Japan warns of losing its efforts in Iraq

The Japanese ambassador to Baghdad, Fumio Iwai, warned that the efforts of his country may be in vain in Iraq, if the federal government does not take the necessary measures to fulfill its responsibility towards the Japanese loan. 

This came during the presence of the ambassador in a ceremony of completion of the project "Development of the telecommunications network of major cities" within the project of Japanese official development assistance loan set up in the Ministry of Communications, the embassy said in a statement. The project, signed in 2012, is designed to provide new broadband internet services of up to 5 megabits per second, IP for phones, and video transmission to cover 150,000 homes in Baghdad by the end of May 2017, the embassy added.
 
In his speech, Ambassador Iwai stressed Japan's commitment to develop Iraq by providing completed projects, including port projects, water supply, electricity, fertilizers and irrigation. He warned that all efforts will be in vain without the Iraqi government and its people taking the necessary measures to fulfill their responsibilities.

Japan has extended Japan's official development assistance to a total of $ 5.7 billion to rehabilitate infrastructure in the fields of electricity, water and sanitation, oil and gas, and $ 330 million in a humanitarian and stabilization grant in Iraq in crisis.
 Meanwhile, a member of the House of Representatives for the province of Basra, Faleh Khazali, announced, Tuesday, the referral of four companies operating in the oil sector in the province to integrity on charges of financial thefts, and violations of working conditions.

He did not mention the names of those companies and whether they are foreign or local.  Al-Khazali noted that the the referral of new information to the Commission about the theft of the farmers' compensation project is estimated at about $ 90 million by the Ministry of Construction and Public Municipalities. 

On the other hand, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Secretary General, Mohamed Senoussi Barkindo, thanked Oil Minister Jabbar al-Luaibi for his effective efforts to reduce global oil production after a round of months of negotiations aimed at raising prices.

He praised the key and effective role of Iraq as a founding member and the birth country of OPEC, which has resumed its leadership role as the second largest producer in the organization, for its contribution in seeking 100% full compliance to restore the balance of oil markets. Barkindo expressed his sincere appreciation for the excellent arrangements that enabled the delegation of OPEC to visit President Fuad Masum, Prime Minister Haider Abadi and Ammar al-Hakim, President of the National Alliance, during his short visit to Iraq.