Thread: Archive Latest News - Think Tank - 16/08/07 - 03/11/07

Iraq hopes Russia will write off 80% of its debt - FM

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said on Friday Iraq hopes to sign an agreement with Russia to write off 80 percent of its debt by the end of the year.

He pointed out that during the Moscow talks Iraq “saw Moscow’s understanding of the debt write-off issue.”

“We hope to sign an agreement on writing off 80 percent of Iraq’s debts by the end of the year,” he said.

Next month Moscow will bring together Russian and Iraqi experts, who will outline a memorandum of cooperation in economy and other areas between the two countries, Zebari said.

He supposed that in December a ministerial meeting of the commission on Iraq will take place in the Russian capital in December.

“We cooperate in energy, electric power and the restoration of the country’s infrastructure. There are also other areas of cooperation. By the end of the year we hope to sum up the results of this work,” Zebari said.

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2....1673&PageNum=0

Bush: I will Discuss Iraq’s Situation with al-Maliki

American President George W. Bush said that he is going to discuss the political and security situation in Iraq including the incident of Black Water Security Company at the UN meetings in New York next week.

In a press conference in the White House, Bush said that “certainly, I feel sorry for losing innocent lives”, for the accident that happened a few days ago when the Black Water security company elements shot and killed 11 Iraqis.

And in answering a question about the signed contract between Hunt Oil Company with KRG, he said that the American Embassy expressed its worry about it.

PUKmedia :: English - Bush: I will Discuss Iraq’s Situation with al-Maliki

Meeting about Iraq to Be Held in UN Headquarter

A meeting is going to be held tomorrow in the UN headquarter in New York city with the attendance of Major and granting countries and Iraq’s neighbors to discuss the ways to help the reconstruction of Iraq.

This international meeting will be held on the level of countries ministers to discuss Iraq’s problems such as internal policy, regional talks and the needs of reconstruction.

The organizers considered this meeting as an extension of the previous conference which was held in May, 2007 at Sharm al-Sheikh.

PUKmedia :: English - Meeting about Iraq to Be Held in UN Headquarter

Zebari Appreciates the Russian Companies

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari met the Russian Minister of Energy and Industry Victor Khirstinco in Moscow, and they discussed the mutual relations between Iraq and Russia.

Zebari announced that his visit to Russia is to express the Iraq’s desire in developing the bilateral relations between both countries through the Joint Committee work, and he appreciated Russian companies’ determination on achieving its signed contracts with Iraq.

The Russian minister stressed on his country’s desire to achieve stability in Iraq, and he suggested that the two countries experts meeting to be held in October in Baghdad and the joint committee ministers meeting will be held in December.

PUKmedia :: English - Zebari Appreciates the Russian Companies

KRG Minister of Planning receives VIA Lebanon Company

KRG Minister of Planning, Othman Shwani, received the technical team of VIA Lebanon Company in his office today.

They discussed the ways to enhance the humanitarian abilities and the utilization of those abilities.

The team explained the purpose of their visit to Kurdistan region and asked KRG Ministry of Planning to present Kurdistan region needs in consultations aspect to their company so that they can make plan for it.

On his part KRG Minister of Planning explained too them the policy of his ministry and KRG to them which has been designated on the bases of best usage of humanitarian abilities .He also explained the needs of Kurdistan region in aspects of opening training courses and bringing experts in the various aspects for raising the abilities of governmental cadres .He also stressed on designing specialized laws for developing the various aspects.

Finally they decided to go on meetings until they reach a joint way of working.

PUKmedia :: English - KRG Minister of Planning receives VIA Lebanon Company

Iraq to Buy 500 Tons of US Wheat

Iraqi grains council bought an amount of 500 tons of US wheat as an effort to stoop raising up prices of wheat in Iraq, official sources said today.

It is scheduled that before the end of the year the wheat to be submitted to the Iraqi government. The Iraqi government bought that amount of wheat in framework of signing two protocols few days ago, the sources added.

PUKmedia :: English - Iraq to Buy 500 Tons of US Wheat

Maliki Visits US to Attend UNGA Meetings

Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, heading an official delegation left Baghdad on Friday for the United States to attend meetings of the UN General Assembly (UNGA).The delegation includes Dr. Khalid al-Atia, deputy president of Iraqi council of representatives, Dr. Fuad Massum, head of Kurdistan Alliance List and several Iraqi government ministers.

