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

Turkey alone will decide on Iraq Incursion - PM Erdogan

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that any decision to launch a military incursion into northern Iraq was for Ankara alone, as he dismissed a US call for restraint.

Speaking during a visit to Romania, Erdogan said US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice was welcome to voice hopes that Turkey would not overstep its border.

'But any decision on the necessity of such an incursion belongs to us,' he said, adding that Ankara would have no hesitation in launching an attack against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq if the situation demanded it.

Turkey alone will decide on Iraq incursion - PM Erdogan - Forbes.com

Turkey sends more troops to Iraqi border

Habur: Turkish helicopters ferried more troops to the border with Iraq on Friday as diplomatic efforts got underway in Ankara to avert a major offensive against Kurdish rebels in Iraq.

The military move came as an Iraqi delegation began talks with Turkish civilian and military officials in Ankara on Friday.

The state-run Anatolian news agency said Cobra helicopters and fighter jets had also pounded shelters of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) along the border.

Turkey has massed up to 100,000 troops along the mountainous border before a possible cross-border operation against at least 3,000 PKK guerrillas.

Iraqi, Turkish and U.S. diplomats have stepped up efforts to avert a large-scale Turkish incursion but Turkish leaders have said their country will not tolerate any more attacks from Iraq.

"We are moving more troops from other provinces to Sirnak province," said a military source, who declined to be named.
Anatolian news agency said that helicopters, also carrying military equipment, took off from Yusekova town in Hakkari province and headed for Daglica region near the Iraq border.

Meanwhile, Iraq's defense minister and national security minister are meeting Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan and other top officials to discuss security measures.

"We hope the delegation will get answers from the Turkish side to settle this. I am very optimistic about the results," Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammed Hajj Hamoud said ahead of the talks.

Gulfnews: Turkey sends more troops to Iraqi border

Turkey's patience running out

Ankara: President Abdullah Gul warned Kurdish rebels on Thursday that Turkey's patience was running out after Turkish forces said they had repelled a guerrilla attack near the Iraqi border.

Ankara has massed up to 100,000 troops along the mountainous border before a possible cross-border operation to crush about 3,000 rebels of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) who launch attacks into Turkey from northern Iraq.

Iraqi, Turkish and US diplomats have stepped up efforts to avert a large-scale Turkish incursion but Gul said Turkey would not tolerate any more PKK attacks from Iraq.

"We are totally determined to take all necessary steps to end this threat ... Iraq should not be a source of threat for its neighbours," Gul said in Ankara.
"Although we respect the territorial integrity and unity of Iraq, Turkey is running out of patience and will not tolerate the use of Iraqi soil for the purpose of terrorist activities."

Public pressure on Turkish authorities to act has grown since rebels killed 12 soldiers last weekend. The PKK, branded a terrorist organisation by the United States, Turkey and the European Union, has said it captured eight soldiers.

"We are doing all we can, [we are] working with the Iraqi and Turkish governments to make sure the hostages are freed," Matthew Bryza, US deputy assistant secretary for European and Eurasian affairs, said.

Turkish security sources have confirmed a series of sorties by warplanes and ground troops since Sunday into Iraqi territory, although Ankara has said it still hopes diplomacy can stave off the need for a full-scale ground invasion.

An Iraqi team, led by Defence Minister General Abdul Qader Jasem and including members of northern Iraq's Kurdish administration, arrived in Ankara for talks which Turkish officials described as a last chance for diplomacy.

Gulfnews: Turkey's patience running out

Rice mum on Maliki corruption probe

Washington: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has vowed to examine corruption charges against Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki but refused to discuss details.

In a three-hour hearing, Rice said her office would look into allegations against Maliki as well as "hundreds of reports of corruption" among Iraqi officials.

A former Iraqi judge told a Congress committee earlier this month that Maliki had protected top Iraqi officials, including his relatives, from criminal investigation.

"I am certain that we are tracking these allegations of corruption because … no one is more concerned about allegations of corruption in Iraq than we are," Rice said.

"But to assault the prime minister of Iraq or anyone else in Iraq with here-to-date unsubstantiated allegations … would be deeply damaging," she said.

Representative Henry Waxman, who led the interrogation team, told Rice his concern about Iraqi corruption because "Americans are there fighting to keep Prime Minister Maliki in office."

"We're not fighting to keep Prime Minister Maliki in office," Rice shot back. "We are fighting to help the Iraqis to develop a democratic government.”

Gulfnews: Rice mum on Maliki corruption probe

International expectations of economic growth in Iraq

Deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Barham Salih, said that the economic situation continues to improve and international estimates expect high rates of growth in the Iraqi economy, about 6%, and inflation was brought under control by hitting another level of about 33% this year and 16% for this month. This came during a media symposium held in London recently on the sidelines of his official visit to Britain. Dr. Barham Salih, Head of the economic file said that the Iraqi government decided to allocate about two and a half billion, for the development of provinces distributed among regions according to population. He added that development in the performance of administrative departments made the government raise the budget allocated to provinces to the double. Dr. Salih admitted that the political reality of Iraq is unstable and there are many problems that prevent agreement to resolve crucial issues, and added that the oil law was suspended because of the political debate which happened about its paragraphs.

http://www.iraqdirectory.com/DisplayNews.aspx?id=4810

Kuwaiti companies among the applicants to build an airport between Najaf and Karbala

A local official said on Sunday that nine Arab and foreign companies made offers to compete for the building of an airport worth $3 billion between the cities of Najaf and Karbala (110 km south of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad).

