Baghdad - IA
During its forty-fifth regular session held today, Tuesday, the Council of Ministers approved and issued a number of decisions, including affirming compliance with the decision of the Federal Court (73/Federal/2010) regarding the general population census, and immediately proceeding with the delivery of oil produced in the region to the Oil Marketing Company (SOMO). Or the Federal Ministry of Oil.
The Prime Minister’s Media Office said in a statement – received by the (INA): “Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani chaired the forty-fifth regular session of the Council of Ministers, in which the latest developments in the situation in the country were discussed, and vital files related to the program’s priorities were discussed.” Government, as well as considering the topics on the agenda and taking the necessary decisions regarding them.
The statement added, “As part of the Council of Ministers’ follow-up on preparations for conducting the population census throughout Iraq, on November 20, the Council approved the following:
1- Emphasizing adherence to the decision of the Federal Court (73/Federal/2010) regarding the general population census.
2- The census is carried out in the disputed areas by a joint team from the three nationalities (Arab – Kurdish – Turkmen), and a member of the Christian religion is added to the team in areas with a Christian majority.
3- The Statistics Authority and the Statistics Authority of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, in cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Interior, compare the following ministries’ data tables with the census results in:
A- Ministry of Interior records, 1957 census and its updates.
B- Records of the Ministry of Commerce and data of the Ministry of Immigration and Displacement.
4- The results of the general census and the census data county records mentioned in Paragraph (3) are within the jurisdiction of the Federal Ministries of Planning and the Ministry of Planning in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, according to the joint agreement, where a special register is organized for these regions that includes the data county results, and the Federal Ministry of Planning and the Ministry of Planning are maintained. Planning in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq with a copy of this record.
5- Commitment to organizing statistical tables on the numbers of deportees, arrivals, and displaced people in disputed areas and other governorates, according to official documents.
6- The Kurdistan Region of Iraq Statistics Authority may send a technical team present in the main census operations room to review and follow up on the progress of the census operations and ensure the integrity of the procedures on a permanent basis, until the end of the process.
7- The commitment of the Statistics Authority of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq to immediately begin training enumerators in intensive courses in preparation for conducting the general population and housing census on November 20, 2024.
The statement continued, “The Council of Ministers approved the proposal to amend Article (12/Second/C) of the Tripartite Budget Law No. (13 of 2023), to include the following:
1- The Federal Ministry of Finance undertakes to compensate the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government from sovereign expenditures for production and transportation costs, for the quantities of oil produced in the region that are received by the Oil Marketing Company (SOMO), or the Federal Ministry of Oil in accordance with paragraphs (a) and (b). of this clause, provided that the fair estimated costs of production and transportation are calculated for each field separately, by a specialized international technical advisory body, determined by the Federal Ministry of Oil in agreement with the Ministry of Natural Resources in the region, within (60) days from the entry into force of this law, and in the event that Agreement: During the aforementioned period, the Federal Council of Ministers shall determine the aforementioned advisory body.
2- The consultant mentioned in the previous paragraph shall submit the estimated production and transportation cost to the Ministries of Oil, the Federal Ministry of Finance, and the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq, and it shall be approved for the purposes of this law, and the calculation of the aforementioned compensation shall be based on the aforementioned cost per barrel multiplied by the number of barrels received in accordance with Paragraphs (A) and (B), of this clause, and the Federal Ministry of Finance shall pay the amounts to the regional government.
3- Immediately proceed to deliver the oil produced in the region to the Oil Marketing Company (SOMO), or the Federal Ministry of Oil in accordance with paragraphs (a) and (b) of this clause, and the costs of production and transportation will be compensated by the Federal Ministry of Finance as an advance, atThe statement continued, “As part of the government’s direction to develop civil defense work in Iraq, the Council of Ministers agreed to allocate an amount of (25) billion dinars to the Ministry of the Interior to establish (100) civil defense detachments in Baghdad and the governorates/the second phase, from the emergency reserve in accordance with the provisions of the law.” The tripartite budget, and coordination between the Ministries of Interior and Planning, to provide the Ministry of Finance with details of the addition to the required transfer of the aforementioned amount.”
The statement pointed out, “In the same context, the Council of Ministers approved direct contracts with the Chinese company (SANY) to purchase (18) specialized fire trucks, as an exception to the contracting methods in implementing government contracts, and excluding the aforementioned wheels from Cabinet Resolution No. (68). For the year 2016 (amended), the Council also approved that the formations of the Ministry of the Interior with independent budgets contract directly with the Police Martyrs Fund to secure their needs for the uniforms produced from the aforementioned fund and other equipment prepared through it, as an exception to the contracting methods in the instructions for implementing government contracts No. (2). ) for the year 2014.
He pointed out, “In the field of government support for the educational sector, the Council of Ministers agreed to amend its decision No. (24285 of 2024), to include increasing the admission rate for top students among institute graduates from (10%) to (20%) for admission to all universities.” And in the corresponding or close specializations to allow students who are graduates of the institutes to apply to complete their initial university studies.”
The statement continued, “The Council of Ministers, in the process of supporting the health sector with specialized human resources, agreed to legalize the establishment of higher health professions institutes in the governorates, with two institutes in Baghdad governorate (Al-Shu’la and Mahmoudiya), and one institute in each of the Babylon and Diyala governorates. Diwaniyah, Salah al-Din (Balad district), and Muthanna, without prejudice to a due process re-investigation and retroactive amendment of the system in effect. The Council of Ministers may create institutes in the districts based on the proposal of the Minister of Health, as an exception to the first amendment to the system of higher health professions institutes (3 of 2011). “.
