Procrastination and delay.. Expectations that the Americans will not leave Iraq

Information / Report… The government has kept its negotiations on the withdrawal of American forces from Iraq shrouded in mystery. Iraqis do not know what the axes of the Iraqi-American negotiations are, and whether there is an implicit agreement on withdrawal or a permanent stay.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein announced the postponement of the issue of the withdrawal of American forces from Iraq for an unknown period, which is a warning of more crimes and violations committed by these forces on Iraqi territory.

It seems that the government has turned a deaf ear to the voices calling for the withdrawal of American forces from the country, which confirms the fears of these forces remaining inside Iraqi territory.

The accusations extend to some political parties that are working to keep American forces in Iraq.

This was confirmed by the head of the organizing body of the popular movement for the Belt and Road, Hussein Al-Karawi, who accused these parties of perpetuating the American presence inside Iraq.

Al-Karawi told Al-Maalouma Agency, “These parties work to serve agendas related to their personal interests, pointing out that the attempts of Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein and some other politicians to keep American forces inside Iraq come from a standpoint of common interests.”

He pointed out that “the Kurdistan Region, led by Massoud Barzani, is seeking in every way to ensure the presence of American forces in Iraq, through the clear cooperation known between it and the American and Zionist sides.”

He considered that “it is not strange for the Minister of Foreign Affairs to stand by the continued American military presence inside Iraq, and announce the postponement of the withdrawal of the occupation forces from the country.”

For his part, the leader of the United Anbar Alliance, Dhari al-Dulaimi, confirmed today, Tuesday, that the joint committees responsible for scheduling the withdrawal of American forces have not made any progress in setting a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq.

Al-Dulaimi told Al-Maalouma Agency, “The joint committees concerned with withdrawing American forces from Iraq have not made any progress in setting a date to begin the process of evacuating American forces from their bases in Iraq,” noting that “the procrastination and delaying practices practiced by the American delegation are an indication that these committees are formal and came as a result of popular pressure demanding the departure of these forces.”

He added that “the rumours of American statements about the imminent withdrawal of its forces from Iraq are nothing but media speeches whose purpose is to procrastinate and delay in order to absorb the public pressure demanding their departure,” indicating that “American forces are not withdrawing from Iraq at the present time according to the statements of its officials.”

Member of the State of Law Coalition, Ahmed Al-Sudani, said on Sunday that Washington is delaying the paragraph on withdrawal from Iraq, noting that the exit of American forces is necessary to achieve national security.

Al-Sudani said in a statement to Al-Maalouma Agency, “An important part of achieving national security for Iraq is to remove the American forces that play a negative role in the security scene through repeated attacks.”

He added, “Washington is delaying its talks with Baghdad in determining the withdrawal paragraph through fixed timetables, and this matter reflects America’s agenda in Iraq and its attempt to remain despite popular rejection from all spectrums,” indicating that “the demands of the Iraqi people are clear regarding this crown.”

He explained that “the security situation in Iraq is stable and it has large forces capable of warding off terrorist threats,” noting that “the situation necessitates the withdrawal of American forces from the country and any procrastination by the administration in Washington is unacceptable.”

It is noteworthy that the current government has formed joint committees to work on expelling the Americans after the numerous violations they committed on the country’s territory.

Almaalomah.me

Al-Sudani’s plan for a second term deepens political differences

Information / Translation… A report by the NewRegen website confirmed on Wednesday that the quest of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to obtain a second term deepens the differences between the political forces in their attempt to arrange their electoral alliances in preparation for the upcoming parliamentary elections.

The report, translated by Al-Maalouma Agency, stated that “according to politicians and local officials, the list proposed by Al-Sudani includes dozens of potential allies, including a number of ministers, governors, tribal sheikhs, officials, and dozens of representatives who enjoy enormous popularity.”

He added, “According to Iraqi political norms, the parliamentary bloc that obtains the largest number of seats will compete for the position of Prime Minister, and will have the final say in choosing candidates for the positions of President, Speaker of Parliament, and sovereign ministries.”

“In order to secure a second term, Al-Sudani launched a large package of infrastructure projects in the central and southern governorates in the first weeks following the formation of his government. He also employed thousands of graduates, doubled the number of beneficiaries of the welfare network, and eased tensions between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government by ensuring a fairly regular payment of monthly salaries for KRG employees, which had been a chronic dispute with Baghdad since 2017,” he explained.

