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

Sadr office discusses relations with UIC delegation - source

A delegation from the Shiite Unified Iraqi Coalition (UIC) led by Ibrahim al-Jaafari, the former Iraqi prime minister, visited the office of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr in the holy city of Najaf, met with several Sadrist officials, and discussed mutual relations between the two political blocs, a media spokesman for al-Sadr's office, Salah al-Ubeidi, said on Sunday.

"Talks between the office's political authority and the delegation were centered on the coalition's need for restructuring…" al-Ubeidi told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).

"We exchanged our points of view. The delegation called on all the components of the coalition, including defectors such as the Sadrist bloc, the Fadila Party, and al-Risaliyoun, to partake in the discussion," al-Ubeidi indicated.

When asked if the Sadrist bloc's return to the coalition is on the cards, al-Ubeidi said, "Such talks are too early. Divisions between the bloc and the coalition are fundamental and cannot be settled by giving up on our demands or meeting some of them. Our divisions are basically related to the performance of the coalition."

Moreover, al-Ubeidi noted that all defectors from the coalition are invited to attend negotiations with the Shiite alliance.

The UIC, the largest parliamentary bloc in the Iraqi parliament, now holds 83 seats in the 275-member parliament following the withdrawal of the Sadrist bloc.

Sadr office discusses relations with UIC delegation - source | Iraq Updates

Bringing down Maliki's govt. not strategic objective-resigned deputy PM

The Iraqi Accordance Front member and resigned deputy primer Sallam al-Zubaie said on Sunday that bringing down the current government was neither a strategic nor a noble objective, stressing that his meeting with Premier Nouri al-Maliki "was planned."

"The withdrawal of the Accordance Front from al-Maliki's government was not a move to achieve political gains, rather it came as a rejection to the bitter reality seen by the Front along its participation in the government," al-Zubaie told a news conference on Sunday.

The IAF members never felt that they were "true partners in the government and in the decision making process when they were part of the cabinet," Zubaie explained.

The Sunni Accordance Front, the third largest parliamentary bloc, quit Maliki's cabinet in protest against what it termed as "the government's ignorance of demands for reforming the political process and releasing the detainees."

"We hoped that the government's performance would be excellent and the Iraqis would enjoy security, services and total sovereignty," Zubaie justified the IAF participation in the government when it was formed.

As for Zubaie's meeting with the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki a few days ago, the resigned deputy premier said "it was planned and acknowledged by the Accordance Front."

On Thursday, an IAF's delegation led by Sallam al-Zubaie met Maliki to discuss a possible return of the Front to the cabinet, leading the Iraqi Prime Minister to set up a committee to look into the demands set by the Front as a condition to return to the government.

The Sunni front urged Maliki to introduce reforms to the performance of the government giving other components more participation in policy-making process and to issue a pardon to detainees in Iraqi and U.S.-run prisons.

Bringing down Maliki's govt. not strategic objective-resigned deputy PM | Iraq Updates

Iraq buys half a million tons of wheat from North America

Iraqi Official sources said on Friday that the Iraqi Grain Board purchased 500 thousand tons of wheat, mostly are from the hard red winter wheat of the American origin, as a precaution against any further rise in prices.

Sources said that the deal consists of 400 thousand tons of the American hard red winter wheat and 100 thousand tons of Canadian wheat for delivery before the end of the year.

The deal was concluded during the past few days under a tender raised for the purchase of 50 thousand tons and receiving presentations was closed on September15. The sizes required in the Iraqi tender are nominal, and usually Baghdad buys larger quantities than requested. Prices of European and American wheat went up high to record levels in recent times because of lack of supplies.

http://www.iraqdirectory.com/DisplayNews.aspx?id=4597

The Delays in projects of electric power in Basrah

An official of the Electricity Committee in the Basrah Governorate Council, said on Thursday that the delay in the completion of power projects in the city of Basrah is due to technical and financial constraints hindering the implementation of these projects punctually, referring to the lack of investment projects by foreign firms because of the deteriorating security situation.

Ghazi Smari explained during a press conference, "These obstacles are represented by the lack of specialized companies for the implementation of such electrical projects as well as the highly speculative cost of these projects." He added, "Electricity projects and require specialized expertise and efficiency by the executing companies and these are not available in local companies; more than one contract was forwarded to certain firms, but at the stage of signing the contract they apologized for the implementation of the project. As for the investing these projects by foreign firms, these companies can not work under unstable conditions."

