Thread: Iraqi/Dinar news until March 1st, 2007

With Adsters post aobut the Oil Law and now this, things are looking like they could happen alot sooner than May



Discussion of the pension law and honor to Bishmaraka Kordst that
(Voice of Iraq) - 28-02-2007
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Arbil : Working first with Omar Othman said in s Gov Cordstan away the territory, Sheikh Jaafar Sheikh Mustafa, a minister the territory for s and a number of officials of the Bisham thigh Cordstan held in Sulaymaniyah expanded meeting was P Yeh final debate of the laws of service and retirement and Takri m s and the disabled have been completed Sae Agha final draft of the Law Ministry before a s William referred to the presidency of the territory Cordstan.

Easy copy printing

US supports Iraq in new diplomatic offensive centered on Iraq's neighbors - Rice

POL-US-RICE-IRAQ
US supports Iraq in new diplomatic offensive centered on Iraq's neighbors - Rice

WASHINGTON, Feb 27 (KUNA) -- The United States is supporting the Iraqi government in a new diplomatic offensive to build greater support, both within the region and beyond, for peace and prosperity in the war-torn country, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced on Tuesday.

In excerpts from her prepared statement to be delivered later in the afternoon before the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, Rice said that Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki believes, as does President George W. Bush, that "success in Iraq requires the positive support of Iraq's neighbors." This is also one of the key findings of the Iraq Study Group, a bipartisan panel which presented its recommendations on Iraq to the White House in December.

"So I am pleased to inform you that the Iraqis are launching a new diplomatic initiative that we fully support," Rice said.

The government of Iraq is preparing for an expanded neighbors' meeting, first at the sub-ministerial level, that will take place in Baghdad in the first half of March, she said.

"Invitees will include Iraq's immediate neighbors, as well as representatives from other regional states, multilateral organizations and the permanent members of the UN Security Council," Rice said. "This initial meeting will be followed, perhaps as early as the first half of April, by a ministerial-level meeting with the same invitees, plus the G-8 (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, Britain and the United States)." The Iraqi government has invited Syria and Iran to attend both these regional meetings, Rice noted.

"We hope these governments seize this opportunity to improve their relations with Iraq, and to work for peace and stability in the region," she said.

Rice said she was pleased that the government of Iraq is launching this new diplomatic initiative.

"The violence occurring within the country has a decided impact on Iraq's neighbors," she said. "And Iraq's neighbors, as well as the international community, have a clear role to play in supporting the Iraqi government's efforts to promote peace and national reconciliation within the country." (end) rm.

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KUNA 272217

Wednesday, 28 February 2007, 2:44 pm
Press Release: US State Department
Opening Remarks by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Before the Senate Appropriations Committee

Secretary Condoleezza Rice
Washington, DC
February 27, 2007

As Delivered
(3:25 p.m. EST)


Secretary Condoleezza Rice Washington, DC February 27, 2007

As Delivered (3:25 p.m. EST)

SECRETARY RICE: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Senator Cochran. Thank you, members of the committee, and I am honored to testify alongside Secretary Gates for the first time.

Mr. Chairman, I have a longer written statement that I would like to be entered into the record about the full supplemental request, the critical funding that will be provided by the supplemental for reconstruction and development in Afghanistan, for ongoing State Department operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, for emergencies in Sudan, for reconstruction in Lebanon and so forth. But I will restrict my comments to a few concerning particularly Iraq.

SENATOR BYRD: You may proceed as you like.

SECRETARY RICE: Thank you, sir. Across the board in Iraq, Iraqis are now in the lead and we're supporting them. To support the new strategy in Iraq that President Bush announced in January (inaudible) supplemental funding for Iraq this year. These resources will enable the State Department to support the Iraqi Government and to support our counterinsurgency strategy alongside our military in order to bring a new civilian surge on multiple fronts.

We are supporting the Iraqis in an economic offensive. Iraq's Council of Representatives recently passed a budget for 2007, including a plan to devote $10 billion of its own money for reconstruction and development. This is an encouraging step, but they need our technical assistance in matters like budget execution and ministry capacity, and this supplemental will help with those matters.

