Thread: Iraq/Dinar News to April 19, 2007 10PM CST

Press Gaggle by Dana Perino and Dr. Ali Al-Dabbagh, Spokesman for the Government of Iraq
White House Conference Center Briefing Room


RSS Feed Press Briefings

9:40 A.M. EDT

MS. PERINO: Good morning. I'm going to do the schedule, and then I have a special guest.

At 7:35 a.m. this morning, the President taped his radio address; the topic is the Iraq war supplemental and the need to fund our troops in Iraq. Saturday will be 68 days since the President sent Congress an emergency war spending bill that would provide the vital funds needed for our troops on the front lines.

At 7:40 a.m., he had his normal briefings. At 8:30 a.m. -- you've already heard the President, who made remarks at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast. At 11:25 a.m. he'll have some policy time. And at 1:15 p.m. he will be meeting with parochial education leaders and parents to discuss the status and value of Catholic education and his priorities for expanding educational options for low-income students during reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act this year, and the D.C. School Choice Incentive Act by next year. That's pool at the bottom. And at 2:10 p.m., the President and Mrs. Bush depart for Camp David -- and then I know that you all depart soon after that on Friday afternoons.

Q Noooo.

MS. PERINO: Some of us have to work around here. (Laughter.)

Q We need to keep an eye on you -- (laughter.)

MS. PERINO: I have the great pleasure today of introducing to you Dr. Al-Dabbagh, who is the government spokesperson for Iraq. And he's going to be here to answer a few of your questions. I'll finish up on all your other topics that you want to cover. And then he does have a little bit of time on the back end if you wanted to speak with him individually. We're really glad he's here.

DR. AL-DABBAGH: Good morning, everyone. Thank you.

Q Good morning.

DR. AL-DABBAGH: Thank you very much for this opportunity. I'm here and ready for any questions.

Q Earlier this year, sir, the United Nations assistance mission for Iraq issued a human rights report, and it described death squad killings and other attacks on Iraqis specifically because they're homosexual. And according to an Associated Press report, you responded, "There was information in the report we cannot accept here in Iraq. The report, for example, spoke about the phenomena of homosexuality and giving them their rights. Such statements are not suitable for the Iraqi society. This is rejected. They should respect the values and traditions here in Iraq."

My question is, does the Iraqi government condemn the killings of Iraqis targeted specifically because they're homosexual? And what does the government consider the rights of Iraqi homosexuals to be?

DR. AL-DABBAGH: Iraqi government condemn each and every killing -- whoever are being killed, definitely we condemn it, due to any reasons. But, nevertheless, the United Nations report -- we have our comments, we say that you should be on site to take a proper and actual, what's going on there. And I think that the other reports -- their reports which is coming, which shows how they are more constrictive on covering Iraq.

Q Recently we have seen civil attacks inside the Green Zone -- how concerned are you that there are enablers or people infiltrating inside the government or the parliament that may have facilitated this bombing inside the Green Zone?

DR. AL-DABBAGH: The terrorist attack is -- definitely it takes some time to measure. And the Iraqi government is taking all the steps and all the measures to stop all the threat, all the places -- some of the soft places probably sometimes due to the penetration of some of those who have been privileged and given certain permission to enter the Green Zone has been misused, and some things have been passed the checkpoint.

Q There is concern about the military and the police being full of militia members. What is your government doing to screen these people and ensure their loyalty to the government?

DR. AL-DABBAGH: The Minister of Interior, until now, they had 14,000 persons. And they are restructuring the whole Ministry of Interior, in order to keep the standards of human rights appreciation, in order to keep the -- just a week back we had a trial and hearing of one of the senior officers in the Minister of Interior, because he tortured. The government of Iraq is doing all the measurement in order to keep all the levels of the police accountable for any violation of the human rights.

Q This isn't just human rights, this is in terms of members of the Iraqi police and members of the Iraqi military being members of the various sectarian militias. And, therefore, their loyalty might be divided.