He continued, "As for the project of importing electricity from the city of Abadan in Iran, the proportion of completion of this project reached nearly 75% and was scheduled to be delivered in mid-September but because of the difficulty of work in that area, being on the borders, made it hard for mechanisms to get there in addition to the existing of warfare remnants, especially mines, led to the delay in completing the project which will contribute significantly to the improvement and stability of electricity in the province of Basrah, since its capacity reaches 200 Mika Watt, and it is hoped to be completed by the beginning of November."

Smari talked about the implemented electric projects in Basrah through the grant of developing regions and said, "The projects implemented by Basrah Governorate Council using the grant of developing regions for 2007 included the city's central and suburban areas and they are: al-Kherbutliah, Mteiha, Dour Al-Dhubbat, Al-Asdiqaa District, Al-Amn Al-Dakhli and Al-Tuwessah; also, a low and high pressure network was developed at Al-Assatitha neighborhood in the city center. The projects aim to solve the bottlenecks in these areas, and they were provided with switches of 250-400 K.V. Five electric nutrients had also been implemented in Al-Saraji area."

Smari denied during the press conference that there is a plan to apply the system of the (Amperes) in the governorate of Basrah, explaining that this project had failed in other Iraqi cities. He said that "the problem of electricity needs radical solutions, not temporary ones like the Amperes system which defines the use of electric power to each house by (15) nm, and which had proven failure from the point of view of spe******ts also failed to prove its success in the areas where the project was implemented."

http://www.iraqdirectory.com/DisplayNews.aspx?id=4598

Kouchner Suggests Starting Iraq’s Reconstruction from Kurdistan Region

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner called for starting Iraq’s reconstruction from Kurdistan region which enjoys a better security situation.

“The situation in Iraq in which the cultural, ethnic, and religious differences are accumulating the alienation between violent Islam and the west and it will endanger Iraq’s integrity.” Kouchner said during a close conference at the UN which was attended by 20 countries.

Concerning Iraq’s situation Kouchner suggested launching: “the first initiative of reconstruction of Iraq beginning from those areas which have a better security situation; for example the north of Iraq (Kurdistan region).”

Kouchner indicated the need for opening the gate towards reconstruction Iraq in important areas like health, calling for sending experts in general finance and reforming the constitution within the framework of increasing the role of UN in Iraq.

PUKmedia :: English - Kouchner Suggests Starting Iraq’s Reconstruction from Kurdistan Region

Fryad Rawandzi: Statement By al-Atia has no Impacts and it Expresses His Own Opinion

Spokesman of Kurdistan alliance List , Fryad Rawandizi , said that the Statement by Khalid al-Atia, deputy president of Iraqi parliament , concerning the Kirkuk issue expresses his own opinion and it won’t have any impact on the implementation of article 140 and the works of the committee in charge of implementing that article are going on smoothly.

“The statement of al-Atia who announced that the issue of Kirkuk referendum will not be dealt with in 2007 originated by the report of the Independent Election Commission of Iraq, saying that they haven’t prepared themselves for much-eventualities such as referendum or election. But really Kirkuk issue doesn’t need any census, it is for those changed the demography of the area or implemented the Arabization policy and for those who people who were displaced and not included in 1957 census.” Rawandizi told Kurdistani Nwe newspaper on Sunday.

PUKmedia :: English - Fryad Rawandzi: Statement By al-Atia has no Impacts and it Expresses His Own Opinion

Project Law for Reconstruction Dukan and Darbandikhan Electricity Power Plants was Passed

Iraqi Presidency Council Ratified today the project law of emergency project for reconstructing both Dukan and Darbandikhan electricity power plants which has been signed between the Iraqi government and the International development Association (IDA) of International World Bank in April the 2nd, 2007.

“For the purpose of reconstruction of Iraq’s infrastructure and for reinforcement of the bilateral financial ties between Iraqi republic and international world bank and for passing the agreement for reconstruction of electricity power plants, this law was designated.” The law stipulates.

PUKmedia :: English - Project Law for Reconstruction Dukan and Darbandikhan Electricity Power Plants was Passed

Zebari Stresses the Importance of US-Iran Discussion for Iraq

Foreign Minister of Iraq, Hoshiyar Zebari in a meeting with Arab ambassadors ’commission in Moscow, focused on the development of events in Iraq and the Middle East.

Zebari talked about the latest positive indications, which reflected the better security stability achieved in several governorates as Baghdad, AL-Anbar and Dyala.

He also shed light on the next session of Iraqi neighboring minister’s meeting in the presence of Security Council permanent members, several G8 countries, as well as Islamic Congress Org. and Arab league.

He also explained the development of events in the Middle East and current preparation to hold an international peace conference and Palestine issue.

