The Ministry of Finance sets a date for sending the 2027 budget to the Iraqi Parliament.

The Ministry of Finance intends to send the draft general budget law for 2027 to the House of Representatives on October 15, according to Jamal Kojar, a member of the parliamentary finance committee. Dailynews subscription

Kojer told Shafaq News Agency that Finance Minister Falih Sari informed the committee that the budget law will reach the House of Representatives on October 15, according to the timelines established in the Financial Management Law.

He added that the price of a barrel of oil in the budget has not yet been decided, indicating that the proposals range between $50 and $65 per barrel, with a difference of opinion between the State Oil Marketing Company (SOMO) and the government regarding the approved price.

For its part, an official source told Shafaq News Agency that the Ministry of Finance is studying SOMO’s proposal to calculate the price of a barrel of crude oil in the budget law at $55, while the ministry and the government have a different opinion.

The source explained that the government may resort to a compromise solution by calculating the price per barrel between $60 and $65.

Regarding the regularization of contracts and the appointment of long-serving graduates, Kujer said that the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance promised the various segments of society that contracts would be regularized and long-serving graduates appointed, but the country’s economic situation will be the decisive factor in this matter.

In this context, MP Aziz Nasser reported in a post on social media that Parliament Speaker Hebat Al-Halbousi confirmed during a meeting with a number of MPs that all contracts in ministries and institutions will be included in the 2027 budget.

Shafaq.com

Fagin to Barzani: We support an Iraq free of armed forces outside the authority of the state.

On Monday, leader Masoud Barzani discussed the situation in Iraq with the US Chargé d’Affaires, Steve Fagin, who affirmed his country’s support for an Iraq free of armed forces outside the framework of the state. Dailynews subscription

Barzani’s headquarters said in a statement that during the meeting with Barzani, Fagin expressed his happiness at returning to Iraq to take on a new mission and to visit the Kurdistan Region, expressing his hope that he would be able to continue working for a longer period.

According to the statement, Fagin affirmed that the United States supports Iraq and the Kurdistan Region in order to maintain security, stability, and the economy, stressing the importance of coordination among the parties to protect Iraq’s sovereignty and strengthen Iraq’s relations with the countries of the region and the international community.

He also stressed that any threat to Iraq’s security is a threat to everyone, and that Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, through coordination between them, can play a good role in this area.

Fagin added that the United States supports an Iraq in which militia forces are not armed outside the authority of the official government, thus providing an opportunity to achieve political and economic stability.

For his part, Barzani warmly welcomed the US Chargé d’Affaires in Iraq on the occasion of his return to Iraq and his visit to the Kurdistan Region, and congratulated him on his return, stressing that the Kurdistan Region has always been and will always remain a factor for stability.

Barzani also noted the success of the Iraqi Prime Minister, stressing that the Kurdistan Region supports any cause that contributes to stability, the Iraqi constitution, and confronting terrorism. He also explained that the region supported the Iraqi Prime Minister in confronting corruption, expressing his hope that these joint efforts would continue.

Regarding the situation in the region, Barzani pointed out that peace is always better than war, dialogue is better than confrontation, and understanding is better than discord and tension. Therefore, he emphasized that the Kurdistan Region has always been part of the solution, not part of the problems plaguing the region.

Shafaq.com

Syria opens the doors to natural uranium: 73 tons under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Syrian Foreign and Expatriates Minister Asaad al-Shaibani confirmed on Monday that Syria has opened the Deir ez-Zor site to the International Atomic Energy Agency, noting that 73 tons of natural uranium are now under the supervision and guarantees of the agency. Financialnews alerts

Al-Shaibani said, during a speech before the 70th session of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency, which was followed by Shafaq News Agency, that Damascus “opened the doors of the Deir ez-Zor site so that the Director General would be the first to set foot on its land on August 16, after nearly two decades of tight closure.”

He added: “We started, together with the agency’s experts, to lift the reactor remains from under the layers of reinforced concrete,” noting that Syria had taken the initiative to provide “all the design information and nuclear inventory reports that the Council had been demanding since 2011.”

He explained that “73 tons of natural uranium are now under the supervision and guarantees of the agency and will remain safe in Syria.”

Al-Shaibani said that “the new Syria that is addressing this heavy legacy is radically different from those who caused it,” stressing that “transparency for us is a firmly established sovereign approach and a permanent strategic decision.”

