, where the per capita income of GDP reached 727 dollars, preceded by the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, respectively
And she added, "Iraq is ranked 82nd in the world in the richest countries in the world and the seventh in the Arab world, preceded by Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman
KTFA:
Samson: Qatar is the richest country in the world, Burundi is bottom and Iraq ranked 82nd
15th August, 2020
The "Global Finance" magazine, which is specialized in classifying the countries of the world, revealed that Qatar ranked first in the world in the richest countries in the world, while Burundi ranked 82nd among these countries
The magazine said in a report published on its website for the year 2020 and seen by "Al-Eqtisad News", that "Qatar ranked first out of the 191 countries listed in the list of the richest countries in the world, with the per capita income of GDP amounting to 132,886 dollars, followed by Macau and an income of 114,363 dollars. , Followed by Luxembourg with an income of 108.951 dollars, followed by Singapore ranked fourth, "noting that" the country of Burundi in Africa is among the top countries, where the per capita income of GDP reached 727 dollars, preceded by the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, respectively
And she added, "Iraq is ranked 82nd in the world in the richest countries in the world and the seventh in the Arab world, preceded by Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman
She pointed out that "the gross domestic product of a country is the total of all goods and services that a country produces within one year, and therefore it is assumed that the richest countries are exactly the ones that have the largest GDP, such as the United States, China, Japan, Germany, but these Countries have a large population density, and therefore the per capita income will be low compared to other countries such as Qatar and Luxembourg, which have less population LINK
Samson: MP: Al-Kazemi's visit to Washington is an important shift in bilateral relations
15th August, 2020
The Iraqi coalition stressed, on Saturday, the importance of the visit of the Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kazemi, to the United States of America, which brought it back with the important shift in bilateral relations.
"The relationship with the United States of America must be balanced and based on respect for the country's sovereignty and the will of the people," said a member of the coalition, Representative Hassan Fadam, in an interview reported by the Iraqi News Agency, stressing that "the importance of Iraq taking its mediating role and not being counted on the axis."
Fadam added, "The United States is an important country in the world, and it has great economic, military, security, cultural and scientific capabilities, and it can help Iraq to get out of its great crises and the challenges it faces in building its institutions." Iraqi".
He pointed out, "The presence of great obligations for the United States towards Iraq, these obligations were not in accordance with what was agreed upon between the two countries," stressing that "all the Iraqi people and political forces seek for Iraq to be an important pivotal country in the Middle East that has good relations with Everyone, and that Iraq should not be a point of conflict, but rather a point of meeting and dialogue between the different."
On the twentieth of this month, Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi will conduct an official visit to the United States of America, at the head of a government delegation, upon an official invitation. LINK
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Samson: Iraqi MP: Arabs will normalize with Israel
15th August, 2020
On Saturday, a member of the Iraqi parliament, Fayeq Sheikh Ali, expected the normalization between all Arab countries and Israel.
Sheikh Ali tweeted that "in the middle of the twentieth century all Arabs are against Israel, and the word" normalization "does not exist in their dictionary."
He added that normalization entered Arab politics after the Camp David Accords in 1978, and increased in the 1990s in Oslo and Wadi Araba.
Sheikh Ali added, "So the Arabs were divided between normalizers and resistance fighters, adding that, “few years later, you will not find the word" resistance "on the Arabs’ street.” LINK
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Samson: China intends to test the digital currency in a number of regions of the country
15th August, 2020
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce said, on Friday, that China will work to test the digital renminbi in some selected regions across the country.
According to a circular posted on the ministry's website, the digital RMB will be piloted in the Beijing region, Tianjin and Hebei, the Yangtze River Delta, the Guangdong Bay region, Hong Kong and Macao, and some locations in central and western China.
The People's Bank of China, the country's central bank, will set relevant policies and procedures.
The circular said the cities of Shenzhen, Chengdu and Suzhou, as well as the Xiongan New District, will assist in the trial operation, which will be expanded, as appropriate, to other regions in China. LINK
Samson: Trump: The Iranian oil seized on its way to Texas amounted to more than one million barrels
15th August, 2020
US President Donald Trump said, Saturday, August 15, 2020, that the confiscated Iranian oil shipments are on their way to Houston, Texas, where there is a large fuel shipment center, and indicated that they may have already arrived there, adding that Iran should not send Shipments to Venezuela.
Trump said in a press conference at the White House that the shipments are on the way to Houston, adding: We are transporting them, and they have been transferred, to Houston.
The Ministry of Justice said in a statement: With the help of foreign partners, the confiscated shipment is now in the custody of the United States, noting that the total shipments amount to about 1.116 million barrels of petroleum products, making it the largest US seizure of Iranian fuel ever.
The US State Department attributed the credit to its special envoy to Iran, the outgoing, in the process of controlling the shipments, and said in a statement: Our diplomacy, led by the Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook, was able to stop these shipments and assist the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security in the implementation of the US detention order.
Neither the Ministry of Justice nor the State Department specified when, where, or how the confiscation took place, and the State Department also did not reveal the steps that Hook, whose resignation was announced last week, had taken to secure the confiscation.
The Wall Street Journal said that US threats of legal action and sanctions have forced the owners of the Greek ship to deliver Iranian fuel to the US government in recent days.
The report, quoting people familiar with the confiscation, said that the operation took place in international waters without the actual presence of any US authorities or the assistance of any foreign government. The newspaper added that Venezuela has already paid for the fuel, so Iran will not lose any revenue from the seizure.
And Washington imposed sanctions on the two countries to stifle their oil exports and deprive them of the main source of revenue, as part of its efforts to overthrow Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and change the behavior of the Iranian government.
On Friday, August 14, 2020, the United States confiscated four Iranian fuel shipments en route to Venezuela, as an important supply line for both Caracas and Tehran was disrupted as they defied US sanctions, according to Reuters. LINK
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Samson: Pompeo: The Proceeds Of Iran's Tankers May Be Paid As Compensation To The Victims Of Its Terrorism
15th August, 2020
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the proceeds of Iranian gasoline seized from oil tankers destined for Venezuela could be paid as compensation to the American victims of Iranian state terrorism.
This came after the US Department of Justice confirmed that it had confiscated shipments of four oil tankers, Luna, Pandey, Bering and Bella, in recent days for violating US sanctions.
On Friday, US President Donald Trump said in his White House press briefing that the seized tankers would be sent to Houston.
The seized tankers were bound to Venezuela with 1.1 million barrels of Iranian gasoline, but Iran denied the allegations, saying that the United States intended to launch a "psychological war".
Pompeo asserted that if petrol revenues were confiscated in US courts, they could go to the US state's victims of terrorism fund "instead of the hands of terrorists."
According to the US Department of Justice, the shipments were intercepted on Wednesday, based on an order issued by a US District Court regarding a July 2 complaint requesting the confiscation of all petroleum products on board the said ships. LINK
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Samson: Indonesia expects a strong economic recovery with a record high government spending
14th August, 2020
Indonesia expects the economy to recover at a strong pace from the shock of the Corona epidemic over the next year, with government spending rising to a record high
President "Joko Widodo" said in his annual budget address on Friday that the gross domestic product is expected to grow by between 4.5 percent to 5.5 percent next year
Southeast Asia's largest economy is suffering from its worst crisis in more than two decades after shrinking by about 5.3 percent in the second quarter of 2020, as movement restrictions imposed to combat the epidemic and declining global demand have caused unrest among families and companies
The government lowered estimates of Indonesia's economy this year, ranging from growth of 0.2 percent to a contraction of 1.1 percent
The Indonesian president added that the government expects spending to rise 0.3 percent to 2747.5 trillion ($ 185.2 billion), the highest level ever, next year, while revenues are expected to rise 4.5 percent to 1776.4 trillion rupees
Widodo indicated that the fiscal deficit from GDP is expected to narrow to 5.5 percent from 6.34 percent this year. He explained that he intends to request the central bank's help in financing the budget deficit as it seeks to revive an economy suffering from the Corona epidemic LINK
KTFA Members "Friday News" 8-14-2020
.KTFA:
Samson: Kushner expects another Arab country to follow in the UAE’s footsteps soon
09:47 - 14/08/2020
The US President’s advisor and son-in-law Jared Kushner expected that Israel and another Arab country would announce the normalization of relations between them in the foreseeable future, similar to the agreement concluded between Israel and the UAE.
When asked about the possibility of concluding a deal similar to the Israeli-Emirati agreement in a period before the American presidential elections, Kushner, who is in charge of the file of the Middle East peace process, told reporters on Thursday: "I think there is a very high possibility" to achieve this.
And he considered that the deal between Israel and the UAE "melted the ice between the two countries," and added, "We hope to see other countries do the same."
KTFA:
Samson: Kushner expects another Arab country to follow in the UAE’s footsteps soon
09:47 - 14/08/2020
The US President’s advisor and son-in-law Jared Kushner expected that Israel and another Arab country would announce the normalization of relations between them in the foreseeable future, similar to the agreement concluded between Israel and the UAE.
When asked about the possibility of concluding a deal similar to the Israeli-Emirati agreement in a period before the American presidential elections, Kushner, who is in charge of the file of the Middle East peace process, told reporters on Thursday: "I think there is a very high possibility" to achieve this.
And he considered that the deal between Israel and the UAE "melted the ice between the two countries," and added, "We hope to see other countries do the same."
He added that the United States was engaged in talks on normalization with several other countries, but it suspended it when there was progress in the negotiations with the UAE, and decided to focus on this path and complete it first. He said, "We have other countries that we discussed with, and now we will continue these discussions."
For his part, Trump's National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien stressed that there are “other countries ready” to follow in the footsteps of the UAE. The UAE will become the third Arab country after Egypt and Jordan to establish full diplomatic relations with Israel. LINK
Samson: Al-Sisi: The Agreement Of The UAE, Israel And America Will Contribute To The Stability Of The Region
13th August, 2020
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi confirmed, today, Thursday, that he followed “with great interest and appreciation” the tripartite joint statement between the UAE, Israel and the United States.
Al-Sisi wrote on his Twitter account: “I have followed with great interest and appreciation the tripartite joint statement between the United States of America, the sisterly United Arab Emirates and Israel regarding the agreement to stop Israel's annexation of the Palestinian territories and take steps to bring peace to the Middle East.” He added, "I also value the efforts of those in charge of this agreement in order to achieve prosperity and stability for our region."
In turn, the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, considered in a tweet on his account on “Twitter” that “the decision of the UAE and Israel to normalize relations is very good news. I was very hopeful that the annexation of the West Bank would not proceed, and today's agreement to suspend these plans is a welcome step towards a more peaceful Middle East.”
The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, announced Thursday that his country had agreed with Israel to "lay down a roadmap towards the launch of joint cooperation, leading to bilateral relations." He added in a tweet on his Twitter account that he had agreed during a phone call today with US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “stop Israel's annexation of the Palestinian territories,” which was confirmed by a joint statement issued by the three parties. LINK
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Samson: Many countries in the region to follow the example of Abu Dhabi
14th August, 2020
A "historic" agreement announced by US President Donald Trump, on Thursday, between the UAE and Israel.
The agreement, which will be known as the "Abraham accords Agreement", is considered the first of its kind since Israel and Jordan signed a peace treaty in 1994, and among its most prominent provisions is Israel's agreement to suspend the extension of its sovereignty over areas of the West Bank that it was considering annexing.
Observers believe that the Emirati move will encourage many countries in the region to follow the example of Abu Dhabi and conclude similar agreements with Israel in the near future. "The countries of Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and perhaps one day Iraq will go towards peace with Israel," said Richard Goldberg, a senior adviser at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. According to the American Al-Hurra channel.
"There should have been a first country, thanks to the UAE for its courage to move forward towards a peace agreement with the Israelis," Goldberg added. He continues, "The Middle East region is developing politically and economically, and there are new threats, including Iran, and many reasons make the countries of the region decide to make peace with Israel for the future of their people."
The UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash considered the agreement to normalize relations reached by his country with Israel as a "bold step to ensure a two-state solution."
A joint statement was issued by the United States of America, Israel and the United Arab Emirates, stating that the agreement provides for "the conduct of full bilateral relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates."
Middle East researcher Rawan Manjoula believes that the Emirati move will encourage all Gulf Cooperation Council states to normalize with Israel. "We will witness more similar agreements, whether with all of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, which will be attached to the Emirates in addition to Sudan," said Rajoula, who lives in Virginia.
The joint statement issued by the United States, the UAE and Israel indicated that delegations would meet in the coming weeks to sign agreements on direct flights, security, communications, energy, tourism and health care. The two countries will also participate in the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic.
This announcement makes the UAE the first Arab Gulf state to do so and the third Arab country to establish active diplomatic relations with Israel, after Egypt and Jordan.
Egypt had concluded a peace agreement with Israel in 1979, followed by Jordan in 1994. Mauritania recognized Israel in 1999, but later cut ties with it in 2009 because of the war on Gaza at the time.
As for Israel, the announcement comes after years of Netanyahu proud of his government enjoying closer ties with Arab countries than it has openly recognized. LINK
Samson: Oman welcomes the UAE-Israel agreement
14th August, 2020
The Sultanate of Oman announced today, Friday, its support for the tripartite agreement that was announced yesterday between the UAE, Israel and the United States, describing it as a "historic declaration."
An official spokesperson for the Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs “expressed the Sultanate’s support for the UAE’s decision regarding relations with Israel.”
The Omani Foreign Ministry spokesperson also expressed - according to the official Oman News Agency - his hope that this decision will contribute to achieving comprehensive peace in the Middle East, in a way that serves the aspirations of the peoples of the region in the sustainability of security and stability.
The agreement, which will be known as the "Abraham accords” Agreement, is considered the first of its kind since Israel and Jordan signed a peace treaty in 1994.
The accords most ”prominent” provision is Israel's agreement to suspend the extension of its sovereignty over areas of the West Bank that it was considering annexing.
