Romanski reveals that $73 million has been provided to the Iraqi government to improve services
Shafaq News/ The US Ambassador to Iraq, Elena Romanski, revealed on Saturday that $73 million had been provided to the Iraqi government for the purpose of cooperation with civil society and improving services.
Romanski said in a tweet on her official account on the X website (formerly Twitter), that the Iraqi government’s goal of supporting community participation and effective local governance is a basic priority within the comprehensive US-Iraqi partnership.
She indicated that the United States Agency for International Development Middle East (USAID Middle East) provided $73 million through the “Iraq Together” program to enable the government to cooperate with civil society and local communities to improve public services.
In January 2024 foreign currencies will no longer be allowed inside Iraq and any violations will be criminalized. The Iraqi dinar will be used for all transitions.
Why are we seeing reports of a meeting with the IMF in Jordan and a meeting with the Department of the Treasury and the US Federal Reserve in Dubai? ...The meeting with the IMF had to do with the IMF staff team helping the Iraqi authorities reform the banking system... This meeting more than any other tells us Iraq may be preparing to join the global financial network, aka Forex Market...Here's the bottom line. Iraq has never really been on the Forex market. These reports IMPLY Iraq is headed in the direction of international currency inclusion while using its own currency for transactions within th country beginning January 1, 2024.
Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani is trying to reduce the pressure exerted against his government regarding the issue of the presence of American forces and the entire international coalition that was formed to combat ISIS by announcing steps to end this presence during the coming period.
Al-Sudani announced this trend in a press conference he held with his Spanish counterpart, Pedro Sanchez, during the latter’s two-day visit to Baghdad, and whose country participates in the international coalition, expressing his rejection of “hostile attacks” against Iraqi bases, warning that they affect the stability of the country. Al-Sudani considered that the presence of the international coalition forces against ISIS must be within the framework of support and advice, stressing the ability of his country’s government to preserve and protect diplomatic missions.
In response to stress
Al-Sudani’s statements appear to be a response to some of the pressures exerted by the Shiite forces that make up the coordination framework and have armed groups, after the recent attacks launched by American forces on the headquarters of the Iraqi “Hezbollah Brigades” in the Jurf al-Sakhar district, north of Babylon, and other headquarters of the brigades in the city of Hilla, the capital. Babylon Governorate. The Shiite factions allied with Iran escalated their media attacks against the government and criticized its recent statements that described these factions’ attacks on Erbil airport and military bases where American forces are located as “outlaw,” considering the government’s speech an attempt to justify the recent American raids on their headquarters.
The interest of Iraq
In this context, the director of the Iraq Center for Strategic Studies, Ghazi Faisal, considered that “the exit of the international coalition forces is not in Iraq’s interest,” ruling out at the same time the exit of these forces at the present time. He said, “The international coalition forces that were formed in 2014 after (the terrorist ISIS) occupied a third of Iraqi territory and declared the (Caliphate State in Iraq and the Levant) came in order to undermine and dismantle the dangerous international organization that was formed in Iraq and the Levant and a number of other countries such as Afghanistan, Mali, Mozambique and Algeria.” Libya, Yemen and other Arab and Islamic countries.”
Global victory
Faisal believed that “the coalition forces present today, consisting of more than 83 countries in the world led by the United States, will not leave Iraq, Syria, and the Middle East in general before achieving complete victory over terrorist organizations,” indicating that “these organizations are ravaging security and stability and threatening international interests, especially for The industrialized countries and the capitalist world through bombings and acts of violence in various countries of the world, especially the expansion into Africa and Asia in general.” Faisal considered that “the presence of international coalition forces in Iraq is contingent on achieving global victory over ISIS, since terrorism is interconnected in its geography,” ruling out “the exit of American forces from Iraq and Syria at a time when the region is ravaged by dangerous wars and threats to security and energy stability.”
A vital region
The director of the Iraq Center for Strategic Studies pointed out that “the Middle East and the Arabian Gulf region constitutes a vital strategic field for the global economy as it is an important market extending from Turkey to Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt and the countries of the Arabian Gulf,” indicating that “the issue of the exit of American forces is not only related to Iraqi relations – “But by the strategic position of the United States and ensuring security and stability.” “If American forces leave Iraq, they will be present in the Arabian Gulf and have bases in Kuwait, Qatar, the Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, and a base in the Emirates, in addition to eight bases in Turkey. Therefore, they will continue to confront Iran’s allies in Iraq,” according to Faisal, who pointed out He also pointed out that “the assassination of General (Qassem) Soleimani did not take place from inside Iraq, but rather through drones outside the borders, in addition to the assassination of many figures such as ISIS leaders, and figures that the United States considers hostile to it.”