Politicians said that Al-Sudani’s recent moves and new alliances have angered most of his partners, while one of the leaders of the Coordination Framework said that “Al-Sudani exploited the framework to reach the prime minister’s office, then turned against it, and began to play on the internal differences between the forces of the Coordination Framework and exploit them to his advantage.”

Almaalomah.me

Revealing the main currency used in Iran’s trade with Iraq

Shaaban Forotan, a member of the Board of Directors of the Joint Iranian-Iraqi Chamber of Commerce, revealed today, Tuesday, that the largest part of trade between Iraq and Iran, at the level of traders and exporters, is carried out through the Iranian riyal.
“Most Iranian exporters now work in riyals in trade with Iraq, and financial transactions between the two countries will continue without using the Iranian riyal, i.e. also in dollars. This does not mean the complete elimination of the dollar, but a large portion of traders conduct their transactions without the dollar,” Forotan said in statements to Iranian media.

He explained that “the commitment to trade in dollars does not include all product groups, but the exchange of riyals into dollars cannot be implemented due to sanctions imposed on banks, and riyal traders earn from selling goods in the Iraqi market through their contacts with the stock exchanges of Iraq and Iran or a third country such as the United Arab Emirates, and they do not have the possibility of direct settlement.”

He pointed out that “the supply of Iranian goods faced a problem in the Iraqi market, which is the multiple increase in the prices of goods in Iran during the year, while prices are expected to increase only once a year.”

Alsumaria.tv

The theft of the century brings down big heads… and warnings against entering the culture of deals

Instead of the television interview broadcast by Al Sharqiya channel with the first accused in the theft of the century, Nour Zuhair, being a starting point for whitewashing his black page, its results were counterproductive for him, and by rearranging the papers of this case that was raised again and forcefully.

MP Mustafa Sand announced that the Anti-Corruption Criminal Court issued an order to arrest Nour Zuhair, who appeared in photos injured in a fabricated traffic accident in Lebanon.

It seems that this issue will take on other dimensions, especially after the great pressures on the government, which did not reveal all the facts and secrets of this important issue, which consumed about three billion US dollars from the Iraqi people’s money.

Zuhair and a number of figures were arrested in the theft of the century, before he and the others were released after they returned part of the theft money.

The case was reinvestigated after an arrest warrant was issued for Nour Zuhair and former MP Haitham al-Jubouri.

Informed sources reported today, Tuesday, that the investigation into the theft of the century may involve media professionals in the investigation.

The sources, who refused to reveal their identity, told Al-Maalouma Agency that “a number of media figures’ names were put forward in this case and may be drawn into the investigation.”

But the sources refused to reveal the names of the journalists.

The sources revealed that pressures were placed on the government, which prompted it to review the file completely and to review the names accused of involvement in this theft.

She added, “Among the names reviewed is former MP Haitham Al-Jubouri, against whom the court issued a decision to arrest him again.”

She added, “The file is currently at the forefront of the federal government’s attention, indicating that former Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi is involved in the file and possesses many of its secrets.”

The sources did not rule out “the possibility of other new figures slipping into the picture, other than the figures whose involvement in the theft was announced.”

The secrets of the theft of tax trust funds and the figures involved in it were revealed day after day, at a time when fingers of accusation point to the involvement of officials of the previous government headed by Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, and this was confirmed by the head of the Federal Integrity Commission, Haider Hanoun, recently, when he drew red lines around four major figures.

It is noteworthy that Nour Zuhair’s trial was postponed to 27/8, due to the defendant’s failure to appear before the court under the pretext of traveling outside Iraq, in addition to his appearance in a previous televised interview in which he spoke boldly that he would expose major figures involved in this matter.

The leader of the Fatah Alliance, member of the Parliamentary Finance Committee, Moeen Al-Kazemi, stressed today, Tuesday, the necessity for the government to activate its contacts with Interpol to extradite the persons accused of stealing the century, indicating at the same time that he was not aware of the presence of former MP Haitham Al-Jubouri inside or outside Iraq.

It is noteworthy that Al-Jubouri is one of the people accused in this case, as he was arrested on November 30, 2022, when he was holding the position of financial advisor to former Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi. Al-Jubouri was released at the time after his wife returned an amount of four billion to the state treasury.

Al-Kadhimi told Al-Maalouma Agency, “We do not have information whether Al-Jubouri is inside or outside Iraq, stressing that the arrest warrant against him was issued by the Criminal Court, calling on the government to activate its role with Interpol because the crime has become international and is related to money laundering.”

