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

The former Iraqi Minister of Planning : unemployment and poverty highlighted the challenges

Source : House life-27/08/2007

Minister of Planning said former Prime Iraqi Center for Development and International Dialogue, Mahdi Hafidh that Iraq constituents and sources of economic revival is a real capacity of the natural resource base is rich and varied Kaljsen oil, which is ranked third in global reserves (115 billion barrels of reserves and 215 billion fixed reserve potential), and water resources and manpower more than eight million people.

He said : «The sound investment management and players of these resources would help Iraq through the transitional phase undergone by the former and regain its position as a middle-income category, which is the phase aimed at the transition from a totalitarian economy to a free economy and open to the global economy as controls and policies to preserve interests national ».

The keeper «that success in achieving this transformation requires comprehensive settlement of the situation of internal conflict and restore security and stability and progress in the rehabilitation process, especially the rehabilitation of infrastructure and modernize economic infrastructure, and progress in the economic reforms and transition from a state-controlled economy to economic reforms and to the economy free led by the private sector along with freedom from excessive dependence on oil export revenues and direct the national economy to diversify and expand sources of income to develop production and service sectors, basic industry, agriculture, tourism and the establishment of constituents increase non-oil exports ».

He added Hafiz : «The challenges and tasks assumes resort to meaningful choices and the selection policy and departure from the vision of integrated economic priorities with a clear strategy based on a practical approach calculates the full characteristics of the national economy and the Iraqi potential, and needed to develop the productive capacity of the oil sector and the expansion of investment».

He called Hafiz to develop non-oil economic sectors are «pave the way for the establishment of a diversified economy and ensure balanced satisfy the needs of local markets for agricultural and industrial products and service, and opens the way to guide the economy towards exports and investment law, which was initiated recently can achieve the goal of establishing appropriate investment environment reform institutional frameworks and laws the areas of finance, trade, banking, insurance and other ».

The unemployment and poverty constitute a major impediment to economic growth, «and more persistent distortions in the labor market phenomenon paragraph Given the limited employment opportunities and access to about 200 thousand people annually to the labor market, these emerging social group added to unemployed youth».

He noted that the proportion of poor people in Iraq are 10% and there are other social strata rate between 12 and 15% of the population at risk of being downgraded to a similar level.

Iraqi officials seeking to activate the reconstruction of the northern governorates budget of $ 570 million

Source : Kuna - 27/08/2007

Iraqi officials discussed today, governors attending the American ambassador Royan Crocker activate the reconstruction of the northern governorates and implement projects allocated in the budget in 2007, which monitored more than 570 million dollars.
And held here today (the implementation of the budget 2007 for the northern governorates), headed by Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih, in the presence of Ambassador Crocker and the ministers of finance, defense, national security and industry.

Saleh said that the Iraqi government has earmarked for the northern governorates of unprecedented budget for this year amounted to 500 billion Iraqi dinars to the Nineveh province, 175 billion dinars for the governorate of Kirkuk, 202 billion dinars for the Diyala province, and 336 billion dinars for Salahuddin province which is equivalent to about 570 million overall dollars.

Saleh added that the security situation will improve in the provinces north of Baghdad so that the central government and the provincial administration to implement all the projects allocated to them.

For his part, Crocker to the need to support the Iraqi government role of the private sector in the process of development and reconstruction in the provinces mentioned.
The American ambassador said that the conference an important step forward to assist in supporting the political process in the country and the advancement of the economy of the country.

Reviewed conservatives obstacles in the process of implementing projects in the governorates as well as the requirements that must be met by the central government.
He said the Nineveh governor Duraid Khmulh "Construction is by properly and impartially .. and the need to maintain support from the central government."

The governor of Diyala Raad Mullah said that "terrorism, which tries to preserve strikes disrupt the process of reconstruction - that the improvement of security that occurred after the recent military operations greatly assisted in improving the situation in the province."

