Thread: Iraq/Dinar News until 5/23/07 Midnight CST

Originally Posted by bigopie

I concur Mike...as long as you have an insufficient government running like they have we will have to wait and wait for a revel.....they do not have a clue at what they are doing...Maliki needs to go.....you can't tell me he can't see what is going on in his own country....people are losing confidence in this government.....fast....its all about pocketing money in their own pockets and to hell with their people.....bold statements from everyone....yet,all we see are delays upon delays .....looking like moneybags was right on with a slow grow....because these Iraqi's have no clue.....IMHO....Pat

I totally agree as week after week the illiterate, corrupt and lazy Iraqi leadership gets jack squat done. It never ends with these people.

Adnan Mufti : I have no flexibility in the Kurdish leaders

(صوت العراق) - 23-05-2007

(Voice of Iraq) - 23-05-2007

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عدنان المفتي: ليست لدى القيادات الكردية مرونة في مسألتي الفدرالية وتطبيق المادة ( 140 )

Adnan Mufti : not in the Kurdish leaders flexibility in federal issues and the application of Article (140)

قال ممثل الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة في العراق،الثلاثاء، إنه التقى القيادات الكردية لبحث التعديلات الدستورية المرتقبة في الدستور العراقي، فيما قال عدنان المفتي رئيس برلمان إقليم كردستان إنه ليست لدى القيادات الكردية مرونة في مسألتي الفدرالية وتطبيق المادة 140 من الدستور.

The representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations in Iraq, on Tuesday, he met with Kurdish leaders to discuss constitutional amendments in the future Iraqi constitution, said Adnan Mufti, head of the Kurdistan Parliament did not have the Kurdish leaders flexibility in the federal issues and the application of Article 140 of the Constitution.

وأوضح المفتي في مؤتمر صحفي مشترك عقده بأربيل، الثلاثاء، مع أشرف قاضي ممثل الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة في العراق إنه "فيما يتعلق بالمسائل الأساسية فنحن ليس لدينا مرونة وخاصة الديمقراطية والفدرالية وتطبيق المادة 140 من الدستور."

Mufti explained in a joint press conference in Arbil, Tuesday, with Ashraf Qazi, representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations in Iraq that "with regard to key issues, we do not have the flexibility, especially democracy and federalism and the application of Article 140 of the Constitution."

وأضاف "أما فيما يخص توسيع العملية السياسية لتشمل جميع الاطراف فنحن معها."

He added : "With regard to expanding the political process to include all the parties we are with them."

وتنص الفقرة 140 من الدستور العراقي الحالي على أن يتم تطبيع الأوضاع في كركوك بإعادة المواطنين الأكراد والتركمان المهجرين منها إلى مناطقهم الأصلية، وإعادة المواطنين العرب الوافدين إليها من محافظات الوسط والجنوب في زمن النظام السابق إلى محافظاتهم الأصلية، وإجراء إحصاء شامل يتم بعده استفتاء يقرر فيه مواطنو المحافظة مصير المحافظة وما إذا كانت ستنضم إلى إقليم كردستان.

"Paragraph 140 of the current Iraqi constitution will be the normalization of the situation in Kirkuk to the Kurds and Turkmen citizens displaced to their areas of origin, and re-entrants to the Arab citizens of the central and southern governorates in the time of the former regime added to the original, The conduct of a comprehensive census is beyond decide in a referendum to maintain the fate of the citizens to preserve and whether to join the Kurdistan region.

وتابع المفتي "بحثنا مع ممثل الامين العام المادة قانون النفط، كما أبلغناه استعدادنا لإبداء كل التعاون من أجل إنجاح المشروع السياسي في العراق."

The Mufti continued "We discussed with the representative of the Secretary-General Rule oil law, and informed him of our readiness to show full cooperation for the success of the political project in Iraq."

