EXPERT WARNS: IRAQ’S FINANCES ARE UNDER “AMERICAN PRESSURE”… AND THE GUARDIANSHIP ENDED IN 2022.
Economic expert Ahmed Abdel Rabbo called on the Iraqi government to review the international legal framework for depositing Iraq’s funds in the US Federal Reserve, stressing that continuing to work under Security Council Resolution No. 1483 issued in 2003 is no longer justified after the reasons for which the “Development Fund for Iraq” was established have ended.
In a statement to “Jarida Platform,” Abdul Rabbo said , “In 2021, Iraq paid the full $52.4 billion in compensation for the invasion of Kuwait, and in 2022, the Security Council approved Resolution 2621, which officially ended the international claims file and closed the United Nations Compensation Commission, which removes the main legal cover for keeping Iraq’s funds under direct American supervision.”
He added, “Despite this development, the United States continues to exert economic pressure by restricting dollar transfers from Iraq’s account in New York, causing disruptions in the foreign exchange market and unstable increases in the dollar’s exchange rate against the dinar.”
Abdul Rabbo stressed the need for the Iraqi government to “take the initiative to request a review of Security Council Resolution 1483 and work to diversify foreign reserves, as countries that rely on a currency basket are less vulnerable to the risks of dollar fluctuations.” He called for “the formation of a currency basket comprising no less than 20% of the total reserves, which exceed $100 billion.”
He pointed to the importance of “establishing a sovereign wealth fund to invest oil surpluses under independent and transparent management, similar to Norway’s experience, to achieve sustainability for future generations and reduce the need to hold cash abroad.” He explained that “developing the local financial system, accelerating digital transformation, strengthening the role of private banks, and activating financial hedging tools are urgent priorities.”
At the end of his remarks, Abdul Rabbo emphasized that “achieving Iraq’s economic sovereignty requires unity in political and diplomatic decision-making, and clear parliamentary support for the government in any international financial negotiations, particularly with the Security Council and the International Monetary Fund,” noting that “Iraq is not a poor country, but a rich one.”