It should be noted that provinces in northern Iraq security disruptions witnessed in varying periods caused the destruction of most infrastructure and polio economies.
But the Iraqi government has succeeded in imposing security in all these provinces, ranging from Mosul, Salah al-Din governorate through the birthplace of Saddam Hussein and the end Bdiyala which is close to the stronghold of the so-called Islamic State of Iraq's al-Qaeda.

While living in the provinces of Nineveh and Salahuddin majority Sunni diverse nationalities and ethnic groups that live in Kirkuk and Diyala between Sunni Arabs and Shiite Arabs and Kurds.

Dubai hosts «Iraq conference to work and invest»

Source : Statement UAE-27/08/2007

The government of Iraq conference entitled «Iraq to work and invest» in Dubai from tomorrow until August 30. Moving about 100 senior businessmen from the southern governorates of Iraq to Dubai in order to highlight the opportunities available in these provinces to invest and reap profits before the nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council, companies and international companies.

The conference aims to promote trade and investment in the south of the country through the presentation of all aspects of projects available to companies seeking external funding from qualified investors, and investment opportunities available to small companies in need of funding at least $ 1 million, as well as large companies seeking to finance up to $ 200 million.

The Conference also focuses more on investment opportunities and secured a good outlook, the focus on any other areas. It would also help investors to identify the nature of investment in Iraq, through panel discussions dealing with the investment climate and the relevant laws in Iraq. It is noticeable that the Conference has already attracted the attention of major international companies, which have expressed a lot of companies in America, Australia, Europe, Japan, China and the Gulf Cooperation Council states its willingness to participate in the conference.

Securities Body regulates capital market brokerage companies

Translated by IRAQdirectory.com - [8/27/2007]

Abdul Razzak Al-Saadi, Chairman of the Securities Body, said on Thursday the Body approved a mechanism to control the work of approved brokerage companies in the Iraqi security market.

According to the Thursday statement, "Al-Saadi stated the controls were introduced to protect market investors given the expanding activity of negotiable securities responding to economic growth and foreign investment in Iraq," but did not specify an approval date.

The statement added that "No new brokerage company would be admitted to the market with capital under one billion dinars, and no licensed banks' brokerage offices could be turned into limited (or contribution) companies without capital of minimum one billion dinars, majority owned by that bank."

Al-Saadi said in the statement, "Current brokerage companies must ensure this year that each shareholders' stake is at least ID35,000,000, and that they must build capital over the next 5 years to the minimum specified above."

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2000 Shreh Jordanian ready to receive Iraqi oil on the border of the two countries

KUNA-[8/27/2007]

Preparing 63 local companies Jordanian oil tanker has approximately 2000 tank placed on alert to go to the Jordanian-Iraqi border to receive tankers carrying Iraqi crude oil from Kirkuk, Iraq.

Under the Jordanian-Iraqi agreement that was concluded between the two rear Asehsal Jordan on the quantity of oil starting from ten thousand and up to thirty thousand barrels a day.

The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Dr. Khalid encampment, said in a press statement earlier that the tank was ready Jordanian gathered near the area Limits between the two countries, stressing Jordan completed all the procedures for the transfer of Iraqi oil.

Jordan announced today 15 processing platform for unloading oil from tankers in the Jordanian arena exchange on the Jordanian border with Iraq will take every empty tank for 40 minutes because of the full readiness for this purpose.

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Sunday's agreement national achievement, IAF supports it - VP

Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Tuesday , 28 /08 /2007 Time 10:53:04

Baghdad, Aug 27, (VOI)- Iraqi vice President Tareq al-Hashemi said on Monday that he supports the joint agreement signed by the Shiite-Kurdish alliance and the Sunni Islamic party on Sunday, underlining that it would not be a door for the return of the Iraqi Accordance Front to the government.

"What happened yesterday is a good achievement in the current confused political situation. It is an achievement that deserves to be supported," al-Hashemi said at a press conference on Monday afternoon.

He described signing the statement as a beginning for solving the ongoing problems in Iraq.

