KTFA Saturday Night CC: " FRANK26….2-24-2024….IQD UPDATE….LOOK FOR IT "

KTFA

Saturday Night Conference Call

FRANK26….2-24-2024….IQD UPDATE….LOOK FOR IT

This video is in Frank’s and his team’s opinion only

Frank’s team is Walkingstick, Eddie in Iraq and guests

Playback Number: 605-313-5163   PIN: 156996#

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGyTln-OAjk

ARAB PERSPECTIVES ON WTO ACCESSIONS AND THE MULTILATERAL TRADING SYSTEM

KTFA:

ACCESSIONS

12th China Round Table on WTO Accessions

ARAB PERSPECTIVES ON WTO ACCESSIONS AND THE MULTILATERAL TRADING SYSTEM

 Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, Hall 10, Room B - In-Person

23 FEB 2024  24 FEB 2024

The 12th China Round Table (CRT-12) will take place on 24-25 February 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), on the margins of the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC13). This is the first Round Table organized in the Arab region. The focus of this Round Table will be Arab Perspectives on WTO Accessions and the Multilateral Trading System.

The Arab region is one of the most under-represented in the WTO. Of the 22 members of the Arab League, only 13 are WTO Members and nine are observers of different types. Out of the 13 Members, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Sultanate of Oman, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Yemen joined the WTO through the accession process pursuant to Article XII of the Agreement Establishing the WTO (the Marrakesh Agreement) between 2000 and 2014.

Today, Algeria, Comoros, Iraq, Lebanese Republic, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and the Syrian Arab Republic are in the process of Article XII accession, while Palestine has had an ad hoc observer status in the WTO Ministerial Conferences since 2005

 The eight Arab acceding governments have been pursuing accession, on average, for approximately 20 years, with some of the accession processes being inactive for a long time. Together with Timor‑Leste, Comoros is a candidate to join the WTO at MC13. 

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala highlighted during the 2nd High-Level Regional Dialogue on WTO Accessions for the Arab Region: "With several Arab acceding governments expected to step up engagement at the WTO this year, especially in the case of Comoros, we should step up our joint efforts to support them. 

One potentially useful point of action could be to put together a study detailing the accession and post-accession experiences of Article XII members from the region.

This could serve as a guide for Arab countries working to revive their accession negotiations and would yield insights for how best the international community could support Arab accessions or Arab countries' participation in the WTO more generally." Commenting on the Trade for Peace programme, the Director-General noted that "The Trade for Peace agenda has brought to light how reforms associated with the WTO accession process can help Arab countries build resilience and foster prosperity, peace and stability."

OPENING

Opening Ceremony
09:30-10:00

 Abu Dhabi

Moderator

Ms. Maika Oshikawa

Director, Accessions Division, World Trade Organization

Opening remarks

H.E. Mr. Juma Al Kait

Assistant Undersecretary for International Trade Affairs, Ministry of Economy, United Arab Emirates

Opening remarks

H.E. Ambassador LI Chenggang

Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China to the World Trade Organization

Opening remarks

Mr. ZHANG Xiangchen

Deputy Director-General, World Trade Organization

SESSION 1: Best Practices in WTO Accessions for Arab Region: Lessons from Past and On-going accessions in the region
10:30-12:30

 Abu Dhabi

"Best Practices in WTO Accessions for Arab Countries: Lessons from Past and On-going Accessions" is a joint study with the collaboration of four partner organizations (WTO, the Arab Monetary Fund, the Islamic Development Bank and the Islamic Center for Development of Trade). The study aims at providing factual accounts of past and on-going Arab accessions, as well as the post-accession performance of Article XII Arab Members, including their participation in the WTO. This session will present the main findings and recommendations of the Joint Arab Study for WTO Accessions. This will be followed by an open discussion among participants.