Political researcher Ali Bader also ruled out that “the United States will neglect Iraq as a strategic partner.” He said, “The year 2014 witnessed the establishment of the international coalition, but many of the details of the formation of this coalition have not been revealed, and these matters make the presence of these forces suspicious to some political parties.” Bader added, “The work is now supposed to be logistical and intelligence, especially after the end of hostilities, given that the Iraqi security forces are now able to fight battles with the remaining remnants of terrorism in accordance with a new security reality and institutional vision,” indicating that “the Prime Minister means here.” The combat presence of the international coalition.”
Difficult request
Al-Baidar pointed out, “It is difficult to ask the United States to withdraw because its presence in Iraq is of great importance due to Iraq’s geopolitical location, in addition to reducing the weight of the Iranian presence in Iraq and putting pressure on Tehran continuously.”
The intelligence aspect
In turn, the military advisor, Safaa Al-Aasam, believes that “Iraq does not need the international coalition forces, as the battle with ISIS has ended in 2017,” indicating that “what Iraq needs is the intelligence aspect.” Al-Aasam said, “For more than two years, Iraq no longer needs the presence of international coalition forces.” The battle now between the Iraqi forces and the terrorist elements has become a security intelligence battle after the liberation operations took place in mid-2017,” indicating that “the Iraqi military establishment, with all its types, is able to protect the country because there is no interference by the United States, whose role is limited to protecting the skies of Iraq.” And ensuring that terrorist organizations do not enter Iraqi territory.” He pointed out that “the Iraqi military establishment is capable of ending terrorism, especially since ISIS is breathing its last inside Iraq,” noting that “Iraq is currently benefiting from the intelligence aspect of the coalition forces and Western armament, due to the weakness of its armament and intelligence aspect.” Al-Aasam stressed, “Iraq needs experts, armament, and consultation because weapons are developing, and we need these experts and advisors.”
Article: "Parliament is awaiting the 2024 budget schedules...preparing for major changes in numbers" Remember I told you if they're going to make any kind of change to the exchange rate it would happen at the end of the year or before the beginning of this next year 2024. The reason for that is businesses in Iraq have to prepare their budgets...based on what the government in Iraq does...The fact that they're saying they need to reconsider the total revenues and expenditures for the year make me wonder what it is they have up their sleeve. There's no guarantees that's what's going to happen but if they are going to make a change to the exchange rate this would be the time to do it.
There's no float. It's fixed 1320 for every dollar. Once it ends up on Forex then you'll see a float. Most likely it will be a managed float where if it starts to get crazy one way or the other then the government will intervene and control the rate...
Sudanese Advisor: The economic reform law is on its way to legislation and will lead us to prosperity
Mazhar Muhammad Saleh, Advisor to the Prime Minister for Financial Affairs, confirmed today, Saturday, that implementing the economic reform law will achieve optimal use of available material and human resources, indicating that the law is on its way to being legislated by the House of Representatives.
The Sudanese wants to end internal dealings with the dollar
The Sudanese wants to end internal dealings with the dollar, and “dollarization” has been a legacy since 1982.. His advisor Saleh said in an interview with the official agency, followed by the 964 Network , that “the economic philosophy framed by the draft economic reform law presented on its way to legislation to the House of Representatives is based on the vision of the government’s approach to reform and reorganizing the national economy.”
He added, “The government curriculum, which was approved by the House of Representatives in October 2022, is responsible for implementing a reform vision based on the principle of partnership between the state and the private sector (in financing, investment and production), starting with investing in natural resources and manufacturing industries and ending with digital and other services, and generating… High value-added chains enhance growth factors in GDP.”
Saleh explained, “The draft economic reform law is also consistent with the principles of the (National Strategy for Private Sector Development) and the principles of the new formation of the Private Sector Council headed by Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani.”
He pointed out that “the draft reform law, which is in the process of legislation, is consistent with the national strategy for developing the private sector, as both are undoubtedly a realistic embodiment and a central syndrome in building the rules of the (social market) through the vision of partnership between the state and the private sector that we mentioned earlier.”
He continued: “They are also two economic forces that will contribute to their cohesion by diversifying the sources of income in the national economy and dismantling it from the rentier unilateralism on whose ruins coexisted with emergency profit-making liberal capitalisms devoid of any idea of building market institutions. Rather, they remained fleeting to sustainable development or even the tendency to build the foundations of the real investment desired throughout. past decades.
Saleh stressed that “Iraq is advancing the vision of partnership between the state and the social market, through the implementation of the economic reform law immediately upon its enactment, to establish coherent guarantees for a promising economic future that will eliminate the rentier phenomenon and mono-economic problems.”
He stated that “implementing the economic reform law will achieve for our country optimal use of all available resources (material and human), and at the same time guarantee a level of prosperity that results in sustainable growth in a diversified economic climate that guarantees development.”