Sheikh Falah Al-hasnanwi, Chairman of the Reconstruction Committee in the city, said in a statement, "Nine companies from Kuwait, Italy, France, Turkey and Belgium made offers through Iraqi companies according to the investment law for the establishment of the new international airport in Karbala, costing three billion dollars."

He added, "The airport will be implemented on an area of 200 acres, where laboratory tests were conducted in the region and received matches according to the international specifications and technical terms of the validity of the land and airspace; the establishment will take about three years and is located on the road between Karbala and Najaf."

He said, "The companies' offers will be studied by specialized Iraqi experts, and it is expected to proceed in the implementation of the airport early next year."

http://www.iraqdirectory.com/DisplayNews.aspx?id=4811

Iraq sold 4.6 million barrels of Kirkuk crude to buyers in Europe and America

A source at the Iraqi Oil Ministry said on Monday that Iraq has sold about five million barrels of Kirkuk crude to buyers in Europe and the United States and intends to hold another auction this week.

The source said that the companies Total and Exon or M.V. Winy bought 4.6 million barrels.

Iraq will announce in the coming days on a new auction for the sale of another six million barrels of Kirkuk crude.

http://www.iraqdirectory.com/DisplayNews.aspx?id=4812

Iraqi Dinar has appreciated 20% over the last year

The Central Bank Of Iraq (CBI) has had some success at appreciating the Iraqi dinar as suggested by the International Monetary Fund IMF. The CBI has appreciated the dinar hoping to curb inflation.

The U.S. department of state says that the year to date inflation through August is 11.2%. The year on year rate of inflation dropped 20%.

The Iraqi dinar was worth 1470 dinar per U.S. dollar in November of 2006 and has appreciated against the dollar to 1230 dinar per dollar according to the CBI.

http://www.iraqdirectory.com/DisplayNews.aspx?id=4813

UNDP signs agreement with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation to support reconstruction efforts in Iraq

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) have signed a landmark agreement following a Memorandum of Understanding between UNDP and JBIC.

In accordance with this new agreement, UNDP will establish a facility to support the provision of $150 million in soft loans from JBIC to Iraq, which will primarily support the Ministry of Electricity of the Kurdistan Regional Government in its efforts to reconstruct electricity networks in Northern Iraq.

These soft loans mark the first installment of a $3.5 billion pledge made by the Government of Japan at the 2003 Madrid Donor's Conference. This will serve as a model allowing UNDP and JBIC to explore opportunities for similar agreements around the globe.

http://www.iraqdirectory.com/DisplayNews.aspx?id=4814

Perini Receives New Work in Iraq worth $68.5 Million

Perini Corporation (NYSE: PCR), a leading building and civil construction company, announced the award of four new task orders from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for work in Iraq. Together, these four new Task Orders total $68.5 million. The Task Orders were competitively bid under an existing contract to provide design-build and construction related services within the Central Command (CENTCOM) Area of Operations.

Two of the projects, valued at $12 million and $19.8 million respectively, are for additional Overhead Coverage Systems at Coalition Forces and U.S. Government facilities in Iraq. A Perini led Team has designed and constructed more than 70 similar structures at seventeen different locations in Iraq since September 2005. These new awards bring Perini’s Overhead Coverage Systems program to a total of more than $320 million.

The Overhead Coverage System consists of pre-engineered structures with double layer roofs, which are designed to protect personnel from incoming mortars and rockets. The Perini Team for this program includes Tetra Tech, Inc. of Pasadena, CA as the lead design firm, Butler Manufacturing Company of Kansas City, Missouri and Stanley Consultants of Muscatine, Iowa.

Perini recently received recognition from General David H. Petraeus, Commander of the Multi-National Force – Iraq, and Brigadier General Michael J. Walsh, Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region Division, for its role in providing protection for U.S. personnel with quality and timely construction services under this program.

In addition to the Overhead Coverage awards, Perini received two separate awards for upgrading infrastructure at Coalition Forces bases in northern Iraq. These awards are for the design and construction of water and fuel storage tanks valued at $ 20 million and $16.7 million, respectively. For these projects, Perini leads a team of specialized engineering firms; Tetra Tech, Inc. will design the water systems and Argus Consulting of Blue Springs, MO will design the fuel systems.

Perini has had extensive experience in the CENTCOM Area of Operations. It has successfully executed over $1 billion worth of fast-track design-build task orders, including projects at 15 Coalition bases in Iraq and at four Afghan National Army Brigade complexes in Afghanistan. Perini is pleased to continue supporting the U.S. government with its vital missions through the provision of quality construction services.

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