Moderator

Dr. Mena Hassan

Economic Affairs Officer, Accessions Division, World Trade Organization

Speaker

Representatives from Arab acceding governments: Algeria, Comoros, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and MC13 Observer:Palestine

Speaker

Representatives from Arab Article XII Members: Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen

Speaker

Dr. Linda F. Kassem

International Trade Lawyer & Public Policy Consultant

Speaker

Mr. Stephen Karingi

Director, Regional Integration and Trade Division, Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)

DAY 2

High-Level Session: Arab Perspectives on WTO Accessions and the Multilateral Trading System

09:30-11:00

 Abu Dhabi

This high-level session will draw from the experiences of original WTO and Article XII Arab Members to discuss the benefits of WTO membership and help better equip Arab acceding governments to navigate the accession process. The session will also highlight the importance of trade in Arab economies including how to best utilize WTO membership to ensure economic policy coherence.

Moderator

Dr. Mena Hassan

Economic Affairs Officer, Accessions Division, World Trade Organization

Speaker

H.E. Mr. Mohammed A.M. Haweg

Minister of Economy and Trade, State of Libya

Speaker

H.E. Mr. Amin Salam

Minister of Economy, Lebanese Republic

Speaker

H.E. Mr. Atheer Al-Ghurairi

Minister of Trade, Republic of Iraq (TBC)

Speaker

H.E. Mr. Ryad Mezzour

Minister of Industry and Trade, Kingdom of Morocco (TBC)

Speaker

H.E. Mr. Mohamed Mohamed AL-Ashwal

Minister of Industry and Trade, Republic of Yemen

Speaker

Mr. Azizbek Urunov

Special Representative of the President on WTO Issues, Chief Negotiator, Republic of Uzbekistan

Speaker

H.E. Mr. Tomislav Momirović

Minister of Internal and Foreign Trade, Republic of Serbia

Speaker

H.E. Mr. Ramesh Rizal

Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, F.D.R. of Nepal

https://www.wto.org/english/th.....2409_e.htm

RMF: Iraq, is in the process of Article XII accession ! Back in the old days the scuttlebutt was that shortly after getting out of Article 8 and into Article 7 we would soon see what we were looking for.  This is very exciting IMO.   

Clare:  WTO ANALYTICAL INDEX WTO Agreement – Article XII (Practice)

https://www.wto.org/english/re.....12_oth.pdf

KTFA Wednesday Night CC: "FRANK26…..2-21-24……BE IN CONTROL"

KTFA

Wednesday Night Conference Call

FRANK26…..2-21-24……BE IN CONTROL

This video is in Frank’s and his team’s opinion only

Frank’s team is Walkingstick, Eddie in Iraq and guests

Playback Number: 605-313-5163   PIN: 156996#

What Frank’s suit color’s mean…. FRANKS SUIT COLORS FOR CC'S..... WHITE = NEW INFO…. SILVER = INTEL FROZEN…. RED= HIGH ALERT… PURPLE=GUEST WITH US…. BLUE = AIR FORCE…. BLACK = GROUND/FF’S…. GREEN= MR OR FAB 4 ... GOLD = CHANGE… ORANGE= IMPLEMENTATION

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMToGOodaEY

KTFA Monday Night CC : " FRANK26….2-19-24…..DETERMINED !!!"

KTFA

Monday Night Conference Call

FRANK26….2-19-24…..DETERMINED !!!

This video is in Frank’s and his team’s opinion only

Frank’s team is Walkingstick, Eddie in Iraq and guests

Playback Number: 605-313-5163   PIN: 156996#

What Frank’s suit color’s mean…. FRANKS SUIT COLORS FOR CC'S..... WHITE = NEW INFO…. SILVER = INTEL FROZEN…. RED= HIGH ALERT… PURPLE=GUEST WITH US…. BLUE = AIR FORCE…. BLACK = GROUND/FF’S…. GREEN= MR OR FAB 4 ... GOLD = CHANGE… ORANGE= IMPLEMENTATION

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y432gcAYOGE

KTFA Saturday Night CC: "FRANK26……2-17-24……IQD Q&A"

