Iraqi-Turkish discussions to boost cooperation in oil, energy sectors
Baghdad (iraqiNews.com) – The Iraqi Ministry of Oil announced on Wednesday the start of Iraqi-Turkish discussions in the oil and energy sectors.
A statement released by the Oil Ministry revealed that the Iraqi Minister of Oil, Hayan Abdul-Ghani, received the Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, where they talked about bilateral relations in the oil and energy sectors and ways to enhance areas of cooperation, according to the Iraqi News Agency (INA).
Bayraktar also held a separate meeting with the Iraqi Foreign Minister, Fuad Hussein, where they emphasized the need to solve the outstanding issues related to oil exports between Baghdad and Ankara, according to the Iraqi Foreign Ministry.
The two sides reviewed the economic and investment opportunities the Development Road project will create and its positive impact on the economy of Iraq and the countries of the region.
In early October, Bayraktar confirmed that the crude oil pipeline from Iraq to Turkey, which has been inoperative for about six months, is ready to operate and that Ankara is preparing to start receiving shipments.
Turkey stopped oil flows through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline last March after a ruling issued by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) ordered Ankara to pay compensation of $1.5 billion to Baghdad for unauthorized oil exports between 2014 and 2018.
The Kurdistan region of Iraq exported approximately 450,000 barrels of crude oil per day before the pipeline was closed.
Ankara later began maintenance work on the line, through which about 0.5 percent of global oil supplies pass.
Member: Maybe the Black Swan event is actually The Burnt Turkey in the Oven...lol
Member: Mr. Pool says the whole world changes after midnight tonight...
MZ: There are so many balls being juggled right now... Tonight, tomorrow, Friday or Saturday... soon, the whole world will change. That is absolutely certain.
MZ: More and more financial players at all levels... some of my colleagues in commodities, bonds... they all have expectations for the coming days. Everything we've been looking for is coming together. We still don't know the exact moment.
MZ: I've heard some very encouraging things about the next 4 days... but I'll try to examine them first... I'll tell you tomorrow. However, the banks are excited and bank staff believe we are very close. Simply put, aim for the next 4-5 days for our announcements.
Member: Wouldn't it be easier for them to release the RV around Christmas for the Rodriguez and St. Germaine Trusts to open?
MZ: It would be easier... but they can publish it at any time... they would just need more signatories... Although I don't think they are expecting that.
MZ: “JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo and BOA have negative rating outlooks as Moody's says the US government has a weaker ability to support big banks.” This is absolutely huge. This means that the government and the FDIC do not have the funds to bail everyone out. We were always told they were too big to fail... This may no longer be accurate.
Member: Skye Prince had a good, heartfelt video earlier. She pretty much said what we all feel and is calling out the white hats and telling them that they are committing crimes against humanity...
Member: Yes, it was very heartfelt and said everything that we are all feeling...
Member: Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, ZFAMILY.
Member: I'm taking a big helping of RV for Thanksgiving tomorrow!
Member: If Iraq thinks we'll mind going on Thanksgiving, that'll just be the cherry on top.
Member: Happy and blessed Thanksgiving! Praying that everything we have been waiting for comes true in the coming days
!____________________________
TRANSLATION IN SPANISH:
Miércoles 22 Noviembre 2023
Mark Zee : Dice
Miércoles por la tarde
Miembro: Feliz víspera de Acción de Gracias a todos…….
Miembro: Quizás el evento El Cisne Negro sea en realidad El Pavo Quemado en el Horno... jajaja
Miembro: El Sr. Pool dice que el mundo entero cambia después de la medianoche de esta noche...
MZ: Hay tantas pelotas que se están haciendo malabarismos en este momento... Esta noche, mañana, viernes o sábado... pronto, todo el mundo cambiará. Eso es absolutamente seguro.
MZ: Cada vez más actores financieros de todos los niveles... algunos de mis compañeros de materias primas, de bonos... todos tienen expectativas para los próximos días. Todo lo que hemos estado buscando se está uniendo. Aún no sabemos el momento exacto.
MZ: He escuchado algunas cosas muy alentadoras sobre los próximos 4 días... pero intentaré examinarlas primero... te lo diré mañana. Sin embargo, los bancos están entusiasmados y el personal bancario cree que estamos muy cerca. En pocas palabras, apunta a los próximos 4 o 5 días para nuestros anuncios.
Miembro: ¿No sería más fácil para ellos liberar el RV cerca de Navidad para que abran los Rodriguez and St. Germaine Trusts?
MZ: Sería más fácil... pero pueden publicarlo en cualquier momento... sólo necesitarían más firmantes... Aunque no creo que estén esperando eso.