The statement continued, “Within the framework of supporting the national industry and the private sector, the Council of Ministers approved the provision of a sovereign guarantee, along with the value of the interest resulting from the loan for a period not exceeding (10) years, for the purpose of establishing a glass manufacturing factory, in cooperation with the institutions (Aka Bank and Comarzi Bank).” The two lenders, while the Council agreed, in the same context, to include plastic granules (both ground and granulated) by Cabinet Resolution (24413 of 2024), so that the customs duties amount to (0.05%).
The statement continued, “In the field of administrative reform and evaluating the performance of officials in government institutions, the Council of Ministers approved the appointment of 4 general directors in various ministries, based on the performance evaluation criteria approved by the Council, and the Council also approved the selection of Islam Hassan Al-Saadi as a sixth member of the Council.” The Board of Trustees of the Iraqi Media Network, and the recommendation to the House of Representatives for an original vote in accordance with the Media Network Law.”
The statement stressed, “As part of the Council’s follow-up to complete lagging projects and proceed with infrastructure projects, the Council of Ministers approved the following:
1- Creating a component (providing medical devices and supplies), within the project (Emergency Hospital in Rania/Sulaymaniyah), and increasing the total cost of the project.
2- Increasing the total cost of the project (demolition of irregular buildings (411) buildings, and rebuilding alternative schools (229) schools (with the traditional construction method) and (182) schools with the concrete construction method in Baghdad and the governorates.
3- Increasing the total cost of the project (construction of the North Nasiriyah Bridge and its approaches/first phase).
4- Increasing the total cost of the project (preparing alternative sites, demolishing and constructing the second phase of developing the Martyr Muhammad Baqir al-Hakim Hospital in Baghdad).
5- Including the project (construction of a general hospital with a capacity of (100) beds inAli Al-Sharqi district / Maysan Governorate (infrastructure) in the investment budget tables of the Ministry of Health for the year 2024.
The statement continued, “The Council of Ministers considered the other issues on its agenda and approved the following:
First: Approval of the draft law for the Fifth Amendment to the Civil Aviation Law No. (148) of 1974, and referring it to the House of Representatives, based on the provisions of the Constitution, or withdrawing the draft Civil Aviation Law issued in accordance with Cabinet Resolution (24441 of 2024) and its amendments from the House of Representatives.
Second: Modifying the price of gas oil supplied to wheels and generators of the Iraqi National Paralympic Committee to 400 dinars, instead of 750 dinars per liter.
Third: The Ministries of Trade, Industry and Minerals conclude rental contracts with the Independent High Electoral Commission for the warehouses occupied by it, in accordance with the Law on the Sale and Rent of State Funds.
It seems you have provided a comprehensive description of recent initiatives, decisions, and agreements related to the management and coordination of statistical data, governance, and various ministry actions in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Here’s a summary and breakdown of the key points from your statement:
Statistical Coordination and Census Oversight
- Collaboration on Census Data:
– The Statistics Authority of the Kurdistan Region is collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Interior to compare data from various ministries with census results, including historical census data from 1957, updates, and records from the Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Immigration and Displacement.
- A special register is organized for the regions mentioned, maintained by both the Federal Ministry of Planning and the Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Planning.
- Commitment to Statistics:
– There is a commitment to organizing statistical tables on displaced persons and deportees, based on official documents.
- A technical team from the Statistics Authority may be dispatched to ensure the integrity of census operations until they are completed.
- Training for Census Enumerators:
– The Statistics Authority is set to train enumerators in intensive courses in preparation for a general population and housing census scheduled for November 20, 2024.
Financial and Economic Decisions
- Oil Production Compensation:
– The Federal Ministry of Finance is responsible for compensating the Kurdistan Regional Government for oil production and transportation costs, with compensation calculated based on estimates provided by a specialized international technical body.
– There are specific procedures for delivering oil produced in the region to the Oil Marketing Company (SOMO), with advance compensation for production and transportation costs.
- Civil Defense Initiatives:
– A budget of 25 billion dinars is allocated to the Ministry of Interior for establishing civil defense detachments across various governorates.
- Educational and Health Sector Support:
– The admission rate for top students from institutes to universities will be increased from 10% to 20%.
– The establishment of higher health professions institutes in several governorates, including Baghdad, Babylon, and Diyala, has been legalized.
Administrative Improvements and Support for National Industry
- Support for National Industry:
– The Council of Ministers approved a sovereign guarantee for loans aimed at establishing a glass manufacturing factory and minimal customs duties for certain types of plastic granules.
- Administrative Reforms:
- Four general directors in various ministries were appointed based on performance evaluations, along with other administrative changes within governmental institutions.
- Infrastructure Projects:
- The council has approved various infrastructure projects, including creating components for medical devices in a hospital project in Sulaymaniyah and efforts to rebuild schools.
Conclusion
These decisions reflect the ongoing initiatives to manage statistical data responsibly, improve civil services and infrastructure, and enhance educational and healthcare opportunities in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The collaborative efforts between various ministries and authorities signify a structured approach to governance and administration in the region.