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

Iraqi VP meets UAE official

Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdulmahdi held Thursday talks with Sheikh Saud bin Saqer Al-Qassimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Emirate of Ras Al-Khaima, on economic and trade relations, and promising investment opportunities in the region.

Sheikh Saud, in remarks during the meeting, said the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was supporting all means that would bring about stability and security to Iraq, an official statement said.

Abdulmahdi is visiting the UAE to participate in a conference over investment in Iraq, currently held in Dubai.

Sheikh Saud said he was optimistic that Iraq would emerg prosperous and stable.

He said the conference was a clear indication that Iraq was approaching economic and investment openness.

The Iraqi Vice President said the relations with the UAE were deept-rooted and solid.

Iraq and the UAE, he said, have common vision to move forward in collaboration in different fields.

Damascus imposes visa requirement on Iraqis entering Syria

The Iraqi Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that the Syrian government decided to impose a visa requirement on Iraqis seeking entering Syria as of September 10.

"The Syrian Foreign Minister Waleed al-Moualim informed his Iraqi counterpart Hoshyar Zibari by telephone that his country decided to impose a visa requirement as of September 10, 2007, on Iraqi nationals seeking entry to Syria for economic, commercial and scientific purposes, and asked for the Iraqi government cooperation in this respect," the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said in a statement received by the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).

Syria receives now Iraqis seeking entry to its territories without obtaining prior entry visas.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimated the number of Iraqis residing in Syria at 1.4 million.

Damascus imposes visa requirement on Iraqis entering Syria | Iraq Updates

Iraq calls Iran to stop shelling border areas, warns it will affect relations

Iraq on Thursday strongly criticized Iranian artillery barrages against Kurdish guerrilla positions in border areas, warning that if such shelling continue it will negatively effect relations between the two neighboring countries.

Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari made his comments amid reports from northern Iraq that villagers in border areas in the provinces of Sulaimaniyah and Irbil have been fleeing their homes as a result of Iranian shelling.

Iranian shelling "has been ongoing and unfortunately has become a daily or a routine practice. Recently, we summoned the Iranian ambassador and handed him a note of protest," Zebari said in English.

He added that the Iraqi government "demanded an immediate cessation of these attacks on innocent people because it has led to extensive damage to the property, to the environment of the area and it also has led many people to leave their homes because of the continuation of the shelling."

Video shot by Associated Press Television news showed dozens of people, including children, leaving their areas and settling in tents in safer regions. It also showed white smoke billowing from moutanous areas as explosions of shelling could be heard.

The shelling has been directed against positions of the Free Life Party, or PEJAK, a breakaway faction of the separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party, also known as PKK. Iran says PEJAK launches attacks inside Iran from bases in Iraq.

"PEJAK sometimes moves in border area but this does not permit all this continuous, daily and intensive shelling," Zebari said. "On behalf of the Iraqi government, we call on the Iranian government to stop shelling because it will impact bilateral relations. Also we are willing, we are ready to discuss all the issues that concern the Iranian side through direct negotiations and peaceful means. We hope that these attacks will stop immediately."

Iraq calls Iran to stop shelling border areas, warns it will affect relations | Iraq Updates

Lower demand for the dollar in daily auction

Demand for the dollar was down in the Iraqi Central Bank’s auction on Thursday, reaching $35.190 million compared with $48.215 million on Tuesday.

In its daily statement the bank said it had covered all bids, including $11.890 million in cash and $23.300 in foreign transfers, at an exchange rate of 1,238 dinars per dollar, unchanged for the fifth session in a row.

The 10 banks that participated in Thursday's session, the smallest number of participants for over a month, offered to sell $15 million, which the bank bought at an exchange rate of 1,236 dinars per dollar.

In statements to the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI), Ali al-Yasseri, a trader, said that Thursday's session saw a remarkable increase in cash bids compared to Tuesday and Monday, and a sharp drop in remittances.

The bank canceled its auction on Wednesday because of the clashes that erupted between gunmen and security forces in the holy Shiite city of Karbala.

The Iraqi Central Bank runs a daily auction from Sunday to Thursday.

Lower demand for the dollar in daily auction | Iraq Updates

Commanders to decide Basra responsibility

WASHINGTON, Aug. 30 A key U.S. Army general refused to be pinned down Thursday on whether U.S. troops would replace British troops if they evacuate Basra in southern Iraq.

British troops have been responsible for the Basra region since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said this week he is committed to finishing the mission in Iraq and will set no timetable for the withdrawal of 5,500 British troops.

But British troops are set to "reposition" in Iraq.

Asked whether U.S. troops would move into a British vacuum, U.S. Maj. Gen. Richard Sherlock said that should be a question for the multinational command in Baghdad. Sherlock is the director of operational planning for the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington.

He said the command "will reposition forces with the battlefield geography in mind so that they don't give up gains that they have made in different areas, including in Basra and in the south."

But Sherlock suggested Basra may be the bailiwick of Iraqi forces.

"I know that Basra is scheduled to transfer shortly (from British) to provisional Iraqi control, and there are a number of Iraqi units that are Â… in that area," he said. "As conditions on the ground dictate (the multinational command) will redistribute those forces as necessary. So to speculate what might happen in the coming weeks, I don't think is in my purview."

