Tuesday Morning Iraq Economic News Highlights 7-18-23
Warnings Of The Closure Of Al-Faw Port And Blocking The Way For Ships Because Of Kuwait
Information / Baghdad Political analyst Sabah Al-Aqili warned, on Tuesday, of an economic catastrophe that might afflict Iraq in the event that the road to ships is cut off, the port of Al-Faw and other ports are closed, and marine oil exports are stopped due to Kuwait’s control of Khor Abdullah.
Al-Agaili told Al-Maalouma, “Kuwait knows that UN Security Council Resolution 1993 No. 833, which drew borders and granted Kuwait the right to control Khawr Abd Allah, Al-Amiya and nearby areas, while history confirms the ownership of this region to Iraq.”
He added, “Iraq can file a complaint with the United Nations to challenge this decision, as well as resorting to the International Court of Justice to review maps and documents that prove the ownership of the region to Iraq.”
And he indicated that “Kuwait’s control of Khawr Abd Allah means ending the presence of Iraqi ports, especially the great port of Faw, and thus killing the Iraqi economy, ports and oil exports through it, in addition to making the wrong way for commercial ships to receive commercial ships in the great port of Faw.”
He pointed out that “some political leaders complimented Kuwait in 2015 after they received gifts and bribes from the Kuwaiti side in order to overlook the Khawr Abdullah file.” LINK
The Oil And Gas Law Takes Center Stage Amidst Assurances That The Problems Of Baghdad And Erbil Will Not Be Solved
Today 10:03 Information / Baghdad… The former member of the Parliamentary Oil and Energy Committee, Ghaleb Muhammad Ali, confirmed, on Tuesday, that the oil and gas law will not solve the existing problems between Baghdad and Erbil over the oil file, pointing out that the Kurdistan government seeks to make the region’s oil powers in its hands at a time when there is a decision by the Federal Court that obliges the government control of this file.
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Ali told Al-Maalouma, “The oil and gas law will enter into mazes and many problems will arise around it if it is a political and technical law, but when it comes to technical aspects, it will not affect oil dealings, whether with the region or other provinces.”
He added, “There is a decision by the Federal Court stipulating that the federal government control the oil file inside and outside the region, and obligated the government to have the oil management fully under the control of the Ministry of Oil and SOMO, and therefore the oil and gas law should not contradict the court’s decision.”
He pointed out, Ali, that “the oil and gas law will not solve the problem between the center and the region, as Kurdistan seeks to have all the powers of the region’s oil in its hands, while the center insists that the powers be under its authority.” LINK
About 46 Million Barrels Of Iraqi Oil Exports To America In The First Third Of The Year 2023
Energy Economy News _ Baghdad The US Energy Information Administration announced today, Tuesday, that Iraq’s oil exports to America amounted to about 46 million barrels during the first third of the year 2023.
The administration said in a table seen by “Al-Iqtisad News”, that “Iraq’s exports of crude oil and its products to America during the first third of the year 2023 and starting from January, February, March and April amounted to 45.998 million barrels, an increase of 37% over the same period in the year 2022, which America’s oil exports amounted to 29.029 million barrels, an increase of 65% compared to the same period in 2021, in which oil exports to America amounted to 16.112 million barrels.
And she added, “The highest rate of oil exports to America during the first third of the year 2023 was in the month of February, when it amounted to 12.168 million barrels, while the lowest rate of oil exports was for the month of April, when it amounted to 10.942 million barrels.”
He pointed out that the highest rate of exports for the first third during the past ten years was in the year 2018, when it amounted to 86.317 million barrels.
Iraq exports nearly 10% of its oil exports to America, and Iraq is considered among the top ten exporting countries to America, along with Canada, Mexico and Saudi Arabia.
Views 15 07/18/2023 – https://economy-news.net/content.php?id=35198
What Is The Reason For The Increase In Iraqi Oil Exports To America? .. An Expert Explains
economy |Today, 11:3 Baghdad today – Baghdad Today, Tuesday (July 18, 2023), economist Nabil Al-Marsoumi explained the reasons for the increase in Iraqi oil exports to the United States, while stressing that Russia has displaced Iraq from the first place by exporting oil to India.
Al-Marsawi said in a post on his personal account on the “Facebook” platform, followed by “Baghdad Today”: Iraqi oil exports to the United States of America increased from 241 thousand barrels per day in the first third of 2022 to 383 thousand barrels per day in the first third of 2023. .
He pointed out that “this is due to the geographical redistribution of Iraqi oil exports, which lost part of its share in the Indian market in favor of Russia, which has become the first source for India as a result of the large price discounts on the prices of Russian Urals crude,” stressing that it “displaced Iraq to second place.”
And the economist stated that “Iraq exports about 11% of its oil exports to America,” stressing that “it is the second largest oil exporter to America in OPEC after Saudi Arabia, and it is also among the top ten oil exporting countries to America.”