Observers believe that the Emirati move will encourage many countries in the region to follow the example of Abu Dhabi and conclude similar agreements with Israel in the near future. LINK
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Don961: Are the US and Iran talking behind the scenes?
IranSource by Sina Toossi
IranMiddle EastPolitics & Diplomacy
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo leaves Rayburn Building after testifying during the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing titled 'Evaluating the Trump Administration's Policies on Iran, Iraq and the Use of Force,' on Friday, February 28, 2020. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Sipa USA)
“I think Iran and [Donald] Trump are close to a win-win agreement,” veteran Iranian journalist and BBC Persian correspondent Masoud Behnoud recently tweeted on August 8. “Trump has a failed record on foreign policy and will give concessions on the eve of the election. Iran also wants rewards for its patience, especially its patience in the face of the recent explosions.”
Behnoud’s striking prediction comes amid a swirl of rumors about ongoing diplomatic backchannels between the United States and Iran. This includes reports from different Iranian outlets and statements by Iranian officials suggesting significant sanctions relief on the horizon. While some of these rumors appear outlandish, there is a consistency among various reports that warrants giving them attention, even if they may simply be aimed at meeting the objectives of political and economic interests in Iran. It’s worth noting that there is no firm evidence of US-Iran dialogue to date.
Sources in Iran allude to US-Iran talks
An initial wave of speculation was set off on August 6 by President Hassan Rouhani’s chief of staff Mahmoud Vaezi during his visit to an automobile manufacturing plant. Vaezi said that sanctions on Iran would be eased soon: “With the signals that we have received from European and Asian countries and others, we are in the final days of sanctions. This is because the sanctioning country has reached none of its political, economic, social, and security goals.” Vaezi added that the situation in Iran would be better in the coming months.
Vaezi’s comment left many wondering how sanctions could be eased during current circumstances. There have been no formal US-Iran negotiations and the Trump administration is pushing hard to renew a United Nations (UN) conventional arms embargo on Iran. If that fails, the Trump administration has said the US will attempt to snapback punitive UN sanctions on Iran.
However, a few days after Vaezi’s remarks, the top Rouhani administration media outlet, the Iran newspaper, ran a story about an alleged backchannel for US-Iran negotiations. The paper referenced a report in the Lebanese newspaper el Nashra, citing an anonymous source that said that Germany has been mediating between the US and Iran. Curiously, no such report exists on the el Nashra website, but according to the Iran newspaper’s account, the talks are at an “advanced” stage and “concluding.” The report recalls the Omani backchannel that jumpstarted bilateral US-Iran negotiations during the Barack Obama presidency, which eventually led to the P5+1 talks that agreed upon the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Iran newspaper’s report further explained: “Everyone will deny these negotiations and this is what happened in the past.” The paper adds that regional tensions between the US and Iran will increase as each side seeks to increase its leverage for “final negotiations.” It then cites recent comments by President Trump saying that he would reach a deal with Iran in “four weeks” if reelected and mentions Vaezi’s comments on looming sanctions relief.
The next report that added to a flurry of speculation came from Iranian state media outlet Iranian Labor News Agency (ILNA). This report also cites an anonymous source and similarly discusses a German-led effort to facilitate US-Iran diplomacy. ILNA says that Germany has teamed up with the United Kingdom to offer a proposal where the Trump administration would waive “non-targeted sanctions” against Iran upfront, implying broad sanctions relief. There would then be negotiations on issues “relevant to the US and Iran” and between Tehran and Saudi Arabia.
ILNA’s source further states: “To show goodwill and return to the 2015 agreement, these non-targeted sanctions will be temporarily waived and, if the result is positive, their lifting will be permanent.” They added that the US will review this issue in eight to ten days.
The ILNA report immediately caused a stir on Iranian social media. However, soon after it was published, the Iranian foreign ministry’s spokesperson Abbas Mousavi dismissed rumors. Mousavi said it is “not unlikely that the defeat of US sanctions on Iran is the subject of quarrelling between the US and Europe.” But, he said, the US must lift all the “illegal and oppressive” sanctions it imposed after withdrawing from the JCPOA—Iran’s longstanding demand of the Trump administration.
Interestingly, ILNA ran a follow-up report citing another anonymous official. This official said that there have been no negotiations between Iran and the US or Europe on lifting sanctions. The official went on: “The Europeans cannot carry messages or proposals to other countries without getting the consent of Iran.”
The context of the rumors
The reports from the Iranian outlets also come amid other potential signs of shuttle diplomacy regarding Iran. On August 11, German Foreign Minister Heiko Mass traveled to Moscow and met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Amid rampant speculation about a German channel to decrease US-Iran tensions, Maas and Lavrov discussed efforts to “preserve the JCPOA.” At a joint press conference with Maas, Lavrov said that European countries have offered “ideas” on how to save the deal and Moscow has introduced its own “proposal that can help with the resumption of cooperation among the JCPOA member states.”
On July 21, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also travelled to Moscow and met with Lavrov. Zarif delivered a “special” letter from President Rouhani to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, which was later confirmed to be about the JCPOA and the UN arms embargo issue. After Zarif’s trip to Moscow, President Trump had a phone call with Putin on July 23. According to the Kremlin readout, the call was primarily about strategic stability and arms control issues as well as Iran’s nuclear program. Weeks later, on August 6, the State Department’s Iran envoy Brian Hook announced his sudden resignation on the eve of the US push to extend the UN arms embargo.
On the Iranian domestic politics front, there are also signs of renewed high-level debate on whether Iran should engage the Trump administration. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has consistently opposed any new talks with the US, while Rouhani has been more conciliatory at times and contends a deal was close in 2019 during the UN General Assembly. Back then, Rouhani agreed to a four-point proposal by French President Emmanuel Macron to lift US sanctions on Iran.
Recently, Khamenei gave a speech where he voiced opposition to negotiations with the US again, declaring: “I have said the reason for not negotiating with the US many times, but some [domestically] either don’t understand or pretend to not understand.”
Khamenei further exclaimed that US “propaganda” says that “if you want sanctions to go away, make concessions, stop being steadfast.” He added: “Unfortunately, some domestically repeat this wrong solution [to overcoming sanctions].”
Khamenei’s public remarks suggest increased pressure on him to accede to new negotiations with the United States. The aforementioned reports could be part of an effort to build up public expectations and elicit flexibility from Khamenei. In the lead up to Obama-era nuclear negotiations, it took intense domestic maneuvering from Rouhani and his allies to bring Khamenei onboard with negotiations and convince him to demonstrate “heroic flexibility.” Alternatively, these reports could also be aimed at stabilizing the rapidly fluctuating Iranian currency, the rial, which has in fact strengthened against the dollar in recent days.
How badly does Trump want a deal?
The rumors of a potential US-Iran backchannel also begs the question of whether Trump would really be willing to offer Iran tangible concessions before the November presidential election. As BBC Persian’s Behnoud notes, Trump has no foreign policy victories to his name. He did, however, play a role in the UAE and Israel moving to normalize relations. But this is unlikely to be viewed by voters as a major achievement, with many analysts describing it as more of a symbolic unveiling of a relationship that has deepened over the years. A deal with a decades-long adversary Iran could help Trump solidify his self-avowed deal-making credentials in a combative presidential campaign. At the same time, however, it could cost him dearly with evangelicals and conservative donors.
If Trump’s former national security advisor John Bolton is to be believed, political constraints are the major factor holding Trump back from a deal with Iran. But for Iran, it is a different story. Iran has already weathered the worst of US economic pressure and faces the prospect of Trump losing to former Vice President Joe Biden, who has committed to returning to the JCPOA. With Trump behind in the polls, Tehran has little incentive to boost his campaign by agreeing to a deal or photo-op so close to the US election in November.
If there is an ongoing US-Iran backchannel, it may be similar to the one Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama conducted via Oman late in the term of former hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Those talks laid the groundwork for rapid diplomatic progress after Rouhani was inaugurated in 2013.
Trump has said four times in the past week that he could reach a deal with Iran weeks after winning reelection. He could be hoping for similar results.
Sina Toossi is a senior research analyst at the National Iranian American Council (NIAC). Follow him on Twitter: @SinaToossi. link
MilitiaMan and KTFA Members "News and Views" Thursday 8-13-2020
.KTFA:
MilitiaMan: It is not only about Iraq. The brick thrown into the pond has bigger effects than a pebble...That is to be considered at this stage.
As Petra and I have talked about. The effects of RI's are global and will need the facilities that are in place to adjust accordingly by the rise in the tide..
All boats rise and fall with the tide. Some that are not tied down properly will not fair so well..
Those that are tied sternly to the bollard, will fair very well to the ebb and flow.. A good thing for us. As we have been secured to the deck of the back bone of the USA.. imo! ~ MM
Don961: What are the dimensions of the Iraqi prime minister's visit to Washington?
- 3 Days Ago
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi is preparing for a visit expected next weekend to Washington
KTFA:
MilitiaMan: It is not only about Iraq. The brick thrown into the pond has bigger effects than a pebble...That is to be considered at this stage.
As Petra and I have talked about. The effects of RI's are global and will need the facilities that are in place to adjust accordingly by the rise in the tide..
All boats rise and fall with the tide. Some that are not tied down properly will not fair so well..
Those that are tied sternly to the bollard, will fair very well to the ebb and flow.. A good thing for us. As we have been secured to the deck of the back bone of the USA.. imo! ~ MM
Don961: What are the dimensions of the Iraqi prime minister's visit to Washington?
- 3 Days Ago
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi is preparing for a visit expected next weekend to Washington, in conjunction with an atmosphere of tension and ambiguity that prevails between the two countries, specifically with regard to the US military presence, while observers are likely to top the issue of Iranian influence in Iraq the scene of the talks between the two parties.
A White House statement stated that US President Donald Trump will receive the Iraqi Prime Minister on August 20 to discuss the challenges resulting from the Corona virus epidemic, security, energy and economic issues.
A critical stage
Perhaps the White House’s description of the visit as coming at a critical stage for the United States and Iraq alike, gives the impression that the decision-maker in Washington is seeking to find a decisive solution to the problem of the armed factions loyal to Iran in Iraq, where observers see that this appears as a condition of Washington in providing Support for Iraq, but at the same time it puts Al-Kazemi in front of major challenges that he may not be able to overcome, but another hypothesis indicated by observers is that the role of Al-Kazemi may not deviate from the framework of transmitting messages between Washington and Tehran, in an attempt to formulate understandings between the two parties that may include formulating a type From the settlement inside Iraq.
In the same context, professor of political science at the University of Baghdad, Iyad Al-Anbar, identifies two tracks for the upcoming meeting between Al-Kazemi and Trump. The first is that the Iraqi Prime Minister unilaterally conducts a serious dialogue with Washington to resolve the main files, and gives the impression of the American decision-maker that he is a strong and reliable partner. The second track is for Al-Kazemi to be satisfied with the task of receiving messages, and it is likely that the second track will be the closest.
Al-Ambar believes that “the purpose of the visit to Washington is not only related to the talks between the two parties within the framework of strategic dialogues. Rather, the American president would like to discuss ways to weaken Iran in the region before the next US elections,” noting that “Washington realizes that the dismantling of Iranian influence in the Middle East must To start with Iraq, which was the starting point for the growth of this influence from the ground up.
Al-Ambar added to "The Independent Arabia": "The American administration wants to know the extent of Al-Kazemi's ability and willingness to manage the file of the conflict with the armed factions, which seems even without a road map to resolve all these problems."
Concerning the connection of the early elections file with that visit, Amber notes that “setting the date for elections by Al-Kazemi was an attempt to evade other obligations related to holding the protesters’ killers accountable and restricting weapons to the state’s hands, which might give Washington the impression that Al-Kazemi does not have a vision to resolve these problems. ”
New relationship boundaries
Observers believe that although Al-Kazemi does not intend to enter into an axis hostile to Iran, but he is moving towards trying to draw new boundaries for the relationship with it, and to reinforce the perception that Tehran's interests in the country are linked to a strong Iraq that is open to the international community, but this matter may collide with the desire of the armed factions. Want to enter as an actor in managing Iraq's external relations.
Despite the Iranian conviction to give Al-Kazemi a chance, the armed factions continue to hint at the issue of revenge for the assassination of the Iranian Quds Force commander, Qassem Soleimani, and the deputy head of the Popular Mobilization Authority, Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis, in the face of Al-Kazemi, which observers see as part of the carrot and stick game practiced by Tehran.
The writer and journalist Ahmed Hussein says that "the attempt to open up to the Gulf, even if it was limited to cooperation in the energy file, struck a warning bell in Tehran about the possibility that Iraq will give up part of the understandings with it in this context."
Hussein added to "The Independent Arabia": "Despite Iran's understanding of a new approach in Iraq, it will continue to press through its allies regarding the American presence." It is likely that Tehran will use the constant threat to remove the American forces to obstruct Al-Kazemi's efforts to formulate understandings with Washington that may. Affect their interests.
Conditions for accepting the results of the negotiations
Although the first round of dialogues resulted in an agreement to reduce the number of American forces in the country and respect the decisions of the Iraqi parliament, the armed factions loyal to Iran seem insistent on including the scheduling of the withdrawal of US forces as a prerequisite for accepting the results of any negotiations between the two sides.
In conjunction with the announcement of the date of Al-Kazemi's visit to Washington, the leader of the "Asaib Ahl al-Haq" movement, Qais Khazali, in a televised speech, linked the demilitarization of cities and the removal of American forces from the country.
Khazali continued, "We pledge to the leaders of victory (Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis) to expel the American forces from the country," what observers see as a clear message to Al-Kazemi ahead of the upcoming visit to Washington.
Hussein notes that "Khazali's statements also fall within the messaging war between Washington and Tehran, and include a clear message to the prime minister that Iraq's foreign relations must be formulated according to a vision in which the pro-Iranian parties have a decisive word."
