News & Comments
Walid al-Hilli: we implement our collaboration and document the political system in Iraq, reform
16/03/2016 11:29 |Direction Press / Baghdad He said the leader of the Islamic Dawa Party, Dr. Walid al-Hilli The document put forward by the Prime Minister Dr. Haider al-Abadi includes comprehensive reform plan and the ministerial amendment, which serve as a platform to change the political regime in Iraq, according to the Constitution and laws, and was characterized by the existence of standards, mechanisms and methods of detailed operational and security, administrative and economic aspects and regulatory and legislative.
He ornaments in a statement received “direction Press” that the importance of this document lies in the cooperation of ministers and political blocs and government departments in adopting and applying, “noting that corruption grows wherever he found space or gaps or problems, stressing that everyone involved in the fight are already not in words, logos bright and deceptive .
And select ornaments causes of corruption when some ministers contracts entered into by the ministry, which is often marred by corruption, is supposed to constitute a reconstruction board to play this role away from the interference of Ministers, in addition to the need for accountability committees and economic bodies of a number of entities that seized control of the contracts, and should keep it away from interfere with the ministries and the government.
And appointments that are focused on mostly party minister and his relatives and acquaintances away from the professional, efficient and put the right person in the right place, and is supposed to Federal service is formed to exercise the role of the appointment in accordance with the required standards, and outside the influence of ministers and others.
Ornaments and stressed that there are countries working against Iraq so as not to settle and develop because they feel that those tracks will affect the balance of power in the region, and will enable Iraq to be an important and powerful force on the arenas, regional and international, especially after the great victories achieved by the heroes of our security forces and the crowd and folk tribesmen where are today features eliminate Daash gangs clearer and it will be resolved in the near future with the help of God Almighty. http://aletejahtv.org/index.php/permalink/103772.html
[tlm724] so many blocs are up for the change however there is always gonna be those who wish to destroy Iraq from within
[tlm724] but I think this time we will see the change, put the right person in the right place whether it’s a seat in Parliament or behind bars
http://www.bondladyscorner.com/t164531-walid-al-hilli-we-implement-our-collaboration-and-document-the-political-system-in-iraq-reform
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Allawi’s coalition rejects request Abadi nominate ministers for the government of technocrats
03/16/2016 12:35 Tomorrow Press / Baghdad: rejection of the national coalition, on Wednesday, the President of the Council of Ministers, Haider al – Abadi, the nomination of ministers , “not on the appointment” to the Government of “technocrats” to be formed, and criticized the reforms Abadi described as “formal.”
The Coalition, led by Iyad Allawi, in a statement, “tomorrow Press” received a copy of it, he was “held its regular meeting at the national headquarters on Tuesday evening to deliberate on the latest developments at the national and regional level , ”
adding that ” the meeting dealt with the political, economic and security serious challenges plaguing the country and continuing violations of the rights of the Iraqi citizens, particularly the crimes committed by al Daash terrorist and gangster outlaw in Diyala and other provinces of Iraq,
in addition to the suffering of hundreds of thousands of citizens of the migration and displacement, displacement and deteriorating conditions in exchange for government ‘s inability to find solutions for millions of our people wounded. ”
The statement added,” The reform is serving the community and meet the demands of the demonstrators and achieve reconciliation and national unity and put an end to quotas and political sectarianism and corruption, smuggling money, “Msttrda” while citizens suffer from austerity and hardship measures. ”
on the cabinet reshuffle expected , said the national coalition, he said that “clear and explicit national position presented by Mr. Abadi project which is the reform of formality does not affect the essence of the structure of the political process does not meet the demands of the masses is not good enough and will not lead, but to a change in faces only,
which is not commensurate with the document political reform that came political Ktuaq and approved in the Council of Representatives and sanctified in the government program , which formed a government under which “.
the national meeting, according to the statement, the” Dharroh commitment to data and messages and positions of the bloc , “and expressed regret for” the absence of the role of the House of Representatives distinguished the real role and lack of commitment to the constitutional mechanisms of any amendment and Zraa, and alienate the spirit of partnership and not the exclusivity of the decision. ”
He said that ” the message Director of the Prime Minister acting office at the request of Ministers of the nomination and not on the appointment, is unacceptable to form and substance.”