The four main Kurdish and Shiite powers in addition to the Sunni Iraqi Islamic Party signed on August 26 a new joint statement with the aim of pushing forward the political process and opening doors before the blocs that quit the government.

But Hashemi said the Iraqi Accordance Front (IAF) would not reverse its decision to quit the cabinet on August 1.

"Our previous experience with the government has not been encouraging, and we will not go back just because of promises, unless there are real and tangible reforms," he said.

He said "I attended the ceremony as a vice president not as a secretary general of the Iraqi Islamic party," the Sunni Arab vice president explained.

"What has been achieved would not be a starting point for the possible return of the IAF to government. It is a national achievement," the vice president also said.

"The Front will not return to the government unless all its demands are met," he affirmed.
The five-way agreement envisages measures to readmit former members of the Baath Party to public life and the release of many detainees, to hold provincial elections and to help security forces end the bloodshed.

Hashemi said the new rules on Baath Party members would be "a significant improvement" and would relax curbs that had barred thousands of middle class Iraqis from returning to work.

Aswat Aliraq

Is Allawi's Bloc Back in the Government?

After "Resignations," Three of Ex-PM's Five Ministers Attend Cabinet Meeting

Posted 1 hr. 17 min. ago

In sp ite of an announcement that the ministers in the Iraqi National List (INL) led by former Iraqi Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi had withdrawn from their position, three of the cabinet members attended a regular meeting on Monday, Aswat al-Iraq reports in Arabic.

The Iraqi Council of Ministers held its regular meeting Monday, said a media source inside the council of ministers, requesting anonymity, who told the agency that “The minister of technology Ra’id Fahmi, the minister of human rights, Wijdan Mikha’il, and the minister of state, Muhammad 'Uraybi, attended the meeting of the ministers.”

Of the three INL ministers who were reported in attendance, only Mikha’il and 'Uraybi were supposed to have withdrawn from their positions. An MP from the INL had already announced that Fahmi, minister of science and technology, would not withdraw from the cabinet. Fahmi is affiliated to the Iraqi Communist Party (ICP), which ran as a component of Allawi’s INL in the December 2005 elections. The ICP has not agreed withdraw its minister along with the rest of the INL cabinet members.

Muhammad Tawif Allawi, minister of communications, was not reported in attendance at Monday’s cabinet meeting. However, given the attendance of his INL colleagues, it is not known at this time if the minister has withdrawn from the Council of Ministers, or if he was absent for some other reason, such as a continuation of the “suspension” of cabinet participation.

The fifth INL minister, Hazim al-Shibli, withdrew from his post earlier in the year, citing differences with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. He was minister of justice.

The appearance of the ministers who were announced earlier to have withdrawn could fuel speculation over the level of control that Allawi enjoys over the ministers in the INL bloc, or over ex-PM's intentions regarding the Maliki government.

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Arab Papers Tue: The Five-Party Agreement

New Political Pact Aims to Rejuvinate Cabinet, Please Sunni Opposition

Posted 9 hr. 49 min. ago

Arab media reported today that the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bernard Kouchner, apologized publicly for comments he had made calling for the replacement of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

Kouchner had stated that “Maliki has to go,” adding that his deputy, 'Adil 'Abd al-Mahdi, would make a fitting replacement. Az-Zaman explained that 'Abd al-Mahdi, “who garners the support of Paris,” was educated in France, studied in its universities and lived in the country for over 15 years.

Meanwhile, papers are reporting extensively on a new agreement by “Iraq’s leaders” that, according to government sources, should extinguish the political crisis among the leading blocs and lead the way for the return of political parties that had abandoned the government. In parallel, al-Hayat reported, al-Maliki announced yesterday that the Islamic Party should join the pro-government alliance (the “moderates’ front”) shortly, if Maliki’s claim materializes, that would grant the government the Sunni ally that it has been seeking for weeks, albeit a single Sunni party rather than all the parties composing the main Sunni bloc in Parliament.

