"CBI is Ready" - Sun. AM KTFA Thoughts, News w/ DELTA 1/27/19

by **Ssmith** Mon Jan 28, 2019 9:29 am

KTFA

DELTA » January 27th, 2019

IQD BUY/ SELL IN IRAQI MARKET FROM CBI...

20-Jan--- 1194.799 -1194.790
21-Jan--- 1195.002- 1194.792
22-Jan--- 1194.781 -1194.537
23-Jan--- 1194.225- 1194.203
24-Jan--- 1193.964- 1193.946

ChrisC » January 27th, 2019

Delta, From all of your research and contacts, what do you think about volume of dinar now compared to Saddam's time? Are we close in note count or is there a whole bunch more? I haven't put a lot of thought into this so far, but I was just wondering what we were looking at comparatively. Thanks as always for all you do.

DELTA » January 27th, 2019

IMO THE NOTE COUNT IS NOT AN ISSUE ANY MORE.... CBI IS READY AND TOLD US THEY ARE PREPARING TO LIFT ZEROS..

Popeye7 » January 27th, 2019

Looking good Delta... Thank you for keeping us updated...

DELTA » January 27th, 2019

YES IT DOES LOOK GOOD........ IT'S NOT AN OPTION ...THEY MUST DO IT ..

Don961 » January 27th, 2019

Abadi: Yes, Iraq is under the influence of the Iranian, Saudi and American agencies!

Moscow / Writings

The former Iraqi prime minister admitted that the "organs" of Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United States exert clear influence over the selection of presidencies in Iraq.

Haidar al-Abadi said in an interview with Russia's Today TV program that "the Iranian position played a role in depriving him of a second term," despite the victory over an encouraging organization and saving the country from the economic shock caused by the drop in oil prices.

Al-Abbadi stressed that the religious authority Ali al-Sistani "did not issue a fatwa to form popular mobilization; he called for volunteering among the Iraqi forces to defend the homeland from the threat of terrorism."

"The name of the crowd was not mentioned in the Friday sermons, nor was this description mentioned by the reference or its representatives," he said.

Abadi stressed that he opposed the intervention of armed militias in the elections and influence the political decision. "If the armed groups break down and do not disarm, the situation threatens to confront its dire consequences," he said.

Abadi expressed surprise at the threats emanating from this or that faction against the US military presence in Iraq. "They denounce in public and cooperate in secret," he said. He said that the number of foreign troops in Iraq during his tenure reached 9,500 military, assisted by about 4000 civil contractors. "If the reports of increased preparation are correct, the government of Abdul Mahdi must explain the reasons,"

Abadi said. His successor, Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, agreed to go to the base to meet US President Donald Trump, who made a surprise visit to his forces in Iraq on the eve of Christmas. .

"As far as I know, the meeting was not caused by a disagreement over arrangements," he said.

Abadi stressed the need for the popular mobilization to adhere to the principle that it is an institution of the Iraqi armed forces "and not outside or above it."

In his first interview with a foreign television channel, Abadi spoke of sensitive issues in international and regional relations, including visits by Iraqi political delegations to Israel, normalization with Tel Aviv and others.

More at
(Youtube video link) link

Moparman » January 27th, 2019

Just like Frankie said. Mahdi met with Trump in Trumps visit. The media made it seem that he had just enough time to be with the troops. Nice job Frankie.

Doodlebug » January 27th, 2019

Well well well, what do we have here... curious amount of interest lately between these two countries. Please let me know how this meeting goes, we want to make the IMF HAPPY here, don't we Iraq?!? And by "happy" I mean, check off on their list of things to do? I don't know but I love how all things start to come together... in the end... or in the beginning? Either way, all IMOO.

Samson » January 27th, 2019

Jordan's King Abdullah visits Iraq for first time in a decade

January 14, 2019

Jordanian King Abdullah II met Iraqi President Barham Saleh in Baghdad on Monday, according to state television, in the monarch's first trip to Iraq in more than a decade.

The visit is the latest in a string of top-level diplomatic encounters in Iraq in recent weeks, which kicked off with a surprise Christmas trip to U.S. troops by President Donald Trump.

King Abdullah's last trip to Iraq was in 2008, when he became the first Arab leader to visit Baghdad after strongman Saddam Hussein was toppled by the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.
Saleh traveled to Jordan in November.

