Thread: Archive News - Iraqi Dinar Think Tank - 24/01/201 - 23/07/2011

Agreement on Settlement of Claims between Iraq and United States approved by Iraqi government

Iraq’s Council of Ministers has approved, in its Tuesday session, the draft-law on the “Settlement of Claims” between Iraq and the United States, the Official Spokesman for the Iraqi government said on Wednesday.

“The Council of Ministers has approved the draft-law on the promulgation of the Settlement of Claims between the Iraqi government and the government of the United States of America, raising it to the Parliament for final approval according to the Iraqi constitution,” Ali al-Dabbagh told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

http://en.aswataliraq.info/Default1....&id=141592&l=1

Iraq one of most stable countries in the region, says al-Maliki

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki considered on Monday Iraq as one of the most stable countries in the region.

Addressing a gathering attending the third agricultural week in Baghdad, the premier said "Iraq became one of the most stable countries in the region after a period of violence and divisions."

He urged ministers to speed up solving all problems and improving services to Iraqis.
Demonstrations sweep a number of Arab countries, mainly Libya, Syria and Yemen, calling for toppling regimes and achieving political reforms.

http://en.aswataliraq.info/Default1....page&id=141566

Unconditional welcome the invitation of Iraq's accession to the GCC

The Committee on Foreign Relations representative, on Thursday, welcomed the invitation of Iraq's accession to the GCC countries, describing the call to "late", while stipulate a condition close to Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, Iraq's accession to the GCC non-interference in the affairs of Interior.

The prime minister of Bahrain, Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa called for two days before in a newspaper interview to Iraq's return to work system and the Gulf and in the framework of preparations for the convening of the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi in the sixth and seventh of this month, returned the return of a strong Iraq to the system work and the Gulf Arab power will increase them. he said.

Said a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, the parliamentary Jalp Alinvtji told the Kurdish news agency (Rn), "The GCC was supposed by Iraq's invitation to join them after the political changes that have taken place after 2003", stating that "the call for Iraq's accession to these countries are important, but late ".

She Alinvtji is a member of the Iraqi List led by Iyad Allawi, said "Iraq's accession to the GCC countries will benefit countries in the region where political tensions and security will be a balance, according to maimer its political stability."

The Alinvtji that "Iraq's interest is to join the GCC because it will benefit so economically and at the level of Arab relations," said afterthought, "but to enter these countries in agreement with what is called the Peninsula Shield forces premature."

She explained that "the security structure of Iraq will have access to the unfavorable security pact with the GCC countries on joining forces to shield the island."

In turn, expressed close to Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki welcomed the invitation of Iraq's accession to the GCC condition of non-interference in the internal affairs of member states. Referring to the entry of the Peninsula Shield forces to Bahrain to deter protesters there.

Said Salman al-Moussawi's (Rn), said that "Iraq welcomes every step that would strengthen the connection between the Arab states, particularly the GCC countries," adding that "Iraq is one of the countries currently experiencing stable politically after the application of the principles of democracy."

He explained that Moussaoui "Iraq hopes that there will be Arab-Arab relations are shown on a basis of mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs", pointing out that "Iraq is on the point that Bahrain is the case with the external interference in internal affairs."

He added that Moussaoui "Peninsula Shield forces established to defend the Gulf Cooperation Council countries of external aggression," pointing out that "interference in internal affairs is contrary to established law."

The Peninsula Shield forces of the GCC six Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman, was established in 1986, in the wake of the invasion of Iranian forces to the Iraqi Faw area, during the first Gulf War.

The force at the beginning of its inception five thousands of an item, most of the Saudi army, and stationed in the city, the Saudi military in the region, "Khamis Mushayt", and then increased the number of members after that until he arrived at about ten thousand fighters - has remained mostly from Saudi Arabia - in the formations of battalions Saudi Arabia and generals, also included an armored or infantry companies from the rest of the other five GCC countries: Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and the UAE.

Council approved the GCC following the signing of the Joint Defence Treaty in 2000, increasing the number of members of the force to 18 alpha as a first stage, in what has become his forces now number more than thirty thousand officers and soldiers; including about 21 thousand fighters.

http://www.aknews.com/ar/aknews/4/227040/

Oil Production – the Heavy Lifting is Underway

By Stan Harbison, Vice President of Research and Analysis at energy consultants EPRINC.

The initial steps in new Iraqi production have been well received by the Oil Ministry, but now the heavy lifting is underway. A bevy of oil service contracts is in place. The most important work is taking place in the three large existing fields in the South. We believe that any new oil wells drilled will be very productive. But oil field developments are much more than drilling wells.

