Thread: Iraq/Dinar News. (before Jan.20,2007)

IB is financing a program to benefit from the Iraqi frozen loans


An expert at the Iraqi Ministry of Planning and Development Cooperation stated that the International Bank would finance an Iraqi government program to benefit from the international unpaid loans for legal problems between Baghdad and the donors, stressing that one of the most significant obstacles to reconstruct Iraq are the delay in implementing the projects funded by international grants and loans and the investment budget of the State as well as Iraq's lack of a unified and developed law to meet the basic needs of the beneficiaries and executers alike.

The expert, who asked for anonymity, said that the reasons for delaying the projects financed by donor countries and organizations due to the fact that most of these bodies would prefer to apply their own rules and guidance, particularly projects funded by the Iraqi credit fund administered by the International Bank, and the projects funded by the Japanese Bank for International Cooperation; the same situation applies to projects being implemented by donor countries directly.
He added that the refusal of those international bodies to apply Iraqi rules and insist on the application of their own rules is due to the lack of transparency in the Iraqi law in application and the documents adopted in bidding to the public.

The expert pointed out that the security aspect reflects another negative manifestation in the prices of submissions from companies operating in Iraq, as the company operating at the same level in the neighboring countries is calculated by higher costs for the mere action in Iraq, regardless of the security costs.

He pointed out that in view of the fact that some of the donor countries to directly implemented the reconstruction projects in direct coordination with the beneficiaries in the provinces and territories, especially in relation to the American grant, which forms 55% of the total financial commitments amounting to $ 33 billion. This reality has led to a loss of focus in the coordination of these programs that may operate in the same field sometimes.

He says that the causes leading to the delay of implementation were diagnosed, and they require good decision. The first signs of this trend have emerged in the project, which is being implemented for the time being, financed by the International Bank and through the ministerial committee charged with preparing a draft bill for government contracts with the consult of international experts that have a prominent place in this field.

Source: Iraq Directory

Berthing operations stopped in the Iraqi port of Basrah


Navigational sources said on Thursday that oil tankers berthing operations stopped in the Iraqi port of Basrah, due to maintenance operations to be done next week.

Al-Khaleej Company for Warrants said that the berthing operations in the main export port in southern Iraq were suspended on the 9th of January.
It added that the tankers already anchored will be allowed to complete the loading operations before the maintenance work begins which is scheduled on January 15 and will continue until January 20.

The Iraqi navigational source said that "maintenance will take at least four days. This means the loss of six million barrels of exports, at least, based on the export rate which is estimated at 1.5 million barrels a day".

Source: Iraq Directory




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Posted on Monday, January 15

Finance Ministry receives Japanese loan


Finance Ministry prepares to receive Japanese loan of 3.5$billion at end of recent month after signing a deal with Japanese Embassy at bilateral meetings which hold last month in Amman an authorized source at the ministry said.

He added that this loan allocated for projects of reconstruction which relate to fields of electricity, oil, water resources and industry. He mentioned that discussion administrational and legislative aspects of the loan holds recently after agreeing economical committee about projects which prepared by concerned ministries.
Sourcel Al Sabaah




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Posted on Monday, January 15

government lifts government subsidy on imported oil derivatives


Expectations of the dinar rise against the dollar
The Iraqi Minister of Finance, Baqir Jabr Al-Zubaydi, announced that the ministry had adopted a clear economic strategy leading Iraq to prosperity, pointing out that the current year's budget lifted the government subsidy on imported oil derivatives, and provided 136 job opportunities.

He explained, during the discussion of the new budget in the Parliament, that the International Bank provided $ 500 million to finance investment projects on facilitated terms, repaid in 40 years, with a permitting period of ten years. Iraq also concluded a memorandum of understanding with Iran under which Tehran finances projects with $ 1 billion, repayable over 40 years, demanding that the authorization of ministry to negotiate for agreements with other countries and donors.

The adviser of the Iraqi Ministry of Finance, Aziz Mohammad Jaafar, displayed the 2007 budget which estimated the expenditures at 41 billion dollars and imports at $ 33.3 billion, of which $ 31 billion of crude oil revenues, on the basis of 50 dollars a barrel, and the rest from taxes, as the ministry is working to improve the means of collection.