Commanders to decide Basra responsibility : World

Iraq says making progress ahead of key reports

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's foreign minister said on Thursday the government had made progress in responding to U.S. goals for improved security and political reconciliation ahead of key reports soon to be delivered to the U.S. Congress.

The U.S. commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, and U.S. ambassador Ryan Crocker will testify before Congress on either September 11 or 12.

Their reports on Iraq's security and political situation could prompt a shift in U.S. President George W. Bush's Iraq policy amid calls from opposition Democrats and some senior Republicans for U.S. troops to start leaving Iraq.

"The whole world is waiting anxiously to see what these reports will indicate," Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari told a news conference.

Zebari said there had been a "great deal" of progress on the security front in Iraq, while an agreement at the weekend by the country's top five Shi'ite, Sunni Arab and Kurdish leaders to boost national reconciliation was a "significant move".

Sceptics have questioned how much of that deal -- which included consensus on easing curbs on former members of Saddam Hussein's Baath party returning to government jobs -- will translate into action given the paralysis gripping the Shi'ite-led administration of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

The deal also called for the release of many detainees held across Iraq. Both issues are at the heart of complaints from disaffected Sunni Arabs, dominant under Saddam.

"I am hopeful that come September 11 or 12 you will see more political progress along these lines," Zebari said.

But while he expressed optimism, the Washington Post reported that Iraq had only met three out of 18 goals set by Washington for political and security progress, according to a draft of another major report being prepared for Congress.

The findings by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the investigative arm of Congress, are at odds with a more positive assessment by the White House in July that Iraq had met eight out of 18 benchmarks, the newspaper said.

"STRIKINGLY NEGATIVE"

The report, which the Post described as "strikingly negative", is due to be delivered to Congress on Tuesday, a week before the testimony by Petraeus and Crocker.

"While the Baghdad security plan was intended to reduce sectarian violence, U.S. agencies differ on whether such violence has been reduced," the draft obtained by the Post said.

The White House on Thursday played down the GAO report, saying the standards were too high to meet; Democrats said it bolstered their argument that the United States must withdraw combat troops from Iraq.

"It's no secret that many of the benchmarks have not been met," White House spokesman Tony Snow said.

U.S. commanders in Baghdad say sectarian violence has fallen since Bush sent 30,000 extra troops to Iraq. In particular, they say sectarian death squad killings in the capital have halved.

Some of the violence has been blamed on the Mehdi Army militia of anti-American Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.

On Wednesday, Sadr suspended all armed action by the militia after gun battles in the city of Kerbala killed dozens. But Ahmed al-Shaibani, a senior Sadr aide, warned U.S. forces not to take advantage of the order.

"We say to the Americans, don't be happy. The resistance does not end," Shaibani said without elaborating.

Iraq's parliament has yet to pass any laws Washington regards as vital to healing the sectarian divide between Shi'ites and Sunni Arabs, including de-Baathification and legislation that will equitably share the country's oil wealth.

Zebari urged lawmakers to work faster when parliament reconvenes on September 4 after a summer break. Lawmakers complain the government has yet to submit the key laws to parliament.

Iraq says making progress ahead of key reports - Yahoo! News UK

Letter of Intent - dated - 17th July 2007 - IMF

http://www.imf.org/External/NP/LOI/2007/irq/071707.pdf

They arrived in Helsinki yesterday according to TV news last night.

Iraqi peace talks to begin in Finland within days

August 31, 2007 at 12:28 am · Filed under Iraq, NewsLog
Talks aimed at negotiating peace between Iraqi Shi'ites and Sunni Muslims, the two largest population groups in Iraq, are set to take place in Finland within the next few days.
The Crisis Management Initiative (CMI) and the Finnish Foreign Ministry have both confirmed reports that the pre-arranged talks are scheduled to begin soon in an undisclosed location in Finland. The CMI, a non-governmental organization founded by former President of Finland Martti Ahtisaari, has organized the talks, which are said to include key politicians, including representatives of major political parties.
Although the CMI will host the talks, Finland will take no direct role in the discusions. Martti Ahtisaari speficially will not take part, either.
All of those to take part in the mediations are still to arrive in Finland, including mediators from Northern Ireland and South Africa, who have already negotiated succesful peace deals in their own countries.
The CMI has already succeeded once in helping two rival factions come to a peace deal. In 2005, the organization arranged successful talks between the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement.

MND: News and Commentary Since 2001 » Iraqi peace talks to begin in Finland within days

Zebari: no 'magical solution' in Iraq report
US cautiously welcomes Sadr's militia freeze, insurgents kill two American soldiers in Iraq.

Iraq's Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said on Thursday he did not believe that the much-awaited progress report by top US officials in Baghdad would contain any "magical solution" to end Iraq's crisis.

US General David Petraeus, the head of coalition forces in Iraq, and American Ambassador Ryan Crocker are set to present their report on progress in stemming sectarian violence and effecting political reconciliation in war-ravaged country to the Congress next month.

The report is expected to direct US President George W. Bush's future strategy for Iraq.

