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

This is from 2001 but it explains more of what FDI is about, it wasn't clear on it's meaning, so if anyone else has trouble this link will help

Finance & Development, June 2001 - How Beneficial Is Foreign Direct Investment for Developing Countries?

Originally Posted by DayDream

I found an interesting blog from an Iraqi and thought I would share it.

Baghdad Burning

... I'll meet you 'round the bend my friend, where hearts can heal and souls can mend...

Thursday, April 26, 2007

We've finally decided to leave. I guess I've known we would be leaving for a while now. We discussed it as a family dozens of times. At first, someone would suggest it tentatively because, it was just a preposterous idea- leaving ones home and extended family- leaving ones country- and to what? To where?

Since last summer, we had been discussing it more and more. It was only a matter of time before what began as a suggestion- a last case scenario- soon took on solidity and developed into a plan. For the last couple of months, it has only been a matter of logistics. Plane or car? Jordan or Syria? Will we all leave together as a family? Or will it be only my brother and I at first?

After Jordan or Syria- where then? Obviously, either of those countries is going to be a transit to something else. They are both overflowing with Iraqi refugees, and every single Iraqi living in either country is complaining of the fact that work is difficult to come by, and getting a residency is even more difficult. There is also the little problem of being turned back at the border. Thousands of Iraqis aren't being let into Syria or Jordan- and there are no definite criteria for entry, the decision is based on the whim of the border patrol guard checking your passport.

An airplane isn't necessarily safer, as the trip to Baghdad International Airport is in itself risky and travelers are just as likely to be refused permission to enter the country (Syria and Jordan) if they arrive by airplane. And if you're wondering why Syria or Jordan, because they are the only two countries that will let Iraqis in without a visa. Following up visa issues with the few functioning embassies or consulates in Baghdad is next to impossible.

So we've been busy. Busy trying to decide what part of our lives to leave behind. Which memories are dispensable? We, like many Iraqis, are not the classic refugees- the ones with only the clothes on their backs and no choice. We are choosing to leave because the other option is simply a continuation of what has been one long nightmare- stay and wait and try to survive.

On the one hand, I know that leaving the country and starting a new life somewhere else- as yet unknown- is such a huge thing that it should dwarf every trivial concern. The funny thing is that it’s the trivial that seems to occupy our lives. We discuss whether to take photo albums or leave them behind. Can I bring along a stuffed animal I've had since the age of four? Is there room for E.'s guitar? What clothes do we take? Summer clothes? The winter clothes too? What about my books? What about the CDs, the baby pictures?

The problem is that we don't even know if we'll ever see this stuff again. We don't know if whatever we leave, including the house, will be available when and if we come back. There are moments when the injustice of having to leave your country, simply because an imbecile got it into his head to invade it, is overwhelming. It is unfair that in order to survive and live normally, we have to leave our home and what remains of family and friends… And to what?

It's difficult to decide which is more frightening- car bombs and militias, or having to leave everything you know and love, to some unspecified place for a future where nothing is certain.

Cheers!
DayDream

Hey he forgot his other option....

Fight for what you believe in and love. If something is worth having it is worth fighting for..... Hmm, guess Iraq isn't worth fighting for.

Staff salaries and retirees between the hammer and anvil of stairs prices
Source : The morning-13 / 05 / 2007

The purchasing power of citizens and eroding Atelpe necessary requirements him.

The Ministry of Planning and Development Cooperation recently published which indicated that the rates of inflation exceeded 70%, which continues to climb .. Drawing on the prices of goods and foodstuffs in local markets in Baghdad and other governorates.

Against this rise in prices and inflation, may diminish purchasing power of the employee and retiree? Salaries considered a lot of speci alists is not ripe and the continuing rises in prices, especially fuel prices, which have doubled since repeatedly about two years.

Economists pointed out that a new salary of perception and the size of the price hike occurred. As a staff member or retiree to buy basic materials daily Maikadhah much higher than the monthly salary ..

