Iraqi PM, US Senator Discuss Bilateral Partnership
ERBIL — Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani received US Senator Christopher Coons on Thursday to discuss the US-Iraq partnership.
They emphasized the transition to a bilateral relationship governed by the Strategic Framework Agreement (SFA) after the US-led Coalition's mission ends in Iraq.
Sudani stressed the urgency of halting the conflict in the Gaza Strip, particularly with Ramadan approaching. He called for an end to the “genocidal acts perpetrated by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF)."
Senator Coons, visiting at President Joe Biden's request, acknowledged the strong US-Iraq partnership. He advocated for broadening cooperation beyond security to include economic, cultural, and health aspects. Additionally, he highlighted the importance of Middle East stability and securing a ceasefire in the Strip.
For us investors we are still waiting for OFAC sanctions to be lifted in the US before the banks will “legally” exchange. But exchange at what rate? So, we also wait for another “official” rate change to occur by the CBI prior to the Project to Delete the Zeros.
We know this project is just steps away from the RV/Reinstatement of the dinar back to FOREX. Once on FOREX the OFAC sanctions will have to be lifted. Then we head to the bank to exchange and only at this time. Get it?
Shafaq News/ The Iraqi National Intelligence Service (INIS) announced on Saturday the arrest of two high-ranking ISIS leaders in a cross-border operation. In a statement, the Security Media Cell (SMC) said that after years of tracking, INIS forces apprehended two ISIS leaders involved in “terrorist activities across Iraq."
The operation took place outside Iraq’s borders, and the captured individuals have been brought back to the country. SMC added.
According to the statement, the terrorists were identified as Issam Abdul Ali Saidan, also known as “Abu Zaid,” an ISIS media operative in the Fallujah, responsible for beheading of soldier Kazem Al-Rikabi and overseeing all media activities for terrorist groups in Fallujah since 2014.
The second is Bashir Abdul Ali Saidan, known as “Abu Ahmad Itisalat,” a military figure in the Fallujah responsible for all “terrorist operations for ISIS in Fallujah after 2014. He specialized in securing and encrypting communications for the leaders of the terrorist groups. ”
It is noteworthy, Iraq declared victory over ISIS in 2017. Still, the activities of the terrorist organization are increasing in the so-called triangle of death among the governorates of Diyala, Kirkuk, and Saladin.
Specialists attribute this activity to an attempt by the extremists, either to take revenge for their loss in these areas or the need to find safe places far from the security forces.
I want to quote yet another statement from this recent article – “Banks will be responsible for financing foreign trade directly through the dollars they own” (and not from the CBI reserves). So what does this mean and what is the importance to us as investors?
This means the CBI will no longer be asking the US Treasury to ship plane loads of dollars to Iraq to meet the demand for dollars to pay for imports. Instead, the banks in Iraq themselves will work with banks in the US to transfer dollars. Of course, this will only work if the electronic banking system in Iraq is working and used. We have learned in past news from the CBI the direct connection between electronic banking and the success of the monetary reform implementation. So, this is all interconnected. Again, something as changed, and it appears that finally the electronic Point Of Sale (POS) and consumer debit cards is taking hold in Iraq. This is a decade long project for Iraq.
Then in the same article it also says and I quote – “Banks will be fully responsible for auditing invoices and transfers, which is the practice globally.” What this statement tells us is that banks will now take us new responsibilities, which are common global banking practices for banks. I can only imagine the CBI must have put some stiff penalties on the banks for further. This is how the rest of the world’s banking system works and so we will finally see soon Iraq coming fully out of the sanctioned, isolationist operation of their banking system and joining the rest of the world. We all know Iraq has been fully released from all UN sanctions in December of 2022 and so it will be about time to start acting like it. But we all know things are slow in Iraq and we have to remember that they are also making monumental leaps in technology and fighting corruption along the way.
PM’s security advisor criticizes US approach to Iraq's arms deals and dialogue delay
Shafaq News / Khalid Al-Yaqobi, the security advisor to Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, asserted on Saturday that Iraq has significant arms contracts with the United States, mentioning that Washington deals with this issue “selfishly” and according to political agenda.
This statement was made during his participation in a panel discussion on the sidelines of the Sixth International Baghdad Conference under the theme of "Regional Communication.. Iraq's Centrality."
Al-Yaqobi stated, "We are bound by significant arms contracts with the United States, which displays a certain selfishness in this regard. They always handle military equipment files according to political calculations. If the situation does not align significantly with their policy, they may hold accountabilities, as they did with Nouri al-Maliki's government during his second term."
Regarding the bilateral dialogue between Iraq and the United States to end the mission of the Global Coalition, Al-Yaqobi mentioned that the US "unfortunately delayed the dialogue for five months, citing that they do not negotiate under fire."
He added, "We always advised them that the opportunity to sit at the dialogue table would provide flexibility and a wider space for the Iraqi government and political forces to exert greater pressure on the armed factions, thus reducing escalation to prove credibility."
He emphasized that Al-Sudani managed to convince the American side to engage in dialogue, and the second round of talks has now concluded.
Last month, the media office of PM Al-Sudani briefly announced that the PM had overseen the start of the first round of bilateral dialogue between Iraq and the United States to end the mission of the Global Coalition in the country.
Al-Sudani has reiterated on several occasions the initiation of dialogue with the US-led Coalition against ISIS to end its mission in the country.
Notably, in January 2020, the Iraqi parliament passed a non-binding resolution calling for the government to end the presence of all foreign troops.
Currently, there are 2500 US troops in Iraq for advisory and training missions upon the demand of the Iraqi government.