Some Iraq News posted by Clare at KTFA 12-18-2024
KTFA:
Clare: Al-Sudani arrives in Saudi Arabia and meets Bin Salman
12/18/2024
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani arrived in Saudi Arabia today, Wednesday.
This was stated by his media office in a brief statement received by Shafak News Agency, adding that Al-Sudani arrived in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where he met in the city of Al-Ula with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. LINK
Clare: Government Advisor: Iraq is out of the dangers of external debt and will pay the remainder until 2028
12/18/2024
The financial advisor to the Prime Minister, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, announced that Iraq has emerged from the dangers of external debt, and that it (Iraq) is a well-fortified country.
Saleh said in a press statement that: “After getting rid of the heavy burden of its debts, Iraq has transformed from a country indebted to others to a country that can be a creditor to others,” noting that “the country is called the ‘young creditor’ because it possesses a degree of youth in the economic aspect, which has raised its credit rating, despite the problems of the region.”
He added that "Iraq has gotten rid of the burden of external debts for the first time, which had shackled it economically," noting that "what remains of its debts to international parties constitutes less than (9) billion dollars that will be paid between now and the year (2028)."
Saleh explained that "debts are paid off through allocations in the federal general budget," noting that "the ratio of debts to the gross domestic product does not constitute a burden on the state, as it amounts to (5) percent of the gross domestic product."
He considered "Iraq a well-fortified country, in terms of external debts (in other words, it is outside the risks of external debts), which gives the country high credit at the present time," noting that "internal debts are confined within the (government banking) system." LINK
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Clare: After "fiery" statements by one of them.. Al-Sudani issues urgent directives to his advisors
12/18/2024
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani directed advisors on Wednesday evening not to make any effort in press statements in a manner that violates the general contexts of state administration, by expressing personal opinions that do not represent the government, and not to appear or make statements to the media except with official approval .
According to a statement issued by Al-Sudani's office, and received by Shafaq News Agency, the Prime Minister "gave all advisors the choice between continuing their official work or giving up their positions and advisory positions, and thus they will be free to make statements that express their personal opinions."
Yesterday, Tuesday, the Prime Minister’s advisor, Ibrahim Al-Sumaidaie, revealed that the Iraqi government had received a clear request from international and regional parties regarding the necessity of dismantling the weapons of the armed factions, while warning of the danger of not responding to this request. LINK
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Clare: Al-Sudani directs the formation of a committee to prepare mechanisms for lending industrial projects
12/18/2024 Baghdad: Morning
Yesterday, Tuesday, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani directed the formation of a joint committee to prepare mechanisms for lending to industrial projects.
A statement from his office, received by Al-Sabah, stated that "within the framework of government efforts aimed at supporting industrial projects, in a way that contributes to achieving sustainable development, strengthening the national economy and increasing job opportunities, the Prime Minister issued a directive to form a joint committee from the relevant authorities, which was responsible for preparing mechanisms for lending to industrial projects, and the necessary controls to determine the amounts of reservation and extinction of the guarantees provided for those loans."
He added that "the Cabinet's approval of the committee's recommendations was issued on December 9, 2024," noting that "the new instructions included implementing the Prime Minister's directives to provide loans with reduced interest and easy terms, with the aim of facilitating the establishment of new industrial projects, in cooperation with the main government banks, to ensure financial support for investors in the industrial sector."
He explained that "the government aims for the private sector to have a prominent and influential role in supporting industrial projects, by increasing its investments in this field, to establish and operate factories and develop new ideas that meet the needs of the local market, with the importance of bringing in expertise and modern technologies from specialized international companies," noting that "the government seeks practically and effectively to achieve the goal of developing industrial projects with environmental sustainability, and supporting society through social responsibility programs that companies and factories are committed to."
He added, "The government affirms its continuous efforts to enhance cooperation with the private sector, leading to a comprehensive industrial renaissance that achieves benefits for both sides, and for the national economy in general." LINK
Clare: ILO reveals details of 4 trillion dinar initiative in Iraq
12/18/2024 Baghdad
The country coordinator of the International Labor Organization, Maha Kattaa, confirmed today, Wednesday, working with several Iraqi parties on the 4 trillion dinar initiative, while she pointed to 3 important projects being worked on in Iraq.
In a speech she gave at the 8th International Social Security Conference, attended by the correspondent of "Al-Eqtisad News", Qata'a said, "The International Labor Organization is working with the Ministry of Labor and other entities, including the Central Bank, the Iraqi Bank Guarantees Company, and a number of private banks through the 4 trillion dinar initiative."
She added: "The organization's approach is based on three axes, the most important of which is developing policies that support the development of the private sector, including developing the national policy for the development of small and medium enterprises."