Al-Shaibani had announced that the Board of Governors, on September 9 and by consensus, had dropped the item of non-compliance and removed it from its agenda, considering that this step “closes an era that lasted 15 years to begin a new chapter that closes the page of doubt and opens the door to certainty and cooperation.”

He pointed out that Damascus had taken, on July 17, “an independent sovereign decision,” and had sent an official letter to the agency disclosing the presence of nuclear materials at an undeclared site, before signing a memorandum of understanding with the agency on the 29th of the same month, coupled with a roadmap for peaceful uses.

In a related context, Al-Shaibani said that the roadmap signed with the agency “has entered into actual implementation,” explaining that Damascus is looking forward to using nuclear medicine to treat cancer patients, and isotope technologies in agriculture, water resources and scientific research.

Al-Shaibani called for the Middle East to be free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, saying that Syria “provides a model to be emulated” and puts its expertise at the service of any country facing a similar challenge.

On the Israeli issue, Al-Shaibani accused Israel of continuing to “violate Syrian sovereignty and target our lands,” considering this a breach of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement and international laws, and called on the international community to exert “effective and firm diplomatic and international pressure” to stop what he described as systematic attacks.

He stressed that regional stability depends on Israel’s commitment to returning to the 1974 agreement and withdrawing completely to the lines prior to December 8, 2024.

Shafaq.com

The Minister of Finance emphasizes the importance of building effective trade partnerships and benefiting from international expertise and experiences.

Faleh Sari affirmed that the government is committed to supporting the private sector and expanding its role in the Iraqi economy, and to creating an investment environment capable of attracting quality companies and investments.

A statement from the Ministry of Finance said that “Finance Minister Faleh Sari received, on Sunday, a delegation from the Iraqi-British Business Council, headed by Baroness Emma Nicholson, which includes a group of Iraqi and British companies, where investment opportunities in Iraq and the possibility of expanding economic partnerships between the two countries were discussed.”

Sari explained that “the Ministry of Finance is working on diversifying the economy and providing the necessary facilities for the local and international private sector. He also stressed the importance of building effective business partnerships and benefiting from international expertise and experience in implementing priority projects.” Financialmarket updates

For her part, Baroness Emma Nicholson expressed the Iraqi-British Business Council’s interest in expanding the activities of Iraqi and British companies in Iraq and strengthening communication between them, thus creating new opportunities for partnership and investment in various sectors.

Burathanews.com

Interior Minister: Partial resumption of oil production in the Kurdistan Region and its protection from drones is a condition for companies

The Interior Minister of the Kurdistan Region, Rebar Ahmed, confirmed on Thursday that some oil companies operating in the region have resumed crude oil production in Kurdistan’s fields, while others remain shut down due to not receiving the security guarantees they are demanding. Financialnews alerts

Ahmed told reporters in Erbil, including a correspondent from Shafaq News Agency, that the companies did not receive those guarantees of providing anti-aircraft defenses to protect them from drone attacks, indicating that there is partial oil production in the region and exports go to the market.

The oil fields in the Kurdistan region were subjected to shelling by armed factions throughout the escalation of security and military tensions in the region, which led to oil companies suspending their operations and leaving the region.

After a period of relative calm, the federal government met with the regional government and company representatives, who in turn demanded that Baghdad secure the airspace to prevent a recurrence of such attacks, a demand to which Baghdad has not yet responded.

Regarding the withdrawal of the international coalition forces, the minister said that, according to the agreement concluded between Baghdad and Washington, those forces will withdraw from Iraq at the end of this month, and have already begun the daily withdrawal process from the country, including the Kurdistan Region, adding: “It is expected that no foreign forces will remain by the end of September.”

He explained that the issue of security and stability in Iraq requires cooperation and joint coordination with partners in the international coalition, federal forces, and regional forces, all of whom have an interest in establishing security in Iraq. He expressed his opinion that communication with the foreign forces participating in the international coalition should continue after their withdrawal, explaining that the issue of security is indivisible and is a general concept, and Iraq still needs the help of these friends.

Shafaq.com

The Kurdistan Regional Government details the results of its negotiating delegation’s talks with the Ministries of Finance, Planning, and Oil in Baghdad.

The Kurdistan Regional Government announced on Thursday that its high-level negotiating delegation, which is currently visiting Baghdad, began its work program and meetings with the relevant ministries in the federal government on September 9, with the aim of participating in the preparation and drafting of the draft federal budget law for 2027, and establishing the region’s constitutional and financial share and entitlements.