Earlier, the US Energy Information Administration announced that Iraq’s oil exports to America exceeded 250,000 barrels per day, becoming the fourth largest exporter to America, indicating that the average US imports of crude oil during the past week from eight countries amounted to 5.562 million barrels per day, up by 265,000. barrels per day, compared to the previous week, which amounted to 5.297 million barrels per day. LINK
Citizens Under Penalty Of Fraud On The “Dollar” Platform
The first 2023/07/18: Hoda Al-Azzawi, a new fraud and fraud carried out by influential parties in financial companies and banks, against hundreds and perhaps thousands of citizens without their knowledge. The head of the “National Approach” bloc and a member of the Parliamentary Integrity Commission, Ahmed Taha Al-Rubaie, received dozens of complaints from citizens confirming the presence of their names in the ” The “platform” launched by the Central Bank of Iraq to sell foreign currency “dollars” and receive amounts designated for travel while they have not traveled at all.
Al-Rubaie explained, in an interview with “Al-Sabah”, that “the issue falls within the circle of fraud and fraud operations, and it may have been carried out on (wide levels) in coordination with influential parties, and these parties may have received the sums instead of tens of thousands of citizens or hundreds of thousands, Especially since the platform is closed, and most citizens do not know anything about it, and whoever is lucky to know that will bear the penalty of accusation and exploitation.
He stressed that “banks (governmental and private) are the only party authorized to issue (credit cards – Visa or Master Card), and therefore the fraud and fraud operations were carried out by people within those banks and money transfer companies managed by influential people.”
Al-Rubaie pointed out, “We, as a legislative oversight body, have sent an inquiry letter to the Central Bank, and the matter will be followed up by the Federal Integrity Commission to uncover fraud and manipulation operations that were carried out smoothly and without accountability, and by people who have a direct or indirect relationship with government institutions.” Or non-governmental organizations to take advantage of the (closed platform) and list names and receive sums allocated for travel to citizens whose passports for travel were not even indicated.
A member of the Parliamentary Integrity Committee noted that “these issues are very serious, as the file or goal may not only be financial, but may also result in other matters, such as the use of a person’s documents in imports, and may result in legal matters that fall victim to the citizen who needs quite a while to prove his innocence.”
Al-Rubaie called for “forming specialized committees to uncover those involved and accomplices in these operations,” asking the Central Bank about its responsibility and procedures in the face of these clear violations and explicit manipulation by companies and banks that are the only party capable of issuing (credit cards).
And to ascertain the truth of the information obtained by “Al-Sabah” by the head of the “National Approach” bloc and a member of the Parliamentary Integrity Committee, and regarding the aforementioned complaints to the Central Bank, the latter did not deny the complaints received from a member of the Integrity Committee.
The Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, Dr. Ammar Hamad Khalaf, explained to “Al-Sabah” that “many complaints were received by the Central Bank by citizens regarding their receipt of the amounts allocated for travel while they did not travel,” pointing out that “the Central Bank is aware of this,
The companies involved were held accountable and all measures were taken, including fining the company or the bank and compensating the citizens by the company involved, until the measures taken by the Central Bank reached the point of stopping the company from entering the window as a punishment.
And he stressed that “the Central Bank takes into account all complaints and takes the necessary measures against these companies and banks, and issues penalties and compensating citizens.”
In turn, Muhannad Al-Atabi, a researcher on political affairs, said in an interview with “Al-Sabah”: “The corrupt are still making use of every loophole they see to plunder the country, and this is evidenced by the rumors of leaks and even confirmations of the exploitation of citizens’ passports without their knowledge to earn foreign currency.” (The dollar) that the government sells at the official rate, so that money gangs can seize it and sell it at the black market price.”
He pointed out that “we have been informed that there are banking companies, in collusion with tourism companies, that have earned huge amounts of money in the names of citizens who have not traveled,” expressing his astonishment “at the slowdown in legal deterrence, which makes those concerned face the responsibility of performing their duty.”
Edited by: Muhammad Al-Ansari https://alsabaah.iq/80889-.html
The Kurdistan Minister Of Transport Comments On Baghdad’s Decision To Suspend Flights To Erbil And Sulaymaniyah Airports
Policy 2023/07/18 10:21 Number of readings: 237 Baghdad – Iraq today: The Minister of Transport in the Kurdistan Regional Government said, “There are no security or administrative problems at Erbil and Sulaymaniyah airports, and no security forces have been deployed at the two airports.”
The Minister of Transport, Anu Jawhar, said in a press interview that the Baghdad Aviation Authority suspended flights to the Kurdistan region for several hours, but did not explain the reason. “The date for opening the airspace of the Kurdistan region has not been decided,” he said. LINK
Specialists: The Local Economy Needs Advanced Technology
Money and business Economy News – Baghdad Advisor to the Prime Minister for Investment Affairs, Muhammad Al-Najjar, confirmed: The government is serious about supporting the productive and service sectors, in a way that leads to reviving the qualitative national product and returning it to the local markets, while specialists believe that the local economy needs advanced technology.
