Tuesday, November 21, 2023
Iraq should stay away from Gaza conflict, says PM Barzani, 21 nov
Iraq should stay away from Gaza conflict, says PM Barzani
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Battered by enough issues at home, Iraq should stay away from the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said on Tuesday at the MEPS23 Forum in Duhok.
Barzani took part in a special conversation with Ms Maryam Moshiri of the BBC at the Middle East Peace and Security Forum, where wide-ranging topics regarding Erbil-Baghdad issues, ongoing Hamas-Israel war in Gaza, domestic Kurdish politics, and Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) reform programs, were highlighted.
Addressing the bloody battles in the Gaza Strip, where already more than 13,000 people have been killed and the risk of a regional escalation from the conflict is believed to be imminent; Barzani said “Iraq should stay away from the conflict,” as Baghdad has enough issues to deal with.
The premier denounced the war and slammed any efforts to resolve problems through violence, as the latter “cannot even be a way” for conflict resolution.
In his address on the first day of the forum on Monday, Barzani similarly highlighted the conflict and reminded the audience that the Kurds are also entitled to self-determination rights, as the two-solution has been touted as the key solution for the Israel-Palestine conflict.
“Kurds have also demanded the same rights and dignities, yet our cause has often been forsaken. How do you reconcile resounding support for one just cause and deafening silence for another?” the premier said in the speech.
KRG reforms
In another part of the conversation, Barzani highlighted his cabinet's reforms in various sectors, particularly in the banking and digitalization of public services.
MyAccount initiative, a financial inclusion program that the KRG is currently rolling out, to digitalize the payment system of public employees, will include more than a million public servants by the end of 2024, Barzani said.
Hundreds of thousands of employees in Erbil province are now owning a bank card through the program. The initiative will begin in Duhok and Sulaimani this month, the premier added.
About 1,000 ATMs will be installed over the coming years along with 40,000 payment terminals, according to the premier.
Fighting corruption has also been an integral part of the cabinet since its inception in July 2019, Barzani said, adding his strategy in the fight against corruption is to "stop" it.
"There are individuals who must be held accountable for their bad deeds," he said, adding his cabinet is "on the right track" in fighting the issue.
Climate change
The Kurdistan Region is similarly faced with the adverse effects of climate change in the Middle East, the official said, adding the issue is a source of concern for him personally.
Fighting climate change effects, which have the potential to lead to migration, requires collective efforts, according to Barzani, saying the threats from the issue are "serious" and can be witnessed currently.
He also urged the public to take the threats from climate change seriously.
Youth and Employment
With regard to the young Kurdish population, Barzani said the government has been working to create more opportunities for its youth, particularly with regard to job creation.
Laws have been amended in order to create opportunities for the youth, he said, highlighting the Bloom Project that his government has recently launched to provide financial support for small and medium projects in the region.
In response to a question about the lack of job opportunities in the Kurdistan Region, Barzani said hundreds of thousands of foreign workers are currently working in the Kurdish region.
The government is also working on an innovation center that will help the youth to foster their ideas, he said.
Diversity
"I'm personally not very much fond of the word minorities because we've paid a heavy price for being a minority and we've always been looked down upon," Barzani said, adding the region's citizens "all enjoy the same rights," and the government does not favor a particular group.
"It’s not about the majority and minority, it’s about the diversity of communities, religions, and ethnicities," he added.
"Everybody is equal in Kurdistan," Barzani said.
The Kurdistan Region has hosted over two million IDPs and refugees since 2014 as a result of the Syrian civil war and the emergence of ISIS.
"That speaks volumes about where Kurdistan stands on the rights of different communities," he said.
International oil companies
Barzani said the Kurdistan Region does not only defend its constitutional rights in Baghdad, rather it defends the rights of its partners as well, including the international oil companies that have invested in the Kurdistan Region's oil fields.
He said the Kurdish region will continue defending its rights and will not give them up "to please anyone."
'Wrong timing'
Regarding the latest Iraqi Federal Supreme Court decision that had removed the membership of the Iraqi speaker of parliament, Barzani said the timing of the verdict was "wrong".
He said the Sunni representatives must be respected, as they are an integral part of the Iraqi political process.
https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/33213-Iraq-should-stay-away-from-Gaza-conflict,-says-PM-Barzani
Iraq’s President Concludes Diplomatic Visit to Azerbaijan, Set for Armenia, 21 nov
Iraq’s President Concludes Diplomatic Visit to Azerbaijan, Set for Armenia
President Abdullatif Jamal Rashid of Iraq concluded his diplomatic visit to Azerbaijan on November 21, marking a significant step in the continued strengthening of ties between the two nations. The official departure ceremony held at Heydar Aliyev International Airport, with a guard of honour lined up to see him off, underscored the importance of the visit.
Press Statements and Future Cooperation
Following the visit, both President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President Abdullatif Rashid made press statements, discussing various facets of the bilateral agenda and outlining key directions for future cooperation. President Aliyev expressed his belief that President Rashid’s visit would bolster the friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Iraq, opening a new chapter of cooperation.
Call for Peace and Solidarity
In the Azerbaijani capital Baku, President Rashid voiced his hopes for a successful peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia. This sentiment signals Iraq’s support for stability in the region and underscores the potential role of diplomacy in resolving conflicts. Furthermore, both leaders discussed their mutual support in international institutions and solidarity within different global organizations.
Strengthening Bilateral Relations
Emphasizing the historical significance of the visit, President Aliyev reiterated his commitment to further enhancing the relations between the two countries. President Rashid echoed this sentiment, expressing his determination to strengthen bilateral ties and readiness to sign memorandums of understanding between Iraq and Azerbaijan. Such declarations reflect a shared ambition for a long-term, mutually beneficial partnership.