Jaafar indicated that the budget would allocate $ 2.4 billion for importing oil derivatives, with the exception of kerosene which will be imported by the Ministry of Oil.

He added that more than four billion dollars were allocated for importing the components of the ration card, 750 million dollars for the network of social protection and more than three billion dollars for other expenses, pointing out that 5% of the oil revenues go to Kuwait as compensations, which leaves around $ 32 billion after paying $20 billion.

A number of deputies warned of the dangerous reactions towards the lifting the government subsidy for oil derivatives. The deputy, Hassan Al-Sunaid, said that the reactions of the citizens will be disastrous, especially after the complete lifting of the government support, which would cause a significant increase in the oil derivatives prices.

Some deputies pointed out that the rate of the dinar will continue to rise significantly against the dollar, before the middle of this year. They expected the dinar to reach 1200 to the dollar, after being 1480 dinar to the dollar last November.

Source: Iraq Directory




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Posted on Monday, January 15

Iraqi universities launch major training initiative


Ten universities in Iraq - in collaboration with seven local chapters of Iraq's leading professional association for accounting professionals - are launching a major education initiative to introduce International Auditing Standards to Iraq.

Approximately 800 students and accountants throughout Iraq will participate in the seminar over a two-month period beginning early this month.
The professional association - a full member of the International Federation of Accountants and known throughout the region for the capacity-building services it provides to members - is helping to raise the standards of the accounting profession in Iraq while contributing to its own sustainability by organizing seminars and professional networking opportunities throughout the country.

The seminar on Auditing Methods, Methodology and Standards will consist of 20 sessions – three per week - totaling 60 hours of education. The training is equivalent to a college-level class and is fully compliant with international education standards established by both the United Nations and the International Federation of Accountants.

In addition to lectures and discussions, participants will be equipped with an auditor’s toolkit that includes audit programs, internal control questionnaires and other tools to assist them in professional auditing practices.

The training initiative builds on previous activities developed by the USAID-funded Izdihar project in cooperation with universities and the professional association. The courses will be delivered and overseen by professors who are graduates of the Training of Trainers activities organized by the project and follows on the successful completion of a course on International Accounting Standards attended by 429 students from eight universities.

The growing capacity of Iraqi universities to provide up-to-date accounting curricula and the widening circle of Iraqi accounting professionals familiar with international accounting and auditing standards is part of a sustained effort to improve the business environment in Iraq, expand the private sector and create new jobs

Source: Portal Iraq




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Posted on Monday, January 15

Iraqi president arrives in Syria on landmark visit
Last Updated(Beijing Time):2007-01-15 14:43

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani arrived here on Sunday at the start of his landmark visit to Syria after a quarter-century's rupture between the two countries.
Talabani, who had lived in exile in Syria for years during Saddam's rein, is the country's first head of state to visit Syriain nearly three decades. The last visit was by Saddam's predecessor, Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr, in 1979.

Talabani is expected to hold talks with his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad and other senior officials on security cooperation between the two neighbors.

Talabani's visit came only days after U.S. President George W. Bush announced a new Iraqi strategy which outlines tough actions against alleged Syrian and Iranian meddling in Iraq.

Syria has been constantly accused by Washington of doing little to stop foreign fighters from infiltrating into Iraq and thus destabilizing the situation there.

Damascus denied the charges, saying that it is cooperating with Iraq on strengthening security along their border.

Syria and Iraq restored full diplomatic relations last November during a visit by Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem to Iraq, who pledged to help in securing the war-ravaged country.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries broke off in the1980s as Damascus took the side of Tehran in the eight-year Iran-Iraq war.

Originally Posted by ozizoz

Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home!

I want to send out a special thanks to KIKO and MrsCK for setting up our temporary home away from home. I feel like I have to hose off the filth from the "other" places I have been visiting in search of info

Welcome back RC !!!!!

where is that temporary place please?

safe
River Patrol keeps Tigris safe
Monday, 15 January 2007
BAGHDAD — Keeping the Tigris River free from criminal activity is the mission of a unique group of Iraqi policemen.
The policemen belong to the Baghdad River Patrol Station, located along the eastern banks of the Tigris River. From there, police conduct surveillance and establish a presence on fast patrol boats, said Iraqi Police Col. Alaa, the station’s commander.