The new agreement (announced jointly by five Iraqi leaders: the President, his two deputies, PM Maliki and Kurdistan’s President Mas'ud Barzani) seems to be designed with two objectives in mind: Pleasing the Sunni leaders and providing “good news” for Gen. Petraeus and Amb. Crocker to include in their September report to the American President.

The agreement includes a bundle of laws: chiefly an amendment to the de-Ba'thification law allowing ex-Ba'thists to run for elections and be considered for positions in the administration, which was a major Sunni demand. Secondly, the agreement guarantees the release of thousands of Iraqi prisoners without trial (most of whom Sunni,) third, a new law will be passed organizing local elections (another Sunni demand), lastly, passing the controversial oil law will be part of the “package” -– which is good news for the US administration.

It remains to be seen how the Iraqi parties will react to the agreement (especially the Sunni Iraqi Accord Front) and whether the Sunni ministers of the IAF will return to the government, thus breathing life into Maliki’s crumbling cabinet. It should also be mentioned that the agreement is one pf principle, and the laws included in it still need parliamentary approval to be promulgated.

However, al-Jazeera reported that an IAF leader commented on the agreement, describing it as “insufficient” and announcing that his front will wait to judge its application on the ground.

Meanwhile, Al-Quds al-'Arabi highlighted reports (first reported on IraqSlogger) to the effect that 'Allawi is planning for a political return in Iraq, starting with a new lobbying effort in Washington. The paper quoted CNN's report that 'Allawi has hired a DC-based company to promote him among US policymakers and “bring down the Maliki government.”

Another controversy covered by al-Quds al-'Arabi related to an insurgent group, the “Brigades of the 1920 Revolution.” The “Brigades” were known to be among the groups conducting daily attacks against US forces in Iraq. Lately, US and Iraqi government sources claimed that elements from the group fought side by side in Diyali with US troops against al-Qa'ida. The London-based paper relayed US statements praising the fighters of Brigades and their role in the anti-Qa'ida fight north of Baghdad. But the paper received a statement from the leadership of the organization asserting that it has never participated in any US military campaigns.

The Brigades, the statement explained, has no presence in Diyali; the local leadership seceded from the mother organization and formed a new group called “the Hamas of Iraq,” the statement also called on “Hamas” to disassociate itself from the Brigades of the 1920 Revolution.

It should be noted that the 1920 Brigades, like several factions of the Iraqi insurgency, clashed with al-Qa'ida and waged military campaigns against its presence in numerous regions of Iraq.

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Full Text: The New Five-Party Agreement

The New Document that Claims to Reestablish Iraq's Political Process

Posted 5 hr. 6 min. ago

Five of Iraq’s political parties (The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, the Kurdish Democratic Party, the Islamic Da'wa Party, the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council, and the Islamic Party of Iraq) announced Sunday that they had achieved a five-party agreement that would provide a way forward for the Iraqi political process. Full text of the statement released by the five parties appears below, translated from the text obtained by IraqSlogger in the original Arabic.

In the name of God, the Merciful the Compassionate:

THE CLOSING STATEMENT OF THE GATHERING OF THE POLITICAL LEADERS

The political leaders of Iraq (i.e. the leaders of the five parties concerned– Trans.) held a series of meetings in light of the critical present conditions through which our nation Iraq is passing, and which require serious work by all parties for the sake of developing solutions to overcome the political, administrative, and economic crises that Iraq faces, and on the basis of the review of the previous phase of the national unity government and all of the institutions and organs of the Iraqi state. (The meetings also sought to) consolidate and enhance participation (in the political process), to solve pressing concerns according to national priorities, and to work for wider participation of the political forces in the political process, (as well as) to restore security and build stability and deepen the spirit of citizenship and national belonging and to close (political) ranks in order to overcome this difficult phase.