He says economic researcher Nouri Sobeih : There is a great disparity between the monthly salary of employees in government departments and retirees, between the prices of commodities and consumer goods as well as food, clothing and fuel. This disparity latest fracture level of real income General of the Iraqi family .. As evident suffering through Croatian Serbs minuscule amounts of materials are necessary in the durability of their daily life ..

Nouri stressed the importance of the State (if it insisted on not raising the salaries of employees and retirees) policy to reduce inflation, which burden the labor tranche significantly .. That is to continue including the oldest in the Central Bank of procedures necessary for lifting the value of the Iraqi dinar against the dollar .. This makes fixed prices to some extent ..

For his part, warned economic researcher Faisal Ani of the risks of continued high inflation, which said : "It will affect much reality life for staff and retirees .. What threatens the migration of this segment of the work in the government and the search for new opportunities in the private sector ..

Or jobs abroad meant the loss of competencies needed in the country Ani added : How officer handed him languishing career late in the degree and earns a monthly maximum of 160 thousand dinars, to continue life on this amount, which it can from which to fill 30% of the needs of the family needed .. Especially since the rises in the prices of oil derivatives have been burdened suffering workers in the State, in addition to other amounts and prices forced many of us (as) a month to pay such prices for generators and other .. Or rent houses and apartments and others.

The Ministry of Finance has recently prepared a law to increase the salaries of employees and retirees at rates ranging between 40 60% .. However, a large number of workers in the public sector indicated that the increase of Atelpe all necessary requirements, Falartefaat great price, and salary rates despite the increase did not match the requirements necessary for the family ..

According to the Ministry of Planning : that the rise in inflation was rising toll index for food products, textiles and clothing, footwear, furniture, transport, communications and medical services, medicines and rents, which account for the spending by 4, 94% of the total domestic consumer spending ..

The number of staff with the grades late salary rates they receive in return illogical services and work carried out, especially in light of deteriorating security conditions. The obscenely expensive as saying ..

The student workers in the private sector the government to move towards reducing prices or increasing their salaries commensurate with the prices (firearms) in the market, particularly fuel prices and transportation .. He says a number of them : What we can provide all the necessary requirements of the house, Valeratb divided on the special needs and what remains of it is very little, to be spent on the purchase of goods and materials necessary.

1198, 2 points lower then the normal 60 point spread which should make the central bank rate 1258

Federation of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce demanding release of its assets frozen
Includes 611 thousand Iraqi trader
Source : The morning-12 / 05 / 2007

Achieved Federation of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce advanced steps on the road to activate the role of the private sector in the reconstruction of Iraq within the framework of its attempt to take Iraqi traders role in the economic variables required in the country, said Chairman of the Federation of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce Jaafar Al-Hamadani Messenger :

The Russian managed in a short period of Fidget would procedure after the elections to the unions departments scattered in 18 provinces, including Kurdistan, which in turn elected President of the Union of Chambers and his two deputies.

He demanded the government to release European stocks were a reference seized by the state to keep them from tampering remnants of the old organizations.

He said : The grounds of arrest had ended after the board of directors met and elected Russian President, VP, in the city of Arbil in Iraqi Kurdistan, where elections were held in July last year. followed by complementary elections in 27 / 12 / 2006, and expressed hope that the ministerial committee fired balances so the Union can achieve its objectives and implement its obligations.

He added that the stocks will lift the performance of unions and assist in implementing various programs to enhance the performance of Iraqi traders and expand cooperation relations with the world countries to benefit from international experiences through exchange of delegations and the establishment of training courses to prepare traders unable to cope with having dropped out of the world for many years.

Regarding the latest Al-Hamadani pointed out that the number of members belonging to the Federation and its branches throughout the country reported 611 thousand dealer and the various magistrates, indicating the importance as a critical link in the European dealings and the cooperation and coordination between the state and ensure the rights of traders in front of the business dealings.

Turning to the laws and legislation adopted as it does not suit the responsibility of the Federation and its branches in the new transformations in the country and the need to recast and renew a view to expanding the performance of the private sector, pointing out that the most important features of a market economy, which represents the economic program of the new Iraq is how effective the private sector and its role in the leadership of economic transformations.