The new coalition full support for “pro – reform popular demonstrations” and called on demonstrators to “abide Bslmah demonstrations and boost morale and support for our armed forces and fighters against terrorism and called on the meeting to the growing momentum even realized the legitimate demands of the elimination of corruption and achieving state citizenship away from quotas regional and sectarian. ”
the statement stressed” lineup (coalition) full with the demands of our honorable, and renewed his reign to be a voice Sadha and honest to his audience, he refuses to turn a false witness or a partner in failure, frustration and confusion and procrastination and circumvent the legitimate demands of the people to live in dignity, or a participant in the government holds all the causes of failure before its formation. ”
the statement concluded,” the national continuing in its efforts and jihad to achieve the state of citizenship which is based on justice, equality and the rule of law, and to address the quotas that led to the collapse of institutions and the takeover of terrorism over large areas, and to migrations and displacement of two million. ” LINK
[tlm724] speaking of those who would destroy Iraq from within, here is that SOB Allawi !
[tlm724] said the national coalition, he said that “clear and explicit national position presented by Mr. Abadi project which is the reform of formality does not affect the essence of the structure of the political process does not meet the demands of the masses is not good enough and will not lead, but to a change in faces only, which is not commensurate with the document political reform that came political Ktuaq and approved in the Council of Representatives and sanctified in the government program , which formed a government under which “.
[tlm724] the political process does not meet the demands of the masses is not good enough and will not lead, but to a change in faces only,
[tlm724] this is something brand new for Iraq, it won’t be perfect and can be adjusted as they go forward but Allawi will be the fly in the ointment NO MATTER what Iraq tries to do to better it’s self !
http://www.bondladyscorner.com/t164539-allawi-s-coalition-rejects-request-abadi-nominate-ministers-for-the-government-of-technocrats
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Foreign parliamentary: refund contraband is very complicated and need a long period[/size]
17/03/2016 09:58 | Direction Press Special / He assured the Foreign Relations Committee, member of the parliamentary Luis Caro, on Thursday, the formation of a special committee in the House of Representatives on the recovery of the money smuggled out of Iraq file.
Said Caro in an interview for “direction Press” that the Special Committee, which was formed on recovery of money smuggled out of the country, headed by First Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Hamoudi and Second Vice Aram Sheikh, referring to the meeting, the meeting in order to held develop a road map for action and coordination with the concerned authorities in the Iraqi Central Bank and the ministries concerned in this regard.
He added that these agencies will develop a plan to move toward countries that smuggled money found in their banks and follow-up, in order to reach certain results and set a time limit for the results will reach its actors aforementioned Add to know the fate of this money is owned in order to restore them, pointing out that these measures are complex The very need for a long period of time.
It is said that Iraq and the international community demanded earlier to shoulder its legal and moral responsibilities to help him recover stolen and smuggled his money, and in many Arab and foreign countries. http://aletejahtv.org/index.php/permalink/103883.html
[tlm724] the Iraqi Central Bank and the ministries concerned in this regard
[tlm724] these agencies will develop a plan to move toward countries that smuggled money found in their banks and follow-up, in order to reach certain results and set a time limit for the results will reach its actors aforementioned
[tlm724] love it when they are on a time schedule otherwise it won’t get done !
http://www.bondladyscorner.com/t164587-foreign-parliamentary-refund-contraband-is-very-complicated-and-need-a-long-period
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Tomorrow the opening conditions Rashidiya Department to issue a national card
16/03/2016 05:18 | Direction Press /,The Ministry of Interior / General Directorate of Nationality, opened on Thursday, the conditions of the municipality of Al Rashidiya circle north of the capital Baghdad.
According to a statement of the ministry “direction Press” received a copy of it, “The opening will be at nine o’clock in the morning, so as to start issuing unified national card for citizens.” http://aletejahtv.org/index.php/permalink/103829.html
[tlm724] “The opening will be at nine o’clock in the morning, so as to start issuing unified national card for citizens.”
