KTFA Members "News and Veiws" Thursday PM 9-17-2020

KTFA:

DELTA:  Central Bank of Iraq (CBI). Mustafa Ghaleb has been named the CBI’s new governor after long service as its head of legal affairs. A nonpartisan figure with a history of resisting political pressure, he will now take the lead on implementing bank reforms and protecting the dollar auction process against interference from Iran, militias, and other corrupt actors.

Pastor:  Oh Buddy... If I recalled right, did Frank say replace the CBI governor replace the rate? Well, dippity do dah Read this post. IMO

JJimmyJJ:  Imo In case anyone was confused,  the official policy of the Central Bank of Iraq,  as specified by the Governor of the Central Bank,  is to raise the value of the national currency.

Samson:  The New Central Bank Governor: We Set A Plan To Develop The Bank’s Work And Strengthen The Dinar

17th September, 2020

The new Central Bank Governor, Mustafa Mukhaif Al-Kitab, affirmed that he had put in place a "deliberate banking plan" to develop the bank's work, strengthen the national currency and address negatives, while the head of the Supreme Judicial Council, Judge Faik Zaidan, stressed the need to adhere to banking laws and the anti-money laundering and terrorist financing law.

The media office of the Central Bank said in a statement received by Al-Mustaqilla today, Thursday, that “The Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq, Mustafa Ghaleb Al-Kitab, met with the President of the Supreme Judicial Council, Judge Faik Zaidan.”

The statement quoted the book as saying that "a deliberate banking plan has been developed that will develop the work of the central bank, strengthen the national currency and deal with negatives in cooperation with the courts specialized in joint work with the central bank."

For his part, Zidan said, "The selection of independent personalities from among the affiliates of state institutions to manage these institutions gives an indication of the government's seriousness in pursuing the professional institutional approach in building the state as well as emphasizing the importance of preserving the independence of the Central Bank in accordance with the constitution and the Central Bank of Iraq law."

Zidan stressed, "The need to adhere to banking laws, the law against money laundering and terrorist financing, and the instructions issued pursuant to them, to build a solid banking sector capable of facing financial and economic challenges and providing real opportunities for development."  LINK

MilitiaMan:  Fairly sure we can all absorb these articles. They have been effectively what we have been waiting for. Instructions issued.. In other words the horses mouth has spoken.. imo.. Now we should see the citizens gearing for an exchange rate to bring in the 50k and 25k notes.. imo.. As that will bring in the real opportunities!! imo ~ MM 

DCDriver:  Delta said he was waiting for the CBI to speak. This looks like it IMO

Buckeyetree:  In my opinion, the sooner than later reinstatement scenario is more likely not only for the recent great news posted today, but a reinstatement before the November election in the US would certainly aid the president with his re-election as the dinar RI is expected to provide a worldwide stimulus which includes the USA and Iraq. Perhaps Kazemi would be happy to oblige if the timing is right as he and Trump appear to be on the same page. We watch and wait what now appears to be very exciting times.

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Clare:  FROM FRANK: YOUTUBE TONIGHT......... AFTER PASTOR K'S BIBLE STUDY..AROUND 8:05 PM EST FRANK SAID "it would behoove them not to miss what we want to share" .... 30-45 MINS LONG.... FRANK26 

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Don961:  The President of the Kurdistan Region affirms his support for the Al-Kazemi government and the stability of Iraq

Thursday 17th September 2020  Baghdad: Morning

 Yesterday, Wednesday, the President of the Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, during his meeting with representatives of foreign consulates, affirmed his support for the federal government headed by Mustafa Al-Kazemi and the stability of Iraq, while stressing the implementation of the "federal system" as stated in the constitution.

Barzani also confirmed, according to a statement by his office, that "the Kurdistan region will always remain a factor of stability in Iraq and the region and wishes to develop its relations with neighboring countries on the basis of mutual respect and common interests." Large commercial and large economic activities with The two countries ».

In another aspect of the meeting, Barzani highlighted the "fears of the emergence of ISIS," and stressed the need for "continued international support for the region and Iraq in the face of terrorism and the importance of coordination between the Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi army, especially the areas covered by Constitutional Article 140."

Barzani pointed out that "the policy and orientations of the region on the basis of protecting the security and stability of the region," stressing "dialogue and joint action to overcome crises and help the displaced and refugees to return to their areas of origin."   LINK

Samson:  The security services arrest the director of the state agricultural bank, his son, and ten employees in Baghdad

17th September, 2020

An informed source said, Thursday, September 17, 2020, that the security services have arrested the Director General of the Governmental Cooperative Agricultural Bank, Adel Khudair, and his son in the capital, Baghdad.

The source said in an interview received by Al-Masalla that a security force had arrested the bank’s manager, his son, in addition to other bank employees.  He added that the arrest of the bank’s manager, his son and the employees took place on the seventh of September, and the incident has not been announced yet.

In turn, the family of the bank appealed to the bank manager to know the place of his arrest, confirming that they did not have any information yet, whether about the reason or the place of detention.

A security source revealed, on Thursday, September 17, 2020, that a security force had arrested the head of the Baghdad Investment Commission.

The source said that a security force had arrested the head of the Baghdad Investment Commission, Shaker Al-Zamili. He added that he did not know until now the reasons for Al-Zamili's arrest.

Iraq is witnessing a campaign of arrests, coinciding with the start of the work of the Supreme Committee to investigate major corruption files, headed by Lieutenant General Ahmed Abu Ragheef.

LINK

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Samson:  The government launches an anti-corruption campaign to hold 1,000 people accused of corruption accountable

17th September, 2020

The Iraqi government campaign began with the arrest of figures accused of corruption in state institutions, including ministers, deputy ministers, heads of investment agencies and businessmen, whose number is determined to be 1000

Iraq has a number of institutions that follow the file of corruption, such as the Integrity Commission, the Supreme Council for Combating Corruption, the Parliamentary Integrity Committee, and others, and the country occupies the last ranks in the classification of Transparency International

A member of the Parliamentary Economic Committee, Ali Al-Lami, said that the despicable quota system produced corruption by distributing positions to parties, indicating that there are 27 people accused of corruption who will be arrested in the coming days, including 2 ministers, heads of investment agencies, deputy ministers and general directors. He pointed out that more than 5,000 corruption files exist with the Integrity Commission, and all of them contain evidence, but the lack of will disrupted the issue of combating corruption

And Iraq entered more than a trillion dollars since 2003 until now, but the country is still living in economic decline as a result of rampant corruption, and a large number of Iraqis welcomed any measures that limit corruption. The Anti-Corruption Council has identified 1,000 individuals accused of corruption since it began operating during the previous government

Informed sources indicated that the arrest of the former head of the retirement authority, Ahmed Abdul Jalil and head of the Baghdad Investment Commission, Shaker Al-Zamili, is due to corruption files, noting that there are 4 former ministers who will be arrested during the coming days, especially since there is international coordination to recover the corrupt figures

Meanwhile, a member of the Parliamentary Integrity Committee, Alia Nassif, said that corruption in Iraq exists in the country's leaders, and they own economic bodies, and thus requires political will to eradicate corruption, noting that the black box for corrupt files is located in the Ministry of Oil. She emphasized that the contracts of the ministries of oil, electricity, trade and defense are marred by a lot of corruption, explaining that tax evasion has harmed the Iraqi economy, which is an important file of corruption

In the meantime, the head of the Reform and Change Foundation, Sabah Al-Kinani, said that corruption has become a reality in Iraq, and if there is an employee who is not corrupt, he fights and may be referred to retirement, explaining that there are contracts signed by state institutions, with fake companies under the pretext of social security for employees and retirees. Pointing out that one institution gives these companies amounts between 7-9 billion dinars per month. He noted that the arrest of the former head of the retirement authority, Ahmed Al-Saadi, was due to the signing of a contract with a fake company regarding social security, as 7 billion dinars were deducted a month from the retirees   LINK

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Samson:  Integrity: The Issuance Of An Arrest And Investigation Order Against (21) Defendants In The North Refineries Company

17th September, 2020
The Federal Integrity Commission announced the issuance of an arrest and investigation order against a number of suspects in the Northern Refineries Company; Causing them to waste large quantities of white oil.

The commission said in a statement that Al-Mustaqilla received a copy of today, Thursday, that the Investigation Department of the Commission, in its discussion of the details of the case, indicated that the judge of the Kirkuk Investigation Court, which is specialized in issues of integrity, issued an arrest and investigation order against (21) accused of the workers in North Refineries Company - Kirkuk Refinery; Causing them to waste (370,000) thousand liters of white oil due to negligence.

The department added that the investigations of the authority's investigation office in the governorate and its direct access to the site of the event led to the fact that the waste occurred; As a result of oil leakage from the pipeline conveying the refinery to the warehouse; Because of the erosion occurring in it, and large quantities of it were pumped, which led to the leakage of that quantity to the lands through which the pipe passes, and the waste of those large quantities of it.  LINK

Samson:  Anti-Corruption arrests the chief of the Key Card Company, Bahaa Al-Zubaidi, on the airport road, and the former Minister of Communications, Naim Chijeel, mediating his release, to no avail

17th September, 2020

Private sources revealed on Thursday, September 17, 2020 that the head of the Qi Card company was arrested on the airport road.

The sources reported that the force had arrested the president of the company, Bahaa Al-Zubaidi, on the orders of the Anti-Corruption Committee formed by Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi.

Iraqi circles considered the arrest of Al-Zubaidi as a devastating blow to one of the dens of corruption whose power relies on influential figures, foremost of which is the former Minister of Communications, Naim Thijeel Al-Rubaie, who felt that he had received a severe blow after the arrest of his partner in the corruption files, Bahaa Al-Zubaidi.

The Parliamentary Integrity Committee confirmed, on January 30, 2019, "serious suspicions of corruption" related to the "Iraq Key Card" company, while the government demanded that the government issue arrest warrants against its owner and his partners. However, previous eras, influenced by the parties, and the benefiting forces, delayed implementation, and refused to arrest the head of the company. The company is accused of serious corruption suspects, including money laundering, and is covered by former Communications Minister Naim Thijeel Al-Rubaie.

The International Smart Card Company (Key Card) was established in 2007 in Baghdad with joint-stock companies from the largest government-owned Iraqi banks, Al-Rasheed and Al-Rafidain, together with IEPS.  The company is headed by Bahaa Abdul-Hussein Al-Saadi, an Iraqi Canadian, with his brother, the company's agent, "Ibrahim Abdul-Hussein Al-Saadi". Since 2007, the company has been paying the salaries of more than 70 Iraqi government departments and ministries.

The company has a monopoly on working in this field in Iraq, as it does not have any competing company in the same field and the reason for the lack of competing companies for it or of its quality is that this company (Key Card) provides bribes to the influential forces to prevent the issuance of any work permit for the establishment of competing companies.

Representatives in the Iraqi parliament admitted that the political blocs object to the changes and arrest orders against the corrupt made by Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi, and are working to create public opinion from their partisans to obstruct the war on corruption and create a feigned uproar to pit the street against the prime minister, while the member of the Parliamentary Integrity Committee, Jawad, admitted Hamdan, Wednesday, September 16, 2020, that Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi will face a confrontation with leaders and heads of political blocs in his campaign against corruption, saying in a statement received by Al-Masalla that "the prime minister's steps are promising and come within the framework of his implementation of what he proposed in his program Government in fighting corruption. "

A private government source revealed to Al-Masalla, the implementation of the legal arrest warrants for six officials accused of corruption, after the arrest of the former director of the Pension Authority, Ahmed Al-Saadi, on Tuesday, September 15, 2020.