He also called on the countries in which the suspects in the theft of the century are located to “cooperate with Iraq to extradite them and try them inside Iraq.”

Al-Kadhimi considered that “the reported incident of the accused in the crime of theft of the century, Nour Zuhair, in Beirut, was fabricated to escape the trial, contrary to what the accused claimed on a satellite channel regarding his readiness to attend the case’s pleadings.”

The previous arrest warrant against Haitham Al-Jubouri came as a result of investigations and inquiries into his funds conducted by the Prevention Department of the Federal Integrity Commission, into the values ​​of real estate and vehicles, and the quantities of gold belonging to him, in addition to loans and his salary as an advisor to the Prime Minister at the time.

At that time, the department concluded that there was an inflation in his funds estimated at sixteen billion, one hundred and fifty-seven million, and two hundred and ninety-one thousand dinars.

It is noteworthy that Article (19/Second) of the Integrity and Illicit Gains Commission Law No. (30 of 2011) as amended included imposing a prison sentence of no less than seven years and a fine equal to the value of the illicit gain on every person charged with the crime mentioned in Article (16/First) of the law who fails to prove a legitimate reason for the significant increase in his money or the money of his wife or children, provided that those convicted shall not be released except after paying the fine and returning the value of the illicit gain.

For his part, MP Ali Nehme raised legitimate questions about Nour Zuhair’s file.

“Nour Zuhair is accused according to the law of involvement in stealing huge sums of money and he was arrested and paid some of it to the state treasury according to government data, wondering how he was allowed to leave prison,” Nehme told Al-Maalouma Agency.
He added that “the investigation results of the theft of the century have not yet been announced to the public, stressing the need to clarify who supported the accused and was involved with him in order to clarify the truth of what happened and what is the fate of the money estimated at about 3 billion dollars.”
He pointed out that “the accused of stealing public funds must remain behind bars and their travel outside the country means the possibility of escaping punishment, stressing that Nour Zuhair’s file carries many question marks that must be answered and clarifying what are the reasons that led to letting him travel despite the fact that he is accused of serious cases.”
National figures warned against this theft entering into the culture of deals to release some of the accused.

Almaalomah.me

MP: The House of Representatives presidency will be decided soon

Member of Parliament, Mudar Maan, confirmed today, Tuesday, that the decision on the presidency of the Parliament will not take long this time.

Maan said in an interview with Al-Maalouma, “The Sunni forces, including Sovereignty, are moving forward in order to end the problem of the presidency of the House of Representatives, which is to present a roadmap more than a week ago.”

He added that “the decision on the presidency of the House of Representatives will not take long this time in light of the political understandings with other forces in order to set a decisive session to choose a president for the House according to a national vision.”

He pointed out that “the atmosphere is all heading towards a decision,” expecting that a session will be held within a short period that will not take more than a few weeks, according to the readings.

It is noteworthy that the differences between Sunni-Sunni forces have not resolved the appointment of a Speaker of the House of Representatives for many months.

Almaalomah.me

Global statistics reveal the value of Iraq’s imports and exports in 2023

The German company “Statista”, which specializes in market and consumer data in the world, revealed Iraq’s exports and imports for the year 2023.

The company said in a schedule seen by Shafaq News Agency, “Iraq exported goods worth about 115.95 billion US dollars to various countries last year, 2023.”

She added, “Iraq imported goods worth $95.53 billion during the past year 2023.”

She pointed out that “the trade balance for the year 2023 was in favor of Iraq, as Iraq’s trade surplus amounted to $20.42 billion.”

She explained that “the most important export partner countries were China with 26%, followed by India with 24%, then South Korea with 9%, then the United States with 8%. As for the most important import partner countries, China was with 28%, followed by Turkey with 21%, then the Emirates with 19%.”

Shafaq.com

Al-Bazouni: Developing the military industry will provide huge amounts of money to the treasury

The leader of the State of Law Coalition, Sabah Al-Bazouni, considered “Thursday, the government’s move towards developing military industries as a step in the right direction and has positive repercussions in supporting our security forces, in addition to providing large sums of money to the state treasury.

Al-Bazouni said in a statement to / Al-Maalouma / agency, that “Iraq has a lot of local expertise in the field of military manufacturing and the government’s move towards developing this sector is important and necessary because it will contribute to developing and sustaining our armed forces in all their types and forms with the necessary weapons.”
He added that “manufacturing weapons inside the country will provide a lot of money in hard currency to the state treasury,” noting that “activating military factories will provide more than 70% of the needs of the armed forces, in addition to providing tens of thousands of job opportunities.”