Restoration of the rift between Baghdad and Washington
On the other hand, sources close to Al-Kazemi's government confirm to “The Independent Arabia” that the visit comes to repair the rift that occurred in the relationship between the two countries during the reign of the resigned Prime Minister, Adel Abdul-Mahdi.
The sources indicate that "the dialogues will include cooperation in the fields of the economy, especially with regard to getting Iraq out of the financial crisis that it is suffering from, as well as solving the electricity crisis," pointing out that "the Iraqi government is looking forward to Washington's support to overcome these two problems," which may be The United States is using it to impose conditions on the Iraqi government regarding countering Iranian influence.
And on cooperation in the security file, the sources indicated that "Al-Kazemi will discuss with Washington the possibility of providing assistance in the context of strengthening the security forces, and intelligence and security cooperation with the American army."
According to the sources, Al-Kazemi will also discuss ways to reach a final agreement on a gradual withdrawal of US forces.
Al-Kazemi tries to avoid entering the axes of the ongoing conflict in the region, according to the same sources, but it is a test that his predecessor failed, as it seems that this does not appeal to both Tehran and Washington, which are trying to attract Iraq to their fronts.
The sources pointed out that "the dialogues are not related only to the strategic agreement, but to Iraq's search for a long-term partnership with Washington in economic, security and political issues," while revealing that "the completion of the second phase of the strategic dialogue will take place on the sidelines of that visit."
A departure from the policy of the axes
This visit comes after several rounds of clash between Al-Kazemi and the armed factions, the last of which was the arrest of Kataib Hezbollah operatives following what was then called the “Katyusha cell,” but they were soon released, which shows the growing influence of these factions to The limit that puts the Al-Kazemi government in front of a difficult test regarding the possibility of dismantling it, which leads observers to indicate that the visit will be limited to trying to neutralize Iraq from the conflict of axes in the region.
For his part, writer and journalist Mustafa Nasser believes that “Al-Kazemi’s visit to Washington is calculated in terms of timing and arrangement, especially since it came after a visit to Tehran and postponing his visit to Saudi Arabia,” indicating that “the main dimension of that visit is to restore the old approach to Iraq by moving away from the policy of the axes. “.
Nasser continues, "The other dimension of the anticipated dialogue between Washington and Baghdad revolves around the intention of the Al-Kazemi government to reactivate the Strategic Framework Agreement signed in 2010 as a basis for governing the relationship between the two parties."
Researcher and academic Basil Hussein considered Al-Kazemi's visit to Washington "an important step towards opening up Iraq to the international environment," describing that visit as "the end of estrangement and stagnation in the relationship with Washington, which lasted for about three years," adding to "The Independent Arabia" that "the visit schedule It gives the impression that several files will be dealt with, foremost of which is the American presence in Iraq.
Commenting on the visit’s coincidence with Khazali’s recent statements, Hussein clarifies that “the state’s policy and its foreign decision should be limited to those who officially represent it, and not be affected by the will of the parties or militias.”
Ahmed Al-Suhail
Arabic Independent LINK
Samson: Why has invested in Iraq become a gateway to corruption?
12th August, 2020
With every economic crisis in Iraq, the decision-making circles in the country repeat the talk about the need to correct the general economic situation, and to attract foreign and local investments in order to start reconstruction and provide job opportunities for young people. However, the Iraqis realize every time that these calls hardly find an application on the ground. Because of conflicting laws, as well as corruption and administrative bureaucracy.
In 2006, Iraq witnessed the approval of the first investment law, No. (13), which is the establishment of the National Commission for Investment, which branches out bodies in all Iraqi provinces, and is concerned with bringing local and international investments in order to improve the country's services and infrastructure and create job opportunities for Iraqis, who have been suffering for decades The unemployment rate is the highest in the region.
According to many experts, this law did not achieve any goal it was legislated for, including the former director of the Nineveh Investment Authority, Muwaffaq Younis, who confirms that since the legislation of Law No. (13), most Iraqi ministries have opened departments concerned with investment in order not to give investment agencies a chance. To acquire the investors, which leads to the withdrawal of the rug from their ministries. Yunus explains this by saying, "The work of investment agencies is summarized in accordance with Law (13) that the state provides suitable land for projects in exchange for the investor to work to establish and operate the Iraqi labor without the state paying a penny," pointing out that "the investor, according to the law, reviews the Single Window Department." Within the Investment Authority, which takes care of all procedures without referring to any other ministry.
As for the legal expert, Amir al-Da'ami believes that the reason for the collapse of the investment or (its death) - as he put it - is due to the weakness of the state and the failure to impose its prestige, as the parties and militias seize the lands without being monitored or censored, and without the opportunity for investors.
Al-Daami believes that the problem is not related to the investment law and its contradiction with other laws as much as it relates to the state’s ability to control, as any foreign investor cannot obtain any investment license without paying royalties and bribes to parties and ministries, which leads to his escape due to the absence of any guarantees or To protect the money that will be spent, taking into account that investment agencies are divided between parties according to quotas in place for years.
Legislative defect and despite the passage of 14 years since the approval of the Iraqi Investment Law, there is hardly any foreign investment project in the country. The Iraqi investor Dhakwan Al-Saffar believes that the problem of Iraq is the legislation that does not facilitate the entry of investors into the country, in addition to the country's lack of legislation for the work of foreign banks, and the absence of a banking system that facilitates banking operations. Al-Saffar pointed out that the laws in Iraq are interpreted according to the whims of officials, which leads to the dispersion of the investor between 16 ministries and governmental institutions, he said.
In turn, the deputy of the Parliamentary Legal Committee, Rashid Al-Azzawi, says that the investment law in Iraq is faced by many obstacles, the first of which is the conflict of this law with other investment laws in the ministries of the state, although the Investment Law (13) has priority according to its legislation, in addition to the investment law itself. It does not protect the investor's money (Iraqi and foreign), and the law requires the investor's financial disclosure. Al-Azzawi - who used to work as an investor before becoming a parliamentarian - asserts that investment in Iraq will not see the light unless the state controls all the major joints; Such as border crossings, taxes and customs, as well as transparency of work and facilitating procedures through the application of electronic governance.
With regard to the allocation of lands, Al-Azzawi reveals that most of the lands in the country are seized by influential people and parties, and therefore they seized the lands through investment, then sold investment licenses without implementing any valuable project, considering that working in single window sections is just an ink on paper. He noted that the ministries that own lands suitable for investment projects refuse to offer them as investment opportunities within investment agencies, and it was necessary that Law (13) include transferring their ownership to investment agencies in order to reduce all these obstacles. Mwafak Younes reveals more details about the land problem, which he described as one of the biggest obstacles facing investors in Iraq, and the ministries that have investment and land-owning departments such as the ministries of municipalities and finance have damaged the investment and lost the investor’s compass by exploiting these lands to finance some of their institutions. It works on the principle of self-financing and government at the same time, as well as increasing cases of corruption when the investor reviews them.
Iraq suffered heavy losses as a result of a conflict of investment (13 Law) with other laws, according to a member of the Committee on Economy and Investment in Parliament MP Nada Shaker Jawdat. The Iraqi MP confirms that investment in Iraq has been absent since 2003, and that the country has lost great opportunities that would have been able to advance in reality through reconstruction and job creation. Jawdat indicated that there is a hegemony of personalities, parties and militias that prevents sober investment companies from getting an opportunity to enter the field of investment in the country. It cites as an example the bad reality of electricity in the country, despite the state's spending of more than $ 65 billion since 2003 without a clear impact, as well as the presence of import agencies and "mafias" working on the continuation of Iraq in its consumption status and excessive import that will not succeed with it. investment. Nada Jawdat drew attention to the experiences of successful Arab countries in investing, such as Jordan and Egypt, which believes that all investment opportunities in them are presented transparently with the completion of all their procedures before they are put forward, pointing out that Iraq still adopts complex paper procedures and the old banking system, as well as corruption in the billions.
For his part, economist Mazen Al-Ashiker believes that what is known as the one-window principle stated in Investment Law No. (13) has given priority to the law in completing investment transactions within only two weeks, and through the Investment Authority in each governorate. However, the reality indicates otherwise, as the investor has to complete all his transactions by reviewing all ministries related to land ownership or official approvals in ministries of finance and municipalities, and thus the law has been emptied of its economic content. Al-Ashiker believes that the only way to rebuild Iraq is through the establishment of a reconstruction board, which must be in accordance with the principle of participation, and that investment agencies should be attached to it, with the need for a global accounting firm to undertake all monitoring, auditing, and periodic reports. Al-Ashqir cites the experiences of countries that went through the Iraqi experience, such as Japan and Germany after World War II, in which the reconstruction councils succeeded in rebuilding them from the rubble, indicating that all parties are against the formation of the reconstruction council, which, if applied, the investment budgets of the ministries will end, thus these parties lose their shares. In the field of project referral and land allocation.
A member of the Parliamentary Legal Committee, Rashid Al-Azzawi, believes that the only hope for activating the investment is to amend his law and cancel what is opposed to it in a way that protects the investor and his money, as well as the need to announce all available investment opportunities transparently, after completing all its procedures with the renewal of the Iraqi banking system, which he described as "worn out, which Depends on outdated mechanisms and concluded by stressing that Iraq does not have any strategic investment plan that specifies what the country needs in terms of projects as well as getting lost in work.
With regard to profit and loss, journalist Ahmed Al-Obeidi confirms that the Iraqi state has spent hundreds of millions of dollars in financing investment agencies, including buildings, furniture and salaries, but the number of licensed investment projects, which are estimated at about 1500, have only been implemented by a small number throughout the country. LINK
Samson: A high-ranking employee in Al-Rafidain guides Al-Kazemi to lost Iraqi funds
13th August, 2020
Directed a high-ranking employee at Al-Rafidain Bank guides Al-Kazemi to wasted Iraqi funds that will keep him away from salary deductions.
Her letter was titled "Instead of debt drowning," in which she asserted that if non-oil revenues had arrived properly to the state treasury, oil would have been a secondary resource for the Iraqi people and not a major resource.
Below is the text of the message - to you, the full text of the message: -
Mr. Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kazemi, the respected ... If the corrupt, who penetrate into state institutions, are hiding from you the real state revenues, then we as a people chose to help you and we were looking for them. To uncover corruption and waste of public money, as follows:
Instead of drowning in debt instead of borrowing and looking for confused, urgent and ill-considered solutions to solve the problem of the economic and financial crisis in Iraq and drowning Iraq in debts that have no way to escape from them, as long as the spoilers are fun in its institutions, so you must first correct the course of the financial policies of previous governments and the manipulation of their officials with the nation's capabilities and revenues The state, starting with correcting the relationship with the Kurdistan region and controlling all parties' sects over the sources of their financial income ..
* Instead of dumping the Iraqi citizen with external and internal debts, its money went and is still going into the pockets of the corrupt; We have discussed for you some outlets of waste and systematic theft, and we would like to draw your attention to the huge and enormous revenues hidden inside Iraq!
** We as a people and you know - with certainty - that the Iraqi Ministry of Oil supplies its refineries with one million barrels of oil per day. This is what was mentioned by more than one official, especially MP Adnan Al-Zarfi, with documents in one of his television interviews.
** Of course, this oil is refined inside the refineries, and a barrel of oil is converted into 100 liters of gasoline or 100 liters of gasoline to be supplied to gas stations, and it becomes the following: -
1,000,000 barrels of oil x 100 liters of gasoline or kerosene = 100,000, One hundred million liters of benzene or kerosene.
One liter of very regular gasoline and kerosene is sold inside Iraq at 450 dinars.
Eden, the state’s import of petroleum products (petrol - kerosene) only per day:
100,000,000 liters x 450 dinars = 45,000,000,000 billion dinars per day.
And its monthly incoming:
45,000,000,000 billion dinars x 30 days = 1,350,000,000,000 trillion dinars per month.
And it becomes its annual imports of oil derivatives :
1,350,000,000,000 trillion dinars x 12 months = 16,200,000,000,000 trillion and two hundred billion dinars annually and Iraq's imports of oil derivatives (gasoline and kerosene) only.
* Where does this huge, hidden amount go, which is ignored by all the ministers who have succeeded the ministries of oil and finance, the majority of MPs and officials? And all of them did not dare to open this topic at all!
This amount, O Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, is sufficient to pay the salaries of all Iraqi employees from first to tenth grade for a period of two years.
** Do you have the courage to be honest with us and tell us about this enormous amount, where it is going?
** Not to mention the revenues of gas, jet petrol, white oil and black oil.
Not to mention the non-oil revenues that cover the salaries of employees for years and provide services to all cities, governorates and state sectors?
** Is it not time for you to transparently tell your people about their lost and healthy (stolen) financial resources that the parties plunder through their workers in state institutions? Yes their workers. And I don't say responsible; Everyone asks and is waiting for your answer: -
1. Where are the revenues of the General Tax Authority ?!
2. Where are the revenues of the Ministry of Communications and Mobile Phone Networks ?!
3. Where are the revenues of the Communications and Internet Networks Commission ?!
4. Where are the revenues of the border crossings and customs departments at all ports ?! In our turn, we ask: Why open 24 border outlets in Kurdistan, of which one dinar has not entered the state, while it is closed in the center and south out of fear of the transmission of the Coronavirus epidemic ?!
5. Where are the revenues of Iraqi airports and airlines ?!
6. Where are the revenues of the Municipality of Baghdad ?!
7. Where are the revenues of the real estate registration departments throughout Iraq ?!
8. Where are the revenues of the public traffic departments ?!
9. Where are the revenues of the Ministry of Electricity ?!
10. Where are the revenues of the water and sewage departments throughout Iraq ?!
11. Where are the revenues of the Ministry of Health ?!
12. Where are the municipalities' revenues in all governorates of Iraq ?!
13. Where are the revenues of the Ministry of Agriculture ?!
14. Where are the revenues of the Ministry of Water Resources ?!
15. Where are the state real estate rents ?!
16. Where are the revenues of ships and ships transporting oil ??
Iraq is a country endowed by God with riches and a multitude of resources, not a country on the sidelines. Its internal income can overcome the greatest crises in countries and all its children can live with dignity and with dignity.