Maliki to present Iraq’s speech on September 26th in front of the UN General Assembly, shedding light on the most significant stages of the Iraqi political process since the downfall of the Iraqi dictatorship regime and the achievements Iraq witnessed representing in carrying out democratic elections in the shadow of freedom.

He will also explain the progress of the Iraqi national reconciliation plan, proving several draft laws, future of Iraq’s relations with the neighboring countries and the whole world, combating terror and several other domestic, regional and world issues during his speech.

PM, Nouri al-Maliki also will meet with President Bush and several world leaders during his visit.

PUKmedia :: English - Maliki Visits US to Attend UNGA Meetings

Kermanshah Governor Threatens Suspending Transactions Ties with the Kurdistan Region

In framework of the Iranian officials’ second reactions on arresting Mr. Farhadi, Kermanshah Governor Abdul Majid Qafouri told Press.tv: “Mr. Farhadi should be released within the next 24 hours, or it would seriously damage our relations with Iraq's Kurdistan region."

"We have learnt through sources that Mr. Farhadi is still held in Sulaimaniyah, and we call on Iraqi officials, especially Kurdistan authorities for a swift release of the Iranian national," he said as well.

Worth mentioning previously the Iranian Embassy in Baghdad presented a protest note to the Iraqi foreign ministry concerning the same issue.

PUKmedia :: English - Kermanshah Governor Threatens Suspending Transactions Ties with the Kurdistan Region

Circulation rates retreat in Arab bourses

Arab capital markets have witnessed a notable decline in circulation rates to less than a half just before the month of Ramadan. The weekly report of Amman Stock Exchange revealed that the general index of the Stock Exchange closed the week's transactions slightly higher at 5580 points compared to 5574 points last week and analysts said: The Jordanian shares appeared stable in the last few days de****e the caution state that prevailed in the market with the start of the month of Ramadan, while the general indicator of Kuwait Stock Exchange retreated by 0.7% this week to end the transaction at 12784 points, down from 12875 points.

Analysts attributed the decline to the sale operations to reap profits and the lack of liquidity in the market. The index of Emirates financial market, which includes Dubai and Abu Dhabi bourses, fell by 0.8% this week to close at 4329 points compared to 4366 points last week.

The Saudi bourse performance was marked this week by a swift decline in the wake of last week by 5% after the pressure imposed by the telecommunications sector on the market amid widespread expectations that the third network's mobile MTV will ignite competition in the country.

The index of the biggest bourse in the region lost 0.6% of its value this week to close at 7807.87 points, down from 7853.66 points last week. According to the weekly report of Bakheet Center for financial consultancy headquartered in Riyadh, the indicator currently is 1.6% below its level from early this year. The report expected Saudi shares to be stabilized in the coming days with investors' observation to the outcome of the third quarter of the year and in particular the results of leadership companies that usually determine the direction of the market. Financial analysts expected that the performance of Arab bourses will fluctuate during the month of Ramadan especially that investors prefer to refrain from dealing during the month of fasting.

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The first Iraqi-Gulf Economic Forum

Iraqi Trade Minister, Dr. Abdul-Falah Hassan Al-Sudani, confirmed the importance of the first Iraqi-Gulf Economic Forum, which will be hosted by Kingdom of Bahrain at the beginning of next November.

Al-Sudani said in a statement that the Forum is an "appropriate and important step on the road to improve and strengthen fraternal relations between Iraq and the States of the Gulf Cooperation Council."

He said that the Iraqi Ministry of Trade and through the Iraqi General Company for Exhibitions called on all companies and businessmen to participate in this forum in addition to inviting the Iraqi private sector to participate in it and in the success of its activities, which will last three days.

Al-Sudani said that there is to a distinct coordination between the Ministry at one hand and the Bahraini Ministry of Industry on other hand for the success of the Forum, pointing out that there is a considerable support from the Bahraini government and that is clear through the generous ho****ality of this Forum which is organized by Al-Ruia Company in coordination with Iraqi General Company for Exhibitions.

Al-Sudani hoped that the Iraqi- Gulf Forum is a major economic demonstration to supports the Iraqi economy and contribute to the support of its private sector through exchanging experiences with their counterparts in countries of the region and the world.

The first Iraqi- Gulf Forum will be held on the first of next November, involving more than 300 companies and dozens of businessmen of the region and the world.

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