DR. AL-DABBAGH: Even the militias, even anyone who is favoring a militia, you keep accountable and part of those 14,000, which has been fired. We have those who are feeling sympathy to some of the militias.

Q Thank you, Doctor. There has been criticism in this country that the actual U.S. aid that goes to the troops never really filters down to the ground, after it goes to the Ministries of Defense and Interior. I'm sure you're aware of the criticism, and the talk that the U.S. should just give the money to the troops on the ground. What's being done to alleviate this problem and make sure our aid actually gets to the people on the ground?

DR. AL-DABBAGH: As you know, that since the government -- since this government, the level of accountability being raised, the transparencies being raised. Definitely we had problems due to the 35 years, and then one more, four years or three more years which keep the situation and the accountability much less. So there is a good measure now. You could find that the corruption comes down to the minimum level, but still there is a corruption. Iraqi government is fighting and the Integrity Commission is working on full authority. All the other monitoring authorities is working in order to keep the integrity of (inaudible).

Q Thank you. Is Iraq in the middle of a civil war right now?

DR. AL-DABBAGH: Never. There is war against civilians. There is a war against Iraqi people. There are groups which they want to destroy Iraq and to destroy the region, to destroy all the Iraq. That is what you see in al Anbar. It's a few Sunnis, but then there are al Qaeda attacking those. And in Baghdad it's a common -- yesterday what you saw in the parliament. Again, this is -- all Iraqis are represented there, but they had attack. So it is not a civil war at all.

Q Doctor, how do the Iraqi people see the U.S. troop surge working? Do they believe that there is some progress? And, secondly, there's a lot of debate here about whether or not the Democrats in Congress, if they are right in calling for U.S. troops to be withdrawn by early next year? How do the Iraqis feel about those proposals?

DR. AL DABBAGH: The Iraqis are represented by the parliament and the government, elected government. And the troops are as per the invitation of the government, and they had approved last year. And there are minorities, which they are expressing their -- what you saw in Najaf, few thousands come out. And this is freedom of expression. It's good, rather than attacking America. But is also a remark that the -- within these four years, the people have the liberty to express their feeling, but at the end, majority of Iraqis, they do appreciate what the troops have done. The troops have liberated Iraqi people from Saddam, and at the end, that we feel that the American troops could do -- complete their job of training and having Iraqi security forces ready to take the security and transfer --

Q --do it by early next year, say, March, 2008?

DR. AL DABBAGH: Well, it is -- there is a time schedule, which we -- the Iraqi government had implemented in order to have the security forces, Iraqi security forces well trained and ready to transfer. We had transfer of control in different governments. We have on 17th of April, Maysan government will be transferred to Iraqis, and so on until end of this year. By that time, we feel that there will be a good situation that the Iraqi forces, and then it will open the door for negotiating about the withdrawal of the Americans.

Q What brings you to Washington?

DR. AL DABBAGH: Pardon?

Q What brings you to Washington?

DR. AL DABBAGH: Brings me in Washington to reflect the actual what's going on there in Iraq, and to show that what the positive thing what is going there in Iraq, it is not only just bomb. There are a lot of things positive is going there in Iraq, four years of liberation -- after liberation from Saddam Hussein and having the new democracy in Iraq, although that there are -- we have facing -- we are facing the difficulties and problems, especially in the security. But Iraqi people are working hard in order to build up their country.

Q Doctor, what would happen in Iraq if U.S. troops leave early next year?

DR. AL-DABBAGH: We feel that the premature withdrawal, it would be a great gift for those who did yesterday attack, and definitely it will make a vacuum of power in Iraq, which is not desirable by anyone. That is why we feel that a job should be done collectively between us and the international troops in order to put the Iraqi forces ready to take responsibility.

Q How long do you think there needs to be a U.S. presence?