It is time for you to stop wasting Iraqi money in each of the following angles:
1. Auction for selling the currency at the Central Bank of Iraq; Iraq's annual losses from it are estimated at 4 billion dollars!
2. Two billion dollars lost annually in the commissions of the Ministry of Commerce!
3. The staggering budgets of the two endowments: Shiite and Sunni!
What is important is that if these revenues were properly received to the state treasury, oil would have been a secondary resource for the Iraqi people and not a major resource ?? LINK
Samson: Parliamentary Finance: Iraq loses $ 10 billion annually for these reasons?
13th August, 2020
A member of the House of Representatives for the Parliamentary Finance Committee, Jamal Cougar, said, Thursday, that Iraq is losing $ 10 billion "annually" due to corruption in the border outlets.
Cougar said, "Iraq loses nearly $ 10 billion annually due to corruption operations at border crossings and the control of parties and their military elements on the borders and all commercial activities."
He added, "The estimates that we have monitored in the Finance Committee indicate that the revenues of the Iraqi border crossings amount to 16 billion dollars annually, but what amounts to the state treasury is less than 6 billion dollars, and this disparity between the total revenues compared to what reaches the state treasury causes an economic disaster," And perhaps the disclosure of these files will lead to the return of protests in the Iraqi street."
He pointed out, "The prime minister's actions and media speeches will put the government in a position of serious confrontation with the military elements that will not surrender by relinquishing their profits from these border outlets, even if the confrontation is with weapons and threatening officials in the control committees who oversee customs duties at the border crossings." LINK
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Samson: The Turkish lira is approaching a record low
13th August, 2020
The Turkish lira is heading towards a record low on Thursday after Finance Minister Barat Albayrak played down the importance of currency fluctuations and emphasized its competitiveness.
Turks have flocked to buy foreign currency in recent weeks and analysts have called for tougher measures, such as an official tightening of monetary policy, to stabilize the market and confront deeper economic problems.
The lira weakened slightly to 7.3400 against the dollar by 0930 GMT. It hit a record low of 7.3650 on Friday, down 19 percent against the US dollar since the start of the year, making it one of the worst performing emerging market currencies.
Albayrak told CNN Turk on Wednesday evening that the lira "will fall and rise", adding that competitiveness is more important than the exchange rate level. He indicated that the economy may contract by up to two percent this year. LINK
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Samson: Kuwait: We stand with Iraq in all the measures it takes to preserve its security and stability
13th August, 2020
The Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it stands with Iraq in all the measures it takes to preserve its security and stability.
The ministry stated in a statement, "The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Acting Minister of Defense Sheikh Ahmed Nasser Al-Muhammad Al-Sabah today made a phone call with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq, brother Fuad Hussein, where he reiterated Kuwait's support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq."
According to the statement, Al-Sabah affirmed, "The State of Kuwait stands by Iraq in all the measures it takes to preserve its security and stability, while condemning any external aggressions and rejecting Turkish military interventions in Iraqi lands, based on its principled and steadfast position rejecting any interference affecting the sovereignty of any of the countries." Sister Arab." Al-Sabah expressed his "sincere condolences to the Iraqi military martyrs who died as a result of the attack, and wished a speedy recovery for the wounded and injured from this attack."
For his part, the Iraqi Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed his deep thanks and appreciation for the principled position of the State of Kuwait, which reflects the nature of the fraternal relations established between the two brotherly countries and their keenness on the obligations of neighborhood and their rejection of any external aggression. LINK
MilitiaMan Wednesday Afternoon "Pings Around The World!" 8-12-2020
.KTFA:
MilitiaMan: Good afternoon to everyone. I am sure the event we await is looking to be in motion more and more each day. Why? Well there are so many indicators that point to it.
The Finanical Interntational Monetary Authority (FIMA) was put in place back in April of this year. The Currency Manipulation Law (CML) was effective the same day.
They are in place to smooth markets and level the playing field. They are support for foreign and domestic currencies to move globally and within the USA. They will also support respective a countries or states foreign reserves.
All countries are exposed to foreign currencies when involved in trade. Obviously some more than others, as with the USD.
We here in the USA are exposed to trillions of them as is the globe. The sheer number of just the IQD we hold at the UST is staggering in number.
KTFA:
MilitiaMan: Good afternoon to everyone. I am sure the event we await is looking to be in motion more and more each day. Why? Well there are so many indicators that point to it.
The Finanical Interntational Monetary Authority (FIMA) was put in place back in April of this year. The Currency Manipulation Law (CML) was effective the same day.
They are in place to smooth markets and level the playing field. They are support for foreign and domestic currencies to move globally and within the USA. They will also support respective a countries or states foreign reserves.
All countries are exposed to foreign currencies when involved in trade. Obviously some more than others, as with the USD.
We here in the USA are exposed to trillions of them as is the globe. The sheer number of just the IQD we hold at the UST is staggering in number. The UST holds imo trillions not billions, and we pray that amount becomes far more in value after it is re instated from a program rate to an international one.
The amount of our debt in the USA is also staggering. It is inflationary and unsustainable and most in the world that know finance and economics get that.
So, that said do the same people that get it about the negative consequences know what we know? Yes, the smart money knows what they own and hold it. They don’t part with it. They hold it for long periods of time most often.
The IQD and other currencies are being held and they will fuel markets with liquidity once re instated (RI) or adjusted accordingly from the effects associated to those adjustments.
As the amount of money that will be generated from said adjustments, is far more staggering than what amounts that are on the books today, when in the near future valued accordingly from an RI.
We are the smart money, too. We have held our currency through thick and thin. Thank God for that!
We are now coming to the end of an era to a new one. One that will bring many new things and I pray we are all good stewards and use our learning experiences in life to make a better place for us and others.
From the looks of us all here at KTFA that should not be a worry!! In fact it is more likely to be a given..
So, let’s take a look at what we know in brief.
With the facilities in place to move money on a level playing field through and with the FIMA and CML, the system is in place to facilitate our money movements too, and effectively in the larger scheme of things collectively together.
Trust me, we are not the biggest boys or girls!! Lol But we are a part of the current. We will flow along with it into the next phase of our monetary history.
Iraq has to the best of my knowledge notified the BIS they are to raise the value of their currency, imo.
The BIS has in return, also with the same sentiment have notified other banks of that action and we learned that by PINGs noticed around the world recently.
Those pings are reactionary and necessary. They represent readiness. This complex event is nothing short of a biblical event to come, imo because of the sheer size and effects it will have.
The timing of events are pin pointing to a time frame that will allow a smooth transition into the new system, Quantum Financial System (QFS) with block chain technology and with that comes transparency.
Transparency is what they need Iraq to have too. Kahdimi will bring forth proof of that before he arrives next week to Washington from my view point anyway!
He will come with reforms in hand and security in place!
We saw witness to that yesterday. With upwards of a 1000 arrests! Also,l today we see that there is a "distinguished" relationship between Kahdimi an Alaq. They have files on the books in respect to the currency auctions. They'll have that sorted imo from here on out.
We also see the international relationship to Euroclear to facilitate Iraq’s Assets globally.. All is ready, as the World Bank has agreed with the CBI to manage assets.
The World Bank / IMF article / interview basically said it is time to fix the international financial system and that time is now!
The FIMA is the tool to help with that and is in place, just as the CML will too. So, long winded as I can be, our window is a short one.
Kahdimi arrives next week to the USA!!
That shows me a window would have to be open during a time frame where banks are on a level playing field and typically that is when all banks are closed prior to reopening of international markets.
We have another time this weekend for that potentiality to allow for a smooth transition for more than one currency to adjust.
As the IQD in of it self would require adjustments globally too. So if they add in many? They definitely would need a smooth transition.
So let’s see with the days bring us. They sure look good!! ~ MM
"Tuesday News" Posted by Samson at KTFA 8-11-2020
.KTFA:
Samson: Washington: Al-Kazemi Gives A Ray Of Hope For Sovereignty And The Removal Of Foreign Influence In Iraq
11th August, 2020
The Washington Institute said in its latest report today, Tuesday, that Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi gives a ray of hope for the future of the country's sovereignty, and that his program gives priority to removing foreign influence.
In the report that (The Independent) followed, the security political analyst at the Washington Institute, Mayan Carlin said, the situation was worse. Iran's policy and its interference in the affairs of Iraq caused angry demonstrations to erupt in various parts of the country in late 2019, and pro-Iranian factions responded to these. The protests were violent, killing more than 800 protesters and wounding many more, according to a report by the Washington Institute analyst.
KTFA:
Samson: Washington: Al-Kazemi Gives A Ray Of Hope For Sovereignty And The Removal Of Foreign Influence In Iraq
11th August, 2020
The Washington Institute said in its latest report today, Tuesday, that Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi gives a ray of hope for the future of the country's sovereignty, and that his program gives priority to removing foreign influence.
In the report that (The Independent) followed, the security political analyst at the Washington Institute, Mayan Carlin said, the situation was worse. Iran's policy and its interference in the affairs of Iraq caused angry demonstrations to erupt in various parts of the country in late 2019, and pro-Iranian factions responded to these. The protests were violent, killing more than 800 protesters and wounding many more, according to a report by the Washington Institute analyst.
"The killings, orchestrated by Tehran and its proxies, have led to an increase in anti-Iranian sentiment in the country," Karlin noted.
She added, "The new Iraqi prime minister, Mustafa Al-Kazimi, gives a ray of hope for the future of the country's sovereignty, and that his program gives priority to removing foreign influence, including unwanted Iranian interference from the Baghdad government," adding that "Tehran is resisting these efforts and continues to use its local proxies to implement its goals."
She indicated that the "Hezbollah Brigades", backed by Iran, prevented Iraq from obtaining the financial support it needed to get out of its economic crisis.
And Karlin continued, if “the prime minister fails to stop the hand of these militias, the United States cannot consider Baghdad a true ally, and it is likely to cut off all funding from the country's ministries of defense and interior,” stressing that “if the United States cuts off financial support, it may be the economy of Iraq. The weak is already a mess.”
Carlin emphasized that the Lebanese and Iraqi people are paying the price for Iran's unwanted influence, and that it is necessary for Beirut and Baghdad to distance itself from the Iranian regime.
Samson: America: The Beirut Explosion And The Spread Of Corruption Are Similar To What Is Happening In Iraq ... And Accuses Iran
11th August, 2020
The American Washington Institute in a report has likened the Beirut Port explosion and the spread of corruption in Lebanon to what is happening in Iraq, and the report attributed these problems and the economic collapse to Iran's massive interference in the internal affairs of the two countries through its proxies and militias, whether Hezbollah in Lebanon or Kataeb Party God and others in Baghdad.
The Jerusalem Post quoted the political and security analyst at the Washington Institute, Mayan Carlin, as saying that “what happened in Lebanon from the explosion of the Beirut port and the spread of corruption, neglect and economic collapse, is very similar to what is happening in Iraq in many ways.”
According to the report, Carlin attributed these problems and the economic collapse to "Iran's massive interference in the internal affairs of the two countries through its proxies and militias, whether Hezbollah in Lebanon, or the Hezbollah Brigades and others in Baghdad."
She added, "The economic crisis in Lebanon has been rooted in decades of systemic corruption and bad governance by the country's political and financial elite, which is controlled by the Iranian-backed Hezbollah," noting that "since 2005 the party entered the realm of domestic politics, reached Parliament and then The cabinet and some important positions in the state.
According to the report, Carlin attributed these problems and the economic collapse to "Iran's massive interference in the internal affairs of the two countries through its proxies and militias, whether Hezbollah in Lebanon, or the Hezbollah Brigades and others in Baghdad."
Carlin indicated that over time, Iran helped Hezbollah control Beirut and its economy, until it confiscated between $ 500 million to $ 1 billion annually from the Lebanese economy, according to a recent report issued by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
According to the report, "Hezbollah's corruption and economic collapse" prompted the Lebanese to take to the streets in angry protests that included even members of the Shiite community (the incubating environment for the party) who reject its policies and Iran's interference in the country's affairs, which led to this economic collapse, and the party is classified as a terrorist from America. And Europe was a reason to withhold financial aid from Beirut for fear that it would reach the hands of the organization, according to the author.
As for Iraq, Mayan Carlin says, the situation was worse. Iran's policy and its interference in the affairs of Iraq caused angry demonstrations to erupt across the country in late 2019, and pro-Iranian factions responded to these protests violently, resulting in more deaths. Of 800 protesters and many more were injured, according to the Washington Institute analyst report.
Carlin indicated that "the killings orchestrated by Tehran and its proxies have led to an increase in anti-Iranian sentiment in the country."
She added that the new Iraqi Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kazemi, gives a ray of hope for the future of the country's sovereignty, and that his program gives priority to removing foreign influence, including unwanted Iranian interference from the Baghdad government, adding that Tehran is resisting these efforts and continues to use its local proxies to implement its goals.
She indicated that the "Hezbollah Brigades", backed by Iran, prevented Iraq from obtaining the financial support it needed to get out of its economic crisis. And if the prime minister fails to stop the hand of these militias, according to Mayan Carlin, then the United States cannot consider Baghdad a true ally, and it is likely that it will cut off all funding from the country's defense and interior ministries, stressing that if the United States cuts off financial support, it may be Iraq's already weak economy is in disarray.
Carlin emphasized that the Lebanese and Iraqi people are paying the price for Iran's unwanted influence, and that it is necessary for Beirut and Baghdad to distance itself from the Iranian regime.
Trump wants to invite Putin to participate in the G7 summit because he is an important player
10:19 - 11/08/2020
US President Donald Trump expressed his desire to hold a G7 summit after the presidential elections in his country, and did not rule out inviting Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend.