ويناقش البرلمان العراقي حاليا مسودة قانون مثير للجدل بشأن توزيع عائدات الثروات الطبيعية في العراق وخصوصا النفط والغاز بين المحافظات والأقاليم.

The Iraqi Parliament is currently discussing draft of a controversial law on the distribution of the proceeds of natural resources in Iraq, especially the oil and gas between the provinces and territories.

من جانبه قال ممثل الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة في العراق أشرف قاضي إنه التقى القيادات الكردية في اقليم كردستان وبحث معهم التعديلات الدستورية المرتقبة، مبديا تفاؤلا من نجاح عملية صوغ التعديلات الدستورية.

Meanwhile, the representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations in Iraq, Ashraf Qazi, that he met Kurdish leaders in the Kurdistan region and discussed with them the forthcoming constitutional amendments, expressing optimism on the success of the process of drafting constitutional amendments.

وتقوم لجنة مختصة في البرلمان العراقي من كل الكتل البرلمانية بمناقشة لإجراء تعديلات على الدستور الحالي بمعونة من الأمم المتحدة، ويفترض أن تقدم هذه التعديلات إلى البرلمان لإقرارها ومن ثم يجري استفتاء عام عليها لكي تقر.

The International Committee of the competent Iraqi Parliament from all parliamentary blocs to discuss amendments to the current Constitution aid from the United Nations, and is supposed to submit these amendments to the Parliament for approval and then hold a referendum in order to recognize it.

وجدد قاضي التأكيد على أن دور بعثة الأم المتحدة هو تقديم المشورة و التعاون مع العراقيين وقال "ليس لدينا أجندة خاصة بنا."

The new judge stressed that the role of United Nations mission is to provide advice and cooperation with the Iraqis, said : "We have no special agenda us."

ونوه قاضي الى أنه بحث مع القيادات الكردية دور( يونامي) بعثة الأمم المتحدة لتقديم المساعدة للعراق في دعم مؤسسات حكومة الاقليم، معلنا استمرار البعثة في تقديم الدعم لهذه المؤسسات.

The judge noted that he discussed the role with the Kurdish leaders (Ionami) of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq to support the institutions of the territorial government, announcing the continuation of the mission to provide support to these institutions.

وتابع ممثل الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة أنه أبلغ تحيات الأمين العام للامم المتحدة بان كي مون إلى رئيس إقليم كردستان مسعود البارزاني وهنأه بمناسبة مرور عام على اعلان تشكيلة حكومة اقليم كردستان الموحدة.

The representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations that he told greetings of the Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki Moon to the President of the Kurdistan region Masoud Barzani, congratulating him on the occasion of the anniversary of the Declaration of formation of the Kurdistan unified government.

SEEMS THAT REPORTS ARE RIGHT IF JUST THE COMMITTE WOULD PRESENT THEIR BILLS FORMALLY FOR A VOTE, PARIALMENT WOULD HAVE THE VOTES TO PASS...SO, WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN DONE?

Iraq's premier running out of time on reforms
Published Date: May 23, 2007
By Mariam Karouny

After a year in power, Iraq's prime minister stands accused of failing to seize chances to make painful changes required to stabilise the country. Nouri Al-Maliki took power with the image of a strong man who could take tough decisions, particularly in curbing the Mehdi Army, a Shiite militia loyal to fiery cleric Moqtada Al-Sadr, and which is accused of running sectarian death squads. Officials from within and outside Maliki's coalition admit that stabilising Iraq could be "mission impossible", but they said Maliki should have reshuffled a weak government which has failed to deliver key services and security.

A series of US- backed security plans has failed to end the violence in the country and insurgents seem to have intensified their attacks outside the capital. Some Sunni Arab officials say that Maliki's advisers, most of whom come from Maliki's Shiite Dawa party, have given the prime minister a distorted and biased image of the situation. A senior Shi'ite official said Sadr's supporters, the Sadrists, had initially allowed Maliki to crack down on the Mehdi army.