[tlm724] finally they will have a card !!! Very Happy
[cstacy] nice
[tlm724] yes indeed
http://www.bondladyscorner.com/t164591-tomorrow-todaythe-opening-conditions-rashidiya-department-to-issue-a-national-card
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Integrity announces the issuance of arrest warrants against 18 ministers and 100 people from the special grades orders
17/03/2016 01:21 | Direction Press / Baghdad Integrity Commission announced on Thursday that 18 ministers and more than 100 people from the special grades were issued arrest warrants against them, indicating that the implementation of the arrest warrants amounted to 40%.
The head of the Hassan al-Yasiri in a press conference held in the body that building, “the number of ministers or their grade who were sentenced arrest warrants amounted to 18 ministers,” adding that “the number of arrest warrants issued against the special grades and general managers and their grade 100 people.”
The Yasiri that ” the arrest warrants issued by the Integrity Commission based on cases referred reached in 2719 an order, do them by the executive authorities 772 thing,” adding that ” the number of orders that havenot been implemented by these parties reached in 1146 an order and by 40%.” The sa http://aletejahtv.org/index.php/permalink/103924.html
[tlm724] *whip*
[tlm724] Integrity Commission announced on Thursday that 18 ministers and more than 100 people from the special grades were issued arrest warrants against them
[tlm724] it’s a good start
http://www.bondladyscorner.com/t164594-integrity-announces-the-issuance-of-arrest-warrants-against-18-ministers-and-100-people-from-the-special-grades-orders
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Urgent ..khalav parliamentary restore infrastructure bill to the government
History of edits:: 17.3.2016 12:00 {Baghdad: Euphrates News} House of Representatives, decided during its regular Thursday reconstruction of infrastructure and service sectors bill to the government.
A parliamentary source inside the meeting told {Euphrates News} today that “after a dispute over some paragraphs of the reconstruction of the infrastructure and service sectors the law of the House of Representatives decided to return the letter of the law to the federal government to rewrite the law,” followed .. http://alforatnews.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=111651
[tlm724] after a dispute over some paragraphs of the reconstruction of the infrastructure and service sectors the law of the House of Representatives decided to return the letter of the law to the federal government to rewrite the law,”
[tlm724] get it ready ! This is one of the laws on BondLady’s list
http://www.bondladyscorner.com/t164611-urgent-khalav-parliamentary-restore-infrastructure-bill-to-the-government
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Parliamentary committee announces the initiation amending municipal revenue law
03/17/2016 [rtl]BAGHDAD / JD / .. the parliamentary finance committee, announced an end to amend the draft of the municipal councils in the sixties of the last century, revenue law, likely approval in the next few sessions of the House of Representatives.[/rtl]
A member of the committee MP Hussam punitive Agency / KD /: The committee ended its own amendment to the draft of the municipal councils in the sixties of the last century, revenue law, especially related to real estate and property and a review of fees and taxes.[/rtl]
He added that the law is ready to vote and will be put in the next few sessions of the House of Representatives for the purpose of voting on it. http://www.dananernews.com/News_Details.php?ID=7032
[tlm724] The committee ended its own amendment to the draft of the municipal councils in the sixties of the last century, revenue law, especially related to real estate and property and a review of fees and taxes
[tlm724] that the law is ready to vote and will be put in the next few sessions of the House of Representatives for the purpose of voting on it
[tlm724] I like anything that has to do with revenue, show us the money lol
http://www.bondladyscorner.com/t164632-parliamentary-committee-announces-the-initiation-amending-municipal-revenue-law
Using International Financial Aid to Improve Baghdad-KRG Relations. By Michael Knights* by dr.schuber
Planned financial aid packages can help prevent economic meltdown in Iraqi Kurdistan and reduce tensions between Baghdad and Erbil.