MZ: “JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo y BOA tienen perspectivas de calificación negativas, ya que Moody's dice que el gobierno de EE. UU. tiene una capacidad más débil para apoyar a los grandes bancos”. Esto es absolutamente enorme. Esto significa que el gobierno y la FDIC no tienen los fondos para rescatar a todos. Siempre nos dijeron que eran demasiado grandes para fracasar... Puede que esto ya no sea exacto.
Miembro: Skye Prince tuvo un video bueno y sincero antes. Ella prácticamente dijo lo que todos sentimos y está llamando a los sombreros blancos y diciéndoles que están cometiendo crímenes contra la humanidad...
Miembro: si, fue muy sentido y dijo todo lo que todos estamos sintiendo...
Miembro: Que tengas un maravilloso Día de Acción de Gracias, ZFAMILY.
Miembro: ¡Mañana me llevaré una gran porción de RV para el Día de Acción de Gracias!
Miembro: Si Irak cree que nos molestará ir el Día de Acción de Gracias, será simplemente la guinda del pavo.
Miembro: ¡Feliz y bendecido Día de Acción de Gracias! ¡Rezando para que todo lo que hemos estado esperando se haga realidad en los próximos días!
Parliamentary Economy Explains The Mechanism For Regulating Trade And Import Operations In Iraq And The Possibility Of Achieving Them
Economy |Baghdad today – Baghdad Today, Thursday (November 23, 2023), the Parliamentary Economy and Trade Committee clarified the possibility of Iraq succeeding in organizing trade and import operations for some materials and goods through the external financial transfers platform.
Committee member Ali Al-Maksusi told Baghdad Al-Youm, “There is a difficulty in the issue of Iraq’s success in controlling and organizing trade and import operations for some materials such as gold, cars, and mobile phones through the external financial transfer platform, especially with the presence of smuggling operations, tax evasion, and others.”
He added, "Iraq has not yet succeeded in controlling the payment of foreign imports in dollars through the platform. There are still illegal transfers taking place outside the platform," indicating that "this is the reason for an increase in the dollar exchange rate in the parallel market."
Al-Maksousi pointed out that "the matter requires a long time and many technical and legal procedures."
A government source reported on Monday (November 20, 2023) that directives had been issued to adopt trade in gold, cars, mobile phones, and cigarettes within the dollar selling platform soon.
The source explained to “Baghdad Today” that, “Based on the Prime Minister’s directives regarding regulating trade and import operations for some materials and goods, most of which are financed from the parallel market and the negative effects it has on the stability of exchange rates, the Ministerial Council for the Economy will consider proposing important decisions to facilitate and simplify entry procedures.” Importers of goods “gold, cars, mobile phones and cigarettes” to the external money transfer platform.
He added, "These decisions and instructions will be the catalyst for importers of these goods to abandon the process of purchasing and transferring dollars through the parallel market for the dollar and direct them towards the platform for the foreign currency selling window in the Central Bank of Iraq at the official price."
The source confirmed, "This will reflect positively and significantly on reducing the dollar prices in the parallel market, as trade in the above materials contributes the largest proportion of the demand for the dollar in that market."
The Governor of the Central Bank, Ali Al-Alaq, spoke earlier about the reasons for establishing the electronic platform for selling foreign currency, saying: One of the goals of the Central Bank of Iraq that it seeks to achieve is to integrate the banking sector into the global financial markets, because of its importance in developing its work,
and accordingly, it has The bank created an electronic platform to automate subscription mechanisms in the foreign currency selling window to achieve a number of goals, most notably simplifying subscription procedures for financing foreign trade and transparency in procedures,
in addition to providing more opportunities to expand banking activities with foreign correspondent banks and raising the level of compliance with the requirements of the transfer process, as well as attracting a larger segment. of commercial operations available in the market and improving the efficiency of operations related to implementing the sale of foreign currency. LINK
Sudanese To The Turkish Minister Of Energy: We Are Ready To Find A Solution To Resume Oil Exports
Baghdad Today – Baghdad Today, Wednesday (November 22, 2023), Prime Minister Muhammad Shia al-Sudani confirmed during his meeting with the Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alp Arslan Bayraktar, and his accompanying delegation, the government’s readiness to find a solution to resume the export of Kurdistan region’s oil through the Turkish port of Ceyhan.
A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office received by “Baghdad Today” stated, “The meeting discussed cooperation relations between Iraq and Turkey in the field of energy and ways to develop it, as well as discussing the efforts of the two countries to resume the work of the meetings of the Joint Economic Committee at its 19th session, and to continue work on the issue of exporting Iraqi oil through the Turkish port of Ceyhan.” ".