It is noteworthy that Prime Minister Mohammed Al-Sudani stressed during his inauguration of a number of weapons and ammunition factories that military manufacturing is one of the most important requirements for achieving sovereignty in the country and today we are establishing a military industry that secures our sovereignty, as well as contributes to securing the requirements of the security services.

Almaalomah.me

State of Law: America requested to stop negotiations to end the presence of its forces

Member of the State of Law Coalition, Saad Al-Mutalibi, revealed today, Thursday, that America asked its allies in Iraq to stop the work of the committees regarding ending the American presence in Iraq.

Al-Mutalibi said in a statement to /Al-Maalouma/ Agency, that “the recent events in the region and the Iranian response to Israel after the assassination of the resistance leaders called on America to be present for a longer period to protect or limit the attack on its spoiled son Netanyahu,” noting that “the Americans’ presence portends a war inside Iraq between the resistance factions and the American bases.”

He continued, “The Iraqi government must work to accelerate the work of the joint committees in order to remove the danger from Iraqi lands and avoid the destruction of the Iraqis,” noting that “the American presence in Iraq has always been a source of danger, whether by creating terrorist cells or its problems with neighboring countries.”
It is noteworthy that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had previously announced the suspension of Iraqi-American negotiations, in a decision that surprised all political circles.

Almaalomah.me

Al-Mandlawi comments on adding 8 trillion dinars to 2024 budget tables

Al-Mandlawi comments on adding 8 trillion dinars to 2024 budget tablesShafaq News/ Acting Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mohsen Al-Mandalawi, revealed on Wednesday evening what was circulated regarding adding an amount of eight trillion dinars to the current year’s budget tables.

Al-Mandlawi said in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency, “The budget tables voted on by the House of Representatives are the same ones sent by the Council of Ministers and returned to it, according to our parliamentary decision No. 64, without any amendment.”

He added, “The aforementioned tables are the same ones that were sent to the government after approval,” noting that “the Council Presidency has formed a higher committee to examine the circumstances raised regarding the issue and determine its truth.”

He explained that “the Council of Representatives, in its session numbered 27, held on June 3, 2024, approved the estimates of the tables of the Federal General Budget Law for the year 2024 and its attachments, tables (A, B, C, D, E, W) and the deficit financing table as received from the Council of Ministers without any amendments or additions, with the latter being authorized to transfer allocations of an amount of two trillion Iraqi dinars to the governorates not organized in a region and distributed according to population and poverty rates.”

Al-Mandlawi continued, “In order to confirm that no amended version has been adopted, we have reissued a letter from the House of Representatives/President’s Office No. 616 dated July 21, 2024, a copy of which is attached, and sent to the Council of Ministers/President’s Office, which clearly indicated (approval of the estimates of the budget law tables and its attachments from the above-mentioned tables with the aforementioned deficit financing table as well as the transfer right for the same established amount, which is two trillion dinars).”

He pointed out that “a paragraph included in the same book clearly confirms that (the parliamentary decision included the adoption of the tables sent by the Council of Ministers, which were approved in the session held without any additions).”

Al-Mandlawi warned, “Any party that attempts to mislead public opinion by concealing the facts and dishonestly transmitting the events, to achieve illegitimate goals far from the integrity of neutral transmission and objectivity that it should possess, will be subject to legal accountability.”

Local media and social media platforms circulated news that an amount of eight trillion dinars had been added to the 2024 budget tables without tabulating its disbursement.

Shafaq.com

Talks between the Prime Minister and the Saudi Foreign Minister during his meeting in Baghdad

Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani met today, Thursday, August 22, 2024, with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. The Prime Minister’s media office stated in its statement, “Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani received the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.”

He explained that the meeting discussed bilateral relations between Iraq and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and prospects for developing and growing them in all fields, especially political and economic, strengthening fruitful partnerships, and activating the Iraqi-Saudi Coordination Council, in a way that achieves mutual benefit and common interests for the two brotherly countries.

The meeting witnessed a review of the most important developments in the region, the repercussions of the continued aggression in Gaza, the necessity of continuing joint work and coordinating Arab and international efforts to stop the aggression, and urging the international community to play its full role in preventing the tragedy of the genocide that has been ongoing for more than ten months against the Palestinian people and their historical right to live on their land.

Burathanews.com