We are also supporting the Iraqis in their political offensive. Yesterday, Iraq's Council of Ministers approved a hydrocarbon framework law. They will now transmit it, along with accompanying legislation, to the Council of Representatives. This is an important step and we hope that it builds momentum for the Iraqi Government to make further progress, particularly on de-Baathification, on increased support for displaced Iraqis, both Shia and Sunni, who wish to return to their homes.

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When I met with Prime Minister Maliki last week in Baghdad, I urged him to waste no time in finding resolution to critical issues of national reconciliation. At the same time, we recognize that Iraq has a federal government and that its provinces have significant responsibility. And so this supplemental funding provides the funding to allow us to double the number of Provincial Reconstruction Teams in Iraq, focusing on Baghdad but also beyond in key provinces like Anbar. We are doubling the number of personnel within our existing PRTs and our expanded PRT strategy will enable us to decentralize and diversity our civilian presence in Iraq, thereby increasing our chances of success.

Again, I would emphasize here that we're transitioning our role. This is to help Iraqis build their own democratic institutions and lead their own economic development at the provincial and local levels.

Let me say one other thing about the PRTs. Our previous strategy called for 10 teams in Iraq. We have met that goal. Those Provincial Reconstruction Teams are fully staffed, fully deployed and fully operational. Under the new strategy, we will now move from 10 to 20 PRTs. We have already identified all of the Foreign Service officers who will lead these new teams and we expect them to arrive in Iraq before the end of March.

To staff the PRTs, the President has asked the State Department to recruit additional civilian specialists from other federal agencies and from the nation at large. These are people like agronomists, veterinarians, city planners and others. No diplomatic service in the world has these specialties and we have therefore asked the Department of Defense to fill the first rotation of about 100 specialist positions. Our supplemental request will then enable us to hire about 300 new civilians for this mission. It will allow us to reimburse other government agencies when we recruit their personnel and to send them out quickly to join the diplomats who are already in the field doing the political work that is so important.

So we are advancing politically, economically and of course militarily. I would like to take one moment to talk about our diplomatic offensive, the fourth leg of our strategy, to build greater support both within the region and beyond for peace and prosperity in Iraq. We are recommitting ourselves to the security and stability of the Gulf region. We have rallied our traditional partners, responsible governments like those of the Gulf states, plus Egypt and Jordan -- or, as it is called, GCC+2 -- and we are working with those governments to support embattled democratic leaders like Prime Minister Siniora in Lebanon, President Abbas in the Palestinian territories and Prime Minister Maliki in Iraq. We are also continuing to rally international support for Iraq's political and economic success in the form of the International Compact for Iraq. In March, dozens of countries will gather at the United Nations to finalize agreements on the compact. This compact outlines international responsibilities to Iraq as Iraq meets its responsibilities to its own people.

There's on additional component to this diplomatic offensive that I would like to highlight today. It is a new component. Prime Minister Maliki believes and President Bush and I agree that success in Iraq requires the positive support of Iraq's neighbors. This is one of the key findings, of course, of the Iraq Study Group and it is an important dimension that many in the Senate and in the Congress have brought to our attention and I've had very fruitful discussions about how to do this. So I'm pleased to inform you that the Iraqis are launching a new diplomatic initiative which we are going to fully support.

The Government of Iraq is preparing for an expanded neighbors meeting first at the sub-ministerial level that will take place in Baghdad in the first half of March. Invitees would include Iraq's immediate neighbors, as well as representatives from other regional states, multilateral organizations and the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council including of course the United States. This initial meeting will be followed perhaps as early as the first half of April by a ministerial level meeting with the same invitees that is regional states, neighbors, international organizations and the Permanent 5 of the UN, as well as perhaps the members of the G-8.

I would note that the Iraqi Government has invited all of its neighbors, including Syria and Iran, to attend both of these regional meetings. We hope that all governments will seize this opportunity to improve the relations with Iraq and to work for peace and stability in the region. I'm pleased that the Government of Iraq is launching this new diplomatic initiative and that we will be able to support it and participate in it. The violence occurring within the country has a decided impact on Iraq's neighbors. And Iraq's neighbors as well as the international community have a clear role to play in supporting the Iraqi Government's efforts to promote peace and national reconciliation within the country.