DR. AL-DABBAGH: It is difficult to do a time limit, but we do feel that we are in a good way. Now what we did, President Bush and the Prime Minister had in a good way that there will be a speeding up of the training of the Iraqi forces which will entitle the American, the Iraqi to negotiate about certain withdrawal.

Q How many Iraqis have been killed in this war?

DR. AL-DABBAGH: Pardon?

Q How many Iraqis have been killed?

DR. AL-DABBAGH: How many Iraqis have been killed? I will let you know that we have 3 million Iraqis being killed at the time of Saddam. And this is a continuation --

Q I didn't ask you that.

DR. AL-DABBAGH: Yes, I'm replying -- I know that you didn't ask, but this is a continuation of that war. I feel that we don't have that figure exactly, but I guess that is exceeding 50,000 number has been killed by the terrorist groups.

Q By the terrorists, but not by the Americans?

DR. AL-DABBAGH: Well, you could find that there is people who are fighting the Americans -- Americans, they are not going to honor them. Iraqi troops, as well -- Iraqi troops kill some of those people who fight; they are not going to honor them, even though they call themselves, that they are resistant, or national resistant. Those who are breaking the law, definitely they will be attacked.

Q Do you have some kind of record of Iraqi dead?

DR. AL-DABBAGH: The Iraqi -- until now, the Iraqi government, they don't have a proper -- because of the different way and different attacks has been in different places, especially in Baghdad. Until now we are talking about that the casualties, which is 2006, which was very high. Now, due to the security, we feel that it becomes less. But I can't give any figure because we don't have the means and the measure to count the dead.

Q A while ago a number of Russian embassy staffers were kidnapped and they were killed in Iraq. Do you have any information as to how the investigation is going, if there is any progress? Can you give any example of a killing of this sort actually being solved in Iraq?

DR. AL-DABBAGH: You mean last year, two years back? Yes. This is part of the attack against Iraqis, which they attack the embassies, attack the diplomats and attack Iraqi people. We feel that al Qaeda and the people are connected with al Qaeda, they want to put the Iraqi government in a critical situation by attacking the diplomat.

Q Doctor, the administration here often cites progress on the national oil law and de-Baathification. Yet, those benchmarks have not been met yet. What is the progress report on those?

DR. AL-DABBAGH: The hyrdocarbon law is already approved by the cabinet, and we are waiting on the revenue sharing law to be also submitted to the cabinet to be approved, and then simultaneously they will go to the council of representatives, in order to be approved.

Q But it's been in that spot for a while. It's been approved from the cabinet. What's the time line for getting approved by the parliament?

DR. AL-DABBAGH: It has been submitted to the -- it's got a priority. The priority is in the house of representatives. They've got their priority. But we feel that this is very urgent, and the government do urge the council to approve it, along with the revenue sharing, which is very, very important. The de-Baathification, as you said, there are a draft -- four draft being submitted. One of them is the by -- presidency council and the cabinet council, and it is now in the council of representatives, along with the other three drafts, which they are going to get one draft in order to get it approved.

Q So if you were to predict when those things would pass, what's the time line? A couple months, end of the summer, this year?

DR. AL-DABBAGH: We thought that 2007 is the year where all this important laws will be decided, also the election, government election as well.

Q I don't intend this as an insult, I really don't understand -- if our country was going to send somebody, say, to talk to Germany about relationships between the U.S. and Germany, they would hardly send the White House press spokesperson, they would send a diplomat. I mean, are you more than just the press spokesperson? Are you some kind of a diplomat, as well? Why are you here?

DR. AL-DABBAGH: I am here to give -- to talk on some of the institutions, some surge institutions, as well as to convey the message of Iraqi people to the Americans. I'm not a diplomat, I am a spokesman of the Iraqi government. I am representing the Iraqi government, as well as Iraqi people, in order to convey the truth and reality.