A security source revealed, on Thursday, September 17, 2020, that a security force had arrested the head of the Baghdad Investment Commission, Shakir Al-Zamili, and the Director General of the Government Agricultural Bank, Adel Khudair, in addition to other employees in Baghdad.  LINK

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Samson:  Chief economist at the World Bank: The global economic recovery may take 5 years

17th September, 2020

The World Bank chief economist, Carmen Reinhart, said that the global economy's recovery from the crisis caused by the Corona pandemic may take five years

"There will likely be a quick recovery due to the lifting of all restrictions related to the general isolation measures, but a full recovery will take up to five years," she said in a remote intervention during a conference in Madrid

She added that the recession caused by the pandemic will last longer in countries than others and will result in an imbalance in equality, given that the poorest countries will be affected more than the rich

And she added that for the first time in twenty years, global poverty rates will increase after the crisis

LINK

MilitiaMan and Samson with News Wednesday 9-16-2020

KTFA:

MilitiaMan:  The 2020 budget is not off the table yet, imo. The cannot legislate (enact) it yet. It is not to be looked over. It has a purpose with it. We won't see anything in 2021 with out this year.

Next year is what will come after this year is sorted.

Notice the mention of the PRESSURE from parties and the STREET! They have it slated for later the Cabinet to finish this week and then the Parliament will see it next week.

Well later this week could be from now through Saturday, next week starts Sunday. All to be done within or over the legislative time frame of a two week period.

They already have had one special session on it already. Most likely imo the 2019 FMLA is inside it, thus, it is being timed accordingly.

Lets not forget the electronic systems to be in place at the Borders and the GOI. They need to fire once they decide to go international or expose a new exchange rate.

They will need to be transparent. Thus, we see the adjustments being made to personnel at 8-9 key places. They include the CBI. All still looks very promising.. imo.. ~ MM

Samson:  The arrest of the former head of the retirement authority, Ahmed Al-Saadi, by a force tasked with arresting the corrupt

21:50 - 09/15/2020

A security source said, on Tuesday, that a force from the Counter-Terrorism Service had arrested the former head of the National Retirement Authority, Ahmed Al-Saadi, in the center of the capital, Baghdad.

The source stated to "the information" that "a security force led by Lieutenant General Ahmed Abu Ragheef, in charge of combating corruption, arrested this evening the former director of the National Retirement Authority, Ahmed Al-Saadi, in Al-Wathba Square in the center of the capital, Baghdad."

He added that "Al-Saadi is now inside the headquarters of the Swat forces, and it will be presented to the competent judge tomorrow, Wednesday," without further details.   LINK

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Samson:  With Al-Saadi ... 6 officials were arrested as part of a campaign led by Al-Kazemi

15th September, 2020
A security source said, on Tuesday, that a "SWAT" force has arrested six Iraqi officials as part of the anti-corruption campaign led by Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi.  

The source said, to Shafaq News Agency, that "a security force from Swat arrested today  six officials, along with the former director of the retirement authority, Ahmed Al-Saadi, in Baghdad, on charges of corruption."

The source pointed out that "there is a campaign against senior officials that will be implemented soon," without further details.

An informed source said earlier today, Tuesday, that a counterterrorism force had arrested the former head of the pension authority, Ahmed Al-Saadi, in Baghdad on charges of corruption, indicating that he was placed in custody until he was brought up tomorrow, Wednesday, to the integrity investigation judge. The source indicated that the military force moved to arrest Al-Saadi on the orders of Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi.

Al-Kazemi issued earlier in the ongoing poetry to form a permanent committee to investigate corruption cases headed by the human rights team at the Ministry of Interior, Ahmed Taha Hashem, and the membership of representatives of the Intelligence and National Security and Integrity Commission (official), provided that its findings are presented to the Prime Minister . Al-Kazemi also tasked the forces of the Counter-Terrorism Service, which includes the elite army, to implement decisions issued by investigative judges or specialized courts related to corruption cases.

This is the first time that the army has been assigned to undertake this task entrusted to the security forces in Iraq. And the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service forces were armed and trained by elements of the American army, to combat the militants of the terrorist organization "ISIS" in the country.

The fight against corruption is at the top of the demands of the massive protests that Iraq has witnessed since October 2019. Iraq is among the most corrupt countries in the world, according to Transparency International's index over the past years, and international reports are always received of waste and embezzlement.   LINK

Samson:  Integrity prepares 479 international recovery files against fugitive convicts outside Iraq

09:56 - 09/16/2020

On Wednesday, the Integrity Commission called for the need to enact a law preventing dual nationalities from assuming senior positions in the country, and while it revealed that it had prepared 479 international recovery files against convicted fugitives outside the country, it confirmed its success in recovering and preventing the waste of four trillion dinars during the past two years.

The head of the recovery department at the authority, Muhammad Ali Muften, said in an interview followed by / the information /, that “the department has prepared 479 international recovery files against convicts fleeing outside the country, totaling 194 convicts,” pointing out that “54 convicts have been arrested.”

Muften added, "The foreign judicial authorities refused to hand over 43 of them to their Iraqi counterparts, and there are three others whose cases are still pending before foreign courts, while the Iraqi authorities have recovered eight convicts, including a minister and of his degree." He continued, “The department’s efforts resulted in the Lebanese judicial authorities arresting the former Minister of Trade in 2017, and the Iraqi judicial authorities received him in 2018. The total sentences imposed against him are 650 years in prison, and the money demanded to return it is 800 million dollars.

"The international files of recovery also included the former governor of Kirkuk and the mayor of Baghdad, and they were arrested last year by the Lebanese and Syrian authorities, but they refused to hand them over to Iraq," Muften added, stressing that "his department continues with the procedures for recovering the convicts, many of whom reside in Jordan, Turkey, the Emirates and Syria." He revealed, “The success of his department in recovering 12 million euros from Spain, representing the value of oil shipments prepared from the Ministry of Oil to a Spanish company in 1988, and the technical support team also recovered funds for the dissolved Military Industrialization Organization that were deposited in a Jordanian bank, with 500 thousand dollars deposited in the account of a person. And his wife was a director of a dissolved military manufacturing company in a Lebanese bank.

And the director of the recovery department continued that his department “recovered two million and 300 thousand pounds after following up on the first convict in the case of the British explosive detection devices (Jim McCromick), and also recovered 23 billion and 516 million dinars and 500 thousand dollars from convicts convicted in absentia, and seized movable and immovable money for convicts outside the country. And prevent them from disposing of it until they appear before the Iraqi judiciary, announcing the success of the commission over the past two years in recovering and preventing the waste of more than four trillion dinars.

He revealed “the existence of impediments in the field of recovery, the most prominent of which is dual nationality, calling for the enactment of a law that prohibits the assumption of dual nationalities to senior positions in the state in implementation of Article (18) / Fourth of the constitution, which stipulates that whoever holds a high security or sovereign position must give up any Another acquired nationality, in addition to the absence of obligation and penalties for countries that host the smuggled money and the accused,” pointing out “the importance of concluding international agreements between Iraq and the rest of the countries, which will ensure overcoming some of these obstacles.” LINK

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Samson: A little more detail exactly what was agreed to in Washington

15th September, 2020

Ambassador Tueller: “During the bilateral Strategic Dialogue, top officials of our two countries discussed topics like economic development, trade and finance, energy and oil, security, and the international community’s support for free and fair Iraqi elections. They also discussed humanitarian, environmental, and health issues, and educational and cultural cooperation.

Today, we’re introducing a new series of short videos to help explain in a little more detail exactly what was agreed to in Washington – and exactly what a partnership with the United States means for Iraq and the Iraqi people.“    VIDEO   LINK

Samson:  Iraq budget 2020: its deficit is close to half, and its money for salaries and corona

16th September, 2020
The Parliamentary Economic and Investment Committee revealed, on Wednesday, the size of the federal budget deficit for the year 2020, indicating that it focuses on securing salaries and financing the ration card, as well as facing the Corona pandemic.

A member of the committee, Ali Al-Lami, told Shafaq News, "The draft general budget for the year 2020 does not contain any investment allocations, and focused only on securing the salaries of employees and retirees, financing the ration card and providing financial allocations to the Ministry of Health to confront the Corona pandemic."

He added that "the financial deficit in the 2020 budget is 45%," noting that "budget financing depends on oil and non-oil revenues, in addition to financial loans that the government has directed to within the fiscal borrowing law for the year 2020."

The Iraqi Council of Ministers approved, on Monday, the draft federal budget law for 2020, and sent it to the House of Representatives.

The spokesman for the Prime Minister, Ahmed Mulla Talal, said in a tweet to him, which was seen by Shafaq News Agency, that “in order to organize the spending process and secure the necessary expenditures for the remaining three months of the fiscal year, and in compliance with the decision of the Council of Representatives, the Cabinet approved the draft Federal Budget Law 2020, And send it to the House of Representatives." LINK

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Samson:  Kuwait receives from Iraq the remains of 21 missing Kuwaitis

16th September, 2020

The Kuwaiti embassy in the capital, Baghdad, received today, Wednesday, 21 remains of Kuwaiti prisoners believed to be of Kuwaiti prisoners lost during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990.

The embassy said in a statement received by Shafaq News, that it is a continuation of the efforts made in the file of Kuwaiti prisoners and missing persons and nationals of other countries through the mechanism of work of the tripartite and technical sub-committees emanating from it two internationals headed by the International Committee of the Red Cross and the membership of the State of Kuwait, the Republic of Iraq, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States The United States, the United Kingdom, and the Republic of France, in addition to the United Nations Mission to Support Iraq (UNAMI) - as observers.

The statement added that "the remains of remains believed to belong to Kuwaiti prisoners and missing persons who were found in the Samawah desert are being transferred and handed over today, based on preliminary indications."

The statement noted that genetic testing and identification of these remains will be conducted in the State of Kuwait through the General Administration of Criminal Evidence to match the results with the database of Kuwaiti prisoners and missing persons and nationals of other countries. LINK

KTFA Members "News and Views" Tuesday PM 9-15-2020

KTFA:

Samson:  Integrity announces a recruitment and travel ban for the governor of Kirkuk, and arrest warrants for 23 employees

15th September, 2020

The Federal Integrity Commission revealed the issuance of an import order and a travel ban for the governor of Kirkuk and the director of school buildings in the governorate, while it indicated that arrest warrants had been issued for (23) employees in the case of establishing schools in a pre-built method in the governorate.

The Investigation Department of the Commission, and in its discussion of the details of the case, reported that the Investigation Court for Integrity Issues in Kirkuk had issued an order to summon the Governor of Kirkuk and the Director of School Buildings in the Governorate, in accordance with the provisions of Article (340) of the Penal Code. 

Due to the existence of cases of waste of public money in the project of constructing schools using the pre-fabricated building method referred to a foreign company, at an amount of (57,894,000,000) billion dinars, explaining that the matter also included the former governor of Kirkuk.

The department added that the court issued an arrest warrant and a travel ban for (23) employees in the governorate and the General Directorate of Education, including its former director general in the same case.