Jaafar Al-Hamadani addressed in a recent issue of the utmost importance when touched on intellectual property law, said : "If what has been written for this law recognized and successful, it would result in both economic and social variables.

It stressed the need for Iraq to join the World Trade Organization and said : that means re-join international role required of Iraq and entering the global market, equivalent to a robust economy, and he enjoys many advantages that it is ruling most of the treasures and natural resources is one of the rich nations in the world, pointing at the importance of openness to the world and to achieve the return of Iraq into the international arena.

And on the qualifications to join Iraq and the ability of the private sector to lead the economic transformation, he said : that Iraq possesses the expertise of mental and intellectual and scientific and skilled in every country in the world - that the private sector needs to support the government at this stage for the advancement of performance and achieving transformations.

Al-Hamadani also pointed out that the European sponsored and organized a number of exhibitions in the reconstruction of Iraq, Iran and Turkey intention to stay in the Gulf States where he participated in the exhibition appointed Tabb in Turkey as well as in the exhibition Diyarbakir, an exhibition of medical and pharmaceutical industries in the State of Kuwait brotherly pointing to the importance of such exhibitions in informing the merchant and businessman Iraqi on the findings of the evolution of the world in different areas and the transfer of global experiences in this field.

Among the most notable achievements affirmed that the European approached the ministries of Finance and Trade to activate the role of traders and contributing to bring items on the ration card as evidenced them to defy odds and despite the circumstances brought security complex.

Al-Hamadani stressed that the Russian was still pursuing the issue of traders affected by the terrorist operations in commercial markets in Baghdad and other governorates, and demanded compensation, in addition to the Lebanese Ministry of Finance on the granting of traders as soft loans to expand their business has gone remarkably spare Union in this regard.

He pointed at the conclusion of the meeting, to the promising future awaiting Iraq after it was approved Investment Law, which he described as the key to the President starting economic development in the country, will contribute to attracting foreign capital and modern technology, which contributes to the reconstruction of Iraq, pointing out that the advantages included law guaranteeing the rights of Iraqis in true partnership with international companies as well as contribute to the deadly combat unemployment through job creation and broad.

We are frustrated at the lack of progress made politically Maliki

(صوت العراق) - 14-05-2007

(Voice of Iraq) - 14-05-2007

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Republican Senator : We are frustrated at the lack of progress made politically Maliki
Washington agreed to a limited dialogue with Tehran on Iraq, Mubarak refused to extinguish debts on Iraq

Baghdad Karim Zaire
Washington Marsa Aboutouk
Abu Dhabi Tehran time
Across Mitch McConnell minority leader republic in the Senate expressed frustration from the Iraqi government saying (that the Republicans were disappointed because of a tremendous lack of political progress). Network (CNN said that) the American news (that the Iraqi government has a great disappointment).
Meanwhile, the United States agreed yesterday to open a limited dialogue with Iran on Iraq, including stopping its support for the militias of the religious parties participating in the Iraqi government and stop interfering in the internal affairs of this country, which suffers from sectarian violence and instability. The White House said that American and Iranian officials were likely to be the level of ambassadors will meet in a few weeks
Coming in Baghdad to discuss security in Iraq. He said Gordon Jondro reporters aboard American President's plane, which was en route to Virginia, you can expect a meeting in the next few weeks between Ambassador / Chester / Crocker and the Iranians.

..

The aim is to try to ensure that the Iranians will play a constructive role in Iraq ..

.