Q Could you please explain why we hear a lot of complaints from the American government about the Iranian interference and Iran supplying militants inside Iraq with weapons that harm American soldiers, and we hardly hear the Iraqis voicing this concern? Do you think there is a reason for concern, or it's just an American-Iranian affair?

DR. AL-DABBAGH: Definitely, there is an interference from the Iranian in Iraqi affairs, we don't deny that. And we feel that the improvement and the better relations between the United States and Iran could minimize, could make the interference less. But even if the Americans withdraw totally from Iraq, the influence of the Iran will not be limited.

Q Doctor, the debate here -- I assume you are following this closely, the debate here in the United States and in Congress is about whether the surge can succeed, whether the United States has done all it can do in Iraq. What do you say to the high percentage of the American public that thinks this is unwinnable now, and to those in Congress who say this is up to the Iraqis to find a political solution, and it's time for the United States to go?

DR. AL-DABBAGH: We, Iraqi, we do understand that American troops there they did very good job. Beside defeating and combating those terrorist group, they did good job in reconstruction and different aspect in Baghdad and the government, even the al-Anbar, which is a very sensitive and hot -- one of the hot places for us.

But I am sure that the Americans are keep playing the positive role there in Iraq. And we are definitely, all the Iraqi -- majority of Iraq, they appreciate all what has been done by the Americans, and we are looking for the day that -- and the Americans also looking for the day that the good, and not a premature withdrawal. Until then, there is a threat which should be addressed. This is not only Iraqis, not against Iraq, but is against all international community, against all the region.

Sorry, I have to leave. Excuse me. Thank you very much.

Q Do you know where Muqtada al-Sadr is?

DR. AL-DABBAGH: No, we don't have information, Iraqi government. But it's not so important for us to know where he is in Iraq. He is allowed to move anywhere he wants, there is nothing against him from Iraqi government.

Q Is Saddam's nephew still at large?

DR. AL-DABBAGH: Saddam nephew?

Q His nephew who escaped from prison.

DR. AL-DABBAGH: Yes, still, he escaped -- we don't catch him.

Thank you very much. Thank you, sir."

...........THERE IS MORE, BUT NOT RELATED TO IRAQ

Originally Posted by shotgunsusie

keep refering to it as law, as if it were completed.

My interpretation is that they will be discussing the oil and gas law in the "Kurdistan Region", which has been passed. We want the federal oil law.

Text of G7 communique
MENAFN - MarketWatch.com - Friday, April 13, 2007


Text of G7 communiqué

By MarketWatch

Last Update: 8:18 PM ET Apr 13, 2007

WASHINGTON (Menafn - MarketWatch) - Here is the statement of the Group of Seven finance ministers following their meeting Friday in Washington.

Washington, DC -- We, Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, met today to evaluate the global economic outlook. Although risks remain, the global economy is having its strongest sustained expansion in more than 30 years and is becoming more balanced. In our economies, U.S. economic activity remains solid even as domestic demand moderates to a more sustainable growth path. The euro-area is experiencing a healthy upswing. UK growth remains robust and Canadian growth is accelerating. Japan's recovery is on track and expected to continue. We remain confident that the implications of these developments will be recognized by market participants and will be incorporated in their assessments of risks.

Further strengthening and rebalancing of domestic demand is desirable to help ensure the global economic expansion remains robust. We continue to be committed to maintaining price stability as the best contribution that monetary policy can make to sustained global growth. We will do more to increase trend economic growth rates, especially through structural reforms such as improving labor markets and long-term fiscal sustainability. We are confident that the continuation of our policies will support economic growth and contribute to reduce international imbalances. We will continue to work together to support the global adjustment process and urge others to do likewise.

We reaffirm that exchange rates should reflect economic fundamentals. Excess volatility and disorderly movements in exchange rates are undesirable for economic growth. We continue to monitor exchange markets closely, and cooperate as appropriate. In emerging economies with large and growing current account surpluses, especially China, it is desirable that their effective exchange rates move so that necessary adjustments will occur.