The two countries share a 179-kilometer (111-mile) border, and Jordan is a major importer of Iraqi crude oil.

In 2013, they agreed on a 1,700-kilometer pipeline linking Iraq's oil-rich Basra province to Jordan's Aqaba port, but Daesh terror group's sweep across nearly a third of Iraq put a screeching halt to the plan.

Last year, Jordan approved a framework to revive it, but did not give a timeframe for the line's construction.

The two states have also discussed plans for Iraq to import around 300 megawatts of electricity from Jordan to cope with widespread power shortages. LINK

IMF REPORT

Dated July 25, 2017

IRAQ- STAFF REPORT FOR THE 2017 ARTICLE IV CONSULTATION, SECOND REVIEW UNDER THE THREE YEAR STAND-BY ARRANGEMENT, AND REQUESTS FOR WAIVERS OF NONOBSERVANCE AND APPLICABILITY OF PERFORMANCE CRITERIA, AND MODIFICATION OF PERFORMANCE CRITERIA— INFORMATIONAL ANNEX

Page 122:

Iraq continues to avail itself of the transitional arrangements under Article XIV, Section 2 but no longer maintains any exchange restrictions or multiple currency practices subject to Article XIV, Section 2, and currently maintains one exchange restriction and one multiple currency practice (MCP) subject to Fund approval under Article VIII, Sections 2(a) and 3.

The exchange restriction arises from an Iraqi balance owed to Jordan under an inoperative bilateral payments agreement. LINK

JJonesmx » January 27th, 2019

BROUGHT forward to support....HUGEST NEWS; I HAVE SEEN, IN A VERY LONG TIME.... FINALLY IN PRINT....

Jordan, Iraq premiers set timeline for historic economic cooperation projects

MoU signed to link Iraqi power grid to Jordan’s national electricity network

By Abdul Rahman Bazian - Dec 30,2018 - Last updated at Dec 30,2018

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Hala Zawati and Iraqi Minister of Electricity Luay Khatib sign a MoU to connect the power grids of Jordan and Iraq in the presence of Razzaz and Abdul Mahdi on Saturday (Photo courtesy of Prime Ministry)

BAGHDAD

A ministerial delegation to Baghdad headed by Prime Minister Omar Razzaz on Saturday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Iraqi government to link the Iraqi power grid to Jordan’s.

Extensive talks between Jordan and Iraq over the weekend covered the Basra-Aqaba oil pipeline, the regional railroad, customs exemptions on Jordanian exports to Iraq as well as the establishment of a joint industrial estate over an area of 24 square kilometres on the border, among various other topics.

In press remarks at the Iraqi prime ministry in Baghdad, Razzaz said the two sides agreed on multiple schemes to boost cooperation on all levels.

“The date set to revisit the implementation of these agreements is February 2, a date as ambitious and daring as our aspirations and efforts,” the premier said.

Jordan has taken wide strides to ensure Iraq’s interests are secured, Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi noted.

Those were one of “the most successful talks ever entered”, the two prime ministers concurred.

Also on Saturday, Razzaz met with Iraqi President Barham Saleh in Baghdad, during which the premier and the president stressed the need to foster the “brotherly ties” between the two countries and went over the “fruitful” agreements reached earlier in the day, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Energy cooperation

In a joint communiqué released later in the day, the two sides said that measures to accelerate the process of exchanging electrical power would “begin immediately” through directly connecting the two countries’ power companies.

The MoU for the planned link was signed by Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Hala Zawati and Iraqi Minister of Electricity Luay Khatib, and aims aims at enhancing the stability of both countries power grids, according to the communiqué.

In regard to the Aqaba-Basra oil pipeline, the framework agreement would be concluded during the first quarter of 2019, as technical committees are set to decide on pricing and transportation mechanisms of Iraqi oil to the Kingdom by February 2 as well.

Earlier this month, during a visit by an Iraqi ministerial delegation to Amman, the two sides discussed the possibility for Jordan to import Iraqi oil at preferential prices.

The oil pipeline is expected to provide Jordan with at least 10,000 barrels of oil daily, in addition to the benefits that come from exporting via the Aqaba Port, Razzaz explained.

“Which is not much, but it helps drive down energy costs domestically, especially for industrialists and exporters,” he added.