The Kurdistan Regional Government is making a concerted effort to attract financial aid from the United States and other international players, and the logic for providing such aid is strong. The KRG is the vital launchpad for liberating Mosul, and the Kurds are a pro-Western ally of enduring strategic value. Slowly but surely, they are implementing economic reforms and upping their involvement in the war against the Islamic State.
Yet while the United States and its coalition partners are (rightly) beginning to send emergency financial assistance to the near-bankrupt KRG, such cash infusions — likely totaling less than half a billion dollars in 2016 — will only postpone Kurdistan’s economic collapse by perhaps a year.
Washington’s aim should not be to keep the KRG afloat until Mosul is liberated; it should be to provide a much larger infusion of financial assistance that continues to help the Kurds well afterward.
The International Monetary Fund and other financial institutions are the key to this approach. Involving them in the assistance effort could not only save Kurdistan, but also foster sustainable political and economic relations between the KRG and the Iraqi federal government.
KURDISTAN’S ECONOMIC FUTURE
The KRG currently employs 1.4 million of the territory’s 2 million working-age people, at a cost of $793 million per month; Erbil plans to reduce this figure to $361 million within six months through payroll cuts.
Other monthly expenditures include government subsidies on fuels and electricity (around $375 million but declining), wartime costs (around $197 million), and oil export costs (around $70 million). In addition, a mammoth 1.8 million displaced people and refugees (compared to a native population of 5 million) have strained the economy to a degree that is difficult to quantify.
Even if economic reforms take hold and war costs are slowly reduced, the KRG will likely still have monthly expenses of around $800-850 million.
In the latter half of 2015, KRG oil sales averaged $629 million per month according to the Ministry of Natural Resources. Depressed oil prices and pipeline disruption will probably keep income at these low levels or even lower (e.g., last month’s oil revenue was only $303 million due to pipeline problems).
The KRG is already $25 billion in debt and will continue to rack up around $200 million more per month if current oil prices hold. With many civil servants four months behind in salary payments, the potential for strikes, unrest, and accelerated migration is growing.
Unless oil prices unexpectedly rally from their present rate of $40 per barrel to at least $60 per barrel, the KRG will continue to fall behind on salaries and debt obligations to domestic creditors and international oil traders.
The current plan to send the KRG tens of millions of dollars in aid will provide some economic relief and keep certain tranches of Peshmerga fighters operational. Yet it may not buy enough time to enact reforms, restore the KRG’s credit-worthiness, restart investment in infrastructure, and head off instability.
HOW COULD INTERNATIONAL AID CHANGE THINGS?
Unlike federal Iraq, which holds reserves of $50 billion, the KRG has no reserves and is a sub-sovereign entity, meaning it cannot directly receive large financial aid packages from most international institutions.
Yet the package that the IMF will likely offer to Baghdad soon — perhaps $6-10 billion to be disbursed in 2016-2018 — has been designed to help all of Iraq’s eighteen provinces, including the three provinces that compose the KRG.
Similarly, recent World Bank investments in Iraq have had a Kurdistan component, such as the $255 million road improvement plan that is funding federal projects and some smaller KRG projects.
The IMF Staff-Monitored Program currently in place (as a forerunner to a fully funded Stand-By Arrangement) is charged with overseeing Iraq’s execution of budget commitments and ensuring that the state makes agreed savings without building up further arrears to domestic and international creditors.
This includes monitoring whether the KRG is paid its share of revenue — which Baghdad would likely interpret to mean 17 percent of net actual revenues per month after the deduction of hefty sovereign expenses (i.e., for defense, parliament, and other federal institutions).
Yet in order to claim its share of the federal budget and international aid packages, the KRG would need to resume the transfer of 550,000 barrels of oil per day to the federal oil marketer, as agreed in the budget.
The IMF would then want to see that Iraq was making mutually agreed budget cuts, not simply hitting its targets by cutting one portion of the country — the KRG — out of the spending plan.
At current oil prices and Iraqi export levels, the KRG could expect to receive perhaps $350 million per month for providing 550,000 bpd, plus another $150-270 million per month from aid packages given to Baghdad by the IMF, other institutions, and states such as Germany and Japan.