Trump said during a press conference, commenting on the upcoming G-7 summit: "I tend to do this anytime after the elections, and they want it in September," indicating that the summit might take place via video or through a meeting. Trump added that he submitted a proposal to hold the summit after the presidential elections in the United States, which are scheduled to take place next November, noting, "We need more time to think about that because this is important and the G7 is very important."
In response to a question about Russian President Vladimir Putin's invitation to attend the G7 summit, Trump said: “I do not know, but we invited a number of people to the meeting, and I would like to invite him, I think he is an important player and we will invite a number of people who are not members of the G7, indicating that some They accepted the invitation. Trump reiterated his desire to hold the summit after the US elections, considering that "the atmosphere will be better" at that time.
It is reported that Trump had suggested inviting Russia to participate in the summit work, but some countries such as Canada, Britain, Germany and France have expressed their opposition to this. Trump discussed the G7 issue in his recent call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin confirmed that Russia is open to dialogue, but is seeking more details about it. It should be noted that the date of the summit, which was scheduled to take place last June in the United States, was postponed due to the Coronavirus epidemic in the world. LINK
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Samson: The Russian ruble and stock exchange rose after the announcement of the registration of the first vaccine against Corona
11th August, 2020
The exchange rate of the Russian ruble rose against the dollar and the euro, Tuesday, amid a state of optimism in the Russian market after the announcement of the registration of the first Russian vaccine against Corona in the world, as well as the Moscow Stock Exchange indicators rose.
The exchange rate of the dollar fell by 68 kopecks (one ruble = 100 kopeks) to 72.81 rubles. The euro’s exchange rate fell by 49 kopecks to 85.80 rubles, according to data from the Moscow Stock Exchange.
The Russian stock market indexes also rose due to optimism, after the announcement of Russia officially registering today a vaccine against the emerging corona virus, and it is the first vaccine of its kind in the world.
The ruble-denominated stock index rose 1.04% to 2,991.48 points, while the dollar-denominated stock index rose 2.11% to 1294.69 points. LINK
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Putin announces Russia's registration of the world's first Corona vaccine
11:48 - 11/08/2020
The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, announced today, Tuesday, the registration of the first vaccine against the Corona virus in the world.
The Russian President said during a meeting with members of the government, through a “video conference” technology: “I have been informed that a vaccine against the Corona virus has been registered this morning for the first time in the world.”
Putin added, while asking the Russian Minister of Health, Mikhail Murashko, to provide details about the vaccine: “I know that it (the vaccine) works very effectively and constitutes stable immunity, and I repeat that it has passed all the necessary tests.” LINK
Samson: Oil is rising, thanks to hopes of an American stimulus and a recovery in demand
11th August, 2020
Crude oil prices rose on Tuesday 11 August, supported by expectations of a US stimulus that will help launch the world's largest oil consumer, and a recovery in Asian demand as economies reopen and the stock market is performing stronger
Brent crude added 29 cents, or 0.6%, to $ 45.28 a barrel by 08:19 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude rose 38 cents, or 0.9%, to $ 42.32 a barrel
US President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter that the top Democratic members of Congress want to meet with him on an agreement to mitigate the economic effects of the Corona virus. Talks between Democrats and the Trump administration collapsed last week
Prices also received support from signs of recovery in oil demand in Asia
On Sunday, Amin Al-Nasser, CEO of Aramco, said he saw demand picking up in Asia with the gradual opening up of economies
China's producer price index declined in July, driven by rising global oil prices at a time when industrial activities rose again towards pre-Coronavirus levels, adding to signs of recovery in the world's second largest economy. It also supported a rise in European stocks, which rose for the third consecutive session today, with gains made by the auto industry shares thanks to sales data in China LINK
KTFA Mon Night CC, MilitiaMan and more 8-10-2020
.KTFA:
KTFA MON. CONF. CALL...8-10-2020
WE WILL BE RECORDING THE ENTIRE CALL ON YOUTUBE THIS EVENING........
TONIGHT IS OUR IQD UPDATE CC WITH SPECIAL GUESTS – DELTA, MM AND PETRA!
Frank26: SECOND KEYWORD ......CAPITAL GAIN TAXES
PLAYBACK IS: 605.313.5163 PIN: 156996#
KTFA:
KTFA MON. CONF. CALL...8-10-2020
WE WILL BE RECORDING THE ENTIRE CALL ON YOUTUBE THIS EVENING........
TONIGHT IS OUR IQD UPDATE CC WITH SPECIAL GUESTS – DELTA, MM AND PETRA!
Frank26: SECOND KEYWORD ......CAPITAL GAIN TAXES
PLAYBACK IS: 605.313.5163 PIN: 156996#
Samson: Economist: Iraq has an untapped paper to maximize its imports in the budget
08:30 - 09/08/2020
Between the economic expert, Wissam Al-Tamimi, that Iraq has an untapped trump card to maximize budget imports and fill the deficit in it, pointing to the importance of resorting to gas fuel as an ideal solution to maximize imports.
Al-Tamimi told "the information", "The project to connect the auto gas system has achieved remarkable successes and praise from vehicle owners, because of the cheap price of fuel."
He added that "the Ministry of Oil should increase gas stations and use it optimally instead of burning it in the air and polluting the environment."
He indicated that “the traffic directorate’s move to oblige vehicle owners to connect the gas system may cause discomfort and discomfort, and it is better to increase gas stations and then properly promote it in order to make it a resource that supplies the budget in billions and contributes to closing the budget deficit significantly, and exporting the benefits from it to countries Europe, especially since its cars run on gas fuel." LINK
MilitiaMan: I like the way they use the wording in this one. Maximizing imports. An untapped TRUMP CARD!! lol What next? lol ~ MM
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Samson: A parliamentary bloc calls on Al-Kazemi to implement the government program before performing any foreign visit
19:35 - 08/08/2020
The head of the Bayariq Al-Khair Parliamentary Bloc, Muhammad Al-Khalidi, considered on Saturday that the implementation and implementation of the government program is more important than the prime minister's international visits.
"The implementation of the government program is more important than any foreign visit by Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi," Al-Khalidi told / Al-Malouma, noting that "Iraq suffers from large corruption files that cannot be tolerated, the most important of which are oil licensing rounds and mobile phone companies."
He added, "Iraq suffers from major security, service and economic problems, and it was the first to follow up these files before making any visit or any foreign government tour."
Next week, the Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kazemi, will start an official visit to the United States of America, at the head of a government delegation, based on an official invitation. LINK
MilitiaMan: So in other words, get the reforms done before you leave.. This I like... imo ~ MM
Samson: Iraq pays Kuwait 210 million dollars in compensation for the invasion
9th August, 2020
Kuwaiti newspaper An-Nahar revealed that Iraq had paid 210 million dollars to the Kuwaiti Compensation Fund at the end of last month
The journalist said in a news briefed by "Al-Eqtisad News", that "Iraq paid on July 28 to the Kuwaiti compensation fund 210 million dollars, leaving about 2.6 billion dollars of the total compensation owed by Iraq LINK
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Samson: More than a thousand accused arrested in Baghdad
08/10/2020 12:07:53
The Baghdad Police Force, the Rescue Forces, arrested 1032 people in the capital on various charges during the past 24 hours.
A statement by the Baghdad Rescue Media Agency (Euphrates News) received a copy of it, "The Baghdad Rescue Patrol, the Bike Company and the Police Dogs Unit (K9) carried out various security practices in separate areas of the capital Baghdad and the sides of Al-Karkh and Al-Rusafa, specifically within the sectors of Najda (Al-Dora / Al-Kindi), as well as activating Laptops containing a database of vehicles (required for investigative matters)."
And he said, "These practices come to enhance security, impose state prestige and law enforcement in the capital, as patrols were deployed late at night and setting up fixed and moving sudden checkpoints in different areas with the aim of activating preventive security as required."
The statement indicated that the outcome of the security practices was as follows:
1 - The arrest of a person wanted in accordance with Article 4 of terrorism within the Dora area.
2- The arrest of 14 wanted cars {vehicle seizure and executive seizure}.
3- The arrest of 193 beggars.
4- The arrest of 42 drunkards obstructing the passers-by.
5- Arresting 486 people violating the curfew instructions.
6- The arrest of 295 bicycles for violating legal instructions.
7- The arrest of a person firing shots in space within the Dora area.
KTFA Members "Sunday News" 8-9-2020
.KTFA:
Samson: Out of 186 countries, Iraq is ranked 181 in economic freedom
9th August, 2020
The American Heritage Foundation, which measures the level of economic freedom in countries around the world, announced that Iraq ranks 181 out of 186 countries.
According to the report published by the Foundation for the year 2020, "Iraq ranked 181 in relation to economic freedom out of 186 countries listed in the table," indicating that "thus it ranks sixth before last, ahead of the countries of Libya, Liechtenstein, Somalia, Syria and Yemen."
KTFA:
Samson: Out of 186 countries, Iraq is ranked 181 in economic freedom
9th August, 2020
The American Heritage Foundation, which measures the level of economic freedom in countries around the world, announced that Iraq ranks 181 out of 186 countries.
According to the report published by the Foundation for the year 2020, "Iraq ranked 181 in relation to economic freedom out of 186 countries listed in the table," indicating that "thus it ranks sixth before last, ahead of the countries of Libya, Liechtenstein, Somalia, Syria and Yemen."
She added, "Singapore ranked first in economic freedom with a score of 89.4, followed by Hong Kong with a score of 89.1, and then New Zealand ranked third with a score of 84.1."
It indicated that it "relied on its classification on twelve factors to measure the economic freedom of these countries related to four main aspects of the economic environment, which were classified from 0 to 100, and its average to determine the degree of the state, which is the rule of law (property rights, government integrity, judicial effectiveness), size of government ( Government spending, tax burden, financial health), organizational efficiency (business, employment, and monetary freedom), open markets (trade, investment and financial freedom).”
She explained that "the focus of the Economic Freedom Index is that individuals should be free to work, consume, and invest without restrictions," indicating that "poverty, disease and ignorance are declining in all regions, then this is largely due to the widespread adoption of more advanced and transparent economic policies." LINK
Samson: Expert: That Is, The Escalation After Al-Kazemi's Visit To Washington Will Serve Trump In The Election, Not Iran
9th August, 2020
Analyst and political expert Mujahid Al-Ta’i confirmed that any escalation in Iraq after the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi to Washington will serve Trump electively and not Iran.
Al-Ta’i said in a Twitter post that Al-Mustaqilla followed today, Sunday, that “after Al-Kazemi’s office announced the visit to Washington, which will include the completion of dialogues that Iran does not like, the Pentagon sends messages to Tehran’s pawns: (We have the right to self-defense and respond to any aggression in Iraq).”
He added, "The transformation in any confrontation and escalation that could happen, is killing Americans, and escalation serves Trump electively, not Iran." LINK
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Samson: Deputy: The economic file will be part of Al-Kazemi's visit to the White House
17:55 - 08/09/2020
The deputy of the Sadikoun Parliamentary Bloc, Muhammad Karim, confirmed, on Sunday, that the economic file will be part of the files that Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi will discuss during his visit to the White House next week.
Karim said in a statement to Al-Maalouma that "the strategic dialogue, which will start its second stage during Al-Kazemi's visit to the White House, will discuss the economic file for Iraq," noting that "the dialogue will not be limited to the security axis only, but to all aspects."
He added that "the economic file is very important in the dialogue with Washington, in addition to being responsible for the electrical system since 2003 and has not achieved any results, and this matter must be resolved during the agreement," noting that "the air defense system will be present during the discussion between Al-Kazemi and Trump."
Next week, Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi begins an official visit to the United States of America, at the head of a government delegation, based on an official invitation. LINK
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Don961: The President of the Republic stresses the need to enhance Iraq's international standing
Sunday 09 August 2020 Baghdad / Al-Sabah
The President of the Republic, Barham Salih, stressed the need to enhance Iraq's position in international forums, while stressing the importance of strengthening openness through the development of transport sectors.
A statement by the President’s office, received by Al-Sabah, stated that “Saleh received Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein yesterday, and discussed with him the country's foreign relations and ways to develop and advance them.
” During the meeting, the President of the Republic stressed the need to strengthen Iraq's position in international forums, through its contribution to spreading and devoting an atmosphere of understanding and constructive dialogue to consolidate security and stability among the countries of the region, stressing the importance of the balanced and positive role of Iraq in the path of its foreign relations in order to achieve peace and progress among peoples.
During the meeting, according to the statement, the latest developments at the regional and international levels, and their impact on the Iraqi arena, were reviewed.
The President of the Republic, during another meeting with Minister of Transport Nasser Hussein Al-Shibli, stressed the need to make efforts to support Iraq's openness to the world by developing various transport sectors as it is an important link between continents and countries, stressing the importance of adopting international standards in providing the best services to citizens.
In turn, Minister Al-Shibli gave a detailed explanation of the Ministry's workflow and the plans that it is hoped to follow to revitalize the level of performance in it and improve services in a way that reflects the bright image of Iraq in front of the world. LINK
Cleitus: Now how do we do that hmmmmmmm
Samson: The experience of the central bank and the economic reform law
9th August, 2020 by Samir Nasiri
Information and media statements indicate that the Iraqi parliament is still insisting that the government present its plan for comprehensive economic reform for the next stage in the form of a law for economic reform to be submitted to the council within 60 days, more than half of which have passed
The information also indicates that the financial reform cell formed in the Council of Ministers has been working for two months on developing plans and studies and discussing the main foundations and observations to overcome the economic crisis and prepare the 2021 budget and is trying to draw its plan for economic reform in implementation of the request of the House of Representatives
I believe that for the government to form a cell for economic reform with the aim of presenting, discussing and studying Iraq's economic problems and finding solutions and treatments for radical and comprehensive reform, the experience of the Central Bank of Iraq during the post-2015 economic and security shocks has proven its success in supporting the national economy and its attribution in overcoming the crisis of falling prices Global oil, and ISIS’s occupation of a third of Iraq after mid-2014
The Central Bank of Iraq continues its approach to stimulating the national economy during the years 2016-2020 in accordance with its strategy, building capabilities and developing the banking sector in order to move to the developmental role and contribute to financing investment and reconstruction projects and to continue to maintain the stability of the exchange rate as the main achievement of policy implementation Cash is one of its important goals, which has positive implications for revitalizing the economy and achieving stability in the monetary system and the financial system, based on working on the government's call to diversify sources of revenue, not relying on oil as a primary source of revenue, and not encouraging and supporting domestic production.