The authority had announced late last month the implementation of the process of controlling the priorities for the project of constructing (25) schools through the pre-fabricated construction method referred to a foreign company, and revealed that the company implementing the project had tampered with the basic designs and reduced the number of schools from (25) to (18) School, changing designs and spaces, contrary to the terms of contracts and without obtaining the approval of the Ministry of Planning.  LINK

Samson:  HISTORIC day for PEACE in the Middle East — I am welcoming leaders from Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and the Kingdom of Bahrain to the White House to sign landmark deals that no one thought was possible. MORE countries to follow! pic.twitter.com/whvJpNPrri — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 15, 2020

SuMaq45:  https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-peace-deals-israel-bahrain-uae-middle-east

 Fox NewsTrump declares 'dawn of a new Middle East' as he presides over sign...President Trump on Tuesday declared a “historic day for peace” as he was scheduled to preside over the signing of two historic Middle East diplomatic deals between Israel and two Gulf nations. 

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Samson:  Foreign Minister: The Cabinet formed a committee on the redeployment of US forces

16:50 - 09/14/2020

Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein announced, on Monday, that the Council of Ministers has formed a technical committee on the redeployment of US forces in Iraq.

Hussein said during a press conference with his German counterpart Heiko Maas in the German capital Berlin, "Our relationship with Germany is important in various fields," adding, "We thank the German government for its continuous support to Iraq." He continued that "Germany provided support to Iraq in its war against ISIS," stressing the need for "joint cooperation to get rid of ISIS ." Hussain explained that "Germany helped build various hospitals in Iraq."

With regard to the American presence in Iraq, the Minister of Foreign Affairs said, "The Cabinet decision talks about scheduling the redeployment of US forces," referring to "the agreement to form a technical committee on redeployment." Hussein pointed out that "the French government supports protecting the sovereignty of Iraq," adding, "We will go to Paris to set a date for Al-Kazemi's visit to France."

For his part, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said, "We have provided two billion euros to Iraq in reconstruction aid," adding, "We value the reform project to boost the economy in Iraq." He pointed out that "Berlin supports Iraq to enhance its stability," stressing, "We will continue our military support in building Iraqi security capabilities."   LINK

Clare:  THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT FRANK TOLD US LAST NIGHT! IMO   

“German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said, "We have provided two billion euros to Iraq in reconstruction aid," adding, "We value the reform project to boost the economy in Iraq."

MilitiaMan:  Representative economic: the process of automating the ports will increase the revenues of the ports by 10 times  LINK

The new head of the Integrity Commission holds its first meeting to develop a "quick plan" to combat corruption  LINK

The launch of the single window project in the Department of Companies Registrar ... and the Ministry of Commerce reveals its advantages  LINK

MilitiaMan:  Notice the theme here is automation. Electronic programs to link companies and facilitate trade while battling corruption.

In so doing, they have a regulatory bylaw for disclosing financial receivables.

In other words, follow the money.

Automated ports will have to have an electronic paper trail. One that will have transparency. They need it now. Hence, we see all the articles on the matter.

The focus with the Kurds and borders for customs, fees, taxes etc, have been front and center, and even now to day the Port of Fao has been brought up in regard to corruption and it was deliberate negligence!

 I suspect they know who, when, how much, etc., that has been stolen..  The data base they create will be an on ongoing entity that want lie.. Every thing is going to be transparent and man o man is the revenues going to increase big time!!! imo.

Good times be sure going forward. imo!! ~ MM

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Samson:  The Iranian currency collapses against the dollar

15th September, 2020

Press sources said that the Iranian currency witnessed a major collapse against the US dollar by 27 thousand tomans for one dollar.

The sources said that the price of the dollar against the Iranian Toman broke a new record, with an increase of about one thousand tomans compared to last July, when it reached about 26 thousand tomans, after it was last March at a price of 16 thousand tomans.

The sources pointed out that the Central Bank of Iran pumped $ 280 billion of foreign currencies into the market to reduce the price of the dollar over the past 15 years, according to Central Bank Governor Abdel Nasser Hemmati, but he is unable to pump more currencies due to the 40% drop in oil exports.LINK

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Samson:  Trump warns Iran of any attack and affirms: Our response will be a thousand times stronger

15th September, 2020

US President Donald Trump warned Iran against launching any attack on the United States, vowing that the US response to it would be "a thousand times stronger," after media reports that Tehran had planned to assassinate an American ambassador in revenge for the killing of General Qassem Soleimani.

Trump said in a tweet on Twitter, "Any attack by Iran, whatever its form, against the United States will respond with a response to Iran that will be a thousand times stronger."

The reaction of the US President came following press reports that Iran had drawn up a plan to "assassinate" the US ambassador to South Africa, Lana Marks, who is close to Trump, with information ridiculed by Tehran, confirming that it was "baseless."  LINK

Monday Night KTFA CC with Frank26 and Team 9-14-2020

KTFA:

KFA Monday Night CC  9-14-2020

PLAYBACK IS: 605.313.5163   PIN: 156996#

Frank26:  9-14-20 ......relaxing  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qS0NuZB1b0

9-14-20 ......DISSOLVING THE CBI AND GOI

With Delta, Walkingstick, MilitiaMan and petra

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pd-JnBwIR8

KTFA Members "News and Views" Monday 9-14-2020

KTFA:

Samson:  Al-Kazemi chairs the special session of the Council of Ministers to discuss the budget law

13:28 - 14/09/2020

Today, Monday, Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi chaired the extraordinary session of the Council of Ministers to discuss the fiscal budget law.

The Prime Minister’s Office is scheduled to announce the meeting’s decisions later today.

And the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers announced earlier that it had received the draft budget for 2020.   LINK

Samson:  The Cabinet approves the 2020 budget and sends it to Parliament

09/14/2020 15:29:57

 Today, Monday, the Cabinet approved the draft federal budget bill for the year 2020.

The spokesman for the Prime Minister, Ahmed Mulla Talal, said in a tweet to him on Twitter: “In order to organize the spending process and secure the necessary expenditures for the remaining three months of the fiscal year, and in compliance with the decision of the House of Representatives, the Cabinet approved the draft Federal Budget Law 2020, and sent it To the House of Representatives."

Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi presided over the extraordinary session of the Council of Ministers today to discuss the fiscal budget law for 2020.   LINK

TheGreenTreeMusic:  What a day!! Single Window Project! new CBI governor !  2020 budget sent to HOR!

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Samson:  They included the Central Bank, the Municipality of Baghdad and Integrity .. Al-Kazemi is making major changes in positions

11:24 - 14/09/2020
On Monday, Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi made a series of major changes in a number of government positions and official bodies.

Al-Kazemi appointed Mustafa Ghaleb Makhaif al-Kitab as governor of the Central Bank, Suha Dawood Elias al-Najjar as head of the National Investment Commission, Manhal Aziz Raouf al-Haboubi as Secretary of Baghdad, Salem Jawad Abdul-Hadi al-Chalabi as Director of the Iraqi Trade Bank TBI, and Khaled al-Ubaidi as Deputy Operations Affairs of the Iraqi National Intelligence Service.

Al-Kazemi also appointed Faleh Yunus Hassan as an agent for the National Security Agency, Hassan Halbous Hamza as head of the Securities Commission, Sheikh Sami Al-Masoudi as head of the Hajj and Umrah Authority, and Alaa Jawad Hamid as head of the Integrity Commission.    LINK

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Samson:  Al-Kazemi is making changes in 8 deputy ministries

09/14/2020 12:00:17

 Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi made new changes in high positions.

The new change affected 8 agents of ministries.

Today, Al-Kazemi issued orders to change 9 important positions, namely:

1 - Mustafa Ghaleb Makhaif Al-Kitab, governor of the Central Bank of Iraq, instead of Ali Ismail Al-Alaq, who ran the position as an agency.
2- Salem Jawad Abd al-Hadi al-Chalabi, Director of the Iraqi Trade Bank TBI
3- Suha Dawood Elias al-Najjar, Chairman of the National Investment Commission.
4- Hassan Halbous Hamza, Chairman of the Securities Commission.
5- Representative Khaled Al-Obaidi, Deputy for Operations Affairs of the Iraqi National Intelligence Service.
6- Faleh Younis Hassan, an agent of the National Security Agency.
7- Alaa Jawad Hamid, Chairman of the Integrity Commission.
8- Sami Al-Masoudi, head of the Hajj and Umrah Commission.
9- Manhal Aziz Raouf Al-Haboubi, Secretary of Baghdad.

LINK

Bravo13:  I see this as a very good sign, out with the old, in with the new,  kazemi is getting his players lined up to bring in a new day to Iraq

Clare:  KAZEMI, HAS HAD GREAT MOMENTUM SINCE MEETING WITH TRUMP! 
THE TIMING OF THIS IS VERY TELLING. IMO

Samson:  The Al-Kazemi government will soon overthrow "important names" and refer them to the judiciary

14th September, 2020

Ahmed Mulla Talal, a spokesman for the Iraqi Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kazemi revealed, on Monday, that the government will soon remove important names and refer them to the judiciary on charges of corruption.

"The statement of the religious authority is supportive of the government, and the government is going to fight corruption," Malal Talal said in a press conference attended by Shafaq News Agency correspondent. 

The supreme religious authority, Mr. Ali al-Sistani, during his meeting with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Iraq, Jeanine Hennes Blashardt, announced his support for holding early elections as scheduled (June 2021), and the completion of the government program in the application of social justice, and the prosecution of criminals, including the killers of the demonstrators and the fight against corruption. And enhancing the performance of the security forces, imposing the prestige of the state and confining weapons in its hands.

These directives were welcomed by the presidents of the republic, Barham Salih, ministers, Mustafa Al-Kazemi, Parliament, Muhammad Al-Halbousi, and a number of political blocs, who confirmed their support for holding early, free and fair elections.

Mulla Talal added, "Soon you may hear about the removal of important names and their referral to the judiciary as a result of corruption files."

Since its formation last May, the Al-Kazemi government has made wide-ranging changes in high-ranking positions in the state, affecting security leaders and high-ranking officials in the administration and financial institutions. These changes come within the framework of reforms in state institutions and the fight against corruption.

Mulla Talal indicated that "the fact-finding committee will soon be formed to find out the killers of the demonstrators," stressing that "the current government will not neglect any of the rights of citizens."

LINK

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Don961:  Baghdad today publishes the proposed text for the 2020 budget

1,580 Policy 09/12/2020 19:00 Baghdad Today – Baghdad

Baghdad publishes today the proposed text of the 2020 budget bill submitted by the government To access and browse it, click here

On Saturday, September 12, 2020, a parliamentary source revealed special details of the 2020 budget, which Parliament intends to discuss after its approval by the government, especially with regard to appointments, the 5-year leave and end-of-service bonuses.

The source said in an interview with (Baghdad Today) that "Article (12 / second) stipulates that: Self-financed service institutions shall keep vacancies for the movement of owners to fix contracts according to precedence." He added that Article (21/3) includes: allocating 50% of the border crossing revenues to the governorates in which those ports are located.

He continued that Article (32 / second) states that: The contractor with a daily wage is entitled to terminate his contract in exchange for a financial reward of three months' salary for each year of service.

He pointed out that Article (32) also includes the activation of the 5-year leave with a nominal salary and an additional 5-year leave without a salary.

He pointed out that Article (37) states: The end of service gratuity shall be paid to former army personnel, provided that one payment does not exceed (10) million dinars. He revealed that Article (46) confirms the issuance of orders for the calculation of certificates during the service, amendment of the address, the degree of employment, bonuses and promotions.  LINK  

MilitiaMan:  Think about this.. They talked about special details for the 2020 Budget and they will discuss it more after the approval of it. Note that it includes bonuses.. Wow.. They have no money for liquidity, come on man is that a joke from Joe lol? Or do the special details that are not disclosed bring us to how they have the money to pay those bonuses? As in the special session is about the 2020 Budget tomorrow that may have changes in it. There could be and has been talk of the mechanisms today with the FM and the USA Ambassador to Iraq..... imo Change is coming. lol ~ MM 

Ross:  Forgot the borrowing aspect...the people need this finally after so many broken promises and years.  The people of Dubai and Kuwait et al are not fomenting cause they for the most part do not live in the abject poverty that we can't image. Having the comfort of sufficient incomes to provide for your family tends to take the fight and desire of going to protest and revolts.  Tyrants always want the people subject to them so they can remain in power like in CCP or Iran. 

