The newspapers issued in Baghdad today, Monday, July 3, followed the issue of Iraq’s internal and external debts, the project to transport gas from the Gulf countries to Turkey and Europe through Iraqi territory, and other topics.
Al-Zawraa newspaper, which is published by the Iraqi Journalists Syndicate, followed the issue of the internal and external debt of Iraq.
In this regard, it referred to what the government’s financial advisor, Mudhhr Muhammad Salih, said: “The total internal and external debt of Iraq is about seventy billion dollars, which actually constitutes 30% of the gross domestic product.”
Muhammad Salih said in an interview with Al-Zawraa: “Iraq does not have many foreign debts, and the actual external debt that must be paid, as it is said, constitutes only less than 30% of Iraq’s GDP, and the accepted international standard is 60%, and there are no concerns at all.”
He pointed out: “The Paris Club agreement of 2004 extinguished by 80% or more, but some debts arose during the war against ISIS terrorism, which are external loans from the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and some institutions.”
He stressed: “The accumulated debts that exist at the present time are payable until 2028 at the limits of 20 or 21 billion dollars and they do not constitute a large percentage, so Iraq, even its credit application, is stable because of its ability to pay debts.”
Regarding the gas transfer project, Al-Sabah newspaper, published by the Iraqi Media Network, said: “Iraq is on the cusp of a giant project to transport gas from Qatar and the Gulf states to Turkey and European and Middle Eastern countries by linking Basra with Turkish territory through the “Development Road” project for land and sea shipping. “
The newspaper added: “Research conducted by experts and specialists confirmed that the “Development Road” project encourages Iraq to be the main land for laying giant gas pipelines.”
“With the outbreak of war in Ukraine, Russia has lost its position as a reliable energy supplier, while European actors are reviewing their strategies to secure their energy needs,” Ali Samin, founder of the Middle East, Eurasian, and Asia-Pacific Studies Platform, was quoted as saying.
He pointed to the outbreak of a global controversy regarding ways to deliver Qatari LNG to Europe when the Russian-Ukrainian war began in February 2022, and stressed: “The large port of Faw presents itself as a better alternative for transporting Qatari gas to Europe through Iraqi territory, due to its economic feasibility with a shorter path.”
Dhurgham al-Maliki, a member of the Parliamentary Oil, Gas and Natural Resources Committee, told Al-Sabah: “Iraq now occupies the forefront with its capabilities for construction, construction and connectivity, especially with the energies and financial abundance that it possesses.”
He added, “All countries that adopt projects like this seek help from international companies specialized in this field,” noting that “most of the countries that enjoy economic prosperity now are built by countries and companies with experience, and Iraq can use companies to establish any project, whether transporting gas or other economic projects.”
As for Al-Zaman newspaper, it followed the issue of drought and fears of its health effects.
In this regard, it said: “Specialists in the environmental field have expressed their fears of an increase in health risks in Iraq after a sharp drop in the water level of the Tigris and the emergence of islands in the middle of the river.”
It quoted environmental expert Adnan Al-Taie as saying: “The decline in water levels of the Tigris River portends an exacerbation of health problems for the population, due to the increase in chemical and salt concentrations, especially sulphates, which are high as a result of water scarcity and the lack of water releases from neighboring countries.”
He added, “The government is required to take action on the Iraqi neighborhood to defend water rights before the disaster,” stressing: “The problem has great repercussions that will affect animal husbandry, as well as the transportation of goods between one region and another across the two rivers.”
Al-Zaman indicated that environmental activists revealed the death of millions of fish in Al-Khair sub-district of Al-Majar district in Maysan.
It quoted environmental activist Ahmed Saleh Nehme: “The dead fish in the areas of Al-Sikal and Al-Sahin and other areas within Al-Khair district have exceeded millions, and those resources were wasted due to the scarcity of water.
As quoted by fishermen: “The scene of fish deaths is terrifying, and they have not witnessed it before, and this incident warns of danger.”
Source: National Iraqi News Agency