Trade recovery

In a closed meeting with media representatives, Razzaz confirmed that the new measures were pressed to accelerate trade recovery.

“A door-to-door mechanism was agreed on, to substitute the back-to-back freight shipping mechanism, which is inefficient, both in terms of cost and time wasted,” he explained.

Procedures were set in motion to ease visa protocols for freight transport through the Karameh-Turaibil Border Crossing, Razzaz added, which will eventually “increase the competitiveness of Jordanian exports to Iraq... in addition to the exemptions which are expected to be ratified very soon”.

The border crossing was reo

pened last year, after a three-year closure, and trade was resumed between the two countries; however, Jordanian trucks, so far, have not been able to enter Iraq due to security reasons, unloading cargo at the border instead, to be reloaded onto Iraqi trucks.

Earlier on Saturday, Iraqi Ambassador to Jordan Safia Al Suhail, who attended the meetings, told The Jordan Times that the issue hurdling exemptions for Jordanian exports to Iraq is “merely a misunderstanding”.

The press statement noted that the Iraqi government’s decision regarding customs exemptions for Jordanian products was activated during the visit, and that it would go into effect on February 2.

“The two countries are bound by an agreement that ensures Jordan an advantage over any of Iraq’s neighbours and friends, in terms of trade,” Suhail said. “Jordanian-Iraqi ties are outstanding.”

More so, Iraq’s Minister of Industry and Minerals Saleh Jubouri told The Jordan Times that he expects Jordanian exports to Iraq to “double by the end of 2019”.

Despite the uncompetitive prices, a source in the direct investments department at the Jordanian Embassy in Baghdad told The Jordan Times that Iraqi consumers have confidence in Jordanian products, which is an advantage for Jordanian exports over competitors.

“The Iraqi market is overrun by Turkish products, as well as Iranian exports, though to a lesser extent,” the Iraqi minister warned.

But Suhail says the efforts enacted to develop joint industrial projects, including the (industrial) estate, will definitely boost the competitiveness of Jordanian products.

Meanwhile, Mahdi announced that the two sides agreed on a 75 per cent discount on fees for Iraqi exports via Aqaba, adding that the list of exempt Jordanian exports to Iraq will be revisited to boost trade, as long as these products do not pose a threat to Iraqi commodities.

Joint industrial estate and outstanding files

Also by February 2, the land stretching 2km on each side of the Jordanian-Iraqi border agreed upon by both countries would be given the needed exemptions to set up a Jordanian-Iraqi joint industrial zone, and necessary tenders would be floated for the zone’s establishment.

A build-operate-transfer mechanism will be adopted to execute the plan through the private sector, the two premiers announced.

Prospects of security, ICT and agricultural cooperation were explored in the meetings, they said, including the resumption of the Jordanian-Iraqi fibre-optic network to enhance both countries’ Internet services and the collaboration on counterterrorism efforts.

“Iraq is Jordan’s lung and supporter, and so is Jordan to Iraq,” Abdul Mahdi added.

Negotiations delivered resolutions to several outstanding issues, including unsettled financial cases dating back to 1991.

“We have outlined a specific and clear timeline and mechanism for the resolution of tangled financial issues,” Razzaz said.

In the joint statement, the two premiers announced the establishment of a joint legal-financial committee to handle and close these outstanding files.

A slice of the rebuild Iraq project

Meanwhile, Razzaz promised to facilitate access for the Jordanian construction contractors to the Iraqi market, especially in regards to the reconstruction project, noting, however, that “we will not be alone”.

“It is up to the Jordanian construction sector to stage a solid footing for the reconstruction project,” he underlined.

Both premiers expressed appreciation for the promising efforts and willingness “exemplified by these talks and the many steps taken to expedite measurable outcomes”, Razzaz said.

“There is clear resolve and willingness on the Iraqi part to see these agreements through,”noted Minister of State for Media Affairs and Government Spokesperson Jumana Ghunaimat to the press during the meeting with Razzaz.

Several other issues were addressed during the meetings, including the exchange of expertise, particularly in the agricultural and technology sectors.

“In fact, we have achieved, in these talks, more than we would otherwise achieve over months,” Razzaz said.

http://www.jordantimes.com/new.....n-projects