Also in my opinion our President could use the boost to our economy before  the election which needs at least a month to reflect. I hope it is not missed.  Notwithstanding the staggering needs of so many dinar investors who would also benefit.

Samson:  The giant of the oil industry: The era of oil demand growth is over

14th September, 2020

BP, the oil company, saw the era of oil demand growth come to an end, becoming the first major company to offer the end of an era that many believe will last for another decade or more

The company said in a report on Monday that oil consumption may never return to levels it was before the spread of the Corona virus crisis, indicating that the world is moving away from fossil fuels

The oil industry giant describes a different future, as oil supremacy is challenged and eventually faded, which explains why BP has taken the boldest steps yet among its peers to align its business with the goals of the Paris climate agreement. Just six months into taking the top job, CEO Bernard Looney said in August that he would cut oil and gas production by 40% over the next decade and spend up to $ 5 billion annually building one of the world's largest renewable energy sources

That's because he suspects that oil use has already peaked as a result of the epidemic, tighter government policies and changes in consumer behavior. BP's energy projections show consumption falling 50% by 2050 in one scenario, and by nearly 80% in another

BP is not the only major oil company adjusting its business to the energy transition. Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Total SE and others in Europe have announced similar hubs towards cleaner operations as customers, governments and investors increasingly call for change

The pandemic has shattered oil consumption this year as countries lock down to prevent the spread of infection, according to BP. It will not be able to compensate for the already declining consumption in developed countries   LINK

MilitiaMan and KTFA Members "Change is Coming" Sunday 9-13-2020

KTFA:

Samson:  The Minister of Finance and the US ambassador discuss strengthening mechanisms for economic and financial cooperation

13th September, 2020

Today, Sunday, Minister of Finance, Ali Allawi, discussed with the US Ambassador to Baghdad Matthew Toller the strengthening of the economic and financial cooperation mechanism.

The media office of the Minister of Finance said in a statement that Mawazine News received, a copy of it, that “Finance Minister Ali Allawi met today 9/13/2020 at a library in Baghdad with the US ambassador to Iraq,” pointing out that “during the meeting, mechanisms were reviewed and discussed. Strengthening economic and financial cooperation between the two countries."

For his part, the American ambassador affirmed his country's "full support for the plans and procedures that the Iraqi government is following, especially with regard to reforming and developing the economic and financial sector under the current circumstances."    LINK

MilitiaMan:  "A mechanism is a mathematical structure that models institutions through which economic activity is guided and coordinated. ... They seek to do so in ways that economize on the resources needed to operate the institutions, and that provide incentives that induce the required behaviors."

MilitiaMan:  The main focus I am seeing in this is now on the economic and financial mechanism to fully support the plans and procedures the GOI and COM are following with regard to the reforms.

We see that in other articles that are out lately that the reform papers and budgets are being talked about. They talk about not only the 2019, 2020 and 2021. They will not hopscotch around any of them They are to be in-sync and in order. They feed off each other.

The Finance Minister has shown the 2020 Draft to the parliament days ago. The draft has the exchange rate at a program rate, as it has been not voted on it yet, a not normal thing at all. But they tell us that the budget  can be changed or delayed. In other words the 2020 budget can be amended.

I believe there is support that it will be amended away from a program rate. Because, they are not able to borrow at a program rate or they would have already. They have exhausted all avenues with the IMF, WB, countries, etc. They are outside legal parameters per the GDP requirements per laws, debt ratios are maxed out big time. imo ~ MM

MilitiaMan:  " Dagher adds, “The government's goal is to approve a budget for what remains From the fiscal year, it is obtaining additional internal debt, because it has drained previous borrowing, and it cannot borrow from the International Monetary Fund and other international bodies,” noting that “the proposals of the Finance Committee in Parliament are more convincing than the minister's proposals in the current disputes. ”

"In the context, sources reveal that the Iraqi government is trying to send a budget proposal for the remainder of the fiscal year without taking into account the rates of deficit and public debt, indicating that it is a “legal violation” that must be avoided, and economist Ahmed Hathal says,"

MilitiaMan:  Now, since they tell us they can change the next or subsequent budgets, then they can also adjust the rates associated to them.

We know the goal is to go to a social market economy. A Market economy is free to trade across borders. A program rate doesn't get into the free markets. But, an international rate does get them into a market economy.

Where they can borrow in effect from themselves with leverage from the value of the new exchange rate / currency. Just as the IMF and World Bank have told them. We see a clear theme lately that is pointing to that Iraq is backed into a corner. They have no liquidity to pay salaries and they tell us they have two choices. Austerity or float the currency.

The former would not go well with the citizens that have suffered enough and would be effectively a poison pill for those that vote for that, whereas, voting to float the currency to get into the market economy where they can borrow from themselves effectively, because they will be able to get into the secondary markets just has the IMF and WB suggest they do.

The COM is to have a special meeting in regard to the 2020 budget then it will be off to the HOR. My view is they will not vote for Austerity. They'll vote for the latter imo. That is Float the currency or a similar manner to allow for new borrowing.. The feasibility study is about value related issues. Issues that those in the above meeting would know all to well about.

So from the looks of things the cards will be on the table soon enough to see if any of this is pertinent or not. My bet is what is in print supports they will see the reforms through now.

The solutions is to raise the value (financing by inflation) and floating the currency. imo ~ MM

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Two solutions to the problematic of the Iraqi economy

"In another context, independent politician Ibrahim Al-Sumaidaie believes that the Iraqi government has two solutions to the problem of the Iraqi economy, “either financing the economy by inflation by floating the currency, or taking austerity measures and reducing employee salaries and operating expenses,” indicating that “the best solution is financing by inflation,” and he adds. For "The Independent Arabia", "floating the currency helps stimulate domestic production, and reduces the import that drains the country's economy."

He continues, "The Iraqi economy has paid exorbitant costs in attempts to stabilize the exchange rate of the dollar through the currency sale window in the Central Bank, which has been exploited by great corruption and wasted half of the country's economic energies."

 "the 2020 budget will also include a request from the government with the approval of Parliament to allow it a new loan, and this will depend on the feasibility study of the request by the Finance Committee,"

"the government informed us that it will send the 20-20 budget at the end of this week, indicating that the budget will be simple, but it will include a request for Parliament's approval to allow new borrowing.

"Al-Jubouri added that, "Until the next budget, there are paragraphs for internal and external borrowing to pay salaries, and therefore there is nothing new about them apart from the investment framework and appointments."

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Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM) Definition

 By ADAM HAYES  Updated Oct 21, 2019

What Is an Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM)?

An exchange rate mechanism (ERM) is a device used to manage a country's currency exchange rate relative to other currencies. It is part of an economy's monetary policy and is put to use by central banks.

Such a mechanism can be employed if a country utilizes either a fixed exchange rate or one with floating exchange rate that is bounded around its peg (known as an adjustable peg or crawling peg).

"What is a Free Market? The free market is an economic system based on supply and demand with little or no government control. ... Free markets are characterized by a spontaneous and decentralized order of arrangements through which individuals make economic decisions.Apr 28, 2020"

MilitiaMan:  Think about this.. They talked about special details for the 2020 Budget and they will discuss it more after the approval of it. Note that it included bonuses.. Wow.. They have no money for liquidity? Or do the special details that are not disclosed bring us to how they have the money to pay bonuses? As in the special session is about the 2020 Budget tomorrow that may have changes in it There could be and has been talk of the mechanisms today with the FM and the USA Ambassador to Iraq..... imo Change is coming. lol ~ MM 

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GodLover:  This article & many others are pretty telling in where we are in our speculative investment imo. 
1) The 2020 budget per this article is a prelude to the 2021 budget....remember they need this done for accounting purposes, along with other previous budgets per articles imo.
2) They can & likely will imo borrow from the IMF or others imo.
3) Per past articles, the 2020 budget will not include investments as the 2021 budget will imo.
4) Lets not forget the Kurds have a temp deal for this budget & a permanent deal/agreements are in the works for the 2021 budget per articles imo. This to me is very telling imo.
5) Per articles...at least implying article 140 will be included in 2021 budget....which is on the table for discussion with Kurds along with other things imo.
6) 2020 budget to be voted on before the white papers are to be sent is my interpretation per articles imo.
7) White papers are to be sent prior to or along with 2021 budget mid Oct is what I recall an article stated (can't remember for certain) imo. 

MilitiaMan:  Godlover:

"This article & many others are pretty telling in where we are in our speculative investment imo. 

1) The 2020 budget per this article is a prelude to the 2021 budget....remember they need this done for accounting purposes, along with other previous budgets per articles imo.

2) They can & likely will imo borrow from the IMF or others imo.

3) Per past articles, the 2020 budget will not include investments as the 2021 budget will imo.

4) Lets not forget the Kurds have a temp deal for this budget & a permanent deal/agreements are in the works for the 2021 budget per articles imo. This to me is very telling imo.

5) Per articles...at least implying article 140 will be included in 2021 budget....which is on the table for discussion with Kurds along with other things imo.

6) 2020 budget to be voted on before the white papers are to be sent is my interpretation per articles imo.

7) White papers are to be sent prior to or along with 2021 budget mid Oct is what I recall an article stated (can't remember for certain) imo.  " ~ Godlover

MilitiaMan: Per item #2. It seems there data out that supports the IMF will not be loaning money or allowing more borrowing while Irag is at a program rate. Once they raise the rate, then imo they can likely borrow again, hence I suspect they will approve the borrowing law within the GOI. The COM will know that is part it the future already. The 2020 can be amended, just as they 2019 FML was. imo 

Per Item #5 it is my understanding the 2020 budget may address this as well, again the 2019 budget FMLA should be or needs to be considered and seems to for some reason, gets overlooked? imo ~ MM 

" Dagher adds, “The government's goal is to approve a budget for what remains From the fiscal year, it is obtaining additional internal debt, because it has drained previous borrowing, and it cannot borrow from the International Monetary Fund and other international bodies,” noting that “the proposals of the Finance Committee in Parliament are more convincing than the minister's proposals in the current disputes. ”

"In the context, sources reveal that the Iraqi government is trying to send a budget proposal for the remainder of the fiscal year without taking into account the rates of deficit and public debt, indicating that it is a “legal violation” that must be avoided, and economist Ahmed Hathal says,"

" "Member of the Parliamentary Finance Committee, Jamal Cougar, revealed, on Sunday, the details of the 2020 budget that the government submitted several days ago to Parliament, indicating that the budget presented will be for two months and may be approved or delayed.""

KTFA Members "News and Veiws" Sunday Afternon 9-13-2020

KTFA:

Samson:  $297 billion ... The Global Bank Budget For "Artificial Intelligence" In 2021

12th September, 2020

A report by "Business Insider" said that artificial intelligence technologies in the field of finance include everything from voice assistance to fraud detection and task automation, as 80 percent of banks realize the benefits provided by artificial intelligence, which makes banks Al-Alamiah is moving to raise its technology budget to $ 297 billion by 2021.

