Friday, November 3, 2023
Thursday, November 2, 2023
At an official invitation, the President of the Kurdistan Region visits France , 2 NOV
At an official invitation, the President of the Kurdistan Region visits France
11/2/2023
The President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Nechirvan Barzani, is scheduled to make an official visit to Paris tomorrow, Friday, in response to an official invitation sent to him by French President Emmanuel Macron.
According to a statement issued by the French presidency, President Macron will meet tomorrow with President Nechirvan at the Elysee Palace.
In turn, the Presidency of the Kurdistan Region explained in a statement that President Nechirvan Barzani will discuss tomorrow, during his meeting with President Macron at the Elysee Palace, French relations with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, the development of joint cooperation, and the situation in Iraq and the region in general.
It is noteworthy that this is the fourth official visit conducted by Nechirvan Barzani since he assumed the presidency of the Kurdistan Regional Government in its previous session, and the presidency of the region in its current session.
The French President was scheduled to pay a visit to Iraq to attend the “Third Baghdad Conference,” which was scheduled to be held at the end of October, but the postponement of its holding until further notice prevented that.
Earlier today, an informed Iraqi government source told Shafaq News Agency that the countries participating in the “Third Baghdad Conference” demanded that the conference be postponed due to the unstable conditions Iraq is witnessing due to the escalation of attacks against American forces, and with a fear of an escalation of these attacks and the American response. And with warnings from some countries against traveling to Iraq.”
The government source added that the “Third Baghdad Conference” has been postponed until further notice, and no new date has been set for it. The date will be linked to stabilizing the situation and stopping the escalation of the armed factions against the American forces present with a number of Iraqi military forces.
The "Baghdad 2" conference was held on December 22, 2022, at the King Hussein bin Talal Convention Center on the coast of the Dead Sea, after a first session held in the Iraqi capital in August 2021 at the initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron and Iraq.
The conference was attended by French President Emmanuel Macron, Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shia al-Sudani, Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, European Union foreign policy official Josep Borrell, who coordinates the Vienna negotiations on the Iranian nuclear file, and Enrique Mora, the European Union coordinator for these talks. In addition to the foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia, the Secretary-General of the Arab League, the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and a number of other Arab foreign ministers. LINK
The American Ambassador: We Are In Iraq To Ensure Its Stability, 3 NOV
The American Ambassador: We Are In Iraq To Ensure Its Stability
Political | 06:40 - 02/11/2023 Mawazine News – Baghdad US Ambassador Alina Romanski confirmed that the presence of the United States in Iraq will help it defeat terrorism and ensure its stability.
The media office of the head of the Victory Coalition, Haider Al-Abadi, said in a statement received by Mawazine News, “Today, Thursday, Al-Abadi received the Ambassador of the United States of America to Iraq, Alina Romanski, to discuss the overall situation in Iraq and the region, and the recent attacks of the Zionist aggression against the Palestinian people.”
The statement added, "Al-Abadi condemned the clear bias in favor of the Israeli entity and condoning the crimes taking place against civilians in Gaza, calling on the international community to play its supposed humanitarian role and help the people."
For her part, Ambassador Romanski stressed that "the presence of the United States is focused on helping Iraq against terrorism and ensuring its stability."
Evening News with MarkZ. 11/02/2023
"RV UPDATE" BY PIMPY, 2 NOV
Pimpy
Article: "As of the beginning of next month, Kurdistan will adopt the Iraqi dinar in crossings and airport transactions" This is what I was talking about - Steps towards straightening the Iraqi dinar...This is a major move. This is awesome. This is great for the Iraqi dinar. This helps strengthen the Iraqi dinar..
Iraq-Kurdistan Tensions Expose Fragile State of Nation’s Economy, 2 NOV
Iraq-Kurdistan Tensions Expose Fragile State of Nation’s Economy
In the heartland of Mesopotamia, where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers gave birth to some of the world’s first civilizations, modern-day governance continues its fragile dance. Amidst the economic and political tensions that have become the leitmotif of Iraq’s post-Saddam era, the latest act unfolds between the Federal Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). The plot: a delayed payment of 450 billion dinars to the Kurdistan Region’s bank account for the salaries of government employees.
A Dissonant Interlude
The KRG, which shoulders the responsibility of reimbursing public sector employees in the region, has long awaited a package of 700 billion Iraqi dinars from Baghdad. This recurrent delay in payments strikes a discordant note, undermining previous agreements crafted between the regional and central governments. The frustration is palpable, echoing through the corridors of power in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region.
In a previous attempt at harmony, the central government had dispatched 700 billion dinars to Erbil in September to cover salary payments. But, disputes between Erbil and Baghdad disrupted the financial symphony, halting the transfer. The encore: an agreement by the Iraqi government to transfer 2.1 trillion dinars to the Kurdistan Region to cover three months’ worth of unpaid salaries.
(Read Also: US Destroyer and Canadian Frigate Conduct Joint Transit of Taiwan Strait for the Third Time Since June)
Declining Dinar: A Crescendo of Concern
Superimposed on the salary delay discord is the concern over the depreciating value of the Iraqi dinar against the US dollar. The implications reverberate beyond the government and employees, affecting everyday life. Pensions are dwindling, the Iraqi market is trembling, and the public’s faith in the government and the central bank is eroding.
Some parliamentarians have sounded the alarm, calling for novel measures to stabilize the currency. A rapid decline in the value of the dinar in recent days has provoked criticism of the government and the central bank’s lackluster response to control the exchange rate.
The Banking System: A Fugue of Mistrust
A crucial element in resolving the currency crisis is restoring public confidence in the banking system. An estimated 85% of the issued monetary mass in Iraq currently resides outside the banking system, with people hoarding money outside of banks. The impact is profound: it hampers the role of banks in driving economic development through their lending policies.
(Read Also: Rafah Border Crossing Reopens: A Ray of Hope Amid Gaza’s Humanitarian Crisis)
The Central Bank has issued a circular urging banks to simplify procedures and create incentives to attract depositors. However, this initiative faces a formidable obstacle – the overarching lack of trust in the banking system. Overcoming this skepticism is fundamental to encouraging people to deposit their money in banks.
One potential solution lies with the Deposit Insurance Company, established to guarantee public deposits in the event of a bank collapse. The company needs to enhance its performance, actively market its activity, provide guarantees to depositors, and distribute official papers explaining the deposit insurance policy.
Simultaneously, the fluctuation of the dollar exchange rate needs to be addressed. Stability is key to reducing chaos and mistrust.
Long-term Harmonics: Local Production and Twin Policies
For a long-term resolution, experts recommend supporting local production to reduce the demand for the dollar for import purposes. They also suggest creating a clear map of the relationship between the demand for hard currency and the capacity for increasing local production to cover these demands. This involves understanding import destinations and harnessing opportunities for local growth. Furthermore, aligning monetary policy with fiscal policy can control commodity prices and financial transfers, providing a stable rhythm to Iraq’s economic symphony.
In conclusion, the ongoing economic and political tensions between Baghdad and Erbil have resulted in delays in salary payments for government employees in the Kurdistan Region. The declining value of the Iraqi dinar against the US dollar further complicates the economic landscape. Stabilizing the economy and improving the value of the currency requires a symphony of measures, from restoring public confidence in the banking system to implementing long-term strategies that support local production.
Economist: Government Should Exploit Rising Oil Prices And Implement Sound Financial Management, 24 NOV
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