During the meeting, the Prime Minister explained, "The government's readiness to find a solution to resume oil exports," stressing that "Iraq has adopted fair solutions, within the limits of the Constitution, in dealing with various issues of neighboring countries."
Al-Sudani referred to "the water file, Iraq's water share, and the trend toward optimal use of water, especially in the field of agriculture," stressing, "Iraq looks forward to more Turkish cooperation in this file, which receives great attention from the government, because of its economic and humanitarian impacts."
He also referred to "the important strategic project that both countries are working on, which is the path of development, and the steady growth it will achieve in various joint economic sectors."
The meeting also discussed, according to the statement, "the position of the two countries regarding the current events in Gaza, and the conformity of visions regarding the Palestinian issue. In this regard, the Prime Minister appreciated Turkey's clear position on the condemned attacks on the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip."
For his part, the Turkish Minister conveyed to the Prime Minister the greetings of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his country’s desire for more cooperation in various fields. He pointed to the Turkish President’s clear and detailed interest in the development road project, stressing that Iraq is an important country not only for Turkey, but also For European countries, especially in the field of energy and the promising investment opportunities it has in the global gas market.”
It was likely that an agreement would be reached last week between Baghdad, the Kurdistan Regional Government and foreign oil companies to resume production from oil fields in the region following the visit of Oil Minister Hayan Abdul Ghani a week ago to Erbil.
Turkey stopped flows amounting to 450,000 barrels per day through the export route in the Iraqi Kurdistan region leading to the port of Ceyhan, on March 25, 2023, two days after a ruling issued by the International Chamber of Commerce.
The International Chamber of Commerce ordered Ankara to pay compensation to Baghdad amounting to about $1.5 billion for unauthorized exports by the Kurdistan Regional Government between 2014 and 2018.
Baghdad submitted a request for arbitration in 2014 before the International Chamber of Commerce, based in Paris, regarding Turkey’s role in facilitating oil exports from Kurdistan without the approval of the federal government.
Last March, the International Chamber of Commerce ruled in favor of Iraq that it has the right to control loading at the port of Ceyhan and see what is being loaded.
Iraq announced last May that the halt, in March, coincided with Turkey's request to inspect the pipeline and storage tanks to monitor any damage resulting from the devastating earthquake that occurred on February 6.
The two countries agreed to wait until the pipeline maintenance assessment is completed to resume flows while continuing the legal battle over arbitration awards. LINK
Iraq’s PM Sudani Connects with Citizens Amidst Political Tensions
On the cusp of a complex socio-political climate, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani establishes a direct line of communication with the citizens of Mosul through a phone-in segment on ‘Al-Watan wal-Nas’. This initiative, a brainchild of Sudani’s administration, comes as an effort to bridge the distance between the government and its people, opening avenues for transparent dialogue and facilitating a two-way exchange of ideas and concerns.
Reaching Out: Direct Dialogues for Democracy
The Prime Minister’s outreach is a testament to the government’s commitment to inclusivity and responsiveness. By choosing a popular media platform, Sudani ensures a broad audience, fostering an atmosphere of transparency, trust, and mutual respect between the government and the Iraqi people. The program provides a platform for citizens to voice their daily challenges, concerns, and aspirations, effectively making them active participants in the democratic process.
Crisis Communication Amidst Political Tensions
This initiative unfolds against the backdrop of escalating tensions in the region, with recent attacks on US interests in Iraq and threats against the US Embassy. In the face of these challenges, Sudani’s administration is determined to maintain a steady and open dialogue with its citizens, reinforcing the message that the government is receptive and responsive to their needs.
Striking a Balance: From Power Consolidation to People’s Voice
The outreach effort also throws into relief the challenges faced by the Prime Minister in controlling Iran-backed factions. These factions played a significant role in securing Sudani’s election a year ago and now form a powerful bloc in his governing coalition. However, Sudani’s commitment to direct communication signifies a shift in his administration’s focus – from consolidating power to amplifying the voices of the people. This shift could potentially influence the political landscape of Iraq, fostering a culture of transparency and accountability.
In conclusion, the Prime Minister’s initiative marks a significant step towards a more inclusive and responsive government. By encouraging open and transparent dialogue, the administration is not only addressing immediate concerns but also shaping the foundations of a robust democracy in Iraq. It remains to be seen how this approach will influence the socio-political dynamics of the region in the long run. Nonetheless, this move undoubtedly underscores the value of communication in bridging the gap between the government and its people.