We believe that a successful conclusion of the Doha Development round is imperative. We are committed to resisting protectionist sentiment. Substantially lowering tariffs and other barriers is essential to spur new growth in global trade and reduce poverty. We welcome recent steps to intensify engagement, recognizing that substantive movement towards a comprehensive final outcome requires all parties to make additional efforts. We expect spending on Aid for Trade to increase to $4 billion, including through enhancing the Integrated Framework. We support initiatives to enhance cooperation to enforce intellectual property rights and combat counterfeiting which are crucial to our knowledge-based economies.

We continued our discussions on how to develop local currency bond markets to enhance the contribution of financial markets to sustainable economic growth and to reduce emerging market economies' vulnerability to external shocks and financial crises. We look forward to the results of the high level conference on May 9-10 in Frankfurt, which will help to identify concrete recommendations to sustain the momentum of reform.

We discussed recent developments in global financial markets, including hedge funds, which along with the emergence of advanced financial techniques such as credit derivatives, have contributed significantly to the efficiency of the financial system. We will continue to monitor the implications of these developments. Market-led and official initiatives focused on issues around private pools of capital intended to strengthen market discipline, risk management, market infrastructure, information and valuation practices, are essential contributions to global financial stability. In this context, we welcomed the work of the United States' President's Working Group on Financial Markets and its "Principles and Guidelines Regarding Private Pools of Capital" and look forward to the Financial Stability Forum's update of its 2000 Report on Highly Leveraged Institutions. We discussed the issue of mutual recognition of comparable regimes and look forward to further progress being made on cross-border access by investors to our securities markets.

We agree to push forward the ambitious package of bold and fundamental reforms in order to retain the IMF's relevance and legitimacy. Reforms should ensure that actual IMF quota shares, especially those of the most dynamic members, many of which are emerging markets, better reflect relative weights and roles in the global economy. We agree that the voice of low-income countries should be enhanced. A necessary element of IMF reform is improved surveillance over exchange rates. Surveillance must focus on external stability and be applied equally and even-handedly without creating new obligations. In this context, we welcome the Managing Director's proposals to update the 1977 Decision on Surveillance over Exchange Rate Policies and to develop a surveillance remit. We look forward to finalizing these proposals rapidly after the Spring Meetings. We took note of the work of the External Review Committee on IMF-World Bank Collaboration as well as of the report of the Committee to Study Sustainable Long-term Financing of the IMF. We agreed to consider the latter proposal in time alongside measures to further reduce administrative expenditures.

We encourage the use of the debt sustainability framework by all borrowers and creditors. We welcome continued work on principles for responsible lending and seek to involve other interested parties. We advocate a rapid resolution to Liberia's arrears to the international financial institutions. Available internal resources should be fully used to this end. We are prepared to make additional financial contributions. We look forward to the forthcoming International Conference on Education in Brussels.

In order to ensure energy security and to address climate change, we consider energy efficiency and the promotion of energy diversification to be important issues for both developed and developing economies. Diversification can include advanced energy technologies such as renewable, nuclear, and clean coal. We agree that market based policy measures should be effectively designed to meet specific conditions in each country.

We commit to continue the fight against money laundering, terrorist financing, and other illicit finance that risks the stability and integrity of the global financial system. We call for the effective and timely implementation of UN Resolutions 1540, 1718, 1737 and 1747. We commend the Financial Action Task Force on its commitment to examine the risks of weapons of mass destruction proliferation finance. We urge that as it reviews its strategic direction, the FATF consider expanding its mandate, enhancing global implementation of its standards, improving its strategic surveillance, and examining ways to bolster accountability and outreach activities.

We look forward to the successful launch of the International Compact for Iraq in Sharm El Sheik on May 3. We discussed economic prospects in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and agreed to keep this under review

Thanks JOLA It looks like we should be watching for info on this "Revenue sharing law". We knew the oil law had a series of laws attached to it in one form or another. It sounds as though this is key.