"The Sadrists have given Maliki a great chance. A chance which they did not give and will not give to any prime minister - they gave him a green light to go after the militias," said the official, who is not from the Sadrist bloc. He said that Maliki's weak government and incompetent security forces, which are infiltrated by militias, failed to make the most of that opportunity. Analysts agree that Maliki's government is not capable of controlling major parts of Iraq and ending violence. "Everybody knows now that the government is not delivering. Maliki himself knows this and that is why he kept promising people a reshuffle," a government official told Reuters.

Time is of the essence for Maliki. The US commander in Iraq will make a progress report in September on the impact of a US military build up which has seen thousands of additional troops pour into Baghdad. Washington wants targets key to ending the violence to be met by then. These "benchmarks" include constitutional change, an oil law to attract investments and ending a ban on Saddam Hussein's former Baath members from holding office.

Maliki, who was dependent on Sadr for political support, has promised many times to reshuffle his cabinet and to bring in more competent ministers. But his pledges have come to nothing. Last month, Sadrists pulled their six ministers from the government and left it to Maliki to pick replacements. But Maliki is now accused from within his coalition of being too keen to promote his personal favourites and aides from his own Dawa party. Officials in the government defend Maliki by saying that Iraq's fractured political system makes it difficult for one man to achieve major breakthroughs.

"You have to please everybody. Parliament, political factions, religious leadership, ethnic and sectarian groups are all on his list and he has to deal with all that," said another Shiite official. "What adds to it is that all these groups do not work with each other or coordinate." Ali Al-Dabbagh, government spokesman, acknowledged that the situation was difficult, but said that Maliki's major achievement was promoting reconciliation among factions. "This is a brave thing to do and he took it seriously," he said.

Many officials from the Sunni Arab minority, which make up the backbone of the insurgency, have told Reuters that Maliki needed to make a major change of personnel. They said the people around Maliki were offering him biased reports. "When we are sitting with him he listens and he seems convinced of what we tell him and what are our complaints. He promises to work things out in a different way," said a Sunni official from the Accordance Front. "But weeks later nothing changes. It is all the effect of the staff around him. They are all almost from one group and they send him a one-sided picture," he said. - Reuters

Talabani slimming in Minnesota

CHICAGO (AFP)
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani has begun a weight loss treatment expected to last several weeks at the Mayo Clinic in the United States.
The Mayo Clinic would not disclose what type of treatments Talabani would receive as part of his “comprehensive examination,” but the 74-year-old portly politician said last week that the tests were aimed at helping him to shed some weight. “I have no health problems except for being overweight and I intend to treat that,” 74-year-old Talabani said last week, according to a statement released by his office.
“I will go to the United States soon for general medical tests to help me to lose weight,” the Kurdish veteran leader added. In March, Talabani was hospitalised in Jordan for two weeks suffering from what his doctors called fatigue dehydration. Abdel Aziz Al Hakim, the head of one of Iraq’s most powerful Shia parties, recently traveled to the United States for medical tests, but his office did not specify what the tests were for.

Mr. Finance Minister Receives Chinese Ambassador to Baghdad (Voice of Iraq) - 23-05-2007 (Voice of Iraq) - 23-05-2007

MERCIFUL Ministry of Finance The Ministry of Finance Information Office Media Bureau told a press A press Baghdad 23/5/200705/23/2007
Mr. Finance Minister Receives Chinese Ambassador to Baghdad), Mr. Al Baqer Jabr Al-Zubaydi Finance Minister Jin Alexaidonk People's Republic of China ambassador in Baghdad,

Discussed during the meeting, bilateral relations between the two countries and ways of strengthening them in order to serve the common interests between.

It was during the meeting discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and ways of strengthening them in order to serve the common interests between and praised Mr. Minister historical relations between the two countries stressed the importance of strengthening and that China's important role in the reconstruction process in Iraq and participate in the investment process and contributing to the oil and electricity projects which are of vital projects which require expertise Chinese companies to develop.