So far from just a military campaign, our efforts in Iraq are moving forward on all fronts at the same time: security, political, economic and diplomatic. America's diplomatic corps, of course, is not an expeditionary force, but our men and women are playing their roles superbly in places like Iraq and Afghanistan. They are enduring long and difficult deployments far away from their families. Many are even working on the front lines in dangerous places like Anbar and Baghdad, working shoulder to shoulder with our soldiers and Marines. Every day, our civilians are taking mortar fire, risking attacks just to do their jobs. And then they get up the next day and they go back out and they do it all again.

The men and women of the Department of State are patriots and they make us all extremely proud and I ask you to provide them with the resources that they need so urgently to be successful in the vital mission that they perform, a mission that together, with our men and women in uniform, will help us to win the war on terror and to make us safer. Thank you very much.

CHAIRMAN BYRD: Thank you, Madame Secretary. Thank you.

2007/143

Originally Posted by Adster

Have this one on me folks. See you around.

Iraqi parliament approves new oil draft law
MENAFN - 28/02/2007


(MENAFN) The Iraqi Oil Minister announced that the parliament collectively agreed on the oil draft law that permits foreign companies to invest and work in the Iraqi oil reserves and projects, the Iraq Directory reported.

Though the US expects a fall to 1.3 million barrels a day in the oil production, the government assures that the new law will guarantee a fair share of the profits to all Iraqis in all of the 18 provinces, said the minister.

He added that the utilization of the Iraqi oil reserves will be determined by open tenders provided by the ministry and based on model contracts.

http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story...ryId=1093144717

Does this mean BOTH houses have now approved the oil Law? If so, does this mean that all we need now is for Taibani/Maliki to rubber stamp it?

The Ministry of Commerce contracted with international and Arab companies
(Voice of Iraq) - 28-02-2007
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The Republic of Iraq
Council of Ministers-the National Center for Media
Media Relations
A press statement / Press Release
Wednesday 2-28-2007

The Ministry of Commerce contracted with international companies and Arab evil purchase of large quantities of the components of the ration card

A source at the Ministry of Commerce, said that the General Company for dealers e foodstuffs in the ministry recently contracted with evil kat and the Arab world for the purchase of ration cards Supply Yeh, It was agreed on the supply of a quantity (200000) tons of seignorage t with a winning British and the receipt of the quantity (in 1299 00) tons of processed by the company in addition to the quantitative pain keep him and is expected to arrive soon.

The company contracted with Akdalmusdran known companies assemble lean to the importation of the substance, such as the sugar company (LTC) Albritan Yeh and light industries UAE Company (USWORLDT RADERS) of America and a total contract quantity (551 25) tons of sugar in addition to the mechanism contracts Walsh behind the cash directly with the traders as the quantities of purchased Under this mechanism (561663) tons of sugar.

(MENAFN) An Official in the Japanese government announced that Japan will send additional fund aids to Iraq estimated to $104.5 million through UN Development Program, The United Press International reported.

The Japanese government will distribute the allocated budget among several UN agencies, such as the UNChildren's Fund, the Office of UN high Commissioner for Refugess and the International Organization for Migration to send them to Iraq, added the official.

He explained that the government will consider the geographical balance of distributing the aid in an attempt to support national reconciliation plans between Iraqis.

(MENAFN) The Director of the Saudi Exports Development Center said that the Saudi-Kuwaiti committee is addressing the issues facing the Saudi non-oil exports to Iraq through Kuwait, the Iraq Directory reported.

The director said that exporting through Kuwait poses problems such as the time factor that causes other serious issues such as the damage of goods and delays in delivering rented equipments, the thing that adds extra expenses on the exporters.

Moreover, transporting goods through a mediator imposes higher charge fees on the Saudi merchants, he added.

Car import tax slashed



Azzaman, February 27, 2007



The government has slashed tariffs on imported cars to 16 percent from 30.



The head of the State Tax Commission, Mushen Abu-Juaila, said the decision to reduce the tariffs by nearly 50 percent was in line with the government’s measures to encourage foreign trade.



He said the decision also meets the commission’s eventual target of lowering tax levels in the country particularly those related to exports and imports.



Abu-Juaila said Iraqi traders and entrepreneurs should expect further reductions in taxes related to their activities. He did not elaborate.