KTFA

FRANK26……2-17-24……IQD Q&A

This video is in Frank’s and his team’s opinion only

Frank’s team is Walkingstick, Eddie in Iraq and guests

Playback Number: 605-313-5163   PIN: 156996#

What Frank’s suit color’s mean…. FRANKS SUIT COLORS FOR CC'S..... WHITE = NEW INFO…. SILVER = INTEL FROZEN…. RED= HIGH ALERT… PURPLE=GUEST WITH US…. BLUE = AIR FORCE…. BLACK = GROUND/FF’S…. GREEN= MR OR FAB 4 ... GOLD = CHANGE… ORANGE= IMPLEMENTATION

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo034bf247U

KTFA Friday Night CC: FRANK26…..2-16-24……..IQD UPDATE……CHASE PART2

KTFA

Friday Night Conference Call

FRANK26…..2-16-24……..IQD UPDATE……CHASE PART2

This video is in Frank’s and his team’s opinion only

Frank’s team is Walkingstick, Eddie in Iraq and guests

Playback Number: 605-313-5163   PIN: 156996#

What Frank’s suit color’s mean…. FRANKS SUIT COLORS FOR CC'S..... WHITE = NEW INFO…. SILVER = INTEL FROZEN…. RED= HIGH ALERT… PURPLE=GUEST WITH US…. BLUE = AIR FORCE…. BLACK = GROUND/FF’S…. GREEN= MR OR FAB 4 ... GOLD = CHANGE… ORANGE= IMPLEMENTATION

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVEPqET9cFs

KTFA Thursday Night CC: "FRANK26….2-15-24……MY TALK WITH CHASE"

KTFA

Thursday Evening Conference Call

FRANK26….2-15-24……MY TALK WITH CHASE

This video is in Frank’s and his team’s opinion only

Frank’s team is Walkingstick, Eddie in Iraq and guests

Playback Number: 605-313-5163   PIN: 156996#

What Frank’s suit color’s mean…. FRANKS SUIT COLORS FOR CC'S..... WHITE = NEW INFO…. SILVER = INTEL FROZEN…. RED= HIGH ALERT… PURPLE=GUEST WITH US…. BLUE = AIR FORCE…. BLACK = GROUND/FF’S…. GREEN= MR OR FAB 4 ... GOLD = CHANGE… ORANGE= IMPLEMENTATION

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYW1-DuKpXk

Frank26 and KTFA Members "News and Views" 2-9-2024

KTFA:

Frank26:  "TAKES YOU OUT OF CHAPTER VII... AND PUTS YOU IN AN INTERNATIONAL BASKET!!!"......F26

 Observer: Ending the mission of the United Nations office in Iraq takes Iraq out of Chapter Seven 

 2/7/2024

The United Nations office in Iraq takes Iraq out of Chapter Seven 

Information / Baghdad..

On Wednesday, political observer Sabah Al-Ugaili called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shia Al-Sudani to end the work of the United Nations representation in Iraq, indicating that “if this matter were achieved, it would remove Iraq from Chapter Seven.”

Al-Ugaili told Al-Maalouma, “The time is right for Sudanese to ask the Secretary-General of the United Nations to end the work of its representation in Iraq, especially after Plasschaert announced the end of its mission in Iraq.”

He added, “Plasschaert’s request to end its mission and the Chinese representative’s recognition of the existence of a state of political and economic stability in Iraq gives Al-Sudani the opportunity to ask the Secretary-General of the United Nations to end the work of the United Nations office in Iraq, or at least reduce it, and then Iraq will exit Chapter Seven.”

The representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Jeanine Plasschaert, had asked the Secretary-General of the United Nations that it was her mission in Iraq during her periodic briefing at the UN Security Council yesterday, Tuesday.