According to the US economic site, with pressure from tech-savvy consumers, artificial intelligence is being applied by financial institutions through every financial service, such as personal finance, and one of the examples is Capital One's Eno, which predicts customer needs and also alerts them about suspected fraud or high The price of subscription services.

Then there is consumer financing, adopted by JPMorgan Chase, whose consumer banking services account for more than 50 percent of its net income; It adopts major fraud detection applications, as it applies a special algorithm to detect fraud patterns.

Every time a credit card transaction is processed, the transaction details are sent to the bank's mainframe computers, which decide whether the transaction is fraudulent or not. 

The site pointed out that the increasing consumer demand for digital offerings, and the threat posed by tech-savvy startups, will make financial institutions quickly adopt digital services, by 2021, as the IT budgets of global banks will rise to $ 297 billion.   LINK

Jimmyjj:  The Jerusalem Post is reporting that Morocco is going to allow flights from Israel. IMO, that means look for Morocco to be the next country to sign a peace treaty with Israel (maybe next Friday,  as per the current pattern?). I wonder if Morocco is wanting to get in on the Iraq rv bonanza.

Samson:  After the UAE and Bahrain, the Israeli media is talking about a wider Arab normalization

13th September, 2020

The Hebrew Channel 12 reported, on Saturday, that US President Donald Trump is planning new diplomatic work to push for broader normalization between Israel and the Arab countries.

The channel confirmed that this step will lie with Trump's help in operating direct flights between Israel and Morocco.

This news comes as, in recent weeks, Israel, with US mediation, reached two historic agreements to normalize relations with the UAE and Bahrain.   LINK

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Samson:  Plasschaert: The Sistani authority calls on the government to open the major corruption files

13th September, 2020

The representative of the United Nations in Iraq, Jenin Blashart, confirmed today, Sunday, that the Supreme Authority, Ali Al-Husseini Al-Sistani, called during her meeting, the government to open major corruption files.

"The Sistani reference is of great importance to the United Nations," Blashart said, in a press conference she held in Najaf, after meeting with the supreme authority, pointing out that she "discussed with Sistani's reference the procedures for preparing for early elections."

She added, "We have confirmed with the Sistani authority that the elections will be held on time and in a fair and just law."

Plasschaert warned that "delaying or holding elections in a way that does not meet the requirements is a great risk." And she continued: "The reference Sistani called on the government to control the border crossings and open major corruption files, in addition to improving the performance of the security forces and exposing those who committed criminal acts such as murder and assassination."

Blashardt arrived this morning in the province of Najaf, while she met the Supreme Authority, Mr. Ali Al-Hussaini Al-Sistani.    LINK

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Samson:  Iraqis comment on Al-Kazemi's visit to Kurdistan: a message of reassurance

13th September, 2020
The Iraqi coalition commented, on Sunday, on the visit of Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi to the Kurdistan region.

Commenting on Al-Kazemi’s visit, the coalition’s deputy, Hussein Arab, said: “The visit is a message of reassurance and real and strong understanding, through the prime minister's descent to the streets in the region and the important places and agreement on a settlement mechanism to end the differences and the outlets placed on the understanding table.”

Arab expected that "the results of the visit will bear fruit in the next stage, as one of the most important problems facing us is the displacement camps, some of which are spread in the regions of the region, and during the visit the semi-final agreement was made to close the file of the displaced camps."

He pointed out that "the region’s salaries are subject to the final agreement and the control of the federal government over the border crossings, and despite the differences regarding the oil and gas law, the consensus preference regarding its passage during the current session will contribute to regulating the relationship between the center and the region in this field."   LINK

Samson:  The Iraqi parliament sets the price of a barrel of oil at $ 40 - $ 50 in the 2021 budget

13th September, 2020

On Sunday, the Financial Committee of the Iraqi Parliament set the price of one barrel of oil at 40-50  dollars in the draft general budget bill for the year 2021.

Committee member Jamal Cougar told Shafaq News, "The 2021 draft budget will be different from the 2020 budget, given that it contains job grades and the confirmation of contractors on permanent staffing according to the mechanisms of deletion and creation and the status of employees for retirement in previous years."

He added, "The 2021 budget will be under an operational cover more than what is investment, given that the government does not have sufficient funds to provide investment opportunities."

And Cougar stated, "The price of one barrel of oil will range between "40-50" dollars in the draft budget for 2021, given that the government depends on oil revenues to structure and build the draft budget.

It is noteworthy that Iraq did not approve the financial budget for the current year 2020 due to the resignation of the previous government at the beginning of this year under the weight of unprecedented popular protests, and then the outbreak of the Corona epidemic in the country, which caused a financial crisis that resulted from a significant drop in oil prices.   LINK

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Samson:  Parliamentary planning: The 2021 budget will include new funding sections

18:21 - 13/09/2020

The Parliamentary Strategic Planning Committee indicated, on Sunday, that the draft federal budget law for 2021 will include new funding sections for liberation from dependence on oil revenues.

Committee member Muhammad Karim said in a statement to "the information", that "the 2021 budget must depend on the funds of the border crossings and customs, as well as the imports issued from ministries such as the Ministry of Electricity, Education, Industry and so on," noting that "relying on oil only will set the budget With financial problems, as is the case in the 2020 budget.

He added that "the government must study the imports achieved in all ministries and make them new doors to finance the federal budget," indicating that "the government is responsible for preparing the federal budget for 2021 quickly and differently from the 2020 budget."

Yesterday, Saturday, the Parliamentary Finance Committee confirmed that the federal budget bill for the year 2020 does not have sufficient cover for ten months. LINK

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Samson: Parliamentary Committee: The leakage from the 2020 budget indicates the existence of deficit and borrowing problems

13th September, 2020
The Parliamentary Finance Committee said, on Sunday, that what was leaked from the 2020 budget indicates that there are problems with deficit and borrowing.

Committee member Jamal Cougar said, "The official version of the 2020 budget has not reached Parliament yet, and what was leaked from it indicates that the budget contains many problems, whether in deficit or borrowing," noting that "the 2020 budget will be approved because it is a prelude to the 2021 budget." Containing job opportunities."

He added, "The government has not yet borrowed the external loan that Parliament voted for, which is estimated at five billion, but only benefited from the internal loan, because the conditions of the International Monetary Fund are harsh and the government has not been able to obtain a loan until now."    LINK

GodLover:  This article & many others are pretty telling in where we are in our speculative investment imo. 
1) The 2020 budget per this article is a prelude to the 2021 budget....remember they need this done for accounting purposes, along with other previous budgets per articles imo.
2) They can & likely will imo borrow from the IMF or others imo.
3) Per past articles, the 2020 budget will not include investments as the 2021 budget will imo.
4) Lets not forget the Kurds have a temp deal for this budget & a permanent deal/agreements are in the works for the 2021 budget per articles imo. This to me is very telling imo.
5) Per articles...at least implying article 140 will be included in 2021 budget....which is on the table for discussion with Kurds along with other things imo.
6) 2020 budget to be voted on before the white papers are to be sent is my interpretation per articles imo.
7) White papers are to be sent prior to or along with 2021 budget mid Oct is what I recall an article stated (can't remember for certain) imo.

Samson:  "The Bravest Man in the World" - An American who liberated 75 Iraqis from ISIS gives details of the operation

13th September, 2020

After he helped free 75 Iraqis from the grip of ISIS, the sergeant in the US Special Forces, Thomas Payne, became the first person from the "Delta" force to receive the Medal of Honor in the United States while he was alive.

 On Friday, US President Donald Trump presented the medal to the 36-year-old sergeant at a ceremony held at the White House to mark the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Trump praised Payne's efforts that killed 20 ISIS terrorists and saved the lives of 75 prisoners during a "daring" raid against the militant organization in northern Iraq, considering him "one of the bravest men in the world."

Payne graduated from high school in South Carolina, joined the Army in 2002 as an infantry soldier and completed the basic airborne course at a military base in Georgia, finishing his army training program in 2003.

The incident dates back to October 22, 2015, when Payne was part of a joint raid carried out by the American Delta forces in cooperation with Kurdish special forces in the city of Hawija, south of Kirkuk, according to the station "ABC". The raid targeted an ISIS headquarters that housed about 75 Iraqis who were being held by the organization and was preparing to execute them, as confirmed by the former American sergeant.

The championship of Payne and his other teammates was pictured at the time with a camera attached to the helmet of a Kurdish Special Operations Forces member. Payne says that "the information available at the time confirms that the ISIS operatives dug graves shortly before, and if we do not act quickly, the hostages may be executed." Payne's team arrived by helicopter and conducted an airdrop on a building housing 38 hostages, while Kurdish forces were providing support on the ground.

As soon as the landing operation began, the team was exposed to intense fire by ISIS militants, which caused the death of one of Payne's colleagues, and he was the first American soldier to be killed in Iraq since the return of the forces to this country in 2014. Payne and his colleagues managed to free the hostages in the first building, moving to another building that caught fire in the clashes.

Despite the thick smoke from inside the building, Payne managed to enter and break the locks using an iron machine, freeing 37 other hostages and taking them to the helicopter.  With the building on the verge of collapsing on fire, Payne returned to the building under enemy fire to make sure that no prisoners were left behind.   LINK

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Samson:  A new record collapse of the Iranian riyal against the US dollar

13th September, 2020

The Iranian rial fell to a new low in light of the suffering of the economy as a result of the Corona epidemic and the US sanctions.

The foreign exchange rate website Bonbast.com stated that the dollar was sold by up to 263,500 riyals in the informal market, compared to 257,000 on Friday.

Dunia Al-Iqtisad daily newspaper said on its website that the dollar registered 260,800 Iranian riyals, 5100 riyals higher than Friday's price.

The currency lost about 49 percent of its value in 2020, after the decline in oil prices contributed to the economic crisis in Iran, which also recorded the largest number of deaths from Corona virus in the Middle East.  LINK

KTFA Members "News and Views" Saturday PM 9-12-2020

KTFA:

Samson:  Shankali: Iraq will witness an economic collapse .. The distribution of salaries is not an achievement

12th September, 2020

The leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Majid Shankali, confirmed, on Saturday, that Iraq will witness an economic and financial collapse within a short period.

Shankali said in a tweet on Twitter: "The 2020 budget deficit is close to 81 trillion dinars. If the situation continues in this way, Iraq will witness an economic and financial collapse within a short period."

He added, "The sale of oil and borrowing to pay salaries and expenses cannot be called government achievement. Reform requires the radical eradication of corruption and not a conservative treatment of its complications."     LINK

Ryan1216:  Iraq has to very quickly raise the value of the IQD….imo

Osmosis:  It's like they don't have a clue what the solution is.......IMO

Samson:  An Iraqi delegation will visit Kuwait tomorrow to discuss these files

10:09 - 12/09/2020

The Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Qabas reported, on Saturday, that an Iraqi delegation will visit Kuwait tomorrow, Sunday, to discuss several files related to the two sides.

The newspaper stated, in a news briefed by the information, that “The Senior Undersecretary of the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Abdul Karim Hashem, arrives in the country tomorrow heading the Iraqi delegation, which will attend the meeting of the follow-up committee concerned with examining what has been achieved of what was agreed upon in the Kuwaiti-Iraqi Joint Higher Committee, which was postponed at the end of Father".

She added, "The meeting will be held the day after tomorrow, Sunday, and the Kuwaiti side will be chaired by Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah," noting that "the most important files that will be discussed are the demarcation of maritime borders, the opening of land ports, commercial and economic exchange, terrorism and compensation, in addition to the security challenges in the region." 