Al-Najjar said in an interview with “Al-Sabah”, followed by “Al-Iqtisad News”: “The country is able to advance the reality of production and services through the adoption of advanced technology,” pointing out that “Iraq can rotate the wheel of industrial and agricultural production through which the country’s wealth can be maximized, and create A capital circulation within the country that would work to expand the circle of work, by employing financial revenues in new projects that achieve great benefit to the national economy. Views 22 07/18/2023 https://economy-news.net/content.php?id=35203
Amnesty International Protests Two Projects Of The Iraqi Government: Freedom Of Expression Is Threatened And Must Be Withdrawn
policy |Baghdad today – follow-up Today, Tuesday (July 18, 2023), Amnesty International and the Ansam Network for Digital Rights in Iraq said that the Iraqi government has re-introduced two bills to Parliament, which, if approved, would severely restrict the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly of the Iraqi people.
The reintroduction of these two bills coincides with a series of prosecutions targeting people who criticize government figures, as well as a campaign led by the Ministry of Interior to crack down on “low content” online. Between January and June of this year, the authorities prosecuted at least 20 people for peacefully exercising their human right to freedom of expression. Six people were sentenced to prison but have since been released.
“The Iraqi authorities’ recent attempt to suppress freedom of expression reveals their blatant disregard for the extraordinary sacrifices Iraqis made during the 2019 uprising to ensure their freedoms,” said Bissan Fakih, Amnesty International’s Iraq and Yemen Regional Campaigns Officer. The Iraqi government should immediately withdraw these two repressive bills, and the House of Representatives should not pass any laws that unduly restrict the human rights of Iraqis.”
The proposed bill on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly would give Iraqi authorities cover for a democratically approved law to unfairly prosecute anyone who makes public comments that violate “public morals” or “public order.”
Under the proposed cybercrime bill, those who post online content deemed to harm the vaguely defined “higher economic, political, military or security interests of the country” could face up to life in prison and a fine of up to 50 million dirhams. Iraqi dinars (about 38,000 US dollars).
During meetings with Amnesty International in Baghdad in May, human rights defenders and activists expressed concern that the two bills would enable the authorities to further crack down on peaceful dissent. The proposed reforms are deeply troubling due to the recent wave of prosecutions related to freedom of expression.
One Iraqi comedian, who was prosecuted in an Iraqi court during the “low content” campaign, told Amnesty International: “I can no longer make fun of any party, the state, or any public figure…or the condition of roads, water, schools or bridges.” . Why? Because everything belongs to political parties.”
Restrict freedom of expression and peaceful assembly
On May 9, 2023, the House of Representatives conducted its second reading of the proposed law on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, and Mohamed al-Halbousi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, may call for a public vote on the law at any time.
Moreover, amendments to the two bills are currently being discussed by lawmakers privately, according to individuals who participated in the discussions and saw new language proposed in the drafts, but these amendments have not been made public, and it is not clear if they will be made available to the Iraqi people. See the final version of the two dangerous bills before a possible vote on them.
Haider Hamzouz, Executive Director of Ansam Network, said: “It is unacceptable that we in Iraq today suffer from a lack of access to information about draft laws under consideration by Parliament. Access to information is a basic human right, and it is one of the basic factors for the rule of law, in order to enable citizens to participate effectively in political life and to fight corruption.”
The draft law prohibits “defaming religions, sects, and sects,” and anyone proven to have “publicly insulted a ritual, a symbol, or a person that is revered, glorified, or respected by a religious sect,” faces a prison sentence of up to 10 years, and a fine of up to 10,000,000 dinars. Iraqi ($7,600).
Given that religious symbols play a prominent role in the main political parties in Iraq, banning criticism of them will severely limit people’s exercise of their right to freedom of expression, and under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, when a state party imposes restrictions on the exercise of freedom of expression, these Restrictions The right itself is at risk, and the relationship between the right and the limitation and between the rule and the exception must not be reversed.
The bill also allows the authorities to ban public gatherings, unless prior permission is obtained from the authorities at least five days in advance. It does not say what criteria the Iraqi authorities will apply in approving or banning protests, in effect giving them the power to ban all protests.
In its authoritative interpretation of Article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on freedom of assembly, the UN Human Rights Committee has stressed in its General Comment No. 37 that “the requirement to apply for permission from the authorities undermines the notion that peaceful assembly is a fundamental right. If national laws still provide for licensing systems, these systems should be used, in practice, as notification systems, with the license granted automatically unless there are compelling reasons not to do so.”
Protesters in Iraq are already facing repression at the hands of the security services, and this risk increases any time the authorities consider a protest unauthorized, as they almost always resort to the use of force to break up such protests. Amnesty International has previously documented how at least 600 protesters were killed and thousands more injured during nationwide anti-government protests in 2019, after security forces used lethal force.
Monitor freedom of expression online
The government reintroduced the Information Crimes Bill to the House of Representatives in November 2022. Under the vaguely worded proposed law, anyone found guilty of “fueling sectarian tensions or strife” or “undermining the country’s independence, unity, safety, or economic interests, or political, military or supreme security,” could face up to life imprisonment and a fine of up to 50 million Iraqi dinars (approximately $38,000).
Bisan Fakih concluded, “In April 2023, the Iraqi government reaffirmed its promise to Amnesty International that it would guarantee public freedoms, yet its actions in Parliament are not in line with this affirmation.” Source: Amnesty International LINK