Originally Posted by wciappetta

Thanks JOLA It looks like we should be watching for info on this "Revenue sharing law". We knew the oil law had a series of laws attached to it in one form or another. It sounds as though this is key.

You are right, the revenue sharing law is holding.

I may be wrong, but to me, FIL kicking in is more important for a possible RV than the HCL. The HCL can only take the RV further - in terms of appreciation of the currency. I am sure that there are other opinions on this.

If you look at the statement of the G7 , at the bottom, the ICI on May 3rd gets an important place ...and in the context ...all that talk about supervising the exchange rates...makes you go "hmmm..."
That's why I posted the G7 press release.

Originally Posted by Jola

You are right, the revenue sharing law is holding.

I may be wrong, but to me, FIL kicking in is more important for a possible RV than the HCL. The HCL can only take the RV further - in terms of appreciation of the currency. I am sure that there are other opinions on this.

If you look at the statement of the G7 , at the bottom, the ICI on May 3rd gets an important place ...and in the context ...all that talk about supervising the exchange rates...makes you go "hmmm..."
That's why I posted the G7 press release.

Well you may be right. Interesting discussion on surveillance over exchange rates. I once read a piece by the IMF on this subject. They gave three formulas and the second one I felt fit Iraq. i'll find it.But back to FIL, yes if they open the ISX to the world logic dictates an RV before that moment even if its seconds before....... i'll try to find the imf article on exchange rate surveillance.

Originally Posted by wciappetta

Well you may be right. Interesting discussion on surveillance over exchange rates. I once read a piece by the IMF on this subject. They gave three formulas and the second one I felt fit Iraq. i'll find it.But back to FIL, yes if they open the ISX to the world logic dictates an RV before that moment even if its seconds before....... i'll try to find the imf article on exchange rate surveillance.

Please do.

Originally Posted by Jola

Please do.

Here you go. I felt the second formula fit Iraq as it included tradables in the formula for establishing the exchange rate of an emerging market; so oil would play a huge part in the formula. I read somwhere that when you economy is teid to oil exports so should your currency also be tied to it as well. I'm sorry but for some reason the paragraphs keep merging on this article. the second bullet is the key point i believe.Press Release: IMF Strengthening Framework for Exchange Rate Surveillance IMF Strengthening Framework for Exchange Rate SurveillancePress Release No. 06/266November 29, 2006 The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is releasing today the staff report on the revised and extended methodologies for exchange rate assessments by the IMF's Consultative Group on Exchange Rate Issues (CGER)1. The IMF Executive Board recently discussed the report in an informal Board seminar. The report is part of a broader effort to extend and deepen the IMF's framework for assessing exchange rate issues in line with its ongoing work to strengthen Fund surveillance of the global economic and financial system.The methodologies for assessing exchange rates have been applied beyond advanced countries to cover about 20 emerging market countries using a variety of approaches.2 The three complementary methodologies presented in the staff report provide a multilateral approach to help gauge the consistency of current account balances and real effective exchange rates with their underlying fundamentals. Combined with additional country-specific information, the methodologies help IMF staff reach informed judgments about medium-term real exchange rates and current account balances, weighing the relative importance of a number of economic factors affecting these key variables. The three methodologies are as follows:• The macroeconomic balance approach-a pillar of current account and exchange rate assessments for a number of years-calculates the difference between the current account balance projected over the medium term at prevailing exchange rates and an estimated equilibrium current account balance.• The reduced-form equilibrium real exchange rate approach estimates directly an equilibrium real exchange rate for each country as a function of medium-term fundamentals such as the net foreign asset position of the country, productivity growth in the tradables and nontradables sectors, and the terms of trade.• The external sustainability approach calculates the difference between the actual current account balance and the balance that would stabilize the net foreign asset position of the country at some benchmark level.Exchange Rate Assessments in Country SurveillanceThe IMF is also continuing to strengthen surveillance of exchange rate issues in bilateral consultations with member countries. A recent review concluded that for 30 large economies accounting for more than 90 percent of world GDP, significant progress has been made in the way the IMF is covering exchange rate issues. As summarized in a Public Information Notice, the review concluded that almost all recent Article IV reports in the sample provide: an accurate description of the de facto exchange rate regime; an assessment of its adequacy, given the specific feature of the relevant economy; an analysis of the consistency between exchange rate and other policies and external stability; and an assessment of exchange rate misalignments. Views on misalignments were often expressed in qualitative terms, but in many cases quantitative estimates-typically in the form of ranges-were also included. However, there is room for further improvement: in a number of cases, staff reports could have provided a richer analytical discussion of the factors considered by staff to reach conclusions about exchange rate misalignments. In this respect, the work of the Consultative Group will provide stronger analytical bases for the exchange rate analysis in the context of Article IV surveillance. Most Article IV papers covered by this review were also published.Exchange Arrangement ReportsFurther, the IMF is continually strengthening the process of reviewing developments and issues related to exchange arrangements, restrictions, and markets and issuing periodic reviews on the trends and developments. This includes the Annual Report on Exchange Rate Arrangements and Restrictions, which provides a description of the foreign exchange arrangements, exchange and trade restrictions, and relevant prudential measures of individual IMF member countries. The recently released 2006 Annual Report incorporates changes in structure and content aimed at providing a more accurate and updated description of the regulatory framework for current and capital account transactions.Review of Keystone Surveillance DecisionTo ensure that the foundations of IMF surveillance are clear and relevant to today's international monetary system, the IMF is reviewing the 1977 Decision on Surveillance over Exchange Rate Policies, which was drafted in the wake of the collapse of the Bretton Woods system of fixed exchange rate parities.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------1 The CGER has provided exchange rate assessments for a number of advanced economies since the mid-1990s.2 Original CGER countries in the extended sample: Australia, Canada, Japan, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, euro area.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Emerging market countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Thailand, and Turkey.IMF EXTERNAL RELATIONS DEPARTMENTPublic Affairs Media Relations Phone: 202-623-7300 Phone: 202-623-7100 Fax: 202-623-6278 Fax: 202-623-6772

Sunday, April 15, 2007

The high demand for dollar auction Central Bank

Dargham of Muhammad Ali
Baghdad - (Voices of Iraq)
The demand for dollar in the auction the Central Bank of Iraq today, Sunday, at the opening of meetings this week Mshela 80 million and 675 thousand dollars against 64 million and 310 thousand dollars last Thursday.
The daily bulletin issued by the Central Bank, and received news agency (Voices of Iraq) independent copy of, that the purchase orders were distributed at nine million and 175 thousand dollars in cash and 71 million 500 thousand dollars in the form of remittances outside the country covered by the bank in full at the exchange rate reached 1272 dinars, which is the same price exchange Thursday, and the past week.

It added that the 16 banks participating in the auction made offers for the sale of $ 2 million in the first sale two weeks ago bought the bank in full at the exchange rate reached 1270 dinars to the dollar.

For his part, Mr. Yasiri, one of the dealers with the bank told (Voices of Iraq) that the re-emergence of presentations dollar selling came as a result of buying the Iraqi dinar from the bank by the government to cover the expenses of the government budget for 2007 approved by the government dinars instead of the dollar in contrast to years past.

Cheers!
DayDream

MTC seeks Iraq deal
Iraq: 9 hours, 44 minutes ago
Kuwait's Mobile Telecommunications Company is looking to obtain a long-term mobile phone licence in Iraq, according to Reuters citing the local Al Watan daily. MTC has been operating MTC Atheer in the war-torn country but Kuwaiti newspaper reports in January said the licence was due to expire at the end of March. Another Kuwaiti operator, Wataniya, also has a mobile operation in Iraq, as does Egypt's Orascom Telecom.