MilitiaMan:  Timing is very well in sync.. imo ~ MM

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Samson:  Parliamentary Finance: The current budget is operating par excellence, and the government cannot borrow externally

17:36 - 10/09/2020

The Parliamentary Finance Committee indicated, on Thursday, that the federal budget bill for the year 2020 is an operational budget only.

Committee reporter Ahmed Al-Saffar said to / the information /, that “the federal budget bill for the year 2020 is an operating budget par excellence, in addition to that it does not have sufficient cover for ten months,” pointing out that “external borrowing can only be done for an investment project, as borrowing is considered Government failure and tampering with public money”.

He added that "the volume of debts owed by the government has reached 25 billion dollars abroad, 85 trillion internal dinars," noting that "the government borrows from countries that do not have resources, and this is unfortunate."

The Ministry of Planning referred the budget for the year 2020 to the Council of Ministers for approval, and then referred it to the House of Representatives for approval so that the borrowing law could be approved in order to release the entitlements of employees and citizens for the remaining months of the current year, confirming work with the relevant authorities to prepare the 2021 budget.

LINK

MilitiaMan:  "The big difference between government debt and sovereign debt is that government debt is issued in the domestic currency, while sovereign debt is issued in a foreign currency. The loan is guaranteed by the country of issue."

So in the article above they speak of Debt. They speak of they cannot borrow externally for the budget to pay salaries, it is for investment projects. They say the have 25 billion in debt. That is Sovereign Debt, the other 85 Trillion is their currency issued. imo CBI site shows less imo.. But none the less, they are telling us how much they have real close in both categories. 

Then they talk about the 2020 budget where they COM was given it for approval and the next leg is for the HoR approval to release the entitlements of employees and citizens for the remaining months for this year. But, take note the Budget is not for 3 months, but, the whole year.

That is very telling. It means imo that the whole year will not be at 1/12th each month for the whole year. Thus, we could may see the 2019 FMLA associated with the 2020 to then prepare the 2021.. imo ~ Again, we shall watch the next few days... imo ~ MM

7-FA:  The White House

Foreign Policy

September 11, 2020

“Now that the ice has been broken, I expect more Arab and Muslim countries will follow the United Arab Emirates’ lead.”

President Donald J. Trump

SECURING ANOTHER HISTORIC AGREEMENT: President Donald J. Trump has brokered a deal to establish full diplomatic relations between Bahrain and Israel – the second such agreement between Israel and an Arab nation in less than one month.

Israel and Bahrain have committed to begin the exchange of embassies and ambassadors, start direct flights between their countries, and launch cooperation initiatives across a broad range of sectors.

This peace deal is a significant step forward for both Israel and Bahrain.

It further enhances their security while creating opportunities for them to deepen their economic ties.

This deal comes on the heels of the historic normalization agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain are the first Arab nations to normalize relations with Israel in more than 25 years.

The United States will continue to support the people of Bahrain as they work to counter terrorism and extremism, develop economically, and build new peaceful partnerships across the region.

CREATING THE CONDITIONS FOR PEACE: President Trump’s wise foreign policy strategy has created the conditions for peace between Israel and its neighbors.

When President Trump took office, the Middle East was in a state of extreme turmoil.

President Trump has worked to rebuild trust with our regional partners and identify their shared interests, moving them away from the conflicts of the past.

Thanks to the President’s bold foreign policy vision and his acumen as a dealmaker, nations across the region are realizing the benefits of his thoughtful approach.

As the President’s work continues, more Arab and Muslim countries will likely seek to normalize relations with Israel.

Each country that normalizes relations will build upon the other, bringing peace and prosperity to the region and the people who live there.

AN UNPRECEDENTED REGIONAL TRANSFORMATION: After decades of instability and crisis, nations across the Middle East and Africa are increasingly working together to build a more peaceful and prosperous future.

Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, the Arab world is experiencing the most rapid geopolitical transformation in more than a generation.

As more countries normalize relations with Israel, the region is becoming more stable, secure, and prosperous.

Expanded business and financial ties between economies will accelerate growth and economic opportunity across the region.

Agreements with Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates also help to advance President Trump’s vision for finding a fair and lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

The United States will continue to stand with the people of the region as they work to build a brighter, more hopeful future.

View Original Content: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/president-donald-j-trump-brokered-historic-deal-israel-kingdom-bahrain/

MilitiaMan and Samson Late Thurs. Night "Good Times Ahead" 9-10-2020

KTFA:

Samson:  Parliamentary Finance expects a delay in disbursing salaries and warns against "implicating Iraq" with borrowings

09/10/2020 14:51:20

  The Parliamentary Finance Committee expected, on Thursday, a delay in paying employees' salaries for the remaining months of the current year 2020, while it warned against implicating Iraq with borrowings.

"The government is working to provide salaries, and in general there are problems that face providing them, especially with the anticipation of approving the budget, but in the first and last the salaries will be provided with the possibility of a few days delay," said a member of the committee, Faisal Al-Issawi, in an interview with Al Furat News.

He added, "The Federal Service Law has nothing to do with delayed salaries, because the problem facing us is the problem of procurement and not the salary scale." He continued, "We must warn everyone against implicating Iraq with more borrowing, and there are binding matters that we do not have options for," stressing that "when the state cannot provide its budget except through borrowing, it must borrow even if borrowing is wrong."

He explained that "the more borrowing, the greater the fear, and the state must maximize its internal resources and reduce its unnecessary spending, and thus rationalize spending as much as it comes from imports."  LINK

MilitiaMan:  Clearly they didn't get that 15 trillion Dinar loan they told us about. They are telling us there will be delays for a few days. Can't imagine why right? lol

Kahdimi is in Kurd town through tomorrow. He is talking about major issues and from the sounds of it the most important have been hammered out and the minor issues are out to committees for follow up.

Take note of the most important ones and then think about the next 2020 Budget at stake.

They cannot borrow at a program rate.. But, they can go to the secondary market once they go to the IMF,s Article 8 compliance to 100%. imo..

Article supports that there is to be a special meeting on the 2020 Budget early or at the start of next week. Well that is Sunday..

They say in the above they may have delays for a few days.. Kind fits with the approval expected at the extraordinary meeting to come shortly.. I think things are very hopeful. Lets see what happens.. Imo

 All good.. ~ MM

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Samson:  Kurdish source: Al-Kazemi and Al-Barzani reached understandings regarding the outstanding issues

13:27 - 10/09/2020
An informed source said, Thursday, that Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi and the President of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Masrour Barzani, have reached many understandings about the pending issues.

Rudaw, the Kurdish media network, quoted the source as saying, “The Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi and the President of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Masrour Barzani, have reached understandings about the outstanding issues between Baghdad and Erbil, especially in the oil, energy and budget files. And the border crossings, pointing out that a number of minor issues remain, have been transferred to the relevant committees for follow-up.

The source added, “Mustafa Al-Kazemi will visit the Ibrahim al-Khalil border crossing, in the Zakho district,” noting that “the issue of entitlements owed by the Kurdistan Region, to oil companies and employee salaries, is among the most prominent files that will be discussed during the visit.”

It is noteworthy that Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi arrived in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, for the first time since he assumed the premiership in Iraq.   LINK

Samson:  Al-Kazemi, on the region's outlets: I have touched a positive atmosphere in Erbil, and this is in the service of the country

10th September, 2020

The Prime Minister, Mr. Mustafa Al-Kazemi inspects the Ibrahim Al-Khalil border crossing in Zakho, Dohuk Governorate

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The Prime Minister, Mr. Mustafa Al-Kazemi, inspected today, Thursday, the Ibrahim Al-Khalil border crossing in the Zakho district of Dohuk governorate, and met with a number of officials in it.

Mr. Al-Kazemi was briefed on workflow, customs and tax procedures, and their mechanisms at the important border crossing.

His Excellency affirmed that his visit to the Kurdistan region comes within the framework of making efforts to integrate between the federal government and the regional government in all fields, including activating work at the border outlets, and he made clear that he touched a positive atmosphere in Erbil, and this will serve the country and its people.

The Prime Minister, Mr. Mustafa Al-Kazimi, stressed the need to develop the Ibrahim Al-Khalil port, stressing that the relevant authorities in the federal government and the regional government would hold meetings very soon, in order to coordinate work and reach a state of integration that will reflect positively on citizens throughout Iraq.

His Excellency indicated that one of the priorities of the work of this government is to facilitate the movement of trade and remove all obstacles that hinder the development of the trade exchange process, which would contribute to the advancement of the Iraqi economy and the diversification of its revenues.

The Media Office of the Prime Minister
10-Sep-2020  LINK

MilitiaMan:  There you go!!! They are integrating the federal and regional governments that includes the border outlets. The amount of customs and tax revenues will be massive over time.

It will be a mechanism that will help pay salaries and provide an environment that will decrease the need for borrowing.

With the system integrated with block chain technology, they'll be able to know where the money is at all times and for what, from who and when..

The citizens will gain from this for the state as a whole. E-Government is Block Chain oriented, just as E-Finance is, etc..

All transparent and on a level playing field.

They are removing all obstacles that hinder trade exchange processes. That means they have now or will have the ability to move international capital at the borders to facilitate trade exchange.

K and B's meeting has been a success from the looks of it. Lets see what K brings home tomorrow or real close there after. imo

This article reeks of good times ahead!! imo

Once they get the Rate they can cross borders to the big time. imo ~ MM

MikitiaMan and KTFA Members "New Rate in Next Budget" 9-10-2020

KTFA:

Godson:  The 10th of THIS month is approaching Delta (today) hope we see something good... Imo

Cleitus:  FedNow..., on the launch pad.  Firing the engines will be interesting to watch!  

Samson:  The House of Representatives has finished reading two laws and addresses an oral question to the Finance and Planning Ministers

09/08/2020 19:04:07

 The House of Representatives in its third session of the fourth parliamentary session of the third legislative year of the first legislative term, which was held under the chairmanship of Muhammad al-Halbousi, Speaker of the Council, ended on Tuesday the first reading of two laws, while he was briefed on the opinion The Ministers of Finance and Planning, after directing an oral question to them about the economic reform paper included in the domestic and foreign borrowing law.

In turn, the Minister of Planning indicated that there are 6,250 projects under construction that need to provide 126 trillion dinars to complete them, and this large number of projects caused the failure to include any new project in the new budget law, explaining that the delay in completing the projects led to the failure to provide services to citizens, including the presence of 42 residential complexes Unaccomplished. 

It needs to be recounted accurately in order to begin its implementation, in addition to the necessity to devise a real reform plan to address the delay in implementing projects. Commenting on the two ministers’ answer, MP Muhammad al-Darraji stressed the need to fully and not partially implement the legislated law, asking about the value of internal and external borrowing and the size of what was allocated to pay salaries or in the investment sector, as well as knowing the value of the exchange rate specified in the next budget.

Minister Allawi pointed out that there are three types of loans, including commercial that the Iraqi government has moved away from, borrowing from governments and the third by borrowing from international development institutions such as the World Bank and the Arab Fund for the purpose of investment, especially those related to the requirements of improving the electricity sector by activating previous economic agreements with my company. Siemens and General Electric, stressing the importance of reviewing the exchange rate so that the Iraqi economy enters the circle of competition with the interest of the International Monetary Fund in the issue of the exchange rate, noting that the ministry received an amount of 15 trillion dinars in full to meet the needs of salaries.

After that, it was decided to adjourn the session to next Thursday 9/10/2020.   LINK

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MilitiaMan:  The picture they are painting (imo) is they are implementing the real reform plan.