The regional government stated in a statement that the first meeting was with the federal finance minister, where the delegation held a meeting with the federal finance minister and acting planning minister, Faleh al-Sari.

During the meeting, the delegation from the region appreciated the participation of representatives of the Kurdistan Regional Government in the drafting stage of the draft budget law at the Federal Ministry of Finance as an important and positive step, and reviewed the Kurdistan Region’s visions and proposals regarding the draft law.

In this context, the need to establish the share and entitlements of the Kurdistan Region in a fair manner and on constitutional and legal grounds was emphasized, with the aim of establishing a stable and clear basis for regulating financial relations between the federal government and the regional government.

For his part, the Federal Minister of Finance welcomed the participation of the region’s delegation and stressed the importance of continuing dialogue and coordination. He also affirmed that the Federal Ministry of Finance, in light of the constitution and relevant laws, will deal fairly with the financial rights and entitlements of the Kurdistan Region.

The next meeting was with the Federal Ministry of Planning, where a delegation from the regional government visited the Federal Ministry of Planning, and a joint meeting was held with the attendance of the undersecretaries of the Ministries of Planning in the Federal Government and the regional government, and the directors general concerned with government investment.

During the meeting, the delegation from the region stressed that the Kurdistan Region deserves its share of investment project allocations according to the results of the latest general population census, as well as allocations for regional and provincial development projects and petrodollars.

The delegation also demanded that the Kurdistan Region be granted its share of international loans, aid, and grants, since the region bears, according to its share, the responsibility for repaying these loans and their interest; and on this basis, it should receive shares of them and their benefits.

For its part, the delegation from the Federal Ministry of Planning welcomed the proposals and expressed its readiness to discuss them during the preparation of the draft budget law, and both sides agreed to continue technical and legal coordination in this area.

Meeting with the Federal Ministry of Oil

This was a continuation of the visit program, as the Kurdistan Regional Government delegation visited the Federal Ministry of Oil and met with its minister, the undersecretary of the ministry, and the relevant directors general.

The meeting agenda was dedicated to discussing the paragraphs related to the oil sector in the draft federal budget law for 2027, including the total estimated quantities of oil allocated for export (including the fields of the Kurdistan Region), the estimated price per barrel of oil for the fiscal year 2027, and the quantities of oil allocated for domestic consumption.

The regional delegation confirmed that the oil produced in the region and designated for export will be delivered to SOMO, to be sold in global markets and its revenues transferred to the federal treasury; this constitutes an important step to enhance cooperation between the two governments and increase federal revenues.

For his part, the Federal Minister of Oil and the ministry delegation welcomed the observations and suggestions, and stressed the importance of continued coordination and joint work to reach a balanced and practical formulation of the oil items in the 2027 budget, in a way that ensures the continuity of oil production and export.

The meetings emphasized resolving common issues through dialogue, coordination, and adherence to constitutional and legal frameworks, with the aim of securing the rights and entitlements of the Kurdistan Region in the 2027 federal budget bill and strengthening financial and economic cooperation between the regional government and the federal government. Economicanalysis reports

The Kurdistan Regional Government delegation stressed the region’s commitment to fulfilling its constitutional and legal duties and obligations, while emphasizing the federal government’s responsibility to provide and secure the Kurdistan Region’s financial and constitutional share and rights, particularly the salaries and entitlements of the region’s employees, in a fair and equal manner to their counterparts in the rest of Iraq.

Shafaq.com

No loans or advances… Government banks have no liquidity.

An informed source revealed on Thursday that most government banks have stopped granting loans and advances of all kinds, attributing this to the lack of financial allocations and the lack of sufficient liquidity in those banks . Dailynews subscription

The source told Shafaq News Agency that the decrease in the volume of deposits and the decline in liquidity levels have directly affected the ability of government banks to provide loans and advances, as well as investment loans allocated to finance projects and residential complexes in Baghdad and the provinces .

He added that the decline in banking liquidity has reduced the ability of banks to continue financing various credit and investment activities, which may affect the flow of financing and support for housing and development projects .

Shafaq.com

The first official Iraqi stance on the weapons of the factions: “It will be resolved quickly after September 30th.”