This is an ongoing process designed to try to play a constructive role of Iraq's neighbors. Iran is of course great.For his part, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said his country does not relieve Iraq of the debts owed to it.He stressed that it was not government debt funds, but the Egyptians who had dealings with Iraq and the Iraqis. With that said Leah McBride spokeswoman for Vice President Dick Cheney at the end of the talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak that Washington was ready for talks with Iran only on the issues of Iraq, but it declined to confirm a meeting shortly Iranian-American in Iraq while Cheney discussed included in the shuttle visits and hold talks with Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz and Jordan Abdullah II and Mubarak situation in Iraq and the Iranian role in the region. With sources close to the talks told Cheney that the Arab leaders during their talks that his country was committed to defending the region against the Iranian attempts to expand the use of all means, including the military option in case Iran rejected the insistence of the international resolutions which demanded that it cease enrichment and abolish its nuclear program, while insisting on intervention in Iraq. Cheney and transfer to the Arab leaders insisted American president to conduct reconciliation among Iraqis without exclusion and the abolition of militias and the law abolishing the Baath Party. Cheney concluded his visit to the region of his return to Jordan, where he was held Saturday evening held talks with Jordanian King Abdullah II in Aqaba.

Baghdad-Damascus road security
For his part, President reiterated UAE Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, during his talks with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Abu Dhabi yesterday fears of the Gulf Cooperation Council on Iran's nuclear program, his country's interference in Iraq in response to his request to hold security treaty with the GCC states. The news agency Mehr Anbar Iranian Nejad invited to the departure of American forces from the Gulf and saying to the President Emirates (help each other we can transform the Gulf to the Gulf of peace and friendship). At a local level devoted elect Nuri al-Maliki secretary general of the Islamic Dawa Party in Iraq to succeed spokesperson Ibrahim Jaafari undeclared dissension in the party after no competition on the Secretariat with Jaafari, who held the party's secretariat and a member of the Political Bureau writer at the conclusion of the party yesterday in Baghdad. For his part, General William Caldwell, spokesman for the multinational forces in a press conference attended by CNN Brigadier General Mark Kourkans commander of the combat units to land the multi-national forces in Anbar to the security of the capital plan has not been fully implemented because all the forces have reached Iraq, explaining that the arrival of troops only complete in June next time Kourkans described the security situation in Anbar as very serious. He (it could not ensure the security of passengers overland to Syria and Oman). He said with regard to travelers there abductions and murders can not guarantee the security of traveling to Syria, said Caldwell deterioration of the security situation in the province of Diyala, said reinforcements sent there to regain control. What the House witnessed an Iraqi reference to the failure of a plan to impose law and the claim hosting Maliki and the ministers of interior and defense to inquire about the failure of the plan Caldwell said that the MPs were discussing the security situation and this is something good, and when they call the commander and the ministers of interior and defense is not bad and they Ayhamlonhm responsibility for what happened. He Caldwell that there was an escalation of violence in Diyala and General in charge there increased the number of troops stationed at three times and there are more than three thousand additional troops to control the security situation. Regarding the missing American soldiers yesterday south of Baghdad, said Caldwell our efforts to find the soldiers and work is continuing where four thousand common soldier linked this process to locate them also admitted Caldwell markedly higher unidentified corpses to be found, he said, are low compared with before the imposition the law, part of General Kourkans explained that there are no fears about the growing power of the tribes in Anbar at the time of the State of Iraq Islamic group, which includes Al Qaeda claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of three soldiers in Mahmoudiyah.

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

Ani hailed President of the Court of the Republic

(صوت العراق) - 14-05-2007

(Voice of Iraq) - 14-05-2007

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14/05/2007

Baghdad-Kuna Council voted unanimously yesterday, the Iraqi parliament to appoint a champion Ani leadership in the Iraqi Accord Front, the Iraqi Islamic Party, Chairman of the Presidential Office in Iraq. The Iraqi Parliament Speaker Dr. Mahmoud Almchidani that Ani was appointed President of the Court of the Presidency of the Republic of Iraq after the members of parliament had been unanimously to approve it.The champion Ani one of the most prominent political leaders in the Iraqi Islamic Party and the Iraqi Accord Front, and was one of the members of the committee that wrote the Iraqi constitution is also a prominent member of the supreme body for national reconciliation in Iraq.
The approval came on your appointment as President of the Court of the Republic's Presidency by the Iraqi parliament after days of the announcement of Iraqi Vice President Hashemi said he discussed with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki activate the role Accord Front in the government after discussions with President Jalal Talabani and his deputy, Dr. Adel Abdel Mahdi to address the political process and participation Iraqi government.