He praised the minister's historic relationship between the two countries, stressing on the importance of strengthening and that China's important role in the reconstruction process in Iraq and participate in the investment process and contributing to the oil and electricity projects which are of vital projects which require expertise Chinese companies to develop and during the meeting discuss the issue of debt China on Iraq, it was agreed that government and Chinese companies such documents debt to match them according to international controls adopted in the debt settlement through an international company specialized in this field.

It was during the meeting discuss the issue of Iraq's debts to China, it was agreed that government and the Chinese company documents this debt to match them according to international controls adopted in the debt settlement through an international company specialized in this area and invited Mr. Minister to the contribution of the Chinese government in the rehabilitation of the Iraqi training centers in the area of Labor and Social Affairs and financial centers and instructive machinery and equipment to enable it to develop its performance, which will in turn develop the performance of Iraqi workers which will reflect positively on the development of Iraqi news in the financial area and accounting

He called on the Chinese government to contribute in the rehabilitation of the Iraqi training centers in the area of labor and social affairs and financial centers and instructive machinery and equipment to enable it to develop its performance, which will in turn develop the performance of Iraqi workers which will reflect positively on the development of Iraqi news in the financial area and accounting minister emphasized that the study of the use of sewing machines in support of the Chinese families of martyrs, disabled persons for the purpose of rehabilitation of these families and to enable them to upgrade their social reality and living and the elimination of unemployment And Mr. Minister that the study of the use of sewing machines in support of the Chinese families of martyrs, disabled persons for the purpose of rehabilitation of these families and to enable them to upgrade their social reality and living and the elimination of unemployment praised the efforts of Chinese Ambassador Mr. Finance Minister completion of the budget in 2007 and his son in extinguishing the debts of Iraq, this meeting was attended by Mr. adviser Finance Minister 0 He praised the efforts of Chinese Ambassador Mr. Finance Minister completion of the budget in 2007 and his son in extinguishing the debts of Iraq, this meeting was attended by adviser to Mr. Finance Minister

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

Leading Indian business chamber signs MoUs with three Iraqi industry


NEW DELHI, May 23 (KUNA) -- In a bid to kickstart the Indo-Iraqi business-to-business ties, leading business chamber Federation of Indian Chambder of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) Wednesday signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with three leading Iraqi chambers - International Union of Businessmen in Iraq, Iraqi Trade Chamber Management Council and Iraqi Businessmen Union.

The MoUs were signed here today by Saket Mehra, Co-Chairman, India-Iraq Joint Business Council (JBC) on behalf of FICCI and Abdul Hameed Al-Ukaby, Chairman, International Union of Businessmen in Iraq, Firas Al Hamadani of Iraqi Trade Chamber Management Council and Abdul Hussein J Rasheed Mubarka of Iraqi Businessmen Union.

The MoUs envisage encouragement and facilitation of contracts and other commercial and economic cooperation agreements between companies from both countries authorised to initiate foreign trade and international economic cooperation. Apart from undertaking complete market and publicity studies, the respective chambers of the two countries would provide the necessary support to companies participating in trade fairs and exhibition organized in Iraq and India.

Addressing an interactive meeting of Indian industry leaders with the official cum business delegation from Iraq organized by FICCI, after the signing-in ceremony, Haifa A Hamid Al Kharadagi, Director General (Investment), Ministry of Industry, Iraq, invited Indian investors to participate in the rehabilitation projects identified by the Iraqi government.

Kharadagi said the new investment law framed by the Iraqi government gives wide-ranging guarantees to foreign investors. Iraq, she said, was looking for Indian partners for production sharing and management contracts in areas such as oil, industry, electricity and trade.