It is noteworthy that Iraq has been subject since 1990 to Chapter Seven of the United Nations Charter, which was imposed on it after Saddam’s regime invaded the State of Kuwait in August of the same year. This clause allows the use of force against Iraq as it constitutes a threat to international security, in addition to freezing large amounts of its financial assets in Iraq. International banks to pay compensation to those affected by the invasion.  LINK

************

Frank26:  "WALKINGSTICK REMINDS US..." ................F26

 The Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq receives a delegation from the World Bank

February 07, 2024

His Excellency the Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq, Mr. Ali Mohsen Al-Alaq, received a delegation from the World Bank headed by the Director of the World Bank’s office in Iraq, Mr. Richard Abdel Nour.

During the meeting, they discussed enhancing bilateral cooperation between the Central Bank of Iraq and the World Bank and discussing electronic payment projects and financial inclusion, as well as reform programs to enhance the stability and development of the financial sector.

The two parties also discussed the support of the World Bank to provide advice in establishing the Riyada Bank dedicated to financing small projects in Iraq, with the support of the International Finance Corporation.

In turn, the World Bank delegation praised the procedures of the Central Bank of Iraq in facilitating financial transfers to different segments in Iraq, noting that the infrastructure of electronic payment systems and software systems in Iraq are among the best systems in the region.

 Central Bank of Iraq
Information Office

7 - February - 2024

https://cbi.iq/news/view/2511

Henig:  UN to investigate claims of corruption in Iraq aid project

Guardian report found staff allegedly sought bribes in return for helping people win deals as part of $1.5bn construction programme

Simona Foltyn    Mon 5 Feb 2024 07.09 EST

The UN Development Programme (UNDP) is dispatching a team to Iraq to assess allegations of corruption in its $1.5bn (£1.2bn) construction programme following a Guardian investigation.

According to an internal document obtained by the Guardian, the UNDP’s administrator, Achim Steiner, has “commissioned a management review and assessment of the allegations” after revelations its staff were allegedly taking kickbacks in return for helping business people obtain lucrative construction contracts.

The six-page document, sent to donors on 25 January, aimed to reassure western capitals that the UNDP could hold itself to account through internal oversight mechanisms. At a subsequent meeting, several donors pressed the agency to carry out an external review to help restore credibility.

An Iraqi government official with detailed knowledge of the matter said the country’s prime minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, had ordered the country’s integrity commission to launch a separate investigation.

The UNDP document said the agency had previously referred 136 cases to its Office of Audit and Investigations (OAI) in relation to the reconstruction programme – the majority of which were against suppliers rather than employees. It said 56 were substantiated, of which 52 were related to vendors who subsequently faced sanction. The document provided no further detail on the remaining four cases, or whether any disciplinary action had been taken.

The brief said the UNDP was “committed to fostering a work culture and environment where all UNDP personnel can report wrongdoing without fear of retaliation”.

Magnifying glass over the United Nations Development Programme UNDP company logo
UN staff on £1.5bn Iraq aid project ‘demanding bribes’
Read more
However, since the Guardian’s report, more UNDP employees have come forward with allegations. They described a “culture of fear” and impunity that they said extended across the agency’s Middle East offices. They accused UNDP managers who had developed close relationships with government counterparts of weaponising those ties to shield themselves from accountability while retaliating against staff who spoke out.

One person who worked at an office in the Middle East said they tried to raise the alarm over hundreds of thousands of dollars being channelled to an organisation run by a government official, but that superiors “signalled very quickly that we ought not to get involved”. When they reported the case to the OAI, the person was told they had not provided sufficient documentation for the investigation to go ahead. “The OAI doesn’t work at all. It’s completely dysfunctional,” the person said.

At UNDP Iraq, one employee filed complaints to the ombudsman and OAI alleging mismanagement and bullying by a supervisor, only to watch senior management turn against them. “They told me, either I drop my grievance or my upcoming performance review would not look good and I would be let go,” they said. The Guardian has seen copies of the complaints, but is not making further details public on this and other cases to protect the whistleblowers.

Another employee who worked for the UNDP said they were threatened by a former manager after voicing concerns over wasteful spending. “Straight away, they said: ‘You know where the door is and you won’t have a job if you continue to raise things,’” they recalled. The manager’s close ties to government officials made them untouchable. “They are in each other’s pockets, and it’s enabled from the top,” the employee said.

