Iraq bids farewell to the list of “high-risk countries”, 9 JUNE

  Iraq bids farewell to the list of “high-risk countries”

 Observers and specialists in political affairs expressed their optimism about Iraq’s exit from the list of “high-risk countries” that was officially announced by the International Task Force (FATF) last week, noting that the international declaration represents an important step in the correct path that the Sudanese government is taking in achieving reforms. Financial and economic along with political stability.

Political affairs analyst, Qasim Balshan Al-Tamimi, told “Al-Sabah”: “Iraq’s exit from (the follow-up area) and from the list of (high-risk countries), according to the announcement of the International Task Force (FATF), is a very important step,” noting that “the announcement The International Bank came as a result of the reforms carried out by the Central Bank of Iraq, as well as the procedures and reforms of the Office of Combating Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism.”

He added, "Iraq's exit from the list also comes as a result of the legislation of the Anti-Money Laundering Law No. 39 of 2015, and also the establishment of the Anti-Money Laundering Council," and explained that "Under the announcement of the International Working Group, Iraq has become outside the monitoring and follow-up process, and this means that it has regained the confidence of the group."

"By restoring this confidence, Iraq can play a major and pivotal role in the region and in the world, and this step would also make Iraq a destination and a source of interest for major international development and investment companies." The International Financial Action Task Force (FATF) officially announced Iraq’s exit from the follow-up area, due to the significant progress achieved by the Central Bank of Iraq and the Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism Office in improving and addressing deficiencies and in fulfilling all its obligations towards the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force and addressing the requirements of the strategy to combat money laundering and financing of terrorism. Terrorism, and thus Iraq is no longer subject to monitoring and follow-up by the international Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

For his part, the political analyst, Ali Al-Baidar, stated in an interview with “Al-Sabah” that “Iraq’s exit from the list of the most corrupt countries is evidence that the Sudanese government is not a government of services - as it is referred to - but rather a reform government that has achieved many political and governmental aspects and prevented "A lot of cases of corruption."

 He noted that "Iraq's exit from the list confirms the important steps that the government has worked on, and from here we can look at the deep vision with which the authority dealt with and the method of implementing its service programs in a reform manner, many of which were directed towards preventing corruption, such as activating electronic automation, and there is also awareness Socially, it contributed to rejecting cases of rampant corruption in recent years.”

 He explained that "the fingerprints that Al-Sudani placed on the wheel of reform were reflected positively on the projects and the clarity of vision for many matters related to services and reform. It also appears that Prime Minister Muhammad Shia Al-Sudani laid the foundation for basic visions and ideas that are reflected in the lives of Iraqis, including creating a culture of transparency and integrity, and this The matter affects Iraq's reputation positively, and also affects international support and the creation of an investment environment in Iraq to attract companies, and these are the first fruits of reform that Sudanese reaped as a result of the positive repercussions of his government program.”  link