According to the new investment law of Iraq, the investor shall have the right to take out the capital he brought into Iraq and its proceeds in accordance with the provision of this law and pursuant to the instructions of the Central Bank of Iraq in an exchangeable currency after paying all his taxes and debts to the Iraqi Government and all other authorities, she said, adding, "the foreign investor shall have the right to exchange shares and bonds listed in the Iraqi Stock Exchange and form investment portfolios in shares and bonds."

Article originally published by KUNA (Kuwait News Agency) 23-May-07

Former security personnel reluctant to report to Interior Ministry



Azzaman, May 23, 2007



Many members of the former security forces are reluctant to join the Interior Ministry for fear of retaliation.



The ministry, in a bid to accommodate former security forces, has given those residing in Iraq 60 days to report to its offices if they were willing to join the new security organs.



Those living outside Iraq have 90 days to report.



The measure, according to Lt. Gen. Abdulkarim Khalifa, is part of government plans to reverse a U.S.-sponsored decree which disbanded the former army, security organizations and other institutions which served under the regime of Saddam Hussein.



Many in Iraq and abroad believe the decree was one of the main catalysts to fuel violence and the growing insurgency against U.S. occupation troops.



But the move is drawing harsh criticism from several political factions and former security personnel themselves.



Some political factions, particularly those dominated by Iraqi Shiites, see the move as an attempt to resurrect former security organs and members of Saddam Hussein’s Baath party.



They are keen to keep the so-called policy of debaathification under which Baath party members are not allowed to take up government positions or join the armed forces.



On the other hand, many former Baath party members fear that once they register with the Interior Ministry their identity will be exposed and as a result become easy targets for ‘death squads’ bent on liquidating former army, police and security officers.

BAGHDAD -

America's top diplomat in Iraq urged Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's government to speed up reforms geared toward achieving national reconciliation, saying it was its duty to do so soon.

Ambassador Ryan Crocker listed the adoption of a draft law for the equitable distribution of oil wealth, another to integrate members of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party in government departments, amending the constitution to satisfy Sunni Arab demands, and holding local elections as measures that the government had a "responsibility to tackle in the coming weeks."

"These are tasks that must be completed, and completed soon, to achieve national reconciliation," he said in an Arabic-language statement marking the first anniversary of al-Maliki's Shiite-dominated government.

"The first anniversary of a democratic government in Iraq is a victory for the people of Iraq. They've chosen their leaders and now it is the right of every citizen in a democratic society to expect measures and decisions from their elected representatives to serve the interests of Iraqis."

Crocker's statement provided the latest evidence that Washington had al-Maliki's government on notice that it must meet several policy benchmarks to secure continued U.S. support at a time when the Bush administration was under congressional pressure over its Iraq policies.

"The transition of any nation to a democratic system is considered a complex process ... It is easy to focus on the problems and challenges. Easy but wrong," said Crocker, who took over his job in March.

U.S. envoy urges speeded reforms in Iraq - Yahoo! News


AND STILL NO MOVEMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT TO SIMPLY BRING THESE ISSUES TO A VOTE...THEY BRAGGED THEY HAVE THE VOTES...

VERY INTERESTING NO INCLUSION OF THE KURD'S NEED FOR PASSAGE OF AMMENDMENTS 140/142...MAYBE, all the articles this morning are correct in that that Kurds have backed down from their benchmark and that they will support HCL...but time grows very short to get in place these triggers for the RV before 1 June 2007 (Stock Market opens).

Of the three important issues stated the only one that the Iraqi's have met was the last one on local elections - as if you remember the news from a week or so ago; the Parliament set up and then announced the names of the Board that will oversee setting up local elections...they were/are to report back to the Parliament with a plan and a date for local elections this fall...