Careful “maps” of the oil reservoirs are being constructed. The most sophisticated techniques of reconnaissance are without doubt the first priority. Readings of temperature, volume and pressure in existing or test wells will be a central tool. 3-D seismic will be conducted as called for. On a more basic level, infrastructure at each field must be upgraded. This might involve replacing older pipes; it certainly requires the creation of a “digital” field in which computers have the capacity to measure and monitor all capacity.

Above all, it is certain that the operating companies are focused on building solid and capable field staffs. Many will be found either from the existing and competent South Oil Company or hired from outside Iraq. Skilled and semi-skilled workers from Iraq are being assembled to build expanded field infrastructure: good living camps, roads and new field pipelines. A rapidly developing and entrepreneurial service and support industry is underway in the Basra area. This will be an exciting development for the city. There will be new jobs and the benefits will accrue to the community.

What might slow the pace of work? We read again of difficulty of obtaining visas by required professional personnel. This has been a sore point. It reflects the constraint placed on operations by an understaffed government bureaucracy. Faster decision making processes by the government will be required if the companies are to match the demanding schedules prescribed in the contracts. Another crucial bottleneck appears to be the capacity of the main exit pipeline which brings the produced oil to the ports. This is the responsibility of the oil ministry and the government. No announcements have been made. An accelerated plan needs to be put in place.

The dramatic expansion of production is quite doable, but it is important to appreciate the challenges of the required work on the ground. We and others will be watching to see how it progresses.

Stan Harbison has been an oil and gas analyst since 1982. He has worked as a research investment analyst for a prominent US investment firm for BP, Louis Dreyfus Commodities Energy Trading and for the US. Department of Energy. He has met regularly with top managers in the world’s largest oil companies, key officials in more than ten of the world’s largest National Oil Companies and has attended many OPEC meetings. In the past year, he has devoted all of his time on Iraq’s oil development with EPRINC, (www.eprinc.org), an independent oil analysis firm in Washington DC, which provides analysis on critical emerging issues in the oil industry. Its work is read by the public, the US Congress and key US government officials.

http://www.iraq-businessnews.com/201...g-is-underway/

CBI is expected to continue inflation of the country's dependence on oil imports

The Central Bank of Iraq adviser said Thursday that inflation will continue to rise if the economy continued Iraqi aggressor on imports of crude oil only.

Known that excessive inflation in the general level of prices and rising incomes in cash or a component of cash income such as wages or profits as well as high costs and excessive in the creation of cash balances.

The central bank adviser said the appearance of Mohammed Saleh told the Kurdish news agency (Rn) announced today that "inflation Aloguetsidi which will continue to rise unless the address that economic development and diversification of funding sources other than oil towards the development of agricultural and industrial projects and support local production."

He added that "monetary policy in the country will continue to rise in the event of continued development of GDP is unable to Cope with imported materials to match supply with demand economic economic goods."

He continued that "the food imported by 100% Arf in the world by 50% from last year due to natural events that took place in some important countries economically, such as Japan as well as shifting some foodstuffs such as maize to the elements of fuel, so the inflation will continue to rise in Iraq" , noting that "high oil prices in the interest of Iraq."

The Ministry of Planning and Development Cooperation last Thursday about the high rate of inflation for the month of February last year by 0.3% for the month of December January.

He fears a number of economists from the continuing high rates of inflation in the country in the absence of mechanisms to reduce the height of government institutions on the management of the economy in the country.

And impose customs fees on imported goods not included in the agenda tariff of customs duties by not more than 20% of Qimitھa on the proposal of Federal Minister of Finance to be the amendment of this ratio for the same reasons contained in the item is the increase of customs a temporary measure until the lifting of the causes of economic increase.

He referred the Council of Ministers the customs tariff law to the House of Representatives to Gaadp legislation in line with the new economic vision in the country. The Central Bank of Iraq announced in October last low rate of inflation in Iraq to 2.7% compared with the month of September the previous year, which encouraged the launch of liquidity for banks by 5% of the cash reserves of the existing legal to have, in order to expand lending operations and advancing development.

The main tasks of the Iraqi Central Bank to maintain price stability and the implementation of monetary policy, including exchange rate policies, and manage the reserves of foreign currency, and the issuance of currency management, as well as to regulate the banking sector.

http://www.aknews.com/ar/aknews/2/227052/

Kuwaiti and Iraqi officials to meet over suspended issues
A lawmaker said officials from the Iraqi and Kuwaiti foreign ministries are expected to discuss some suspended issues March 27.

Shwan Mohammed Taha, told AKnews the meeting was arranged by the Iraqi parliament delegation to Kuwait.

A delegation comprising 27 lawmakers, headed by Iraqi Parliament Speaker Osama Nujaifi, left for Kuwait Saturday and returned home late Monday night.

Taha said the delegation met with the top Kuwaiti officials and set the stage for the foreign ministries meeting next Sunday. Officials from related ministries are also expected to attend the session.