Last week, the UNDP’s resident representative in Iraq, Auke Lootsma, wrote in a staff email that the Guardian investigation was “very unfortunate”, adding that his office was “working with UN headquarters to refute these unfair and unjust allegations”. Lootsma asked staff to “refrain from any comment”.

In a statement to the Guardian, a UNDP spokesperson said allegations that employees were threatened with retaliation for reporting wrongdoing were “completely at odds with UNDP’s commitment to accountability, integrity and openness to scrutiny”.

The statement said the allegations were not specific enough to be addressed individually and that the agency would “welcome more details to allow the appropriate independent channels to assess further”.

It added that the UNDP’s ethics office had invested heavily in training staff on issues related to conflict of interest and protection against retaliation, and that the OAI conducted audits and investigations “independently from UNDP management or any outside party and in line with UNDP’s whistleblowing and retaliation policies”.   LINK

*************

Henig:  Dollar steps up over dong

By Dat Nguyen Tue 2/6/2024, 08:42 pm (PT)

 The U.S. dollar rose against the Vietnamese dong Wednesday morning.

Vietcombank sold the dollar at VND24,570, up 0.16% from Tuesday.

The State Bank of Vietnam lowered its reference rate by 0.03% to VND23,956.

It fell 0.40% to VND24,850 on the black market.

 The greenback has increased by 0.61% against the dong since the beginning of the year.

 Globally the dollar remained under pressure on Wednesday after retreating from a nearly three-month high against the euro in the previous session with a decline in U.S. bond yields adding to the drag, Reuters reported.

 Analysts pointed to technical factors for the dollar's pullback, following a two-day rally of as much as 1.4% against the euro after unexpectedly strong U.S. jobs data and more hawkish rhetoric from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell scuppered bets for an early interest rate cut.

The U.S. dollar index - which measures the currency against six major peers, including the euro - was flat at 104.14, following Tuesday's 0.29% slide. It had reached the highest since Nov. 14 at 104.60 on Monday.   LINK

Some "Thursday News" From KTFA 2-8-2024

KTFA:

Clare:  Observer: Ending the mission of the United Nations office in Iraq takes Iraq out of Chapter Seven 

2/7/2024

The United Nations office in Iraq takes Iraq out of Chapter Seven 

Information / Baghdad..

On Wednesday, political observer Sabah Al-Ugaili called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shia Al-Sudani to end the work of the United Nations representation in Iraq, indicating that “if this matter were achieved, it would remove Iraq from Chapter Seven.”

Al-Ugaili told Al-Maalouma, “The time is right for Sudanese to ask the Secretary-General of the United Nations to end the work of its representation in Iraq, especially after Plasschaert announced the end of its mission in Iraq.”

He added, “Plasschaert’s request to end its mission and the Chinese representative’s recognition of the existence of a state of political and economic stability in Iraq gives Al-Sudani the opportunity to ask the Secretary-General of the United Nations to end the work of the United Nations office in Iraq, or at least reduce it, and then Iraq will exit Chapter Seven.”

The representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Jeanine Plasschaert, had asked the Secretary-General of the United Nations that it was her mission in Iraq during her periodic briefing at the UN Security Council yesterday, Tuesday.

It is noteworthy that Iraq has been subject since 1990 to Chapter Seven of the United Nations Charter, which was imposed on it after Saddam’s regime invaded the State of Kuwait in August of the same year. This clause allows the use of force against Iraq as it constitutes a threat to international security, in addition to freezing large amounts of its financial assets in Iraq. International banks to pay compensation to those affected by the invasion.  LINK

*************

Clare:  Al-Sudani confirms: The Baghdad Metro project establishes an important shift in the movement of citizens in the capital, Baghdad

2/8/2024

Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani confirmed that the Baghdad Metro project establishes an important shift in the movement of citizens in the capital, Baghdad, whose population has exceeded 8 million people.