"I personally believe the report will not produce any magical solution or an instant answer to the problems we are going through," Zebari told reporters.

The report was, however, significant as it would give an "assessement of the political, security and economic" situation in the country, he said, adding that the document would focus on the "dangers" if the coalition troops withdraw from Iraq.

"The report will indicate how things should go foward," he said.
"It is true there is progress on the security front but it is not matched on the political front."

Zebari said the recent decision by Iraqi leaders to resolve key disputed issues would help the country politically.

US cautiously welcomes Sadr's militia freeze
The US military on Thursday cautiously welcomed Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's freeze on militia activities, including a halt to attacks on US-led forces.

"Any time someone in Iraq, especially a leader, wants to use non-violent methods to solve problems and to participate in a meaningful way in the future of Iraq, we encourage this," said US military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Chris Garver.

"As always, the proof will be what we see on the street. But we encourage any leader to work to end criminality, to work to end violence and to seek non-violent methods to move Iraq forward," Garver said in a statement.

Sadr on Wednesday called a six-month halt to all activities of his around 60,000-strong militia, after the Mahdi Army was blamed for causing a bloodbath in the shrine city of Karbala that left 52 people dead.

"I direct the Mahdi Army to suspend all its activities for six months until it is restructured in a way that helps honour the principles for which it is formed," Sadr said in a statement.

Sheikh Ahmed al-Shaibani, a Sadr aide who led a rebellion against US forces in the Shiite city of Najaf in 2004, said the suspension included a ban on any attacks on US-led forces.

Sadr aides have denied any involvement in the deadly fighting on Tuesday that sent hundreds of thousands of pilgrims fleeing Karbala during a major religious festival and led Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to slap an indefinite curfew on the city.

The Iraqi government welcomed the move, which Sadr aides said was aimed at rooting out "rogue elements" and which could rein in violence in the capital as well other regions.

National security advisor Muwaffaq al-Rubaie told the BBC it was "very good news" that would "contribute to peace and stability."

Sadr's militia, which gained a nationalist and anti-American image since it launched two rebellions against the US military in 2004, has been accused by Sunni Arab leaders of slaughtering members of their community since the outbreak of communal strife in Iraq last year.

Two US soldiers killed in Iraq

Insurgents killed two American soldiers in separate attacks in Iraq, the military said on Thursday.

A soldier was killed and another wounded in western Baghdad during combat operations, while another soldier died in an explosion near his vehicle in the province of Diyala, northeast of the Iraqi capital, the military said.

Both soldiers were killed on Wednesday.
The latest fatalities brought the military's losses in Iraq since the March 2003 invasion to 3,729, according to a count based on Pentagon figures.

Zebari: no 'magical solution' in Iraq report | Iraq Updates

Iraq benchmark findings

Government Accountability Office findings on status of 18 military and political goals set by Congress for Iraq:

IRAQ HAS FULLY MET REQUIREMENTS TOWARD:

_Establishing supporting political, media, economic and services committees in support of the Baghdad Security Plan.

_Establishing all of the planned joint security stations in neighborhoods across Baghdad.

_Ensuring that the rights of minority political parties in the Iraqi legislature are protected.

IRAQ HAS ONLY PARTIALLY MET REQUIREMENTS TOWARD:

_Enacting and implementing legislation on procedures to form semiautonomous regions.

_Allocating and spending $10 billion in Iraqi revenues for reconstruction projects, including delivery of essential services, on an equitable basis.

IRAQ HAS NOT MET REQUIREMENTS TOWARD:

_Providing three trained and ready Iraqi brigades to support Baghdad operations.

Ensuring that the Baghdad security plan will not provide a safe haven for outlaws, regardless of sectarian or political affiliation, as Bush says Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has pledged to do.

_Enacting and implementing legislation on de-Baathification.

_Enacting and implementing legislation to ensure the equitable distribution of hydrocarbon resources of the people of Iraq without regard to the sect or ethnicity of recipients, and enacting and implementing legislation to ensure that the energy resources of Iraq benefit Sunni Arabs, Shia Arabs, Kurds, and other Iraqi citizens in an equitable manner.

_Providing Iraqi commanders with all authorities to execute this plan and to make tactical and operational decisions, in consultation with U.S commanders, without political intervention, to include the authority to pursue all extremists, including Sunni insurgents and Shiite militias.

_Ensuring that the Iraqi Security Forces are providing evenhanded enforcement of the law.

_Increasing the number of Iraqi security forces units capable of operating independently.

_Ensuring that Iraq's political authorities are not undermining or making false accusations against members of the Iraqi Security Forces.

_Reducing the level of sectarian violence in Iraq and eliminating militia control of local security.

_Enacting and implementing legislation establishing an Independent High Electoral Commission, provincial elections law, provincial council authorities, and a date for provincial elections.

_Forming a Constitutional Review Committee and then completing the constitutional review.

_Enacting and implementing legislation addressing amnesty.

_Enacting and implementing legislation establishing a strong militia disarmament program to ensure that such security forces are accountable only to the central government and loyal to the constitution of Iraq.

Iraq benchmark findings | Iraq Updates