The Kurds might also be granted some latitude to export any excess oil beyond the committed 550,000 bpd. The net result could turn out to be better for the KRG than full reliance on independent exports for the next two or three years.
Better yet, the arrangement would be underwritten by an international monitoring regime — the first deal of this kind for the Kurds since the UN gave them a 17 percent share of oil-for-food proceeds in the 1990s.
In all likelihood, the main challenge in striking this kind of deal will be gaining Baghdad’s assent. For years, the central government sought to keep the KRG from exporting oil independently, but since 2014 it has come to realize that carrying Kurdistan’s 1.4 million state employees is a net drain on the federal budget.
Baghdad is now crowing over the KRG’s economic distress, which is worse than Baghdad’s own situation only because the state has been liquidating its reserves at a rate that would fully deplete them within the next year or so if continued.
Letting the Kurds back into revenue sharing and giving them a slice of international aid packages is not Baghdad’s preference, and the KRG is going through a painful domestic political crisis that will make it difficult for Kurdish leaders to make public concessions to Baghdad. What is needed is an effective mediator.
IMPLICATIONS FOR U.S. POLICY
The United States should seize this opportunity to bring Baghdad and the KRG back together, helping them reach temporary agreement on a common economic policy for oil sales, international aid, and customs issues. With determined U.S. and international mediation, both sides might recognize the midterm benefits of reintegrating their economies, if only temporarily. This could in turn encourage broader long-term cooperation.
The benefits to the KRG are obvious. International mediation could help Kurdistan get its fair share of federal revenues, reserves, and multi-billion-dollar aid packages, while IMF conditionality and monitoring could help KRG officials reform the economy and restore shattered public trust in its revenue and spending figures. In addition, a more benign relationship with Baghdad could eventually net other benefits for Erbil, such as airspace control and backing for sub-sovereign loans.
The benefits to Baghdad are more subtle, but quite compelling. Renewing the effort to resolve its disputes with the KRG could intensify international backing for prompt delivery of IMF and other aid packages.
The divisive Kirkuk issue would be put on the back burner once negotiations and international monitoring forced the two parties to stop fighting over the oil-rich area.
These and other developments might also encourage the Kurds to request that Turkey withdraw its controversial military base at Bashiqa, a KRG-held area near Mosul. For his part, Iraqi prime minister Haider al-Abadi could lock in Kurdish cooperation for his reform plans. And in the longer term, Baghdad would be assured that Washington will always consult with it on U.S.-Kurdish affairs.
The benefits to the United States are no less compelling: keeping the Mosul offensive on track, lessening tension between two key allies, increasing U.S. leverage in Baghdad and Erbil, and rescuing the Kurds from economic meltdown. As with Mosul Dam, a little extra effort now would be a lot less costly than cleaning up after a disaster.
(*) Michael Knights is a Lafer Fellow with The Washington Institute.
Source: The Washington Institute, March 15, 2016
http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/using-international-financial-aid-to-improve-baghdad-krg-relations
dr.schuber | March 16, 2016 at 2:38 pm | Categories: Iraqi Kurdistan Region, Latest Publications | URL: http://wp.me/p4A3k0-Rw
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http://iraqieconomists.net/en/using-international-financial-aid-to-improve-baghdad-krg-relations-by-michael-knights/
tlm724: Thank you BondLady, this is a good one ! I’ll bring some of the important points forward but we do encourage everyone to read the article for themselves.
Planned financial aid packages can help prevent economic meltdown in Iraqi Kurdistan and reduce tensions between Baghdad and Erbil.
The Kurdistan Regional Government is making a concerted effort to attract financial aid from the United States and other international players, and the logic for providing such aid is strong.
The USA is going to give the Kurds a shot in the arm (funding) but long term sustainability is needed
” The International Monetary Fund and other financial institutions are the key to this approach. Involving them in the assistance effort could not only save Kurdistan, but also foster sustainable political and economic relations between the KRG and the Iraqi federal government”
Unlike federal Iraq, which holds reserves of $50 billion, the KRG has no reserves and is a sub-sovereign entity, meaning it cannot directly receive large financial aid packages from most international institutions.