The political leaders in their gathering discussed the results of the meetings of the preparatory committees formed to prepare for these meetings, and they esteemed highly (the committees’) efforts, as well as the suggestions and recommendations offered on their part. On this basis (the political leaders may) proceed with a heightened sense of the priorities of the people and the nation, and of the need to make the political process succeed and to build a federal, democratic, pluralistic Iraq, which is everyone’s responsibility, the meeting decided the following:


Firstly: Agreement on the suggestions upon which the preparatory committee reached agreement, and they are:

1) Taking steps to enhance participation in decision making and responsibility, and to contribute to the process of improving government performance and facilitating decision making over necessary legislation, among them:

a) Confirming the importance of the convening of periodic meetings between the president of the republic, his two deputies, and the prime minster to study the important strategic matters, and to reach agreement on them, and to follow up on the details of everyday issues on the part of the heads of the offices of the presidencies (president, vice presidents, prime minister), and the directors of the offices.

b) Activation of a minimal agreement on the work of the small ministry (i.e. the body formed by the leaders of the five parties) to facilitate and widen the work of the Council of Ministers within the powers that it enjoys according to the constitution, and the need to agree within the council of ministers on the internal system of organizing its work and to achieve through that the distribution of the portfolios and basic responsibilities to the different parties that make up the government.

c) The formation of a shared committee inside the Parliament made up of the heads of the parliamentary blocs, bearing the responsibility of following up on the basic and important issues, of taking unified positions on proposed legislation, and of facilitating the decision making on (such legislation) according to the rules of the parliamentary system.

2) The adoption of necessary steps that will help to enhance human rights and the implementation of justice, and to confirm the independence of the judiciary, among them:

a) The adoption of proposals to release detainees held without incriminating evidence, and the promulgation of a special amnesty for those who merit it, according to the legal parameters and on the basis of the document agreed to by the preparatory committee.

b) The involvement of representatives of the allied political parties in the committees dealing with detainees, whether they be purely Iraqi committees or involving the Multinational Forces.

3) For the sake of curbing and confronting the terrorist groups and those working against the sovereignty of Iraq and its interests, and in order to improve the security situation and to enhance the power of the Iraqi security apparatus, the meeting decided the following:

The leaders (of Iraq, i.e. of the five parties) reaffirm the desire of the Iraqi people to participate in security matters and to bear the responsibilities of preparing for this, and they affirm the positive position of the government, offering the requisite support in this regard.

For the sake of arresting the deterioration in the security situation, the leaders affirm the importance of arming, equipping, and strengthening the national armed forces, and the necessity of working to lift the obstacles to arming the Iraqi forces, and of working for serious coordination with the Multinational Forces to curb terrorism, armed groups, militias and those outside the law, without differentiation between them.

4) Legal proposals: In the meetings of the political leadership and the Political Council for National Security* detailed discussions took place over a package of laws and the committee reached agreement over some of them, thus the meeting decides:

a) The proposed law of a national High Commission for Accountability and Justice as a replacement of the de-Ba'thification Law, for the sake of ensuring transparency and fairness, and to give the process a legal, just, and humane character.

b) The proposed law for those provinces not organized into regions that will give these provinces the powers as provided in the text of the constitution, and will organize elections for their provincial councils.

5) The committee accepts the proposals of the preparatory committee regarding what has been completed by the national unity government, and what has not been completed. There is a (separate) document detailing this subject.


Secondly: The matters delegated to the preparatory committee to complete the study of them and to arrive at an agreement over them.

In light of the results of the meetings of the preparatory committee, the gathered leadership and the Political Council for National Security decided to continue in the discussions over the remaining matters in order to solve difficult problems and to unify their points of view that have, to a certain extent, converged, specifically:

1) The constitutional amendments and specifically powers reserved and shared.

2) The oil and gas law.

3) The law of financial resources

4) The formation of the necessary committees to realize national (i.e. sectarian and ethnic) balance in the institutions of the state, taking issues of competency and efficiency into consideration.

5) An inclusive national constitutional front to support the political process.

6) The activation of the role of the Political Council for National Security and the organization of its secretariat and its internal regime.

7) The completion of the study of the security file at the nearest opportunity.