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

Stories from inside the neighborhood of Justice in Baghdad

(صوت العراق) - 14-05-2007

(Voice of Iraq) - 14-05-2007

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Coexistence with the crisis ..

أو الهجرة

Or immigration

BAGHDAD : «Middle East»
a neighborhood located west of the Iraqi capital, a Sunni majority, the first thing that when he entered You heaps of garbage and litter spread on the pavement in the median of carrots streets.
Says Abu Omar, a resident of the neighborhood, said that he had seen cars waste collection of Baghdad Secretariat for a long time, when people wanted to live clean-up campaigns in collaboration with the Municipal Council did not find help in the matter. He adds «heard Secretary of Baghdad in one of his statements, saying that the amounts allocated to improve services in hot spots will be open», and continued saying «However, some workers who were hired for the garbage left work after one month of being appointed as they did not receive anything from their wages».

Abu Omar says that in spite of all the complaints made by residents of the area of the municipal council, «However, the reality of the situation remained as it is», became district justice, which is one of the distinctive neighborhoods in Baghdad could not be a place to live ..«Has accumulated waste and scavengers, and spread insects and ponds muddy waters, reptiles and animals bulk».Chose Abu Abdul Rahman another citizen who lives in the neighborhood talk about another aspect of the suffering of the population living Justice of lack of access to fuel several months ago. Says «forced to buy from the black market amounts fabled burdened people living», and said that the region had not seen oil White article several months ago. According to him, the share of the region handed to the mobilization station (Mullah wife) in the university district, which is already not enough people living in the university.

He added that the rule applies to the case of liquid gas, which have been allocated (140) bottle of gas per month for the neighborhood, while the quota for each district (490) vial. He said «Even wagons carrying bottles of gas labs mobilization gas stopped working, because the government deployed checkpoints at the entrances of the neighborhood objecting and prevent them from entering for unknown reasons».

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

Virtue »: how to explain« Hakim »between Sistani and the mandate faqih

(صوت العراق) - 14-05-2007

(Voice of Iraq) - 14-05-2007

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After dropping the Supreme Council for the word «revolution» and kick reference Najaf

BAGHDAD : «Middle East»
Her religious parties and Iraqi political, that the recent changes brought about by the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq headed by Abdel Aziz al-Hakim, evidence that the Board adopt a policy contrary to those adopted during his stay in Iran.He described the Vice-President of the Republic of Iraq, the step as a correct reading of the reality of the country.
The Board had issued a statement the day before yesterday, following a meeting of an expanded cadre in the party's headquarters in Baghdad, which he dropped the word «revolution» of the name and the adoption of reference Ayatollah Ali Sistani.The statement also called for a number of recommendations subsidy, the government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, and to continue to impose the ban on the Baath Party, and the activation of the Anti-Terrorism Act and support the security plan in Baghdad and the draft national reconciliation disbanding the militias, and the activation of the project provinces, with emphasis on the unity of Iraq and access to «a practical and constitutional solution to the border provinces and the disputed areas, including Kirkuk».

The MP said the name of Sharif prominent member of the Islamic Virtue Party, said that the changes announced by the Supreme Council is proof that the political parties currently operating in the political arena Iraqi «differed significantly from those that previously worked».

He told the Sheriff «Middle East» that «all Islamic parties in power now common, including the Supreme Council, is the active parties concepts differ much from the former; is generally believed modern political mechanisms such as contributing to the democratic transfer of power and peaceful rotation of power», He added Sharif, saying «This means that the Supreme Council action in accordance with these principles since entering Iraq because of the requirements of the political situation in Iraq, and entered the elections on a democratic basis, but found that it must regulate this matter has recently been legally through a conference of the party and the announcement of the changes as it deems is the correct». He said that «Supreme Council political institution found that the change mechanisms and rules of procedure and must be named by a country».