A press / Ministry of Finance
(Voice of Iraq) - 23-05-2007 | Sotaliraq.com - ÕæÊ ÇáÚÑÇÞ

Name of God the Merciful

The Ministry of Finance-Information Office / press pass
بغـــــــــــــــــداد

((D Messrs.. Barham Salih, the Deputy Prime Minister Baqer Jabr Al-Zubaydi Finance Minister desired Nigervan Mr. Barzani, head of the territory as Stan))

D received. Barham Salih, Deputy Prime Minister and Mr. Baqir Jabr Al-Zubaydi Finance Minister Nigervan Mr. Barzani, head of the Kurdistan Regional government, also attended the meeting, Dr Ali Baban, Minister of Planning and d. Hussein Shahrastani Oil Minister Mr. Sarkis Aga Jan finance minister Territory and a number of advisers, Mr. Minister of Finance and officials in the territory as Stan.
It was during the meeting, the reality of services in the Kurdistan region and major projects carried out in the area of housing, reconstruction and development of universities, water projects and other service projects that contribute to achieving prosperity.
And Mr. Minister of Finance said that the ministry had started to follow up the implementation of the budget disbursement for each governorates of Iraq, including the province's budget, which would contribute significantly to the evolution of the reality of services called for a strengthening of resources through the activation of customs and tax departments in the province

Dhi Qar : Conference of the clans to support the imposition of the law in the province
(Voice of Iraq) - 23-05-2007 | Sotaliraq.com - ÕæÊ ÇáÚÑÇÞ

Nasiriyah News Network / Mortada Hamid :

In order to maintain a safe and stable country held Directorate of clans of Dhi Qar, a conference of clan elders and dignitaries in the province in support of the government of Mr.

Maliki, a plan to impose law and stanch the blood of innocent people and impose security and stability within the province attended the conference, a large number of clan elders addition to a representative of the office of Ayatollah Al-Nasseri, Mr. Aziz Kadhim Alwan governor of Dhi Qar and representatives of the security services .. The Conference addressed several things, the most important of the security situation in the province after the recent events which affected the Organization of dozens of innocent people, and gave Sheikh Sabah al-Rumayd Faris word Senate clans Dhi Qar stressed the cooperation and cohesion because the challenges are great and the importance of unifying the floor and political discourse ..
And after speaking Sheikh Jassim Gabri word from the Islamic Conference of Iraqi Tribes explaining the security problems that have occurred, which caused insecurity in the province and stressed that the Iraqi clans with a plan to impose law and the state, and pointed to the position of Juwaibiri clans, which have a proud history in confronting dictatorships denounced suspicions receiving them, and emphasized that Al Juwaibiri clans will be at the forefront of tribes that supported the state.
As Mr. Aziz Kadhim Alwan governor of Dhi Qar stability enjoyed by the Dhi Qar comes from the clans must apply the law to everyone, the governor also offered some decisions which called for the support of clan elders and not to allow any person to carry a weapon in the street and outlawing law and the State disowns him, It also demanded that each clan is preventing her from attending any point armed graduated to the State law and not allowing any of the suspicious and dubious exercise of the losses that occurred in the province borne by the armed group.
In an interview with News Network Nasiriyah explained Brigadier Mohammed Moussa Director of the clans of Dhi Qar, the importance of convening such a conference and that he came (to support our elected and support for a plan to impose law and the maintenance of the province were stable during the recent debate that took place in the diagnosis of maintaining the causal factors also been issued Closing statement denouncing all armed rallies)
Meanwhile, Sheikh Sabah al-Rumayd Faris, President of the Senate of clans of Dhi Qar, in a meeting with the News Network Nasiriyah that (this conference, which was attended by clerics and tribal leaders and dignitaries in Dhi Qar was aimed at strengthening the spirit of cooperation and strengthening brotherly clan security situation in the province was discussed and what was going on on maintaining security because we have many challenges and difficulties) ..
For his part, Mr. Aziz Kadhim Alwan governor of Dhi Qar, because of the events that took place in Dhi Qar last week (clan elders were meeting in the governorate and met all to renounce armed rallies and innocence of all armed out against the State and against the law and they emphasized with the law and the State and also agreed clan-to-be with the State in order to establish law and order) ..