Because the reason is not the supply but the demand for the dollar for the above reasons
It also requires the government to benefit from the bank’s strategy for the next five years to implement 21 projects to develop and develop the banking business after it was able to achieve most of the main and subsidiary objectives of its first strategy for the years (2016-2020). The world class banks are sober, with the certificate of specialized international financial organizations
One of the strategic banking projects, whose objectives and future impact have been determined according to a timetable for each project, the periods of implementation and reaching the goal during the years (2019-2023) are limited to development projects related to achieving financial inclusion, such as salary domiciliation and projects to restore confidence in the banking sector, such as a deposit guarantee company project and projects for structural development. And administrative and legal projects such as the Governance Guide project, projects for training and qualification, capacity building, classification of banks, and projects to move banks from the role of banking to contributing to development, such as the combined Islamic finance project
It must be noted here that although the bank has started planning for these projects since 2016, it is also committed to what is stated in the government curriculum, as far as the banking sector is concerned, and what the National Development Plan (2018-2022) targeted and Iraq 2030 vision
The central bank’s emphasis on working according to the approach it has adopted to achieve economic reform since 2015 is the consolidation of a fact that the Central Bank and its current management embodies a bright spot in an unstable economic environment for subjective and objective reasons, the most prominent of which is the experience of the Central Bank in supporting the national economy while maintaining its functions and its objectives specified in its law, and its contribution to achieving economic steadfastness and strengthening the decisive victory over terrorism
In addition to the results achieved on the scope of monetary policy applications domestically and convincing international financial organizations, the most important of which is the official reports issued by them, confirming the success of the central bank’s policy in achieving an important transition for the Iraqi economy. In addition to its numerous contributions and initiatives to revitalize the economic cycle and enhance liquidity at banks, to reach a re-extension of coordination bridges between the fiscal and monetary policies, and to propose new economic and structural policies to prepare public budgets for the coming years on the basis of programs rather than items and attempts to restore confidence in the banking system
The Central Bank has demonstrated its clear ability to interact, analyze obstacles to work, and create conditions to overcome challenges, and due to the exceptional efforts made by the bank, the last of which was the re-deduction of 8 trillion dinars for the purpose of financing and enabling the government to pay the salaries of employees, retirees and social care
. I invite the government to interact with the bright points and experiences of the Central Bank and sing them with their ideas, visions and proposals to build a solid national economy LINK
Ryan1216: Extreme pressure on Kazemi! Enough time has been wasted! Let's get going now!
KTFA Members "Al-Kazemi's Visit to the White House Next Week" 8-8-2020
.KTFA:
Samson: Prime Minister's Office: Al-Kazemi will visit the United States next week
08/08/2020 12:11:25
The Office of the Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kazemi, announced on Saturday that the latter will start a visit to the United States of America next week.
The office stated, in a statement that Al-Furat News received a copy of, that "the Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kazemi, begins next week, an official visit to the United States of America, at the head of a government delegation, based on an official invitation."
The office added, "Al-Kazemi will meet US President Donald Trump, on the twentieth of this month."
KTFA:
Samson: Prime Minister's Office: Al-Kazemi will visit the United States next week
08/08/2020 12:11:25
The Office of the Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kazemi, announced on Saturday that the latter will start a visit to the United States of America next week.
The office stated, in a statement that Al-Furat News received a copy of, that "the Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kazemi, begins next week, an official visit to the United States of America, at the head of a government delegation, based on an official invitation."
The office added, "Al-Kazemi will meet US President Donald Trump, on the twentieth of this month."
He continued: "The visit will include discussing the files of bilateral relations between Iraq and the United States of America, issues of common interest, joint cooperation in the fields of security, energy, health, economy and investment, and ways to enhance them, in addition to the file to address the Corona pandemic, and bilateral cooperation to serve the common interests of the two countries."
Boxman: Pence gives new Iraq prime minister a warm embrace ahead of expected U.S. visit
Updated: August 6, 2020 -
A potential mid-August summit could focus on Iraq's needs for debt relief, stable electricity, trade and security and Trump's desire to bring troops home.
Vice President Mike Pence is giving Iraq's new prime minister a warm embrace ahead of an expected visit to the White House later this month, saying the administration has high hopes Mustafa al-Kadhimi can return his country to prosperity and peace after two decades of war.
Al-Kadhimi's visit, which U.S. officials told Just the News could happen Aug. 18-21, comes at a critical time for both Washington and Baghdad.
President Trump is looking for a partner to help him fulfill one of his last open campaign promises — to bring U.S. troops home from Iraq after 17 years of war.
Al-Kadhimi, who earned U.S. trust as the country's intelligence chief before being named prime minister in April, is looking for urgent help to boost Iraq's sagging economy, which has been stifled by war, sectarian strife, the pandemic and a sudden drop in oil prices and a shortage of electricity during a long, hot summer.
The need for help grows more dire as Iraq approaches debt ceilings it cannot exceed.
Pence told Just the News in a written statement Thursday night that the Trump administration is eager to assist al-Kadhimi in carrying out his promised reforms and bringing long-term economic stability and security.
"When I visited Iraq last November, I learned firsthand the aspirations of the Iraqi people for a rebuilt and stable nation," Pence said. "Prime Minister al-Kadhimi is determined to implement reforms that reflect these aspirations, and the United States supports a strong, sovereign, and prosperous Iraq."
Al-Kadhimi has signaled his commitment to reforms with several moves, including freeing some political protesters and setting new elections for 2021, a year before they were planned.
And his planned first visit to Washington as prime minister has been preceded by some extensive shuttle diplomacy.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo took the first actions to help al-Kadhimi with an energy crunch shortly after he took over as prime minister, signing a temporary waiver to allow Baghdad to buy badly needed electricity from neighboring Iran without violating sanctions.
State Department officials then held an official strategic dialogue with al-Kadhimi's new government in June, meetings that ended with a commitment for economic and security assistance ahead.
Late last month, Iraq's oil minister met U.S. Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette to discuss new ways the two countries could jump-start Iraq's oil industry, including such ideas as a partnership with the semi-autonomous Kurds. "Iraq’s energy sector is full of promise, and together, @ENERGY can work on policies to chart a sustained energy future for the Iraqi people," Brouillette tweeted after the meeting.
In between, al-Kadhimi made a brief visit to Iran, where he signaled a desire for better relations with Iraq's meddlesome neighbor by vowing he would not allow attacks on Iran to be launched from Iraqi soil.
As the meeting between al-Kadhimi and Trump draws near, several ideas have been floating around Washington for how the West can assist Baghdad on its most pressing issues: maintaining and growing security stability, rooting out long-rampant corruption and jump-starting a long-stalled economy made worse by COVID-19 and low oil prices in recent months.
Among the ideas being discussed in official and unofficial policy arenas:
Creating an oil marketing and distribution agreement between Iraq's oil ministry and the Kurdish Regional Government, an idea first floated late in the Obama administration and renewed in recent weeks under Trump as an American energy company has offered its assistance for such a plan.
Seeking debt relief and economic investment from some of Iraq's Arab neighbors
Converting some U.S. tax dollars committed to supporting U.S. troops on Iraqi soil in 2021 and 2022 to provide either debt relief or economic investment to help Baghdad to jump-start its economy, produce more electricity and keep its government from hitting its debt limits.
Continuing to transfer more of the daily security tasks from U.S. troops to Iraqi forces as the latter continue to improve capabilities.
Finding ways to lessen the threat from Iran-backed militias that for years have created violence, strife and chaos on the streets
The stakes and rewards for both country's leaders are high: Trump is widely known to want to complete his promised drawdown of U.S. troops from Iraq, and al-Kadhimi needs signs of rapid economic, political and security progress to strengthen his hold on power to a degree that his predecessors as prime minister failed to achieve.
His call for early elections signaled he knows the populist wave that ushered him into office will be short-lived without measurable progress on such issues as rooting out corruption, providing stable electricity and enhancing security in the face of threats ranging from ISIS to Iran.
Outside observers are watching with intrigue.
The situation in Iraq is a "wide-ranging subject," Samir F. Ghattas, spokesman for the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq, told Just the News in a statement. "Iraq faces multiple security, political, humanitarian, social and economic challenges."
Bilal Wahab, an analyst at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said trade and U.S. troop levels will be the two most important issues being monitored at any summit between al-Kadhimi and Trump in Washington.
And Wahab said the meeting will give Trump an opportunity to define where Iraq ranks in his overall foreign policy strategy.
"Between the United States and Iraq, the main issues are, where is Iraq positioned in U.S. foreign policy? Is Iraq part of a U.S. Middle East policy? Is it to be used for anti-ISIS actions, or is it an arena for the maximum pressure on Iran policy? I think those are questions Washington is not clear on,” he said
"What is missing," he added, "is a normal relationship between the two countries, where Iraq itself has value that is not exclusively anti-ISIS or part of U.S. policy toward Iran. What is missing is a cultural and diplomatic exchange. A normal, full relationship. This relationship is not normal."
A Washington meeting will provide "an opportunity to put this relationship on a normal path. If the PM comes to Washington, it will be an important step in a bilateral relationship."
Ross: The need for help grows more dire as Iraq approaches debt ceilings it cannot exceed.
IMO - I DO NOT REMEMBER HEARING THIS BEFORE. HOW CLOSE ARE THEY ?
Outside observers are watching with intrigue.
I KNOW WE ALL ARE WATCHING WITH HOPE & THE KUWAIT GROUP IS WAITING & WATCHING ALSO FOR AN ANNOUNCED RATE CHANGE.
Don961: Soon ... Al-Kazemi is in the White House
- Two Days Ago
Despite the outbreak of the Corona epidemic in the United States of America and the increasing controversy surrounding the holding of the American elections on time or postponed, this did not prevent the American White House from agreeing with the Presidency of the Council of Ministers of Iraq in determining the date of Mustafa Al-Kazemi’s Prime Minister visit to the United States of America and the meeting With US President Donald Trump, according to special information for the Links Center, it was decided to schedule the visit of Al-Kazemi to the United States of America on 20 and 21 of this month.
Setting the date of the visit and not postponing it or canceling it means that Iraq receives great attention from the American administration, and that the security and stability of Iraq comes in the highest priorities of the United States of America.
Mustafa Al-Kazemi negligently dealt with it with determination and strength to show that Iraq is able to impose its sovereignty and prestige on everyone. This visit also indicates that Mustafa Al-Kazemi is welcomed and praised by the American administration.
Despite the challenges and difficulties facing Mustafa Al-Kazemi, his train is proceeding in a balanced way, and according to special information for the Links Center for Research and Strategic Studies, the upcoming meeting with Al-Kazemi will discuss common issues between the two countries, such as the strategic framework agreement, the redeployment of American forces in Iraq, and the firm response of ISIS The terrorist and the financial crisis in Iraq as a result of the drop in global oil prices.
The bottom line is that setting the date of the visit is evidence that the United States is concerned with providing all support to Iraq, and also evidence that the United States of America deals with Mustafa Al-Kazemi as a statesman who strives hard to save Iraq from its crisis and return it to the political map as an influential and effective country in Its Arab, regional and international environment.
Al-Kazemi is able to do that with his leadership qualifications and national conscience. But he needs someone on his side internally and externally to make it happen.
Iraqi Studies Unit LINK
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Samson: Newspaper: Al-Kazemi Will Discuss Four Key Items During His Visit To The White House
8th August, 2020
The London-based Al-Arab newspaper expected Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi's agenda to the United States of America on August 20, while indicating that the visit will be based on 4 basic items.
The newspaper revealed, citing Iraqi political sources, that Baghdad and Washington have set the date and agenda for Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi's visit to the United States. The sources stated that Baghdad and Washington had agreed that the visit would start on the twentieth of this August, indicating that the agenda includes four main items and a number of sub-items.
The exceptional circumstances that Iraq is going through, as well as the situation in the region and the world, give the character of an exceptional event to the visit, which some do not hesitate to raise the ceiling of expectations from it, considering that it will make a turning point in the regional and international relations of Iraq in view of the intensification of the competition for influence between Washington and Baghdad and reaching the stage of "breaking the bone."
“Due to the policy of maximum pressure pursued by the administration of US President Donald Trump on Iran, and the latter threatening to use its capabilities to respond to those pressures, including the use of its Shiite militias in Iraq to strike US forces and interests there.
The sources confirmed that Al-Kazemi will meet during his visit to the United States, US President Donald Trump and a number of senior officials in the administration, including the defense and treasury ministers.
Economy file
Observers expect that the visit will have prominent political and security headlines, but Iraqi parties hope that the economy will be at the forefront of the files that will be opened during them, expressing their aspiration for real American assistance to Iraq in overcoming its severe financial crisis resulting from the coincidence of the Corona pandemic with the oil price crisis.
Those circles are relying on Al-Kazemi's ability to negotiate with the American side over the security, political and economic files as a single package, which is what the Trump administration is expected to do in order to lure Baghdad to move away from Tehran by offering it remunerative financial alternatives.
With the intensification of the crisis on Iraq, talk began about the possibility of the country resorting to external borrowing, which is something the United States can play a role in by mediating with lenders, whether it is related to its friendly countries or the Monetary Fund, countries where it has strong influence.