Thirdly:

1) The meeting discussed the dangerous developments that occurred in the last weeks, such as a series of assassinations, including the dangerous and cowardly acts targeting the two martyrs, the governor of Diwaniya and the governor of Samawa, and likewise the series of horrific explosions that struck in a number of regions of Iraq, which reached its worst extent in the Sinjar area, where there are not less than 500 martyrs and a large number of injured.

In addition (the dangerous developments include) the violations of the laws that has gone as far as the abduction of the deputy minister of oil and a number of senior employees from the private residential compound of the (oil) ministry, which has a special guard.

These acts carry strong suspicions, and there is semi-conclusive evidence as to their perpetrators, whether they be in al-Qa'ida, or in local militias, or foreign hands. (The acts) require the firm official stance of the state, the government, and the security apparatuses, and likewise of the different authorities, and the political, popular, and tribal forces, to strip away any guise of legitimacy that may cover such acts as these, to confront them with all available means, and to expose their perpetrators and to impose the rule of law upon them.

2) The meetings affirmed the determination of the political leadership to empower Iraq to complete the building of its capabilities to provide for its own security and to realize its complete control over its security forces, away from any danger that these forces might be used again against the people, and away from any sectarianism, group prejudice, or partisanship, and permitting the Iraqis to completely assume the (role of providing the) security of their own people and their country. Likewise, the leadership affirmed the importance of the presence of the Multinational Forces at the present time, and their appreciation of their sacrifices offered to help Iraq in preserving its security and stability. The leadership highlights the importance of linking another year’s renewal of Security Council resolution 1723 to the end of Iraq’s subordination to the provisions of Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter,** and the complete restoration of Iraq as a whole and sovereign country, and its restoration to its proper international legal status, that is, to the condition before the promulgation of Security Council Resolution 661 in the year 1990. In this context, the leaders affirmed the need to arrive upon a long-term relationship with the American side -- and with others, as the matter requires -- based on shared interests, to cover the different areas of concern between the Republic of Iraq and the United States of America, a goal that should be realized in the near future.


Baghdad, August 26, 2007


Editor's notes:

* The Political Council for National Security (PCNS) includes the president and vice presidents of Iraq, the prime minister and his deputies, the leader of the parliamentary majority, the speaker of the parliament and his deputies, and the president of the Kurdish autonomous region. The Sunni Arab Tawafuq Front members have been boycotting the government, but Tariq al-Hashemi has attended the meetings of the PCNS, ostensibly in his capacity as vice president, not as a representative of the Sunni parliamentary bloc to which his Islamic Party belongs.


**Chapter VII of the UN Charter authorizes the use of force in order to preserve international peace and security.

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Quintuple agreement important step - U.S. ambassador

Baghdad, 27 August 2007 (Voices of Iraq)

The U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker said on Monday that the joint agreement signed by the Shiite-Kurdish alliance and the Sunni Islamic party is considered an important and encouraging step towards realizing the national reconciliation and end the current political crises.

Speaking to the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI), Crocker said "the agreement is an outcome of joint efforts between these blocs to end the current crises."

The four main Kurdish and Shiite powers in addition to the Sunni Iraqi Islamic Party signed on August 26 a new joint statement with the aim of pushing forward the political process and opening doors before the blocs that quit the government.

The agreement was signed by Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, the leader of the (Shiite) Dawa Party, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barazani, Vice President Adel Abdul-Mahdi, representing Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim's Supreme Islamic Iraqi Party (SIIC), and Tareq al-Hashimi of the (Sunni) Iraqi Islamic Party.

"There is a tangible improvement in the government's performance de****e the current challenges," the diplomat said, noting that he would present his report to the U.S. administration by mid September, in which he would clarify al-Maliki's effort to achieve the national reconciliation and to improve the political process.

He reiterated the U.S. administration's support to the al-Maliki-led government, saying "the government proved its ability to overcome crises de****e challenges it faces."

He voiced belief that the Iraqi political leaderships, i.e., the presidency, the parliament, the government and other political blocs are able to overcome this critical stage and end the current political crises.

Quintuple agreement important step - U.S. ambassador | Iraq Updates