The IMF Staff-Monitored Program currently in place (as a forerunner to a fully funded Stand-By Arrangement) is charged with overseeing Iraq’s execution of budget commitments and ensuring that the state makes agreed savings without building up further arrears to domestic and international creditors.
The IMF has the economic con Wink and they, as well as the World Bank, USA Germany and Japan are pumping money in to support Iraq during the transition of reforms and hopefully a free market economy soon
This includes monitoring whether the KRG is paid its share of revenue — which Baghdad would likely interpret to mean 17 percent of net actual revenues per month after the deduction of hefty sovereign expenses (i.e., for defense, parliament, and other federal institutions).
Yet in order to claim its share of the federal budget and international aid packages, the KRG would need to resume the transfer of 550,000 barrels of oil per day to the federal oil marketer, as agreed in the budget.
ah ha there it is, the Kurds MUST pump the agreed upon oil to get their 17 % share and if they want the support (money) from the IMF and all the other aid they better get to pumping !
In all likelihood, the main challenge in striking this kind of deal will be gaining Baghdad’s assent. For years, the central government sought to keep the KRG from exporting oil independently, but since 2014 it has come to realize that carrying Kurdistan’s 1.4 million state employees is a net drain on the federal budget.
Baghdad is now crowing over the KRG’s economic distress, which is worse than Baghdad’s own situation only because the state has been liquidating its reserves at a rate that would fully deplete them within the next year or so if continued.
Letting the Kurds back into revenue sharing and giving them a slice of international aid packages is not Baghdad’s preference, and the KRG is going through a painful domestic political crisis that will make it difficult for Kurdish leaders to make public concessions to Baghdad. What is needed is an effective mediator.
It always boils down to the money ! Or as BondLady would say “you got peanut butter in my chocolate ” this is a tough deal BUT the alternative is disastrous for all of Iraq, including Baghdad !
Per Michael Knights “What is needed is an effective mediator” I would agree and have said that many times, they will not do this on their own, they will fight as they always have !
With determined U.S. and international mediation, both sides might recognize the midterm benefits of reintegrating their economies, if only temporarily. This could in turn encourage broader long-term cooperation.
IMO the US is wishy washy on this policy, we should have held their hands to the fire years ago !
The benefits to the KRG are obvious. International mediation could help Kurdistan get its fair share of federal revenues, reserves, and multi-billion-dollar aid packages, while IMF conditionality and monitoring could help KRG officials reform the economy and restore shattered public trust in its revenue and spending figures.
In addition, a more benign relationship with Baghdad could eventually net other benefits for Erbil, such as airspace control and backing for sub-sovereign loans.
The benefits to Baghdad are more subtle, but quite compelling. Renewing the effort to resolve its disputes with the KRG could intensify international backing for prompt delivery of IMF and other aid packages.
Money money money !
The divisive Kirkuk issue would be put on the back burner once negotiations and international monitoring forced the two parties to stop fighting over the oil-rich area.
This is part of Article 140 and I think it should be resolved once and for all. Let the Kurds keep Kirkuk , they liberated it and Baghdad would still get a portion of the oil anyway!
For his part, Iraqi prime minister Haider al-Abadi could lock in Kurdish cooperation for his reform plans. And in the longer term, Baghdad would be assured that Washington will always consult with it on U.S.-Kurdish affairs
The benefits to the United States are no less compelling: keeping the Mosul offensive on track, lessening tension between two key allies, increasing U.S. leverage in Baghdad and Erbil, and rescuing the Kurds from economic meltdown. As with Mosul Dam, a little extra effort now would be a lot less costly than cleaning up after a disaster.
Final thoughts. Money talks BS walks and if Iraq truly wants to save it’s self they MUST play ball and win the game. It’s the only way they can move forward. Talk about a critical stage, the oil agreement has to be implemented and monitored, no way around it. The key points of the reform must be accomplished and quick!
http://www.bondladyscorner.com/t164583-using-international-financial-aid-to-improve-baghdad-krg-relations