The country coordinator explained: “We are working on developing a national employment policy and the importance of creating job opportunities. It must be a fundamental focus and the entry of young people into work in the private sector.”
The sector stressed: “Working on developing legislation such as the labor law, social security, occupational health and safety, trade union organization, and other laws that contribute to developing the private sector and small and medium enterprises.”
Regarding the projects that the organization is working on in Iraq, she pointed out “the development of small and medium-sized projects funded by Germany, and investing about 9 million euros, through the Iraqi Bank Guarantees Company, and contributing to the growth of small projects, granting them loans and creating decent job opportunities.”
She stressed that "the second project is to enhance financial inclusion, especially in refugee areas, such as the Afak project, which we started in 2021, and which is funded by the Dutch government."
“As for the third project, it will be in the southern regions and will focus on green businesses. The ILO is implementing these projects in partnership with other parties,” according to the ILO coordinator. LINK
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Clare: Article 140 Committee: Agreements to resolve the issue of agricultural lands in Kirkuk
12/18/2024
The head of the Article 140 Committee in Kirkuk, Babakir Siddiq, announced on Wednesday that agreements had been reached to resolve the problem of agricultural lands between Kurdish and Arab farmers in the province.
A friend told Shafaq News Agency, "Kirkuk Governor Ribwar Taha Fateh headed the Article 140 Committee to find solutions, especially after the disputes that took place in the Balkana Sarkaran areas in the Dibis district between the Kurds and Arabs over agricultural lands."
He added, "The Article Committee sent a committee to Kirkuk and held a meeting with the Director of Agriculture in Kirkuk and Kurdish and Arab farmers. A number of decisions were reached that will contribute to finding solutions for agricultural lands between Kurdish and Arab farmers. We will hold a meeting next Sunday with the head of the Article 140 Committee for the purpose of reaching decisions to resolve this problem, which contributes to the cultivation of the lands."
He added, "Some decisions of the dissolved Revolutionary Command Council require a decision from the Iraqi Parliament in order to cancel them and restore rights to their owners through legal methods and formulas that satisfy all parties."
Kirkuk Governor Ribwar Taha announced on Tuesday, November 12, that there are about 14 judicial decisions on agricultural areas of about 1,500 dunams, while there are no problems on about 18,000 dunams owned by Kurdish farmers.
Taha said in an interview with a number of media outlets, including Shafaq News Agency, that "the governorate administration held meetings with the Joint Operations Command and the commander of the 8th Division to address the problems of four agricultural districts in the district of Dibis (60 km northwest of Kirkuk), namely Bakana, Sarbshakh, Karbalak and Shinaga," explaining that "after discussions with farmers from both the Kurdish and Arab components, it became clear that there are 14 judicial decisions regarding 1,500 dunams, and everyone agreed to keep them pending until their issue is resolved." He added that "there are areas estimated at about 18,000 dunams that do not have any judicial problems or decisions preventing farmers from cultivating them, and their owners can cultivate them freely."
He pointed out that the Department of Agriculture in Kirkuk was contacted to identify the districts that have judicial decisions, with the aim of protecting these lands until their fate is decided, as well as identifying the lands that do not have disputes to encourage farmers to work in them.
For his part, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Shakhwan Abdullah revealed that everyone is working to return agricultural lands to their rightful owners, and all political blocs agree to pass the law that restores the rights of the Kurds and Turkmen.
Kirkuk Agriculture Director Zuhair Ali told Shafak News Agency that 300,000 dunums of agricultural land are still outside the agricultural plan in the governorate.
He added that these lands include the areas of Hanjir and Shawan, parts of Yaiji, Dibs and Daquq districts, explaining that farmers can file complaints through documents with the courts of first instance.
He pointed out that the Federal Supreme Court confirmed in 2019 the continued validity of Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution, which aims to cancel the demographic change policies imposed by Saddam Hussein's regime, and implement statistical procedures and a referendum on the annexation of the disputed areas to the Kurdistan Region.
Article 140 stipulates the cancellation of the demographic change policies pursued by Saddam Hussein’s regime in the disputed areas in favor of the Arabs at the expense of the Kurds, and then a census of the population before the final step, which is to hold a referendum in which the population determines whether they wish to join the Kurdistan Region or remain under the administration of Baghdad.
The implementation stages of the article were scheduled to be completed by the end of 2007, but security and political problems prevented this.
In 2019, the Federal Supreme Court ruled that Article 140 of the Constitution of the Republic of Iraq would remain in effect, stressing that this would continue until its requirements were implemented and the goal of its legislation was achieved. LINK