They are even going so far as to tell us that they will need the value of the exchange rate for the next budget.

 They have not resolved the next budget yet, that I am aware of? The next budget on the table is the 2020 budget leading into the 2021, imo..

They in the above tell us they have a session for tomorrow. (Thursday the 10th)

Same day that PM Kadhimi is to be in the Kurds back yard for a meeting on important issues, oil and gas, customs and borders, etc..

Same day noted below that Al- Hakim is having think tanks gearing to talk about rebuilding the new social contract and rebuilding the state.

Lets still keep in mind Kadimi, has a special session for the start of next week to approve the 2020 budget. Which is  looking to be the next one on the table. imo..

Tomorrows (Thursdays)  session maybe be a very powerful one that could change the playing field.

We shall see if it is a "September to Remember " but, it sure looks like a synchronization is in play now not in 2021, as they say "next"  and that is now real close.. imo ~ MM

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Godlover:  Something everyone should consider imo. First off, I truly don't want to get people down with my opinions, I just like dealing in realities imo. Better to be prepared for a longer wait, then to be brought down when something does not materialize when you had hoped for. So here are some things to consider.First off.... "next" budget is likely imo referring to the 2021 budget. If I were to say "next" Friday, most people would think of the following Friday....otherwise I would say this Friday. I would assume they would also say this budget...not the next budget imo.

MilitiaMan:  I disagree that the next budget is the 2021. They haven't' completed the 2020 budget yet. Hence the wording next, imo. The next thing is that there is the 2019 FMLA that always seems to be overlooked.

"FMLA" is the 2019 Financial Management Law Amendment that may in fact be needed for the 2020 or next which is after the 2019.. Just like in the past after the 2014 budget came the 2015 budget.. See how that works? We haven't finished the next budget.

If I am not mistaken they have been operating under the 1/12th budget regime based off the 2019 numbers. So the view I take and as do many others is the next budget to be voted on is the 2020 per same articles. 

Yes the 2021 budget will be different than the 2020. Specifically it will be different in that it will be for 3 years.
The Kurds have had a temp agreement and they are also going to have a different budget to come, as it won't be based off 15%. It will be a flat rate and half of the taxes and tariffs at the borders. 

So the above examples of my view are supported in the articles with highlights. The emphasis tends to be to the specific wording that supports that view. Whether they are or not accurate at times is always to be determined. Just as my view is now.

I too like people to be prepared. Armed with hope and the best data we can garner from the news hounds tenacious work here at KTFA. All is in our opinions, anyway. ~ MM  

Popeye7:  Thank you MM for your breakdown, and analysis once again... I certainly agree with your assessment of this occurring sooner rather than later... There seems to be a particular day that the powers that be have in mind Imo... Exciting for sure... Thanks again...

Samson:  Parliamentary Finance discloses the purpose of approving the 2020 budget

10th September, 2020

The Parliamentary Finance Committee announced, on Thursday, the purpose of approving the country's financial budget for the current year 2020, despite the elapse of eight months

Committee reporter Ahmed Al-Saffar said, "The general budget is considered special considering that there are eight months in which actual spending has passed, and that the government, by approving the budget, is trying to bypass the principle of spending 1/12 to bypass the health situation and other things. He added that "the purpose of approving the general budget is to establish what was spent in the previous eight months, and to approve spending for the remaining four months of the current year

Regarding the details of the draft budget, he stressed that he was not aware of its details, given that it is in the cabinet and not sent to parliament, indicating that "if it is approved next week and sent to parliament, it will be discussed by the Parliamentary Finance Committee before it is presented for reading on the council's agenda

Iraq did not approve the financial budget due to the resignation of the previous government at the beginning of this year under the weight of unprecedented popular protests, and then the outbreak of the Corona epidemic in the country, which caused a financial crisis that resulted from a significant decline in oil prices. Iraq relies on oil revenues to finance up to 95 percent of state expenditures LINK

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Samson:  Economic Reform in Iraq: The Need for Focus and Persistence

4th September, 2020

Iraq is facing the biggest challenge to its economy since 2003. Even during the vicious and costly conflict with ISIS, when oil prices plummeted and the government struggled to finance the war, the economic shock did not appear to be as insurmountable as it does today. The COVID-19 epidemic in Iraq has shown no signs of abating and the IMF predicts that Iraq’s economy will contract by 4.7% in 2020. The most immediate challenge for the government is finding enough money to cover the country’s basic running costs including schools, hospitals, public salaries and social welfare.

At this critical juncture, the natural inclination would be to ask, what does Iraq need to do to get through this crisis? But in fact a far more difficult question to answer is, how does Iraq do what is required to get through this crisis? Iraqi policymakers need little help in diagnosing the flaws that underpin the economy. Nor do they require much assistance in identifying reform measures that would steer the country towards a more sustainable path. Iraq has no shortage of strategic plans, roadmaps and policy papers that outline in detail all the key sectors that need to be addressed. Partly because of the strong presence of the international community in Baghdad, much of Iraq’s policymaking infrastructure is heavily influenced by the advisory arms of the World Bank and IMF, in addition to technical assistance from the United Nations and diplomatic missions. Every area of economic reform has been discussed, debated and evaluated over the years, from banking sector reform, to public sector restructuring, to private sector development.

Where the real shortfall lies is in implementation. Even the best strategic plans cannot be translated into tangible results on the ground without a clear-eyed, systematic approach from the government. Assuming that political will exists at the highest levels of executive authority, it is important to consider the underlying systems and structures that largely shape what is and isn’t possible to undertake.

The government of Mustafa Al-Kadhimi inherited the fiscal crisis from its predecessor. Economic advisors in both administrations advocated similar thinking about how to deal with inflated pubic spending and address the immediate balance of payments crisis. Given that public sector salaries and pensions represent nearly half of all government spending, it was seen as inevitable that if the government wanted to rein in spending, it needed to make cuts in public salaries.

But like any country in the world, cutting salaries is easier said than done because of the unavoidable political backlash. This approach was made even more difficult because Al-Kadhimi’s government lacks a political base in parliament that could support its policy preferences. The initial plan was to target allowances, since government salaries are typically composed of a base salary known as 'al-ratib al-ismi’, and allowances, known as ‘mukhasasat’, that are determined by factors such as educational attainment, the number of dependents, and danger pay for sensitive ministries. According to some estimates, base salary payments amount to some $12 billion annually, whereas allowances represent $23 billion of the government budget. By targeting allowances, it was thought that significant savings could be made that would ease pressure on the state treasury.

But there was no appetite in parliament to support such a move and Al-Kadhimi’s government quickly caved in to pressures to scrap the plan. The government’s plan B was to apply income tax on allowances and pensions, something that had not been enforced for over a decade. Although significantly diminished compared to the original plan, it was estimated that the added revenue would generate at least $300 million monthly. But this plan also spectacularly failed. Pensions are typically paid towards the start of each month, whereas salaries are disbursed towards the end of the month. The Al-Kadhimi government applied the tax on June pensions but the public backlash was so great that Al-Kadhimi was forced to backtrack, even insisting that the cuts in pensions were not due to a new policy but rather a temporary shortfall in cash. Pensioners were then reimbursed days later.

Since then, the government appears to have ditched any attempt to rein in spending on public salaries, pursuing other means of alternative revenue generation, namely related to import customs and tariffs. It is estimated that customs revenue alone is worth in the region of $10 billion annually, but only a small fraction of that actually finds its way into the state treasury because of massive corruption at border crossings. Al-Kadhimi launched a campaign to secure these crossings but the impact has so far been inconclusive.

This has left the government with the only other fallback option: borrowing. After finally getting the green light from parliament, the government plans to borrow up to $13 billion domestically, mostly from state-owned banks, and up to $5 billion from international markets. This approach effectively signals the government’s failure, at least for now, to enact any significant cost-saving measures that would ease the fiscal burden.

Resistance from parliament and the general public is inescapable, but that does not mean that the government should resign itself to defeat. Any approach to pushing through reforms requires two key ingredients: focus and persistence. This is where the Al-Kadhimi government, like its predecessors, has fallen short. Rather than maintaining the public’s focus on the dire state of the economy and reinforcing messages that demonstrate why cuts are essential, Al-Kadhimi has sought to pursue an ambitious and broad array of issues, jumping from one issue to another. By biting off more than it can chew, the government has left little political capital for dealing with the economic crisis.

After coming into office, Al-Kadhimi pledged to prepare a white paper that would outline the government’s comprehensive plan for addressing Iraq’s economic woes. The expected launch of this paper in September represents a second chance for the government to push through meaningful reforms. But to demonstrate any degree of success, it will need to stay focused and persist in its efforts to translate the white paper into actionable goals.   LINK

Don961:  A member of Parliamentary Integrity reveals the imminent launch of a new mechanism to combat corruption in Iraq

402 Policy 09/09/2020 21:08   Baghdad Today - Baghdad

A member of the Parliamentary Integrity Committee, Representative Yousef Al-Kalabi revealed, on Wednesday (September 9, 2020), that a new mechanism to combat financial corruption in Iraq is imminent.

In an interview with (Baghdad Today), Al-Kalabi said, "There are continuous meetings with the prime minister to come up with a new anti-corruption mechanism in Iraq that includes all the agencies and institutions concerned with combating corruption that is spreading in many ministries and institutions."

Al-Kalabi added, "It is not possible to determine the amount of money that has been devoured by corruption in Iraq during the past years, but corruption are two types of theft, waste, and stalled projects. It is also considered another type of corruption," noting that "the mechanism will include tools, procedures, statistics and methods of implementation."

Last Tuesday, Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi announced, in a televised speech, the formation of a supreme committee to investigate major corruption and exceptional crimes cases, indicating that this committee linked to the office of the Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the forces will grant all the powers required to achieve the prestige of law in society. And restore the rights of the state and the citizen from the corrupt and aggressors.

Member of the Parliament's Legal Committee, Hassan Fadam, says that "the parliament supports the formation of a supreme committee to combat rampant corruption in all parts of the state," stressing that "the prime minister will grant this committee broad powers to pursue the large corruption files in the Integrity Commission."

On the thirteenth of last August, press sources revealed a "government plan to chase the corrupt and prevent them from traveling by activating hundreds of arrest warrants issued in previous periods against many corrupt persons involved in wasting public money."

Fadam added that "the Integrity Commission owns tens of thousands of corruption files in various matters, some of which are administrative offenses related to employee violations."

The volume of corruption files stored on the shelves of the Integrity Commission is estimated at about (14) thousand corruption files, according to a previous statement by the "Parliamentary Integrity Committee", stressing that "most of these files are suspended and have not been sent to the judiciary due to red tape, disagreements and the lack of completion of the investigation."

Over the past years, successive Iraqi governments have failed to curb corruption and waste of public money, despite the formation of several governmental and parliamentary committees to reduce them, the last of which was the formation of the former government of Adel Abdul Mahdi, the Supreme Council for Combating Corruption, which held several meetings, but without any results.

And the deputy from Babil Governorate continues his speech, saying that "the Prime Minister has not announced the mechanism and nature of this committee, nor its head and the names of its members, which will be assigned to investigate the files of corruption."

In turn, Taha Al-Dafeh, a member of the Parliamentary Integrity Committee, called for "the higher committee concerned with investigating large corruption files to overcome the previous problems, errors and obstacles that occurred with the Supreme Council for Combating Corruption, and that this committee also has the ability and courage to issue decisions against large corruption files." .