Office Alzobai discuss with the American delegation and representatives of the now Bar
(Voice of Iraq) - 28-02-2007
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The Secretariat of the Council of Ministers
Office Sallam Alzobai Deputy Prime Minister
M / news journalist

Office Alzobai discuss with the American delegation and representatives of the now Indeed, the development of bar service and agricultural conservation

A day in the office of Dr. peace Alzobai meeting z M. number of American experts in the fields of agriculture, Wa the security services and a delegation of agricultural specialists and Zemac civil society and the Anbar province.
He started meeting to hear an overview of a reality for security in Anbar, which is improving security in light Moaj the most fought police and tribal forces to rid the preserve armed men and outsiders who want to stop the wheel of Peace and progress.
A spokesman for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister that the meeting j came part of the efforts to support a plan to impose law Witt old services in Baghdad and the surrounding governorates Wad F-Anbar province, representatives discussed the matter with the delegation Leakey, a number of agricultural issues in the forefront of development was felt manipulation Tekableh of the reality of agriculture, irrigation, land reclamation Wa In order to find jobs for young people and the establishment of training absorbed m there. It should be noted that Dr. Alzobai had signed with the Minister of Els Appalled by the American memorandum of understanding last August focused on the T. exchanged experiences between Iraqi and American universities in addition to the application of new ways and areas of production Waller g, wheat, corn and vegetable production, which depend upon j modern irrigation systems, and this note is a big project for joint action It is the beginning of building bridges of cooperation and the exchange of experiences and development Automation and activating the role of modern agricultural odontologists Yen Iraqis in building a prosperous Iraq.
Information Office

Invite members of the former army to take over their identities retirement Yeh
(Voice of Iraq) - 28-02-2007
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Baghdad-Al A'ala
Called the public pension feed two of Menteş Bi former army and the more than 1300 Mtaka d to assume their identities pensions and the completion of remaining together Mlathm to ensure their financial. A source authorized in the public pension told "Sabah" that the professional staff working in the Office of the Trial able to accomplish in 1300 concerning the treatment of members of the army Elsa pw to get the identities of their financial guarantee pensions. The source associate themselves to the audit Revolving e Mstassehabin holdings with a personal identity of the original.
As in the case of the fact that the associated military outside the country Vico M. agent to provide legal holdings above Alta calmed down for the completion of the transaction issued by the Pension the Iraqi embassy or mission abroad and certified M. n the ratification documents of the Ministry of Foreign abroad Yeh Baghdad. The attached photographs and identity cards, the card Under the Supply and image identity retirement in the event that a retired agent is the other. He noted the need to review the source to associate in the army former been appointed to the State for the purpose of indexing T. Aiinhm the chamber and sent a line services for the military to their constituencies to ensure their financial Altka features.
Morning names will be published on its website.

The name of God the Merciful
The Republic of Iraq
The Ministry of Finance
Service retirement
Call
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Calling the retirement of brotherhood members of the army Ara Afterward the former listed below to review the Court of d Arh retirement effective on Monday, February 5 / 2007 for the purpose of completion of the completion of their transactions and pensions Ham identity Pension Mstassehabin with holdings following ...
First : the original evidence-holdings
1-identification issued by the Directorate of Military Department Aldb pertaining dissolved or the Directorate of the Department of mattresses or dissolved
Dftrkhadamh military found that with any Mestmsk supports the fact that Haskari adapted to extremely April 9, 2003.
2-support issued by the Directorate of Land Registration supported Kuo costing holds a piece of land and given year.
Second : - The personal archives
One-out civil status identity and image
2-ration card original and copy
Three-card and the housing picture
4 - photographs of the number of transactions (2)
Third : - a review by the associated personally In the event that a to associate (the military) outside Iraq.
The agent, in addition to legal gripping above a special agency authorized to review the retirement
The receipt of a pension, and the signing of the applications and pledges to complete the transaction scheme
Published by the embassy or mission in Iraq of% rattled and certified Dawaerh ratification documents
Foreign Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Baghdad, with the slightest proof vests and Ihalahual Civil and ration card
The agent and the image of the identity of retirement in the event that the agent Metk prepared.
Fourth : - the possibility of brotherhood members of the Iraqi army from Elsa pw who was appointed in the ministries and government departments (father month, Interior, Health, Finance, and the rest of the State) Audit Service combatants into civilian life n
For the purpose of indexing appointed to the chamber and send the line services ((details of the military services))
The current constituencies in order to ensure their pension rights.
Fifth : - will be announced from the rest of the names in subsequent meals e.
The renewed Abbas
General Director of the Department of retirement
/ 2 / 2007