Tishwash: Iraq’s customs revenues reached 59 billion dinars after implementing the ASYCUDA system.
Finance Minister Taif Sami announced on Friday a significant increase in customs revenues following the implementation of the ASYCUDA Customs Automation System, amounting to more than 59 billion dinars.
Sami said in a statement to the official agency, followed by “Al-Eqtisad News,” that “customs revenues before the implementation of the ASYCUDA system amounted to 375,675,732,360 dinars, while after the implementation they rose to 435,421,672,805 dinars, an increase of 59,745,940,445 dinars.”
She added, “The General Authority of Customs has begun implementing the ASYCUDA system in 15 customs centers, including: Air Cargo Customs, Dry Port, Baghdad International Airport Terminal, Grand Welcome Square Customs, Trebil, Safwan, Arar, Umm Qasr Middle, Umm Qasr South, Kirkuk Airport, Zurbatiyah, Al-Mundhiriyah, Mandali, Al-Shaib, and Al-Shalamcheh.”
She explained that “the Authority has currently begun implementing the second phase of the system, which will extend over two years. This phase includes its implementation in eight remaining customs centers, in addition to linking 12 electronic applications to the system, including: land transport clearance, the value system, smart selectivity, the exemptions system, and licenses and certificates. This will enable the system to be linked with all ministries.” link
Tishwash: Legal expert: The House of Representatives has the right to extend its legislative session for 30 days to approve the budget schedules.
Legal expert Ali Al Tamimi stressed on Friday the utmost importance of approving the financial budget schedules.
Al-Tamimi explained in a statement to Al-Furat News Agency that “Article 57 of the Iraqi Constitution stipulates an annual session for the Council of Representatives with two legislative chapters, but it excludes the case of discussing and approving the general budget, as it stipulates that “the legislative chapter does not end if it includes the general budget law except after voting on it.”
The legal expert stressed that this constitutional text is considered “governing” and imposes the necessity of approving budget schedules as soon as possible, due to its direct impact on “the livelihood of society” and the stability of economic and living conditions.
In a related context, Al-Tamimi pointed out that Article 57 itself allows the possibility of extending the current legislative chapter, based on a request from one of the three presidencies or with the signatures of no less than fifty members of the Council of Representatives. In this case, an extraordinary session is held, and its meetings are limited to the matters that called for this extension.
Al-Tamimi explained that the duration of the extension of the legislative chapter is limited to “only thirty days,” and the Council’s discussions and sessions during this period must be limited to “matters related to the budget only.”
The legal expert concluded his statement by emphasizing that “the budget file is important It is necessary to extend the sessions of the House of Representatives in order to accomplish this national task that the Iraqi people are waiting for.
A parliamentary source told Al-Furat News last Tuesday that the Presidency of the House of Representatives decided to end the first legislative session of the fourth legislative year on May 9th {today, Friday} in accordance with Article (57) of the Constitution and Article (22) of the House of Representatives’ internal regulations. link
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Tishwash: Iranian Foreign Minister Anticipates Trump’s Arrival in the Region, Visits Saudi Arabia and Qatar Tomorrow
Ahead of US President Donald Trump’s scheduled tour of the region next week, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will travel to Saudi Arabia and Qatar tomorrow, Saturday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry announced.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry indicated in a statement published on its website on Friday that Araghchi will first travel to Riyadh “to meet and hold talks with senior Saudi officials.”
She added that he will later visit Doha “to participate in the Arab-Iranian Dialogue Conference.”
This comes as a fourth round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States is likely to be held next Sunday in the Omani capital, Muscat.
US President Donald Trump is also scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE next week.
Trump, who withdrew the United States from the 2015 nuclear agreement between Tehran and world powers, has previously threatened military action if his administration fails to reach an agreement to resolve the long-running dispute over Iran’s nuclear program.
It is noteworthy that since April 12, the United States and Iran have begun indirect talks on the nuclear issue, mediated by Oman.
The two sides have held three rounds so far (two in Muscat and one in Rome), which were described as positive and constructive. link