The future of US forces in Iraq
The future of the US forces in Iraq and the ongoing missile attacks against them by militias affiliated with Iran will be the first item on the agenda of the visit, as the two sides are supposed to agree on a roadmap to reduce the international coalition mission participating in the US-led war against ISIS in Iraq. According to sources. But the reduction of the coalition mission will not affect the military cooperation between Iraq and the United States, which is the second item in the schedule of Al-Kazemi's visit to Washington.
Cooperation in the military field
The two sides will discuss strengthening cooperation between the two countries in the military field, including the continuation of the US training plans for Iraqi officers and pilots, and the provision of logistical support for the forces specialized in combating terrorism.
The sources reveal that the third item, which Al-Kazemi will discuss in Washington, is related to the American support for the economy and electricity sectors in Iraq, as Baghdad looks forward to supporting Washington in crossing the two stifling crises it suffers from in these two areas. The United States can help Iraq in obtaining soft loans, but it can also encourage its major companies to work directly in the field, to accomplish many stalled works due to corruption, favoritism and mismanagement.
America's relationship with Iran
The sources say that the fourth item on the agenda of Al-Kazemi's visit to Washington is related to the chronic tension between the United States and Iran, adding that the Iraqi prime minister may want to play some role in smoothing the atmosphere between the two sides.
Observers believe that the remaining period until the date of the US presidential elections may witness some "acrobatic acts" by the United States or Iran on the soil of Iraq, which is what Al-Kazemi seeks to ensure that he will not trigger a comprehensive confrontation between the two parties.
Baghdad fears that either side of the tension, Iran and America, will slide into a military confrontation in the coming weeks, especially with Tehran's deep suffering from the effects of Washington's sanctions on it in the economic field.
Al-Kazemi's visit to the states radically contradicts the nature of the relationship that Tehran wants between Baghdad and Washington, as the Iranians do not want more cooperation and coordination between the two parties in a way that narrows the area of their influence and interference in Iraqi affairs. By adhering to the US sanctions against it.
Iran is concerned that the visit will lead to understandings on how Iraq will get rid of the dependence on Iranian gas and electricity, which will facilitate the implementation of sanctions, and another regarding armed militias, controlling their weapons and strengthening the official security services through the use of US expertise and in-kind and technical assistance.
Against this background, observers of the Iraqi issue expect that Al-Kazimi will be subjected to severe pressure before and after the visit from Iran's followers inside Iraq, to block any deep understandings that he might have with the United States. The Iraqi militias affiliated with Iran are afraid that the prime minister will enter into agreements to liquidate them or limit their capabilities with the United States, including allowing the targeting of their headquarters and leadership.
The Iraqi government’s permission for the United States to install a missile interceptor system inside the US embassy compound in Baghdad indicates Iraq's willingness to facilitate the process of intercepting any Iranian plans in the region.
So far, the American system has contributed to intercepting two missile attacks on the US embassy, carried out by Iraqi militias affiliated with Iran, which means that these groups lose the privilege of attacking their targets at any time they choose. Informed sources reveal that the US forces have equipped their main sites in Iraq with larger systems to intercept Iranian militia attacks, or Iran's own attacks. LINK
KTFA Members "News and Views" Friday 8-7-2020
.KTFA:
Coco: On August 15th, 1971 Nixon took us off the gold standard.
Saturday, August 15th, 2020 is approaching and it's just a few days prior to the Prime Minister of Iraq coming to Washington, D.C.
Hopefully the Prime Minister of the sovereign nation of Iraq will be coming to the U.S. after having made an announcement to his people that their currency now has purchasing power.
We shall see...
KTFA:
Coco: On August 15th, 1971 Nixon took us off the gold standard.
Saturday, August 15th, 2020 is approaching and it's just a few days prior to the Prime Minister of Iraq coming to Washington, D.C.
Hopefully the Prime Minister of the sovereign nation of Iraq will be coming to the U.S. after having made an announcement to his people that their currency now has purchasing power.
We shall see...
Samson: Oil falls due to the vague demand for fuel and US stimulus
7th August, 2020
Oil prices fell, adding to the losses of the previous session, due to fears of a slowing recovery in demand for fuel amid the return of Coronavirus infections, and talks stumbled on a new stimulus agreement in the United States
With the Tokyo Stock Exchange closed, US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were 17 cents lower, or 0.41 percent, to $ 41.78 a barrel, while Brent crude also fell 17 cents, or 0.38 percent, to $ 44.92.
Both decades were up earlier in the day but they are still poised for weekly gains of about 4%, which will be the largest for the two benchmarks since the week ending July 3
Analysts say that the resurgence of Coronavirus infections remains the central issue for oil markets, as this will determine how quickly fuel demand will recover. Statistics show that injuries have increased in a number of US states, such as Colorado, Ohio and Virginia. Prices are also suffering under the weight of the weak current market for crude and refining margins in most regions
"It really comes down to the demand situation," said Stephen Ince, market strategist at AxiCorp. And he continued, "We are trying to gather the diaspora of our thoughts about the shape of the (Corona virus) curve. Will the stability curve of infections in the United States overwhelm the mutations around the world?
Analysts are also watching the stalled talks between the White House and Democrats about a new stimulus package to counter the fallout from the Corona virus, as Democrats say President Donald Trump may have to issue executive orders if he is not willing to continue negotiating
"The virus mitigation package remains the last hope for boosting (fuel) demand, as the US travel season approaches its end," ANZ Market Research said in a note LINK
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Samson: 50% of border crossing imports outside the Iraqi government pocket
7th August, 2020
A Member of the Parliamentary Finance Committee, Ahmad Mazhar al-Jubouri, confirmed today, Friday, that the imports of the border crossings are below the required level, indicating that the government has not imposed its full control over them.
Al-Jubouri told Shafaq News agency that the Iraqi government imposed its control over the border crossings by 50%, and there are still some parties that have control over the ports, pointing out that the imports did not refresh the country’s treasury. Al-Jubouri added that the closure of the outlets due to the Covid-19 crisis caused a decrease or lack of financial imports during the past four months
Regarding the conditions of the border crossings in Diyala, where the Iraqi government launched a campaign recently to impose control, he said that government control 40-50% of them.
The Corona crisis and the deterioration of global oil prices prompted Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi to announce a plan to control border crossings by federal Special Forces and liberate them from the control of groups and parties that have dominated them for years.
According to financial statistics, 70-80% of the border crossing imports is under the control of the parties and groups.
It’s noteworthy that Iraq has 9 land-border crossings with neighboring countries (with the exception of the outlets in the Kurdistan region), which are:
· Zurbatiya, Shalamja, AL-Muntheriya and Al-Sheib with Iran,
· Safwan with Kuwait
· Trebil with Jordan
· Al-Waleed with Syria
· Arar and Jadidat Arar with Saudi Arabia.
Vietnam:
Samson: Secretary Pompeo’s Call with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Minh
6th August, 2020
The below is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Cale Brown:
Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo spoke today with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh. Secretary Pompeo and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Minh reaffirmed the strength of our Comprehensive Partnership as we celebrate a quarter century of U.S-Vietnam diplomatic relations in 2020.
The Secretary underscored U.S. support for Southeast Asian coastal states upholding their sovereign rights and interests under international law and the importance of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
The Secretary thanked Vietnam for its leadership as ASEAN Chair and for Vietnam’s coordination in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. LINK
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Samson: Việt Nam a rising star in gloomy global economy: World Bank
31st July, 2020
Landmark 81 in HCM City - the tallest building in Southeast Asia. Việt Nam has been described as a rising star amid the pandemic by the World Bank who rank the country fifth fastest growing economy in the world. Experts from the World Bank said Việt Nam was a rising star amid the COVID-19 pandemic, ranking the country 5th fastest growing economy.
World Bank Lead Economist and Program Leader for Việt Nam Jacques Morisset said: “Việt Nam has a chance to spend more and spend better to boost local production at this time,” during an online meeting held by the World Bank on Thursday to discuss the 'new normal' for Việt Nam. He said while the fiscal accounts have deteriorated due to lower revenue, the government was able to absorb the shock, thanks to the accumulation of reserves and the use of contingent funds, limiting the use of new borrowing.
Though the local economy has nonetheless been hit by the COVID-19 crisis, with the GDP growth rate of 1.8 per cent, the breakdown by sectors indicates that the agro-forestry-fisheries sector recorded a growth rate of 1.2 per cent and contributed 11.9 per cent to the overall economic growth, the industrial sector expanded by 3 per cent (73.1 per cent of GDP), while the services sector grew by only 0.6 per cent (15 per cent of GDP).
The latest report by the World Bank (WB) said while COVID-19 has spread around the planet, killing hundreds of thousands of people and sending billions into lock-down, as health services struggle to cope, Việt Nam still belongs to a small club of countries that have reported zero deaths caused by the pandemic. This result is even more impressive considering the country is located next to China as the epicentre of the pandemic.
The bank’s director Stefanie Stallmeister said that saving human lives was more important than saving jobs. Several economic and financial indicators have not yet bounced back to their pre-crisis levels, including the gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate that, at 1.8 per cent in the first quarter of 2020, was approximately 5 percentage points lower than its historical trajectory in recent years.
Morisset said: “Việt Nam has a unique opportunity to increase its footprint in the world economy and to push ahead with its agenda of reforms so it can accelerate its quest to become a high-income economy in the foreseeable future.”
The bank saw the local GDP continue to expand during the first six months of 2020, albeit at a slower pace than in the recent past while inflation has been contained despite the easing of monetary conditions by the State Bank of Việt Nam, which has led to the expansion of credit by commercial banks to businesses. The bank representative also said Việt Nam has coped with the impact of COVID-19 on its external accounts by maintaining a trade surplus and attracting a relatively large amount of foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows even though exports have contracted in recent months.
Morisset said as many of the local businesses were home based with family-member employees, household businesses could recover quite quickly after social distancing. However, he said Việt Nam should do more to cope with the new situation, saying: “No one knows what will happen in the few weeks.”
Over the weekend, as more COVID-19 cases were reported and another wave of social distancing could be applied, the bank said tourism and remittances could be further impacted. As governmental data indicates that as many as 30 million workers, or more than half of the labour force, could have been affected by the crisis, the bank said the country should prepare to retrain its workers. The report said the impact of the crisis has also not been uniform, raising inequalities across sectors and among people.
As about 90 per cent of the population has a smartphone and a good foundation of digital infrastructure, the World Bank’s representative said: “Việt Nam can take the chance to boost contact-free services and e-commerce.” According to the report, the ongoing transformation of the global economy provides the opportunity for Việt Nam to take important policy actions.
WB estimated that the local GDP should rebound in the second quarter of 2020 so that the economy will grow at around 2.8 per cent for the entire year. It should further expand by 6.8 per cent in 2021 (baseline scenario). With less favourable external conditions, the economy will expand by only 1.5 per cent in 2020 and 4.5 per cent in 2021 (downside scenario).
The report also said: “Regardless of the scenario, Việt Nam is expected to remain one of the fastest-growing economies in the world in 2020." LINK
Samson: Việt Nam needs full market economy: experts
31st July, 2020
Economists have said Việt Nam would gain many benefits from a full and modern market economy.
“The local economy is now owned and controlled by the State, so it is not yet a market economy,” said Nguyễn Đình Cung, former director of the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM) at the seminar “Dialogue on Việt Nam's market economy institutions” held by the National Economics University and CIEM Wednesday in Hà Nội.
Cung pointed out that the country has been on the path to become a market economy for the last 30 years, adding: “I hope the path will end soon." He said the State’s ownership is transferred very slowly, while economic management must be run by the market not the State. He suggested the State should run the market in necessary areas and give space for a market economy.
Cung considered the level of market development of the economy and the effectiveness of the Government as two indicators of a good market economy but he said: “These indicators in Việt Nam are not good.” Cung said there should be a balance between the managing role of the State and the market, emphasising that "the market economy might not solve all the problems of the economy, but without it, our economy will fail."
Economist Phạm Chi Lan said there were resolutions and documents to build a market economy in Việt Nam but, for years, they have been struggling to remove barriers. Lan said though the local economy has state-owned enterprises (SOEs), FDI enterprises and private enterprises, SOEs and FDI enterprises still had the upper hand in policies and incentives. Lan said: "In the current GDP structure, the private sector contributes less than 10 per cent,” meaning the low ratio of private sector participation could not help build a market economy.
Economist Lê Đăng Doanh said though 90 countries have recognised Việt Nam as a market economy, according to the evaluation of the US and the European Union, Việt Nam does not have one. To be recognised, Doanh suggested the country step up the removal of barriers in institutions and the Government should not intervene deeply into the economy but only hold ownership in some crucial industries. Doanh said if so, the economy will gain many benefits, while many procedures will be reduced to help local businesses cut costs.
Fred McMahon, from Canada’s Fraser Institute, said that Việt Nam has a remarkable economic growth record, adding that economic freedom would help create momentum for growth to overcome the middle-income trap.
At the seminar, experts said Việt Nam should build the economy based on an international set of indicators, similar to how it developed the business environment according to the index of the World Bank and the World Economic Forum.
Trần Thọ Đạt, president of the National Economics University, said: “It is time to pay attention to the indicators of economic freedom as a measure of the full development of Việt Nam's market economy, especially for Việt Nam to overcome the low average development threshold.” LINK
"Tuesday News" Posted by Samson at KTFA 8-4-2020
.KTFA:
Samson: Iraq is ranked 14 out of 18 Arab countries in the field of economic government effectiveness
4th August, 2020
Economic expert Manar Al-Ubaidi revealed on Tuesday a study conducted by the Arab Monetary Fund in 2019 in the field of the index of the effectiveness of Arab governments in economic matters.
Al-Obaidi said in a statement to the obelisk: Iraq ranked 14 out of 18 Arab countries that were studied in the field of government effectiveness index in economic matters.
According to the study, Iraq ranked last in the amount of the rule of law in the field of economic matters, with a factor of 1.6, and 14th in the field of administrative corruption with a factor of 1.3433, while on the level of the government's effectiveness, Iraq ranked 14th and a factor of 1.2465.