The regulatory authorities estimate the amount of money that Iraq has lost as a result of corruption operations at more than 450 billion dollars, out of the 900 billion dollars that Iraq obtained from oil sales during the past twelve years. "Because of this waste of public money and thefts, Iraq lost a lot of its money," he added, in a press statement, pointing out that "what we hope from this governmental committee will be its great powers to deal with errors and corruption processes."

Iraq topped the lists of corruption in the world after it came in sixth place in the Arab world and thirteenth in the world in the most corrupt countries in the report issued by Transparency International last year, after Denmark and New Zealand ranked first and second, respectively, with the least corrupt countries in the world and the most transparent.

"The names of the head and members of the new governmental committee concerned with prosecuting the most corrupt people are unknown to us until this moment," the member of the victory coalition points out, believing that "these committees require the presence of judges who have knowledge and knowledge of investigations and following up on corruption files."

Earlier, the Integrity Commission announced the issuance of arrest warrants against 86 high-ranking officials, including ministers and deputies, on charges related to corruption, including (9) arrest warrants and (81) recruitment orders. " They are of their rank, (3) former members of Parliament, (6) current and former undersecretaries, in addition to (5) former governors, (20) current and former directors, and (40) members of dissolved provincial councils.

The deputy from Baghdad governorate believes that this governmental committee needs to take "courageous and bold decisions" to arrest the right of "whales." He emphasized that "many of the arrest warrants issued against a number of ministers, officials and general managers are suspended and inactive."  LINK

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Don961:  Clarification from Tariq Harb: The land crossing with Saudi Arabia has become legal and official

2020.09.09 - 21:22  Baghdad - People   

The Iraqi legal expert, Tariq Harb, indicated that the Arar land port with Saudi Arabia acquired the legal and official characteristics.  

Harb said in a statement received by "People", a copy of which (September 9, 2020), that "in the official newspaper, Al-Waqi’a newspaper, with its number 4,595 on 7/9/2020, the Arar port between Iraq and Saudi Arabia has become an official outlet for trade exchange between the two countries, that is, the passage of goods and travelers to Iraq and the passage of goods and travelers to Saudi Arabia. "  

He added, "What was media and political has transformed into legal and realistic, as the presidential decree No. 2 of 2020 issued by the Ministry of Finance was published in accordance with the authority conferred on it according to the Gammar Law No. 23 of 1984, which included the establishment of a government office called the Marj Arar border office on the Iraqi borders. Saudi Arabia takes place in the commercial exchange of goods and the entry and departure of travelers. "  

He continued, "This decision included its implementation from the date of its publication in the official gazette, and in fact the decision was published in the newspaper, as we mentioned."   LINK  

MilitiaMan:  Another well timed border opening. All apart of the process.. Very welcomed indeed! The new mechanisms are to be in place to not just fight corruption, but also facilitate trade at the borders with transparency.. imop ~ MM

Don961:  America proposes twinning Erbil with one of its states

2020-09-09 13:51

 Shafaq News / The new American Consul in Erbil, Rob Waller, suggested today, Wednesday, twinning the capital of Kurdistan Region with the US state of Nashville, which includes a large Kurdish community.

A statement by Erbil governorate received by Shafaq News stated that Governor Firsat Sofi held a meeting with the new American Consul in Erbil, Rob Waller, through the (video conference) television department, and discussed with him bilateral relations and a number of issues of common interest. 

The statement stated that at the beginning of the meeting and after discussing the situation in Iraq and the region and the relations between America and the Kurdistan Region, Waller referred to the importance of strengthening relations with the Kurdistan Region and city administrations, especially Erbil, the capital, expressing his country's readiness to help the economy flourish and investment in the fields of industry, energy, agriculture and tourism.

And he indicated that there are discussions that a number of large American companies will come to the Kurdistan Region in order to carry out work and implement various projects in Erbil. 

The statement added that the US Consul, with the aim of further rapprochement and consolidation of relations between his country and Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, proposed twinning between the US state of Nashville and Erbil, adding that Waller expressed his pleasure with the progress of work in building the American Consulate in Erbil, "after completing 30 percent of the project and in the stage Next, we need the help of your teams to deliver services. " 

For his part, the Governor of Erbil, Firs Sofi, affirmed his full readiness to cooperate and coordinate to complete the project on time.

On the twinning proposal between the state of Nashville and the governorate of Erbil, Sophie expressed the approval of the province, declaring that this proposal is a great step in advancing friendship and consolidating relations between the Kurdistan Region and America.

Regarding bringing in major companies and American investors to Erbil, the governor announced that he welcomes this step warmly and that the doors are open for all who want to invest in the fields of industry, energy, agriculture and tourism in Erbil, pointing out that he sees great importance for American investors and companies to participate in the reconstruction of Erbil and the Kurdistan Region, expressing On the willingness to provide all kinds of facilities and cooperation to implement their projects.    LINK

Delta and KTFA Members Wednesday PM 9-9-2020

KTFA:

DELTA:  Member of the Finance Committee Mohamed Daraji:

- The price of a barrel of oil is $ 40 in the budget of 2020

- Budget revenue 2020 amounts to 67 trillion dinars

- 148 trillion dinars budget value 2020

- imports of ports since the beginning of this year are only 490 billion dinars

Samson:  Parliamentary Finance: The 2020 budget will be approved for only two months, and a full month delay

18:12 - 08/09/2020

The Parliamentary Financial Committee confirmed, on Tuesday, that the budget will be approved for approval between the Council of Ministers and the House of Representatives for about a month, indicating that it will be for only the last two months of 2020.

A member of the Parliamentary Finance Committee, Jamal Cougar, said to / the information / that the budget came out of the Economic Committee in the Council of Ministers and arrived at the Council of Ministers awaiting its vote on it and sent to the House of Representatives for approval.

He added that "the current budget is prepared for three months, but it will take nearly a month to be approved between the Council of Ministers and the House of Representatives," indicating that "its conclusion will be a two-month budget only."

Cougar explained that "the government's goal in sending a budget for two months is to seek another loan that it has declared its need for."   LINK

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Samson:  Al-Darraji reveals the size of the external debt and the funds of the 2020 budget

22:58 - 09/08/2020

A member of the Parliamentary Finance Committee, Muhammad al-Darraji, revealed, on Tuesday, the size of the external debts owed by Iraq in addition to the amounts of the current year’s budget.

Al-Darraji said in a televised statement received by "the information", that "presenting the budget is a constitutional requirement, and the resigned government failed in not submitting the budget."

He added that "the budget is not for three months, but is complete for the year 2020, and its amounts have reached 148 trillion dinars, while its revenues have reached 67 trillion dinars, and the government is obligated to provide a reform paper in exchange for borrowing."

And that "the external debt owed by Iraq amounted to 120 trillion, except for war compensation."

Al-Darraji revealed that the Central Bank sold $ 27 billion at its auction this year, while customs imports since the beginning of this year amounted to only 490 billion dinars.

He pointed out that "the job grades were transferred to the 2021 budget, and the employees who were referred to retirement during the year 2020 did not fill their ranks."   LINK

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Don961:  Expert: The trade route will be Iraq's gateway to the world

 September 8, 2020 9:01 pm Baghdad / Al-Zawra:

The economic expert, Ihssan Al-Kinani, said yesterday, Tuesday, that the Iraqi land trade route extending from Basra to Anbar and the northern provinces will be the gateway to Iraq towards the world and a suitable alternative to oil in financing the budget.

Al-Kinani said in a press statement: "Iraq has a highway network, and it can be developed to make it international roads through which trucks coming to the Gulf pass through Basra to Europe and North African countries."

He added that "the fees collected by the border ports from the movement of those trucks will finance Iraq in large sums, and may be an alternative to oil in financing the budget."

And that "those roads will be Iraq's gateway to the world and a vital and important outlet for many countries, in addition to its obtaining various goods and goods from the countries of the world, and it is also possible to transform Iraq into an industrial land for various countries by establishing its factories on the land of Iraq in order to get rid of the costs of transport and export." “.  LINK

Samson:  Trump announces today a decision regarding US forces from Iraq

09/09/2020 08:33:50

 A US administration official said that President Donald Trump will announce, today, Wednesday, an additional reduction in the number of US forces in Iraq.

Trump will also announce, according to the official, in the coming days, a reduction in the number of US forces in Afghanistan. Trump had informed Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi during the latter's visit to Washington last month that the United States sought to reduce the number of US forces in Iraq and his commitment to the rapid exit of the international coalition forces within 3 years.

On August 12, General Kenneth Mackenzie Jr., Commander in Chief of the US Central Command in the Pentagon, expected that Washington would reduce its forces in Iraq and Syria, probably in the coming months, and maintain a long-term presence of US forces in Iraq, to ​​help fight terrorism. 

He refused to disclose the size of this presence, but other US officials said that discussions with Iraqi officials could lead to a reduction in the number of forces to about 3,500 out of more than 5,000 soldiers. And Washington had announced that it would reduce its forces in Afghanistan to about 5,000, instead of 8,600, and Trump also issued orders to withdraw about 12,000 soldiers from Germany, about 6,400 of them will return to the United States, and about 5,600 of them will go to other European countries.    LINK

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Samson:  America announces reducing its military presence in Iraq to 3000 soldiers

09/09/2020 17:00:00

The commander of the American terrorist forces in the Middle East, General Kenneth McKinsey, confirmed, on Wednesday, that America will sharply reduce the level of its military presence in Iraq this month, in the first step of its kind since 2016.
  McKinsey said during a visit to Baghdad, today, Wednesday, that Washington will reduce the number of its military deployed in Iraq from 5.2 thousand to three thousand until the end of this September.

ABC reported that this statement was made by McKinsey in the presence of the Minister of Defense, Jumah Inad.   LINK

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Samson:  After America, Germany intends to reduce the number of its forces in Iraq

09/09/2020 12:31:29

 The German government intends to reduce the number of its forces in Iraq. "The German government intends to reduce the number of its soldiers in Iraq to 500," the German news agency DPA said.

There are 700 German soldiers in Iraq, and their primary tasks are to provide training support to the Iraqi army and Pashmerga forces in their war against ISIS.

In the same regard, a US administration official said that President Donald Trump will announce, today, Wednesday, an additional reduction in the number of US forces in Iraq.

Trump will also announce, according to the official, in the coming days, a reduction in the number of US forces in Afghanistan.

Trump had informed Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi during his recent visit to Washington last month that the United States sought to reduce the number of US forces in Iraq and his commitment to the rapid exit of the international coalition forces within 3 years.  LINK

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Samson:  Iraq receives a high position in a UN organization

09/09/2020 11:24:38

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed, on Wednesday, that the FAO has chosen Safia Al-Sahl, the permanent Iraqi representative to the organization, for the position of vice president of the Near East Group.

A statement by the ministry stated, "The Near East Group in the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) chose Ambassador Safia Taleb Al-Suhail, the permanent representative to the organization for the position of Vice President of the Near East Group, during the hypothetical meeting that was held Monday, September 7, 2020, chaired by Ambassador and Permanent

Representative of Sudan, Muhammad Abd. Al-Wahhab Al-Hijazi. He added, "Ambassador Al-Suhail, the representative of Iraq to the United Nations, was chosen with the participation and consensus of 22 representatives of countries for this position."

The statement continued, "The ambassador thanked the current head of the group and the former president, Yousef Al-Juhail, the permanent representative of Kuwait, and the members for nominating Iraq for this position, and expressed her keenness and full commitment to provide the best possible support for the work and aspirations of the group members within the organization LINK."