Kuwait and Iraq still have several issues some of which date back to the former Iraqi regime, under Saddam Hussein. Border demarcations, common petroleum wells, detainees in Kuwait, the suspended credits of Kuwait due from Iraq are among the unsettled issues.

The lawmaker said earlier that the Iraqi delegation has won the approval of King of Kuwait for issuance of an amnesty general for 57 Iraqi detainees in Kuwait. These were arrested for various charges such as trespassing the Kuwaiti borders.

Citing to AKnews, Farhad Amin Atrushi, another member in the Iraqi delegation to the neighboring country, said the top officials from the country all agreed that the suspended issues with Iraq need to be settled.

http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZA...ended%20issues

Ministry of Planning: Insurance and investment alone is not enough to achieve development goals

The Ministry of Planning and Development Cooperation, said on Thursday that securing investment alone is not enough to achieve the goals of the five-year national development plan.

An official source at the ministry press statement that "to secure the investment side alone is not enough to achieve the goals of the National Development Plan Five-Year despite being a cornerstone of any development process."

He added, "This investment must be supported by fiscal and monetary policies and appropriate institutional reforms, administrative, legal, and building systems monitoring and follow-up plan."

The source pointed out "that the plan focused on these aspects and proposed a number of fiscal and monetary policies that are in harmony with the investment policy with the strategic objectives and social development of the plan."

http://www.radiodijla.com/cgi-bin/ne...?id=2011-03-24

Italian oil company Eni interested in Nasiriyah oil field

Said the Italian ambassador in Iraq during his visit to the province of Dhi Qar, the oil company Eni is still interested in investing in the oil field of Nasiriyah.

And the Ambassador Gerardo Garanti in a press statement that "my visit to Nasiriyah aimed to assess the rates of achievement in team projects as well as the re-realization of the proposals for future study."

He continued, "We have many projects in Iraq, where Italy has funded various projects the amount of two billion U.S. dollars and must be completed by mid-delivered with the equipment this year, the date of closing the doors of the PRT."

The age group of Dhi Qar, and consisting of members of the Italian and American is the only state in Iraq, which holds the presidency than America, and Italy, and had many projects over the past years in various areas of the province.

http://www.radiodijla.com/cgi-bin/ne...?id=2011-03-24

Economist: The security situation is conducive to foreign investment opportunities

The economic expert Abbas Ghalibi "that the statements talked about the fact that Iraq is more secure countries in the region optimistic statements, events and unrest in the region of not making Iraq the most attractive environment for foreign companies and not change anything from the fact the investment."

The Ghalibi in a press statement that "the events in the region and the Middle East in general impacted negatively on the region's economy and made it repulsive environment for investment to Ajazbp him, and experts predicted that the continued occurrence of these events will cause major economic crisis."

And continued economic expert, "The investment will always optimistic statements, but with data realism."

http://www.radiodijla.com/cgi-bin/ne...?id=2011-03-24

Mahmoud Othman: cutting ties with Bahrain and the UAE would harm relations Iraq and Gulf Arab significantly

Consider a member of the House of Representatives for the coalition forces Mahmoud Othman, the Kurdish claims of some lawmakers to cut ties with Bahrain and the UAE would harm relations as Iraq and the Arab Gulf is a large and government efforts to host Iraq for the coming Arab summit.

Said Othman told the independent press (Iba) that the claims of some to break off relations with those countries are claims free intervention in the legitimacy of MP and the citizen to express his opinion, noting that the official statements that are obligated to do so and the Foreign Ministry statement on this matter said that the utensils for the Iraqi government cut off relations.

Is due to host Iraq conference next Arab summit on 10 and 11 of the month of May next after the postponement of this month because of the circumstances experienced by some Arab countries.

Othman added that Iraq needs to strengthen its relations with regional and international, and away from the convulsive statements that affect the relations pointing out that Masdr statements counter claim to cut ties with Iran to negative interference in Iraqi affairs is part of the case of conflict in dealing with the surroundings to Iraq from the developments of regional and international.

Othman confirmed the need to respond to the rulers of Bahrain to the demands of the people through dialogue and to Econoa victim of the conflict Arabia Iranian especially in light of claims of Iran since the Shah also claimed in Bahrain, stressing the need to pay attention to that and to Econoa such as Iraq, which has been the victim of a regional conflict and international Arabia Iranian American . He said.

And varied statements of a number of deputies on the events taking place in the region, particularly in Bahrain between sever ties with her United Arab Emirates for its military intervention by forces within the shield between the island and claims to cut Allaqat with Iran to negative interference in Iraqi affairs since the fall of the former regime.

http://www.ipairaq.com/index.php?nam...itics&id=36733