KTFA:
Samson: Iraq is ranked 14 out of 18 Arab countries in the field of economic government effectiveness
4th August, 2020
Economic expert Manar Al-Ubaidi revealed on Tuesday a study conducted by the Arab Monetary Fund in 2019 in the field of the index of the effectiveness of Arab governments in economic matters.
Al-Obaidi said in a statement to the obelisk: Iraq ranked 14 out of 18 Arab countries that were studied in the field of government effectiveness index in economic matters.
According to the study, Iraq ranked last in the amount of the rule of law in the field of economic matters, with a factor of 1.6, and 14th in the field of administrative corruption with a factor of 1.3433, while on the level of the government's effectiveness, Iraq ranked 14th and a factor of 1.2465.
The three Arab countries, the UAE, Qatar and Oman, ranked first.
This report is prepared annually in cooperation with the World Bank to show the amount of a set of indicators, to measure the amount of competition between Arab economies and to know the strengths and weaknesses of all economies and their impact on the general reality of the country.
The study relies on a set of questionnaires and surveys of the reality of the market to produce the most accurate results and analyzes. LINK
Samson: Iraq ranks 3 in the Arab world and 26 worldwide in oil consumption
4th August, 2020
According to the global firepower foundation, Iraq ranked third in the Arab world as the largest oil consumer, while the United States ranked first globally.
According to the report, seen by Shafaq News agency,
In Arabic countries:
Iraq ranked third in the Arab world and 26 globally with 825 thousand barrels per day.
Saudi Arabia ranked first in the Arab world and the fifth globally with a consumption of four million barrels per day.
Egypt ranked second in the Arab world and ranked 25 globally, with 832 barrels per day.
Worldwide
The United States of America ranks first, it consumes 20 million barrels daily.
China ranks the second with 13 million and 500 thousand barrels per day.
India ranks third with a consumption of 5 million barrels per day.
Bhutan ranks the last on the global list with a quantity of 2000 barrels per day.
Oil consumption depends on the country's economic strength and industrial development, as well as its population. LINK
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Samson: Trump: Sending troops to middle east is US's worst decision ever
4th August, 2020
US President Donald Trump dubbed US military becoming involved in the middle east as "Worst decision" in the country's history.
Trump said in an interview with Axios, "Sending troops to the middle east and getting involved in the conflicts there is the worst decision in the country's history. This is my opinion".
Trump has repeatedly stated earlier that the United States intends to end the policy of "endless wars" and seeks to establish partnerships with countries of the world rather than compete and fight with them. LINK
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Samson: Zarif: The invasion of Iraq was the result of a miscalculation by the major powers
19:04 - 08/03/2020
On Monday, the Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, considered that the miscalculation committed by the major powers, or in other words, the superpowers in the process of the new world order, has far more catastrophic consequences than the mistakes of other countries.
In the second session of his series of speeches titled "The World in Transition," Zarif said, "The American invasion of Iraq as one of the mistakes in the calculations of the superpowers. He said that when this invasion was carried out there was a lot of mystery about this attack, but there was one thing Very clear, it was clear from the start that this war would lead to the growth of extremism in the world.
Zarif said that "extremism was due to miscalculations, misjudgment and occupation. The main problem that led to the current unfortunate situation is the problem of misunderstanding and misjudgment that led to the mistakes of regional and superpowers."
He pointed out that "losing awareness of the end of this transitional period and he said that we have been living in this stage for 30 years, and we should not predict the end date of this period, as this is a long period, because the stage of the Cold War lasted about fifty years." LINK
Samson: Parliamentary crisis expects the return of official working hours by 50% after Eid al-Adha
19:32 - 03/08/2020
The Parliamentary Crisis Cell expected, on Monday, the return of official working hours in all institutions and government departments by 50% after the end of the blessed Eid Al-Adha holiday.
"The partial ban will continue after the end of the Eid al-Adha holiday, while reducing the hours of the ban," cell member MP Abbas Aliwi said in a statement to "Information", pointing out that "the ban will be lifted completely gradually in Baghdad and the provinces."
He added, "It is expected that official work hours will be restored in all government institutions and institutions by 50% after the end of the holiday," noting that "Coronavirus infections are still a great danger, but the government is heading towards easing its measures related to the ban."
The Supreme Committee for Health and Safety had decided to impose a comprehensive ban during the Eid period until the ninth of August. LINK
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Samson: The prime minister issues directives regarding the ministers who have failed to disclose their financial accounts
15:31 - 04/08/2020
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi directed the ministers who had failed to disclose their financial accounts to present him as soon as possible with integrity.
A spokesman for the Prime Minister, Ahmed Mulla Talal, said at a conference that "the attack on the event does not represent the security establishment and it is an individual act."
He added, “The Prime Minister directed the termination of the assignment of an employee of the relatives of the Minister of Transport and his referral to the investigation because of the flight delay and the full and complete adherence to the timing of flights and according to the scheduled schedules.
He pointed out that "the Prime Minister directed to allocate an extraordinary session of the Council of Ministers to find appropriate solutions for the next academic year." LINK
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Samson: Oil prices decline with the return of OPEC + to raise production
4th August, 2020
Oil prices fell on Tuesday after OPEC + resumed its oil production this month, indicating some concerns about oversupply
Oil has been stuck near $ 40 a barrel since early June, as increased cases have raised doubts about a sustainable recovery in consumption
The West Texas Intermediate broker for September delivery fell 0.9% to $ 40.92 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange as of 10:00 Baghdad time
Brent crude, the October load, also fell 0.10% to $ 44.05 on the European Futures Exchange, after rising nearly 1.5% on Monday
OPEC increased its production by 900 thousand barrels per day last month to 23.43 million barrels per day, as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait returned the additional production that was cut in January when it redoubled efforts to reduce the abundance of production LINK
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Samson: International Monetary: Corona may reduce global imbalances in 2020
4th August, 2020
The International Monetary Fund suggested today, Tuesday, that the current imbalances in the global current account balance diminished in 2019 with the slowdown in trade, and that Corona may increase it further in 2020.
He said: "The net current account balance fell 0.2 percentage points to 2.9% of Global GDP, and may shrink by 0.3% of global GDP in 2020, ”he said, adding that the" expectations are very vague."
The external sector report, which is the Fund’s annual report on currencies, showed that “the continued decline in trade activity, along with the huge financial expansion, is expected to reduce the balance of current transactions and surpluses in many countries.” LINK
"Sunday News" Posted by Samson 8-2-2020
.KTFA:
Samson: GFP: Iraq's reserve of hard currency amounts to $48bn
2nd August, 2020
Iraq's hard currency reserves reached 48 billion US dollars, according to the Global GFP Ranking Corporation, which indicated that China ranked first with the world's highest reserves.
The institution said, according to its latest classification, "Iraq's reserves of hard currency, including foreign exchange and gold, amounted to 48 billion and 880 million dollars", adding, "Iraq ranked 40th with the most reserves among the 138 statistically listed countries".
"Iraq ranked sixth in the Arab world after Saudi Arabia (496 billion and 400 million dollars), Algeria (97 billion and 890 million dollars), the United Arab Emirates (95 billion and 370 million dollars), followed by Libya (74 billion and 710 million dollars) and Lebanon (55 billion and 420 million dollars), the corporation added.
KTFA:
Samson: GFP: Iraq's reserve of hard currency amounts to $48bn
2nd August, 2020
Iraq's hard currency reserves reached 48 billion US dollars, according to the Global GFP Ranking Corporation, which indicated that China ranked first with the world's highest reserves.
The institution said, according to its latest classification, "Iraq's reserves of hard currency, including foreign exchange and gold, amounted to 48 billion and 880 million dollars", adding, "Iraq ranked 40th with the most reserves among the 138 statistically listed countries".
"Iraq ranked sixth in the Arab world after Saudi Arabia (496 billion and 400 million dollars), Algeria (97 billion and 890 million dollars), the United Arab Emirates (95 billion and 370 million dollars), followed by Libya (74 billion and 710 million dollars) and Lebanon (55 billion and 420 million dollars), the corporation added.
"China ranked first, with reserves of 3 trillion and 236 billion dollars, followed by Japan with one trillion and 264 billion dollars of reserves".
It is noteworthy that the Central Bank of Iraq reported, in April 2019, a rise in Iraq's foreign exchange reserves to $ 62 billion. LINK
Samson: Customs achieved more than 76 billion dinars during the month of July
08/2/2020 09:48:01
The General Authority of Customs announced that its total revenues earned during the month of July, which amounted to more than (76) billion dinars.
She added in a statement received by {Al Furat News} that “this number was achieved despite the yellowing of customs duties on a lot of goods and the lack of imports due to the closure of most border ports due to the Corona pandemic.”
The authority said that "and in light of the difficult economic and health conditions that pass through our dear country, its cadres working in all districts and customs centers continue to contribute effectively to help us to their people and their country, united with all challenges and obstacles to work to advance their work and achieve the highest revenues, boosted by the state treasury billions of dinars per day."
She continued, "It contributed to facilitating the entry of thousands of shipments of medicines, medical supplies and foodstuffs around the clock, day and night, and through direct efforts and follow-up by the higher management in the authority in order to facilitate the smooth flow of consignments into the country for basic and food materials, especially human medicines, to be delivered to the consumer in light of the current crisis." LINK
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Samson: Iraq determines three bases of the relation with the international coalition
2nd August, 2020
The Iraqi Armed Forces identified what they described as the "basics" of their relationship with the international coalition"
The relationship between the Iraqi armed forces and the international coalition is based on three principles", the spokesman for the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces, Major General Yehia Rasool, said.
Rasool explained that these basics are, "training, armament, equipping", assuring that, "We will continue to work together according to the strategy set by the Iraqi government".
The international coalition, led by the United States, confirmed on July 23, that the Iraqi government still needs support in its war against ISIS, which has recently begun operating in several areas of the country.
About 5,000 US soldiers remain in Iraq, most of them are carrying out advisory missions, despite the withdrawal from several military bases.
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Samson:; British newspaper: Kuwait's relations with Iraq are still lacking confidence
12:11 - 02/08/2020
The British National newspaper confirmed in its report, Sunday, that despite the passage of 30 years since Saddam's regime's invasion of Kuwait, rebuilding relations between Iraq and Kuwait is still facing obstacles.
The report, translated by "The Information," stated that "the consequences of the invasion of Saddam's regime were economic sanctions and compensation amounting to 52.4 billion dollars for the losses caused by the invasion and occupation of Kuwait in addition to cutting ties and restoring relations between the two countries after the overthrow of the regime in the wake of the US invasion of Iraq in 2003."
The first Iraqi ambassador to Kuwait, Faisal al-Istrabadi, said, "Kuwait quietly welcomed the regime change, which contributed to improving relations." He added, "We have built a good working relationship between the two missions, but despite some positive developments in the relationship over the past 17 years, There are still remnants of mutual distrust between the two sides, indicating that “Kuwait did not play the subversive role that some of Iraq's neighbors played , but Kuwait also did not contribute positively, especially in the efforts to rebuild Iraq after 2003″.
Al-Estrabadi, who is currently director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Indiana American University, added that “other Gulf countries, for example, have forgiven or substantially reduced Iraq’s debt during Saddam’s era, but Kuwait has categorically refused to give up its debt to Iraq.” What was considered under a mandate of the United Nations Security Council debts to Kuwait due to the invasion not to mention the reduction of the basic debt.
For his part, Director of the Iraq Initiative in the Atlantic Council, Abbas Kazim said that “while Kuwait was determined to receive all the compensation granted to it by the United Nations, it accepted the new government in Iraq , and despite the difficult history between them, the Kuwaitis decided to turn the separation and it was a pleasure that He knows that Saddam and the ideology that Kuwait is part of Iraq is gone.
And Kazim explained that “the relations between the two countries received a big boost with the visit of the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah to Iraq in early 2012, while Kuwait offered to host a donors conference for the reconstruction of Iraq in 2018, shortly after Baghdad announced its victory over the terrorist organization ISIS.”
The report noted that "Iraq addressed some key issues that Kuwait was concerned about them, and specifically what it wanted Nations United to abide by Iraq to to pay some war compensation and the issue of the remains of Kuwaiti prisoners of war, but the most important outstanding issues between the two countries focus on border control and maritime borders and access to fishing And common oil fields. ” LINK
Samson: The Iranian terrorist regime is toppling ... massive strikes by oil and gas workers in southern Iran
2nd August, 2020
A new gathering of Iranian protests and strikes, in protest against the deteriorating economic situation, employees and workers in the economic and petrochemical areas, the Parsian refinery and Lamard Petrochemicals in southern Iran went on the job, due to delays in the payment of their salaries, according to the Mujahideen Khalq Organization.
The organization said in a statement, that strikes by workers at the Abadan refinery, Barsian and Lamard Petrochemicals, and the South Pars refineries, and Kankan, and their employees come to protest against the non-payment of wages, amid the determination of the workers to continue their strike until their demands are met.
The organization added, that the workers in the economic and petrochemical areas in the south and the organization continued, that the workers work in non-human conditions, where companies and refineries force them to work for long hours despite warnings of high temperatures, which led to the death of a worker in the warehouse and storage facility in the port of Mahshahr Iran entered a comprehensive strike until wages are paid on time, and working conditions are improved, especially as they work at temperatures up to 50 degrees Celsius.
These strikes coincide with the strike of the sugar cane company "Haft Taba", whose strike entered the 48th day to protest against the non-payment of their salaries.
Maryam Rajavi, the leader of the Iranian opposition, praised the workers’ movements for obtaining their rights, and said in a tweet: “A salute to the workers in Haft Tabbah for the sugar cane in Shoush who have been continuing the protest and strike for nearly 50 days ..
The regime left the Iranians in the siege of disease and unemployment and does not pay the rights of hard-working nurses .. The only way to salvation is to achieve democracy and rule the people." LINK