Tishwash: Biden and his deputy refuse to meet Masrour Barzani at the White House
An American website confirmed that the offices of the US President and Vice President refused to hold face-to-face meetings this week with the Prime Minister of the Iraqi Kurdistan region, Masrour Barzani.
According to the Washington Free Beacon website, citing sources and former American officials who sought to hold these meetings, they expressed their concern that Biden and Harris would not give time to meet Barzani.
The website stated, “US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken pressured Masrour Barzani to work more closely with the Iraqi government to calm tensions.”
The website also quoted Michael Knights, an expert on Middle East affairs, close to the Kurdish leadership, residing in Erbil and a personal friend of Kurdistan Democratic Party member Hoshyar Zebari, as saying, “The White House refuses to meet with friends and partners of the United States from Kurdistan, but happily invites the Iraqi Prime Minister to the office.” Al-Baydawi,” adding, “It seems to many as if the United States cannot distinguish between friends and enemies. link
Tishwash: Iraq concludes its discussions with the International Monetary Fund expert mission in Amman
The Iraqi delegation, headed by Finance Minister Taif Sami, concluded today, Thursday, its discussions with the Article IV mission of International Monetary Fund experts in Amman, while the mission confirmed its continued support for the government’s reform steps.
The Ministry of Finance stated in a statement received by Mawazine News, that “during the discussions, the implementation of the economic reform program and the improvements achieved by the Iraqi government in the field of development infrastructure, financial sustainability, and maximizing non-oil revenues were reviewed.”
The Iraqi delegation confirmed, according to the statement, that “the Fund promised to support development programs to advance public financial management, digital transformation, banking, retirement, and customs sectors, and to enhance private sector participation efforts through investment incentives, infrastructure, and reconstruction,” indicating “its intention to continue discussions and consultations during the Fund’s periodic annual meetings.” “.
The Fund’s mission praised “the achievement of good progress in many financial and monetary aspects and in the areas of transparency, control, provision of financial statements and rationalization of expenditures, in addition to the strong return of growth in the non-oil sector during 2023 with a noticeable decline in inflation rates, and this is reflected in the decline in food and energy prices.” .
The mission noted “the positive developments in the return of trade financing operations to their normal path and the stability of the foreign exchange market following the implementation of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing controls on cross-border payments,” welcoming “government plans aimed at strengthening public financial management, including welcoming “With the steps taken by the government towards establishing a unified treasury account, improving cash flow management and increasing the tax base, as well as reviewing the customs tariff structure and achieving more targeting in social support and care.”
The mission also expressed its optimism about “the level of understanding and progress achieved with the Iraqi government and the coordination steps and joint consultations that will be completed in the near term that will contribute to addressing the financial problems imposed by the circumstances of international conflicts and their accompanying economic impacts,” explaining that “purposeful structural reforms are continuing to stimulate economic diversification.” “Creating job opportunities led by the private sector is a pivotal factor in achieving sustainable and inclusive growth.”
According to the statement, priorities at this level include creating equal opportunities for the private sector by implementing reforms in banking and the electricity sector, reducing distortions in the labor market, and continuing to make efforts to strengthen governance and limit the spread of corruption.
It is noteworthy that Article IV consultations are bilateral meetings held annually between the International Monetary Fund and member states, after which a team of Fund experts meets the member country and conducts formal consultations with its officials. link
CandyKisses: International monetary indicates the decline in inflation rates and the stability of the foreign exchange market in Iraq
Shafaq News / The International Monetary Fund, a “remarkable decline” in inflation rates, which is reflected in the decline in food and energy prices in addition to the stability of the foreign exchange market in Iraq, according to the Ministry of Finance.
The ministry said in a statement that an Iraqi delegation headed by Finance Minister Taif Sami concluded today, Thursday, its discussions with the Article IV mission of the International Monetary Fund experts in Amman, during which the implementation of the economic reform program and the improvements achieved by the Iraqi government in the field of development structure, financial sustainability and maximization of non-oil revenues were reviewed.
The statement quoted the delegation as confirming that the Fund promised to support development programs to promote public financial management, digital transformation, banking, retirement and customs sectors, and to enhance private sector participation efforts through investment incentives, infrastructure and reconstruction, indicating its intention to continue discussions and consultations during the Fund’s periodic annual meetings.
The statement added that the IMF mission praised “the return of growth in the non-oil sector strongly during 2023 with a noticeable decline in inflation rates, and this reflected on the decline in food and energy prices.”
According to the statement, the mission “noted the positive developments of the return of trade finance operations to their normal course and the stability of the foreign exchange market following the implementation of anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism financing controls on cross-border payments.”
It is noteworthy that the IMF Article IV consultations are bilateral meetings held annually between the IMF and member states, after which a team of IMF experts meets the member country and holds formal consultations with its officials.
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Tishwash: The International Monetary Fund promises to support digital transformation in Iraq
Today, Thursday, the Iraqi delegation, headed by Finance Minister Taif Sami, concluded its discussions with the Article IV mission of International Monetary Fund experts in Amman.
The Ministry of Finance said in a press statement, “During the discussions, the implementation of the economic reform program and the improvements achieved by the Iraqi government in the field of development infrastructure, financial sustainability, and maximizing non-oil revenues were reviewed.”
The Iraqi delegation confirmed, according to the statement, that “the Fund promised to support development programs to advance public financial management, digital transformation, banking, retirement, and customs sectors, and to enhance private sector participation efforts through investment incentives, infrastructure, and reconstruction,” indicating “its intention to continue discussions and consultations during the Fund’s periodic annual meetings.” “.
The Fund’s mission praised “the achievement of good progress in many financial and monetary aspects and in the areas of transparency, control, provision of financial statements and rationalization of expenditures, in addition to the strong return of growth in the non-oil sector during 2023 with a noticeable decline in inflation rates, and this is reflected in the decline in food and energy prices.” .
The mission noted “the positive developments in the return of trade financing operations to their normal path and the stability of the foreign exchange market following the implementation of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing controls on cross-border payments,” welcoming “government plans aimed at strengthening public financial management, including welcoming “With the steps taken by the government towards establishing a unified treasury account, improving cash flow management and increasing the tax base, as well as reviewing the customs tariff structure and achieving more targeting in social support and care.”
The mission also expressed its optimism about “the level of understanding and progress achieved with the Iraqi government and the coordination steps and joint consultations that will be completed in the near term that will contribute to addressing the financial problems imposed by the circumstances of international conflicts and their accompanying economic impacts,” explaining that “purposeful structural reforms are continuing to stimulate economic diversification.” “Creating job opportunities led by the private sector is a pivotal factor in achieving sustainable and inclusive growth.”
According to the statement, priorities at this level include creating equal opportunities for the private sector by implementing reforms in banking and the electricity sector, reducing distortions in the labor market, and continuing to make efforts to strengthen governance and limit the spread of corruption.
It is noteworthy that Article IV consultations are bilateral meetings held annually between the International Monetary Fund and member states, after which a team of Fund experts meets the member country and conducts formal consultations with its officials link