“Our primary mission is of a humanitarian nature,” Alaa said.

To combat the transport of weapons and illegal contraband, the policemen take certain measures in their daily patrols. One critical tactic used by the river police to deter crime on the river is to secure and protect boat docks from infiltration by insurgents and criminals. Just as boat docks play a critical function for the police, they have also benefited criminal elements. Insurgents and criminals have used the docks as staging areas to commit crimes and then use them as escape routes to evade capture by the authorities after the crime, Alaa said.

“We have seen evidence of terrorists that have used the boat docks to launch mortar and rocket attacks. We have found many spent casings,” Alaa said.

The docks have also benefited the Iraqi Army during joint operations with the Iraqi Police, Alaa said. The army recently cordoned and searched a Baghdad area during a search for insurgents. During the mission, the army secured an area to the east of the river and searched in the river’s direction. The Iraqi river patrol provided security of the docks and denied access to the river, Alaa said. He also said the docks have been used to unload soldiers for joint exercises between the army and the police.

The police unit is currently training eight army personnel to navigate river boats in Mosul and Habbaniyah as part of their joint efforts with the army, Alaa said.

Alaa explains that the security of the Tigris depends greatly on the continuous monitoring that his trained and experienced men provide. The policemen monitor the river from their ten checkpoints along the river banks and by boat teams traveling up and down the 100 kilometer section of their jurisdiction. He also gives credit to the local citizens who help his policemen.

“Many residents call us to report people doing bad things,” he said.

The police have come a long way in the last two years, Alaa said. One of the station’s successes has been the size of its police force. After the fall of Saddam’s regime, the police station personnel disbanded. “I was the very first to show up for duty and then others started to come back to where we now have 267 policemen,” he said.

According to Alaa, there is a constant police force of 80 men at the station during each of the station’s three shifts.

In addition to strong personnel numbers, there have also been improvements in equipment and training. According to Alaa, Coalition forces have provided boats and training that have enabled policemen to expand their skills and capabilities.

Alaa says the most important benefit of the training is the men’s increased self-confidence.

Alaa explained that on a fundamental level, the rule of law and respect for human rights are the guiding principles that underlie the manner in which the police interact with the community it serves.

“Three years ago anyone could be picked up by the police at any time without just cause. Now there is rule of law and citizens have rights that the police respect,” Alaa said.

Another improvement that has made their operations more efficient is the communication system the police use. They share the same communications system with the land-based police stations allowing real-time coordination of activities in the surrounding jurisdictions.

“We can hear the same messages that other stations get and can respond quickly because of this. When people call the police, their call gets routed to the police station nearest to them,” Alaa said. This integrated communications system ensures the police in all jurisdictions are, “providing faster response times and the prevention of duplicate actions from other police stations while keeping them informed should they be needed,” he said.

According to Alaa, the security and safety of the river is his men’s responsibility and privilege.

“They have sworn an oath to make the river safe, insuring a future of peace for their families and Iraq,” said Alaa.

(By U.S. Navy MC2 Elisandro Diaz MNSTC-I Public Affairs

Prime Minister Backs New Bush Strategy
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Posted GMT 1-14-2007 19:15:45
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KIRKUK, Iraq (AP) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is standing behind President Bush's new war strategy.

In his first comments on the new Bush administration plan, al-Maliki says the Bush proposal is "identical to our strategy and intentions."

Appearing on state-run television, al-Maliki said the government would use force "against any outlaws whatever their background or identity."

Meanwhile, the commander of an Iraqi army brigade based in the northern Kurdish region of Iraq says his troops are undergoing intensive training and will be deployed to Baghdad. He says they'll face a language barrier, because 95 percent of the brigade are Kurds and don't speak Arabic.

© 2007, Assyrian International News Agency. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use.

Originally Posted by ourhouse37

where is that temporary place please?

I second that. If I have to go another couple of days without this forum I'm going to go NUTS..............