The spokesman for the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Sabah al-Nu’man, confirmed on Thursday that restricting weapons to the state is an “Iraqi sovereign matter,” indicating that the government is dealing with armed factions on this issue through dialogues taking place at the highest levels, while expecting the matter to be resolved after the end of the international coalition’s mission. Dailynews subscription

Al-Nu’man told Shafaq News Agency: “After the end of the international coalition’s mission, there will be an acceleration in resolving this issue, because all justifications for the presence of weapons after September 30 will have disappeared,” stressing that “our security forces are ready and on high alert to ensure Iraqi national security and protect Iraqi sovereignty.”

He explained that “the process of regulating weapons under the umbrella of governmental legitimacy will end in record time,” noting that the government has “confidence in the direction and goal of these factions to protect the security of Iraq, as the goal is one: a stable Iraq and that weapons be in the hands of the Iraqi security forces.”

The issue of armed factions is one of the most sensitive issues facing the Iraqi government, with the approach of September 30, which the main political forces have set as the deadline for restricting weapons to official institutions.

The State Administration Coalition, which includes the most prominent Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish political forces, stressed during its meeting on August 5 the need to restrict weapons to the state, and considered the parties that carry out activities that threaten the security of the country outside the framework of official institutions as “outlaws and must be fought.”

The coalition warned that any armed activity outside the framework of the state after September 30 would be dealt with according to the anti-terrorism law.

The September 30th date also coincides with the deadlines related to ending the international coalition’s military presence in Iraq, which some factions use as a basis for linking the future of their weapons to the withdrawal of foreign forces.

Shafaq.com

The Badr bloc expects the completion of the cabinet to be finalized after al-Zidi’s tour to Europe.

MP Qusay al-Shabaki, from the Badr parliamentary bloc, predicted on Thursday that the issue of completing the cabinet would be resolved after the tour that Prime Minister Ali al-Zubaidi is expected to conduct to Europe in mid-September.

Iraqi government spokesman Haider al-Aboudi announced in late August that al-Zaidi would be heading to France and Germany on an official visit in the middle of this month, explaining that the visit aims to diversify foreign relations and discuss a number of issues, including the security file. Iraqpolitical news

Al-Shabaki told Shafaq News Agency that “the Coordination Framework and other political blocs are working to complete the cabinet in coordination with the Prime Minister,” stressing that “previous meetings of the Framework and the State Administration witnessed discussions on completing the cabinet and resolving this issue as quickly as possible.”

He added that the current dispute is focused on naming people to assume ministerial portfolios in Ali al-Zaidi’s government, specifically naming candidates for the security ministries (Defense and Interior), in addition to a dispute over naming a candidate for the Ministry of Migration and Displacement.

Al-Shabaki added that resolving this issue and putting forward the names of candidates for the remaining nine ministries will wait until after Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s visit to Europe.

On May 14, the Iraqi parliament voted to grant confidence to Ali al-Zaidi’s government and its ministerial program with 14 ministers, while the vote on the remaining 9 ministries was postponed until further notice due to the continuation of political disputes over the distribution of portfolios, amid reports of international warnings against the inclusion of armed factions in the new ministerial formation.

The coordination framework had authorized Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi to make contacts with the heads of the political blocs and entities participating in the government, whose candidates for the vacant ministries have not yet been decided.

Shafaq.com

MP: The 2027 budget will include regularizing contracts and daily wages, with the exception of Kirkuk and Salah al-Din.

MP Mohammed Al-Nuaimi, from the Al-Azm Alliance, announced on Thursday that next year’s budget will include a clause regarding the permanent employment of contract and daily wage workers, while holding the Kirkuk and Salah al-Din governments responsible for the shortcomings in this matter. Dailynews subscription

Al-Nuaimi said during a press conference held at the Parliament building, which was attended by a correspondent from Shafaq News Agency, that a delegation from the Al-Azm Alliance visited the Ministry of Finance to discuss the articles of the federal general budget for the year 2027, “which are in the process of being prepared in preparation for sending it to the Council of Ministers to vote on it and then sending it to the Parliament, and it is hoped that it will be approved before the end of the current year.”

He explained that one of the important items in the budget is the government’s direction and initial approval to stabilize contracts and daily wages in all state ministries, “and this is an important entitlement and they will be treated fairly in the budget.”

He pointed out that “there are segments that were not included in the budget law, including a section of the provincial contracts that did not complete the procedures, including Kirkuk and Salah al-Din,” holding the provincial administrations “responsible and negligent towards establishing the contracts on the permanent staff in the budget law.”

Shafaq.com