EVENING UPDATE WITH MARKZ ( ENGLISH & SPANISH), 21 NOV
Monday November 20, 2023
Mark Zee: Says
Monday afternoon
— Member: Good Monday night everyone.
Member: MarkZ, ready to have you walking through the streets yelling, 'The RV is coming!'
MZ: I have a great banking story to share with you. I will leave his name to maintain anonymity: “Today I went to a JP Morgan Chase bank. The cashier confirmed that they are in training and admitted that they are changing their systems. There was an advertisement on a 13 foot pillar, an LED screen that said “Foreign Currency Exchange” and admitted what you and others like Frank, Bob and others tell us. We smiled a lot after today's bank visit.
MZ: In Iraq they are talking about how de-dollarization is working... and now that they have opened banks that use other currencies... it has greatly reduced their dependence on the US dollar. And they are seeing the dinar rate rise against the US dollar. I was told that as soon as the parallel/black market rate reaches the official rate... then the big change in value. They need to stabilize rates before they can change them.
Member” Nader made a short video today… They are working on modern banking updates and improvements. Lots of modernization
Member: TNT Tony said a rate of $4.81 for us today
Member: Frank 26 in shiny gold suit today.
MZ: “Citigroup begins layoffs as Wall Street prepares for a difficult end to 2023”
MZ: “IMF Releases Digital Currency Manual for World’s Central Banks” This one is going to surprise almost everyone… It's not specifically about the creepy, evil CBDCs… but it's about blockchain and blockchain-backed currency. assets. These currencies can wean the world from dependence on the US dollar. They have a manual for countries to create their own sovereign digital currency.
MZ: This is the IMF throwing the United States under the bus... showing the world how they can de-dollarize... this piece is huge. Financial markets around the world should be erupting. Right now.
MZ: This is in Forbes: "US Dollar Collapse 'Accelerates' 33.7 Trillion Shocks, Fed Inflation Warning, and Makes 'Bullish' Case for Rising Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP and Crypto Prices" These They are alternatives to the US dollar……. .Loudly they say that the dollar is collapsing and accelerating.
MZ: “The de-dollarization of Russia and China is almost complete” About 95% of transactions are now settled in their national currencies.
MZ: “Egypt and India completely abandon the dollar”
MZ: “Sri Lanka central bank to adopt floating interest rate and report on foreign reserve collection” This means they are decoupling… They are ready for the markets to decide their value.
Member: Argentina just eliminated the income tax
MZ: “Morgan Stanley CEO says his company is ready for the end of Basel III: the radical new global rules on banking”
MZ: “Texas has the answer = Imagine a gold-based Texas currency that you can spend that keeps up with inflation and for every dollar you spend is physically returned in gold…”
Member: I feel like things are moving pretty quickly. Thank God
Member: We are so close to the RV that we can see and smell it... but I want to touch it, please.
Member: Restore happiness to the desperate, bring love to the lonely, food to the hungry, and peace to this wounded world. In the Name of Jesus I ask you, Amen!
Member: Rest well and sleep soundly…Blessings and peace.
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TRANSLATION IN SPANISH:
Lunes 20 Noviembre 2023
A Government Plan To Improve The Performance Of The Banking Sector, 21 NOV
A Government Plan To Improve The Performance Of The Banking Sector
Baghdad: Haider Al-Jaber The government attaches great importance to reforming the government banking sector, which dominates about 85 percent of investments in this vital sector.
The Prime Minister’s Advisor for Financial Affairs, Mazhar Muhammad Saleh, explained to “Al-Sabah” that “there are priorities in the pace of economic reform that the government program brought in spirit and letter, as reforming the government banking sector and returning it to work on the basis of efficiency and high competitiveness is the main goal of the financial reform that it seeks.”
The government reached it within the scope of a broad program of economic and institutional reform and building a modern banking market in accordance with the requirements of the Constitution. Saleh added,
“The government banking sector dominates more than 85 percent of the sector’s total investments, but
at the same time it suffers from a heavy legacy as a result of its faltering for more than four decades of instability in the face of the progress that has afflicted banking in the world,” noting that “this matter
“It necessitated that the financial and banking sector take priority in the basic reform package.” The government's financial advisor added,
"The development plans required to be submitted by government banks will reflect the banks' capabilities for reform and the corrective decisions required to be taken to proceed with the major banking reform process to achieve the goal of reform."
Banking reform plans face difficult obstacles, difficult for several reasons, as they lack a number of foundations that push the process forward.
Banking expert Mahmoud Dagher said in an interview with “Al-Sabah”:
“Reforming government banks is one of the most difficult tasks due to their functional slackness and incomplete data, as well as problems in their budgets with accumulations dating back a long time,” indicating that “these banks are prohibited from international dealings.”
“There are sanctions on some procedures that took place before 2003, in addition to the difficulty of establishing a technological banking system that enables it to develop.” Dagher continued,
"Since 2018, Rafidain Bank has not been able to install the technological banking system," stressing that "there is difficulty in reforming government banks if there is no change in ownership, improving the performance of employees, and establishing the banking system." Dagher concluded,
“Banks are a modern banking system through which all branches are able to communicate and exchange information and restrictions with the center.” https://alsabaah.iq/87563-.html
TIDBIT FROM MILITIAMAN, 22 DEC
Militia Man Outside illicit trade have been warned about "SHOCKS"... T h e dollar auctions are going to cease and apparently wi...
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Frank26 [Bank story] This time we didn't go down, we just called [the bank]... We said we want to see if we can exchange some cu...
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Bank appointment for Currency EXCHANGE Instructions/Checklist Bank Name_________________________________________ Bank 800#____________...
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Walkingstick All these meetings that the CBI had with all these agencies that were helping them with their monetary reform are done. Al...