Al-Sudani said during the ceremony of launching investment opportunities for the Baghdad Metro and Karbala-Najaf Express Train projects that the project consists of 7 lines with a length of 148 km, and will cover most of the areas of Baghdad. The metro project also establishes a process of linking with the new cities that have been started, which is the Al-Jawahiri City, west of Baghdad. Ali Al-Wardi City, south of Baghdad, and New Sadr City, east of Baghdad.

He explained that these projects carry clear and significant economic feasibility for the private sector that is serious about implementing them.

He stressed that the announcement of these two projects represents a transition in the course of the government’s work from quick and simple projects, such as service and engineering effort projects, to major projects.

Al-Sudani explained that the work processes are continuing, as we have worked on these two projects, launched the development road project, and are directly supervising the completion of the Grand Faw Port project and concluding contracts for new cities.

He confirmed that the investment portfolio to rehabilitate and expand Baghdad International Airport will soon be completed.

Al-Sudani pointed out that all these projects lay the foundation for a development renaissance for the new Iraq, after years of neglect, poor planning, and corruption that affected all projects, especially infrastructure.

He stated that public transportation is a goal in which we will not limit ourselves to building bridges, overpasses, and tunnels, but rather we have an integrated vision for a package of several modern means of transportation for our capital.

He stressed that we are establishing a new philosophy of management through the state undertaking organization and planning, and paving the way for the technically capable private sector to undertake the implementation of these projects.

He continued: We cannot remain dependent on oil imports to implement all service projects.

Al-Sudani stressed that Iraq is witnessing a high growth rate, the highest among countries in the region.

He stated: We must create the requirements for an attractive and supportive investment environment to pave the way for the work of local, Arab and foreign companies.

He explained: We need the support of members of the House of Representatives, with its specialized committees, in supporting the state’s directions with legislation that paves the way for an investment-attractive environment.

Al-Sudani confirmed that we sent the draft economic amendments law, which includes several laws that we want to be in one package to save time, and many international companies are waiting for these amendments.

He also stressed that launching the “Year of Achievements” is not just a slogan, but rather within a vision that has been prepared since the writing of the government program, and is planned during the life of this government.

He stated: We established projects according to timings, and we raised the slogan: There is no slow project approved and implemented in this government, and we are continuing in this direction.   LINK

KTFA Wednesday Night CC: "FRANK26….2-7-24…….IQD UPDATE…..BANK ON IT"

KTFA

Wednesday Night Conference Call

FRANK26….2-7-24…….IQD UPDATE…..BANK ON IT

This video is in Frank’s and his team’s opinion only

Frank’s team is Walkingstick, Eddie in Iraq and guests

Playback Number: 605-313-5163   PIN: 156996#

What Frank’s suit color’s mean…. FRANKS SUIT COLORS FOR CC'S..... WHITE = NEW INFO…. SILVER = INTEL FROZEN…. RED= HIGH ALERT… PURPLE=GUEST WITH US…. BLUE = AIR FORCE…. BLACK = GROUND/FF’S…. GREEN= MR OR FAB 4 ... GOLD = CHANGE… ORANGE= IMPLEMENTATION

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8QMqWT441Q

KTFA Monday Night CC: " FRANK26……2-5-24……IQD UPDATE……WAIT FOR IT…WAIT FOR IT"

KTFA

Monday Night Conference Call

FRANK26……2-5-24……IQD UPDATE……WAIT FOR IT…WAIT FOR IT

This video is in Frank’s and his team’s opinion only

Frank’s team is Walkingstick, Eddie in Iraq and guests

Playback Number: 605-313-5163   PIN: 156996#

What Frank’s suit color’s mean…. FRANKS SUIT COLORS FOR CC'S..... WHITE = NEW INFO…. SILVER = INTEL FROZEN…. RED= HIGH ALERT… PURPLE=GUEST WITH US…. BLUE = AIR FORCE…. BLACK = GROUND/FF’S…. GREEN= MR OR FAB 4 ... GOLD = CHANGE… ORANGE= IMPLEMENTATION

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkalxRpBGwg