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

Russia intends to participate actively in the preparations for the international ministerial meeting devoted to Iraq
17 / 04 / 2007

MOSCOW, April 16 (April). Novosti. A spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry Mikhail Kaminen Russia that Russia intends to participate actively in the preparation and holding of international meeting on the level of foreign ministers devoted to Iraq, which is scheduled to be held in Sharm el-Sheikh early next month.

Kaminen Turning to the current events in Iraq, pointing out that the multinational forces and Iraqi forces are unable at the present time to normalize the situation in Iraq, especially in the capital, in spite of all the measures taken to ensure security and order.

Kaminen said that the recent bombings that took place in Iraq, including the one of the bridges in the parliament building and the bombings that have taken place in markets, bus stops, mosques, which have become a frequent occurrence in Baghdad, clearly demonstrate the lack of security in all places in the Iraqi capital.

The Kaminen that Russia resolutely condemns all forms and methods of terrorism, regardless of the justifications offered by the perpetrators. He pointed out the great threat posed by the provocative assassinations targeting prominent Iraqi political figures, as they are designed to undermine the efforts that seek to achieve national reconciliation in Iraq.

The official spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry on the international community to cooperate more closely in order to enhance coordination in the Iraqi settlement At the same time he said that Moscow will stand taken an active stance towards this process.

It was Sergei Brekhodko, Assistant to the Russian President, has stated that the objective of the international conference on Iraq expected to be held in May next month is the search for ways leading to the achievement of national reconciliation in that country.

Brekhodko announced in a press conference held in the headquarters of the Agency "Novosti" on the 10th of this month that Russia would actively participate in the Conference. He recalled that the Russian president was initiated to bring this idea.

For his part, Deputy Foreign Minister, Special Representative of the Russian President for Middle East Affairs, Alexander Sultanov on the necessity of holding an international conference to settle in Iraq soon.

The First Deputy Russian Foreign Minister Andrey Denisov Russia's readiness to support all efforts to improve the situation in Iraq, pointing out that Moscow calls for improving the assistance provided by the international community for Iraq and activate the role of the neighboring countries in achieving national reconciliation. It was said that Russia has been playing a constructive role in the search for ways of settlement in Iraq.


As announced by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs today that the Russian delegation will take part in an international conference devoted to problems of Iraqi refugees to be held in Geneva on 17th and 18th this month.
It is scheduled to discuss the participants of the conference, the tragic situation of Iraqi refugees, the exodus of families from the areas of residence within Iraq and outside.

Saudi Arabia acknowledges security cooperation project between the Governments of the States
(Voice of Iraq) - 17 - 04-2007

Saudi Arabia acknowledges security cooperation project between the Governments of the neighboring countries of Iraq

Cabinet evaluates the Custodian of the Two Holy speech before the Shura Council and confirms that it comes in the context of the strategic vision

Riyadh :> Middle East>
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia yesterday, the draft (the Protocol) security cooperation between the Governments of the neighboring countries of Iraq and the Iraqi government in the fight against terrorism, infiltration and organized crime, filed by the Saudi Interior Minister to the Cabinet, which decided to approve the protocol, which was signed in the city of Jeddah on September 18, 2006.

This came in a meeting held by the cabinet yesterday under the chairmanship of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdul-Aziz. One of the most notable features of the project, prepared by the royal decree, that the neighboring countries and the Iraqi government to take all necessary measures to prevent the use of their territory for the planning, organization or execution of terrorist crimes or incitement to commit or promote or engage in any form of images, and the neighboring states, government Iraq develop and strengthen systems for the control procedures and secure borders and points of entry by land, sea and air to prevent infiltration, smuggling and others.

He briefed the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Council on inter contacts and consultations held during the past week with a number of leaders and envoys of the States and international organizations on issues of the region and the world, the Arab summit resolutions ninth session, held in Riyadh, as the President of Turkmenistan to visit him Qurban Mammadov said Gordon, and carefully Kingdom on the relations of friendship and cooperation relations between the two countries.

The Iyad Madani, Minister of Culture and Information to the Saudi News Agency after the meeting that the eighth letter of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Shura Council last Saturday, noting that it comes in the context of the strategic vision set by King Abdullah that the Kingdom is <Islam, which is holding a ruling according to Allah's Sharia and the values of justice and tolerance peace, which is out of the Two Holy Mosques, which extend the hand of friendship to our brothers and friends and all of humanity, the State which equal citizens, which seeks to maximize economic returns for the God-given wealth and riches>.

As the values of faith, patience and work, which draws guided by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in each order, and to embody that vision and inspire those values <requires adherence to the standards of justice, and the realization that accountability and duty on each of the public order of the affairs of the people, and shared responsibility, and that development can be achieved only SETTLE God Almighty and the determination and the movement and development and sacrifice in order to protect the homeland and respond to those who trample on religion, values and ethics, and so, and that the girl bears the secretariat to maintain the sovereignty, unity and security of the homeland, the Almighty, before the right of citizens, and which sets the goals, which stem from this vision, values and standards such as upgrading education, and moving the economy, and strive to acquire the technical and resettlement, and restructuring of the judiciary, the fight against corruption, and the expansion of training and the dissemination of the work culture>.

The minister added, Iyad Madani, the Board confirmed that the Saudi leadership of such vision and methodology committed to the clear track deepened, who founded King Abdul Aziz, may Allah have mercy on him and his men loyal faithful.

Al-Maliki visit to Kuwait next Tuesday
(Voice of Iraq) - 17 - 04-2007

Shawki Al-Mahmoud :
Al> policy <that Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki will arrive in Kuwait on April 24 in the current two-day official visit during which he will hold talks with His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Muhammad concentrated mainly on the situation in Iraq and the recent developments and the bloody events that have increased in the recent period.

Al-Maliki's visit comes within the framework of continuous consultation between the leaderships of the two countries and before the Iraqi neighboring states to be held in Cairo early next month and will participate in the neighboring countries in addition to the permanent membership of the Security Council, according to the recommendation submitted by the meeting, which was held at the level of senior officials for some time.

It should be pointed out that the Cairo meeting will be held at the level of foreign ministers.

Announcement No.(905)

D.G. of Foreign Exchange Control

The 905 daily currency auction was held in the Central Bank of Iraq day Tuesday 2007/4/ 17 so the results were as follows :

Details Notes
Number of banks13-----
Auction price selling dinar / US $1272-----
Auction price buying dinar / US $1270-----
Amount sold at auction price (US $)69.065.000-----
Amount purchased at Auction price (US $) 2.000.000
Total offers for buying (US $)69.065.000-----
Total offers for selling (US $)2.000.000-----

Economic : Unadim Kana : an urgent need to review and reconsider the economic laws
17.04.07

The need to hold intensive meetings with academic experts economists
Baghdad Abbas Algalbi

A Unadim Kana, deputy chairman of the Economic Committee of the House of Representatives unveiled the intention to hold intensive meetings with a number of academics, economists and businessmen in order to get acquainted with the real need for appropriate economic laws.

The ongoing process of economic transformation in the country in order to draft laws formula developed and approved in Parliament.

We explained in an interview with the ((morning)) that there was an urgent need to review all the laws of an economic nature in effect, reconsider or modify to make them consistent with the process of transition from a totalitarian central economic system into a market economy.

He said in this context : that the priority in legislation headed to the issuance of the Investment Law No. 13 of 2006, which is a cover and an impregnable wall of the laws and provide other economic investment in all aspects of life except insurance companies, banks, oil and gas.

He attributed the non-activation of the investment and the reluctance of Arab and foreign investors to enter the arena of investments in Iraq to the consequences of the security situation. In that regard, affirmed the need for Iraq to 300 billion dollars over the next ten years for reconstruction according to statistics and studies prepared by the United Nations. Unadim Kana, and stressed the need to create the best investment environment and the activation of the private sector and the departure of total reliance on government spending, pointing out the importance of benefiting from the experiences of many countries in the the investment proved successful significantly.

With regard to the investment budget for 2007, described by observers Balanfjarih identified Vice Chairman of the Economic Committee in the House of Representatives three real obstacles to implementation ((the first parameters of the security and the second financial and administrative corruption that affects organs of the State and the third case of marginalization of the left and scientific expertise because of the obvious signs of partisan and sectarian received shadows on the political scene, governmental and ministerial)), calling in this direction to the adoption of professionalism and efficiency in the selection of technical and administrative positions in all organs of the State. Stressing the need for the return of competencies and minds abroad outside of the country because of such precursors.

He called for completion of the routine, which he described Balmmelh and impeding the progress of the implementation of investment projects and to give wider powers of the ministries and departments concerned and not restrict them to the Council of Ministers with the emphasis on accountability and follow-up of negligence hand, and to honor the artists on the other.

With respect to the oil and gas, described this law Balmahm and influential in the economic process for the adoption of the entire budget on oil imports, or 95%, pointing to the existence of loopholes by saying excessive powers specific to the regions and the oil-producing provinces which raise the sensitivity of the other governorates non-oil producing anticipated action amendments anticipated some of the paragraphs of the law.

He referred in this regard to the need to use the expertise and competencies of the Iraqi workforce in the oil sector to take advantage of the views and observations of professional effort to pass a law to Aitakata with the national interest to make Iraq will be able to raise the productivity and efficiency of the extraction of oil and gas and we praised advocating monetary policy by the Central Bank of Iraq seeking to reducing inflation. He pointed out that this policy will bear fruit in future. He called for patience and understanding of the nature of this policy, which will be reflected positively on its own terms the Iraqi economy.

Stressing that the economic committee in the House of Representatives working to support and encourage this policy, which seeks to restore the health and strength of the Iraqi dinar and the elimination of the dollarization phenomenon and to make the Iraqi dinar an actor in cash transactions that govern markets. He alluded to the existence of other economic laws are being talked about in the near future will be the way to legislation is the law of insurance companies, banks and the Banking Act and the Regulation of the private sector.

Economic experts : : investment companies in the industry to strengthen the economy
17.04.07

Serving for economic reform
Baghdad morning

Economists confirmed that the call by the Ministry of Industry and Minerals for investment in a number of companies will enhance confidence in the Iraqi economy, in spite of the difficulties faced by the lack of stability and security. They unanimously :

This step will make the task of the Iraqis optimistic about the economic future of their country and of the need for maximum investment in companies, factories and laboratories productive sectors experiencing weaker clear in the production because of the serious repercussions of the situation.

The expert says studies from the Institute of Economy Ahmed Khalil : The countries of the world all follow the turbulent economic conditions that prevailed in the productive sectors and the strategic outlook in Iraq and the wishes of many of its sophisticated and known in their own capacities in the development and rehabilitation to contribute to the investment, which would bring the Iraqi economy and the considerable benefit.

He added : that invitation of the Ministry of Industry and Minerals for investment is a good gesture for the qualitative improvement in resources and performance and the vision of the future and meet the priorities of economic activity.

He explained that Khalil : open space for the local private sector and foreign important step to establishing a solid base for the fields of investment, especially multi-faceted development sectors and the participation of various institutions in opening a variety of investment projects activity in Iraq.

For her part, Professor of Economics in the Faculty of Administration and Economy nostalgia Dawood : The absence of a comprehensive view of the requirements of the national economy has made economic reality during the past four years of deficit, despite repeated calls prior to the experts and professors of the economy in the country to open a door for investment and allow the private sector to take a role in reviving the stalled economic sectors, as long as the State is unable to cope with new developments. She added : the announcement of the reopening of the investment in companies, the Ministry of Industry will provide greater potential for the growth of financial and economic reconstruction of Iraq, although they came late as it was supposed to be the announcement of this phase with the start of the Iraqi debt forgiveness when the nations of the world more than a year ago to move the wheel of development and construction.

The Dawood to : that the international bodies concerned started to deal with Iraq's new ally in the international arena, especially after helping to topple its debt by the IMF and the World Bank and other international, as all confirmed earlier she looked forward to moving Iraq qualitatively and practically to a new stage.

She called for concerted efforts of all : to confront the challenges facing the country's economy and serious thought to opening new prospects improved Iraqi reality.

A researcher at the Economic Affairs and teacher assistant in the College of Administration and Economy Karim al-Hiti : The exploitation of untapped wealth of the country by opening the door to foreign companies, the investment must be matched by a climate of security for investors in order to be able to perform the task and the implementation of the agreement with the Iraqi side to the fullest.

المThe name of God the Merciful
The Ministry of Finance
الMedia Bureau
ت يA press
بغـــــــــــــــــد اد
17/4/2007

(())((Mr. Baqir Jabr Zubaidi, the Minister of Finance will meet his Egyptian))

إلتقى 0Mr. Baker met Jabr Zubaidi, the Minister of Finance, Mr. Boutros-Ghali and Minister of Finance 0

Minister during the meeting that the Iraqi government looks forward to the sister States to help it rises again to build a sound-loader those debts, which resulted in the actions of the former regime, stressing the important and essential role that could be played by Egypt sister to extinguish debts of Iraq in a meeting of the International It is hoped held in Sharm El-Sheikh next month 0
القادم,He confirmed that Mr. Boutros-Ghali of Egypt's efforts to support the sister States to resolve crises and the advancement of this new and Madaha to host a meeting of the International Meeting and the neighboring countries in Sharm El-Sheikh next month.

Translated version of http://www.sotaliraq.com/

Turkish deal could pave way for Shell's return to Iraq after 35 years
17 April 2007 (The New Anatolian)


Shell is poised to become the first oil and gas major to agree terms to reenter Iraq following reports that it has struck a deal with Turkey’s state oil company, TPAO, to extract gas in the war-torn country, the Times said.
The report went on to say that, “The Anglo-Dutch giant is expected to work in partnership with TPAO to build a pipeline from the Kirkuk field near Kurdistan to Ceyhan on the Mediterranean, according to reports.
A spokesman for the Turkish Energy Ministry said: “An agreement has been reached which has to be ratified by the administration in Baghdad.”
Shell refused to rule out an agreement with TPAO but insisted there was still no legal framework in place in Baghdad to allow any contracts to be issued to foreign companies.
Ian Bromilow, Shell’s chairman for Iraq, told The Times: “We have discussions but the contents of those discussions are really quite confidential.”
“It is still very, very unclear what will happen in the sense that there is no petroleum law in place and the issue of security,” Bromilow said.
Iraq has some of the biggest oil and gas reserves in the world and speculation about Shell’s involvement has mounted in recent weeks.
The oil major has long expressed an interest in returning to the country after being forced out when the industry was nationalised in 1972, and signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a plan for Iraq’s gas infrastructure in 2005. Last month industry in-siders claimed Shell managers met Iraqi officials in Oman to discuss investment terms for any future deals.
The Iraqi Parliament is due to debate a draft Petroleum Law soon. Ratification would open the doors to billions of pounds of foreign investment.

Turkish deal could pave way for Shell's return to Iraq after 35 years | Iraq Updates

Al Jazeera English to become available on YouTube
17 April 2007 (AME Info FZ LLC)


Al Jazeera English today announced plans to begin making clips from its news and programmes available to the YouTube community by launching a branded Channel on the popular video-sharing site.
YouTube is the leader in online video, and the premier destination to watch and share original videos worldwide through a web experience.
YouTube users worldwide will have the ability to comment on Al Jazeera English clips, rate them, recommend them to friends and post their own video responses to communicate with other viewers.
The new branded Channel will also include links to Al Jazeera English's official website.
Content from the new global broadcaster will include segments from top shows such as Frost over the World, Everywoman, Inside Iraq, Inside Story, Listening Post, Riz Khan, One-on-One, The Fabulous Picture Show, Witness and 48.
Al Jazeera English is also planning to release some exclusive web-only programming, starting with Poltical Bytes, a global conversation hosted by UN correspondent Mark Seddon which will ask the YouTube community to carry on the conversation and add video contributions.
Over time, Al Jazeera English will continue to provide new content to the site by adding at least 10-15 new clips each week.
Speaking on the announcement, Nigel Parsons, Managing Director of Al Jazeera English said: 'We believe that YouTube is a perfect platform to reach out to our audience and to give wide and easy access to new viewers around the world. We have significantly built on our distribution since launch and now reach well in access of 90 million cable and satellite households worldwide. With YouTube's community of millions of online users this is set to dramatically increase.'
Commenting on the launch, Russell Merryman, editor-in-chief, Web & New Media at Al Jazeera English: 'The new Al Jazeera English branded Channel on YouTube will allow us to approach and interact with our viewers in a new way and will give us a chance to target other potential audiences through this new global platform. It is a perfect way to promote our best content and set the news agenda for Internet users around the world.'

Al Jazeera English to become available on YouTube | Iraq Updates

Missan Oil fields start renovating
Baghdad, 17 April 2007 (Al-Sabaah)


Technical teams in southern oil company start works to renovate and rehabilitate oil fields in Missan province, authorized sources at the oil ministry said.
The oil fields were closed during the Iraq-Iran war evoked in 1980 and many facilities were destroyed during the war, while the Iranian side kept producing oil along with the past years.
The sources said that the rehabilitation works started in Abu Gharab oil fields near joint Iraqi-Iranian borders points. The sources elaborated that works of clearing the surrounding area from old mines began in the three old oil fields.

Missan Oil fields start renovating | Iraq Updates