Tishwash: Prime Minister stresses Iraq’s aspiration for more integration in economic and trade relations with the Sultanate of Oman
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani stressed Iraq’s aspiration for more integration in economic and trade relations with the Sultanate of Oman.
A statement by his media office said: “Al-Sudani received, today, Sunday, the Omani Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion Qais bin Mohammed Al-Yousef, and his accompanying delegation.”
During the meeting, according to the statement, relations between the two countries and ways to consolidate cooperation in various sectors, especially the economic and trade field, were discussed in a way that enhances the level of partnership and exchange, and confronts economic challenges in the region.
“Al-Sudani welcomed the guest minister, stressing Iraq’s aspiration for more integration in economic and trade relations with the Sultanate of Oman, pointing to the resources of development in the Iraqi investment environment, especially after the comprehensive reforms it has witnessed.”
For his part, Al-Yousfi conveyed the greetings of Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq to Al-Sudani, reiterating his country’s desire to increase cooperation in various fields. link
Tishwash: Parliamentary Finance Committee “explodes a surprise” regarding the cost of extracting oil from the Kurdistan Region
The Finance Committee of the Iraqi Council of Representatives said on Sunday that the vote on amending the general budget law is related to the proposal sent by the federal government to the council. While it explained that the cost of extracting oil is $16 and is not fixed, but may reach $22, it confirmed that stopping the export of the region’s oil led to the federal government losing more than $14 billion.
Committee member, Ikhlas al-Dulaimi, told Shafaq News Agency, “The House of Representatives voted today to amend the general budget law, and the vote was on the proposal sent by the government to the House.”
Al-Dulaimi explained that “the cost of extracting oil in the Kurdistan Region, according to the amendment, is $16 per barrel, and the cost is not fixed, as there will be a consulting company that will determine the actual cost of extracting oil, and it may reach $22 per barrel, and according to this cost, the federal government will be obligated to pay it to the Kurdistan Region.”
She explained that, “according to the budget amendment, the region’s oil will be delivered to SOMO, which will be responsible for selling the oil abroad,” noting that “the halt in oil exports was not due to the region, but rather it was due to the federal Ministry of Oil filing a lawsuit against the Ministry of Oil in the region, which caused the halt in oil exports, and this led to the federal government losing more than 14 billion dollars.”
Today, Sunday, the Iraqi Council of Representatives voted on the draft law amending the first law of the Federal General Budget Law of the Republic of Iraq for the fiscal years 2023 – 2024 – 2025 No. 13 of 2023.
For his part, independent MP Ahmed Majeed announced in a statement to Shafaq News Agency that members of the House of Representatives from the central and southern governorates boycotted the parliament session held today, considering that voting on the budget “violates the law and the internal regulations of the council due to the lack of a legal quorum.”
Majeed explained that “the number of present representatives does not exceed 140 representatives, which means that the quorum is not achieved,” stressing that they doubt the legitimacy of the session.
He added, “We will file an appeal with the Federal Court against the House of Representatives for violating the law and proceeding with the vote on amending the budget law link
************
Tishwash: Al-Sudani and Masrour Bazani welcome the passage of the budget law amendment: a responsible step
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani welcomed, on Sunday, the passing of the amendment to the financial budget law, while considering the vote on the law a “responsible step.”
Bassem Al-Awadi, the spokesman for the Iraqi government, said in a statement received by Shafak News Agency, “Al-Sudani expresses his appreciation for the responsible and constructive step taken by the esteemed House of Representatives, by approving the amendment to the Federal General Budget Law of the Republic of Iraq for the fiscal years 2023-2024-2025, Law (13 of 2023), according to the text of the amendment received from the Council of Ministers . “
According to the statement, Al-Sudani thanked the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the First Deputy Chairman of today’s session, the Second Deputy Chairman, and the heads of the parliamentary blocs, for their understanding and support of the government’s vision, which has continued to implement its program according to the priorities previously approved by the people’s representatives, which meet the aspirations of the Iraqi people.
He added that “voting on the amendment according to the text approved by the Council of Ministers confirms the political stability and the state of understanding that characterizes this stage, and also reflects the high cooperation between the government and the House of Representatives to continue working together, in order to continue the momentum of the wheel of development, reconstruction and reform, which has started and will not stop, as the government continues to work to confront problems and challenges with a sense of responsibility and based on the supreme interests of Iraq.”
According to the statement, Al-Sudani called on both “the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq, with its specialized institutions, and the Federal Ministry of Oil, to immediately begin and work on this amendment, in order to optimally invest in natural resources, especially oil wealth, and let this wealth be a factor in supporting stability, and a motive for further achievement of plans and programs that meet the needs of our honorable people . “
In turn, the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Masrour Barzani, welcomed the passage of the amendment to the budget law.
Barzani wrote in a tweet on the X website, “We welcome the vote of the Federal Council of Representatives today to amend the Federal General Budget Law, and we commend all those who contributed to the success of this amendment. We also thank the negotiating team in the regional government for its efforts in developing a mechanism to resolve the issue of salaries.”
He expressed his hope that “this positive step in amending the budget law will be the beginning of solving all other problems, and the federal government’s commitment to sending salaries and financial dues to the Kurdistan Region.”
Earlier today, Sunday, the Iraqi Council of Representatives voted on the draft law amending the first law of the Federal General Budget Law of the Republic of Iraq for the fiscal years (2023 – 2024 – 2025) No. (13) of 2023link
