Shafaq News-Baghdad
The Iraqigovernment announced Wednesday a September deadline for completing the stateweapons monopoly, to coincide with the scheduled withdrawal of Global Coalitionforces from the country, alongside the establishment of a 150-billion-dollarinternational development fund aimed at driving economic stability throughinvestment.
Governmentspokesperson Haider al-Abboudi, speaking at a press conference in Baghdad, saidthe deadline is embedded in the ministerial program approved by parliament andwill run concurrently with the conclusion of the coalition's mission in Iraq.
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The Council ofMinisters, he added, has approved the drafting of a program budget in coordinationwith the World Bank and the parliamentary finance committee to advance economicreform.
The developmentfund, al-Abboudi clarified in response to a question from Shafaq Newscorrespondent, is an independent investment vehicle entirely separate from thestate's general budget. It will draw on contributions from Iraq's internationalpartners, with guarantees ranging from 100 to 150 billion dollars, and isdesigned to support sustainable economic stability through investment ratherthan direct state expenditure.
Al-Abboudi pointedout that Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's upcoming visit to the United States willfocus primarily on economic matters, while stressing that Iraq maintainsbalanced relations with all countries.
On theKurdistan Region, the spokesperson said al-Zaidi has directed oil companiesoperating in the region to increase production, to generate the financialoutcomes needed to secure public sector salaries and resolve the ongoing fiscalcrisis.