Al-Sherif said that most Islamic parties, particularly those rallying under the banner of the United Iraqi Alliance, all due to the Repertory religious affairs Ali al-Sistani, adopts proposals and the introduction of his opinion.However, when asked about the reasons for changing the reference from the Supreme Council of Iran to Najaf, Al-Sherif said that «the religious leader Ali Al-Sistani does not believe the mandate Faqih, but the Board believes this theory, and so far I have had no information on how to reconcile these two theories». He asked Sharif «Is it possible that the Supreme Council adopts the theory Sistani?

».

This is what I could not understand so far ».

Observers noted in the new program of the Supreme Council, indications of desire in dissociating himself from Iran, and the party winning Iraqi nature, as well as the competition Sadri trend, which is the pride that was founded in Iraq, and that he suffered from the former Iraqi regime than supporters Supreme Council who fled into exile.

The MP for forgiveness Sa'idi bloc chest, had said earlier told «Middle East», the changes are «internal affair» no relation to electrically Sadri, said «must they (the Board) noted, the current situation of Iraq».

..

Her «it is not important that these decisions do Sadri trend or not ..

».

The question is : will the interest of the Iraqi people? ».The Vice President Tariq Hashimi had received at his home yesterday afternoon Ammar Hakim, the son of Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, and Secretary General of the martyr chamber, and listened to a detailed explanation on the decisions of the ninth annual meeting of the Supreme Council of the Iraqi Islamic.Hashemi promised Conference «reflection of a correct reading of the current political reality», according to a statement issued by the office of Hashemi.

Meanwhile, Hammam Bakir Hammoudi Council member that «change has not been fundamentally changed, as did peering change the Islamic identity of Iraq and its privacy, and also overlooks the directions and policies of openness to the public, the nation, and not a case of narrow factional».

Hammoudi added that «amendments made is an expression of the different task, considering that his (the Board) to mobilize the nation and enlighten to topple the former regime ended, but now embodied is to mobilize the nation to build a just and equitable political participation of all sides».

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

Businessmen and economists were discussing the new Iraqi investment law in Babylon
The Cabinet called to the formation of a safe zone for investment

Source : The morning-13 / 05 / 2007

Discussed and businessmen are interested in economic affairs in the province of Babylon the most important articles and paragraphs of the new investment law asserting that the law is a positive step the Iraqi government in the right direction.

And among participants in a symposium organized by the Federation of Iraqi businessmen in preserving the most important advantages enjoyed by the new law at the level of activation of various kinds of investment in Iraq, including drives economic development forward, pointing out that all Arab states characterized by a strong economy was able to strengthen its economy through investment laws that have opened markets of these countries in the world.

Dr. Safaa Taqi Eissawi assistant professor in the Faculty of Law, University of Babel that the new investment law is the most important step of the Iraqi government towards the development of the Iraqi economy and reconstruction of infrastructure, pointing out that the new law contains articles and paragraphs encourages well-Arab and foreign investors to enter the Iraqi arena being equated rights investor between Iraqi and other Arab and foreign investors, he is at a distance equal to everyone except for the right to own land, which make it exclusive to the Iraqi investors.

Dr. Eissawi stressed on the need to initiate the formation of the cabinet to a safe area can invite foreign investors by explaining that one of the first guarantees to be provided to activate the investment law is implemented properly to ensure security because investors do not care about the financial support as their security assurances.

For his part, Jaafar Baqer Said that the President of the Russian Federation is adopting currently task of educating Iraqi businessmen in maintaining the new investment law affirming that the union a broad program includes holding seminars and organizing workshops for educating law, which he said was to meet all the aspirations and expectations of traders and investors primarily with the Iraqis.

Said called to the need to speed up the government in the formation of committees domestic investment stipulated in the law in order to perform their duties within the province, which it operates. It was during the discussion of the mechanism for guaranteeing the rights of Iraqi workers by foreign companies expected to work in Iraq under the new law and how to activate the labor laws in force to ensure Iraqi these rights, also touched Discussants to how to deal with these companies, which would enjoy legal personality in Iraqi territory.