“The importance of US-Iran discussion as initiated by Iraq is to reduce the tensions between them, has a direct impact on Iraqi stability”. Zebari said.

He pointed to bilateral relationship between both governments of Iraq and Russia and the desire of both sides for a memorandum of understanding.
At the end of the meeting, he responded to the questions of the ambassadors.

PUKmedia :: English - Zebari Stresses the Importance of US-Iran Discussion for Iraq

To Make the Facts More Clear (3)

Is the presence of armed forces of some of the parties in other parts of Kurdistan, by which we mean PKK and its allies in the border areas of Kurdistan region with Turkey and Iran carrying out armed activities against those two countries, in the interest of Iraqi Kurdistan as some official’s of those parties claim?

In fact we believe that people of Kurdistan, as parties and individuals, have major duties in safeguarding Iraqi Kurdistan region’s experiment and supporting it .The political leadership of Iraqi Kurdistan respects the sense of responsibility felt and expressed in this connection. This also refers to the fact that Kurdistan’s political leadership has always drawn the attention of the brothers in other parts of Kurdistan in this respect .But, is that the way to protect Iraqi Kurdistan experiment? The way PKK and its allies do? Does defending Iraqi Kurdistan region means putting forces in the border areas where they can launch attacks on their states and give the other sides excuses to threaten Iraqi Kurdistan ?The threats could directly affect Iraqi Kurdistan as we have witnessed during the last two months .Those two countries are powerful in the region and conditions in Iraq are suitable for threatening Iraqi Kurdistan because of the presence of these militants .Does supporting and safeguarding Iraqi Kurdistan’s experiment means that each Kurdish power shows its support by using the same tactics and strategy set by Iraqi Kurdistan leadership? Iraqi Kurdistan has legitimate institutions like region’s parliament and government. We have expressed our beliefs that each of Kurdistan’s parts has its own particularity and one characteristic of the struggle used by our people shows this particularity must be taken into account and should be activated and the different forces impose their will and policy on those in other parts of Kurdistan imposing the will and policy on any other part is denying them political and independence and from taking independent political decisions .At present it is devastating because those parties have different agendas ,creating confusion that prevent politicians in those parts from seeing things with clear eyes.

That’s why some people say, that the presence of PKK and the forces of the allies is in the interest of Iraqi Kurdistan .It becomes clear from this simplest political clarification that it is merely an excuse of which is not contradictory in nature.

The true and right way to support Iraqi Kurdistan’s experiment is the way defined by the political leadership and legitimate authorities in Iraqi Kurdistan. It has been announced that the political leadership of Iraqi Kurdistan does not accept the presence of PKK and its allies, which might create these delicate conditions for our experiment and is not in the interest of Iraqi Kurdistan working against it. According to the opinion, comrade Mam Jalal analyzed in his last press conference held in Sulaimani last Friday, the situation and tried to clarify the facts which embrace Iraqi Kurdistan’s interests.

We must say in this respect in order to create a mutual realistic understating between all political forces in various parts of Kurdistan ,the best way for all parties is to avoid meddling in one another’s affaires ,especially what concerns Iraqi Kurdistan and its achievements .The parties in the different parts of Kurdistan must feel the delicacy particularity of this situation and not allow themselves under any pretext to interfere in Iraqi Kurdistan’s affair’s and create an unrealistic de-facto situation which cannot be imposed on others and void of any support to Iraqi Kurdistan. This is the fact that some of the parties in the other parts of Kurdistan should understand as it is and see their interests in that frame-work.

PUKmedia :: English - To Make the Facts More Clear (3)

Iraqi Parliament Votes Unanimously on Cancellation of Resolution 42 about Arabization

The Iraqi council of representatives (parliament) voted unanimously today on project law of Cancellation of resolution 42 by the dissolved Revolutionary Command Council (RCC) concerning the Arabization process in Kirkuk and other areas in issued in 1986.

Concerning this, MP Khalid Shwani from Kurdistan Alliance List told PUKmedia that the project law of cancellation of resolution 42 was presented by Kurdistan Alliance List ,indicating the resolution was one of the a dangerous decisions of the ousted regime . It had a great effect on the Arabization of Kirkuk in which according to the above-mentioned resolution thousands of Arab families were brought to Kirkuk for Arabization of the province.

He clarified that with the cancellation of this resolution most of the property disputes complains will be solved .It is also a big step towards implementation of article 140 of the Iraqi permanent constitution in which one of its items stipulates cancellation of all the resolutions concerning the Arabization process.

PUKmedia :: English - Iraqi Parliament Votes Unanimously on Cancellation of Resolution 42 about Arabization