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

Iraq adopts multi-year Customs Modernization Plan

MENA FN - [8/17/2007]

Iraqi Minister of Finance approved adopting a multi-year Customs Modernization Plan for Iraq, building on extensive support from the U.S. Agency for International Development, Portal of Iraq reported.

The International Monetary Fund's (IMF) stand-by arrangement with the Government of Iraq (GOI) calls for extensive customs reforms.

The Economic Governance II Project, assisting the Iraqi government in the economic reconstruction and policy reform in Iraq, has been working with the Ministry of Finance and General Commission for Customs (GCC) to help build institutional capacity and develop modern systems.

This multi-year plan provides important steps in assisting the GCC to improve, simplify and streamline customs services to importers and travelers, while reducing opportunities for corruption.

http://www.iraqdirectory.com/DisplayNews.aspx?id=4361

Iraq oil law up in Sept., official says

Earth Times - [8/17/2007]

A top official in the Iraqi Embassy in Washington expects the oil law to top Parliament's agenda when lawmakers return to session at the start of next month.

Ghaleb El-Anbaki, third secretary and head of the Iraqi Embassy's political affairs department, told UPI the oil debate is "a sensitive issue," one related to history and entwined with the country's future.

"This will come up on the first item on the agenda of the next session of Parliament," he said, adding the Kurdistan Regional Government and Iraq's central government have compromises on "technical" issues, such as sharing power.

There has been no announcement on any deal, however, as Parliament is on recess this month. The oil law has been negotiated for more than a year but is stuck on issues such as the extent of federalism in controlling the exploration, development and production of the third-largest reserves in the world. Also unresolved is the extent foreign and private companies will be allowed into the sector.

Anbaki said the issue over sharing oil revenues, which will be dealt with under a separate revenue-sharing law, has been "politicized" and is holding up the law's passage.

"This is a problem," he said.

The holdup over the oil law is based on the 2005 constitution, the interpretation of which many factions disagree on. A committee is looking at amending the constitution, possibly even the language dealing with oil, but has not made any movement.

Anbaki said that is the question: whether to move forward on the oil law or wait until any proposed changes to the constitution are decided first.

Anbaki supports moving forward with the oil law, saying it will lead to much needed reconciliation.

"Let us work for the best of a formula," he said. "It's a law. It's not a divine law. To leave this as it is not good."

http://www.iraqdirectory.com/DisplayNews.aspx?id=4360

Talabani receives American military delegation

17 Aug 2007 22:59:00

Baghdad (NINA) – President Jalal Talabani received on Friday noon, Aug. 17, an American military delegation headed by retired General Jim Jones, head of the Independent Committee. A source at the Presidency said, "The Committee was formed by Congress to evaluate the performance of Iraqi security.

Translated version of http://www.ninanews.com/

maliki is a 2 faced jackel whos destiny is short....he will meet his demise before he spends on dinar of his oil wealth...

and he is also the whore of the al sadr jackel ...who will also bite the dust...in iran,...his city of choice.....

before the next full moon..

IMHO

Originally Posted by wherbie

maliki is a 2 faced jackel whos destiny is short....he will meet his demise before he spends on dinar of his oil wealth...

and he is also the whore of the al sadr jackel ...who will also bite the dust...in iran,...his city of choice.....

before the next full moon..

IMHO

While your comments and feelings are absolutely permissible, this is the News thread....

Perhaps you would like to begin a new thread to discuss why you feel that way? I would gladly engage in that type of discussion....I'd like to know what made you post such a harsh statement? Anything in particular set you off? A certain article or report of actions?

I look forward to your comments (In another thread).

Thank you.

Originally Posted by Hardwood

While your comments and feelings are absolutely permissible, this is the News thread....

Perhaps you would like to begin a new thread to discuss why you feel that way? I would gladly engage in that type of discussion....I'd like to know what made you post such a harsh statement? Anything in particular set you off? A certain article or report of actions?

I look forward to your comments (In another thread).

Thank you.

I second that ! or provide the Link's to where you got that info ....... Thanks .

What happened to the old news thread? Trying to find a past article and cannot seem to find it

TY, Gloribee

Impose curfews vehicles in the city of Mosul
ونا/18 اب/نينوى/ . Luna / August 18 / Nineveh / Nineveh Police Command announced today, Saturday, imposing a ban on vehicles touring the city of Mosul in northern Iraq begins three p.m. today and ends at six tomorrow, Sunday.
. Police explained that the imposition of a curfew in Mosul has nothing to do with the events of Sinjar explosions but the security measures within the city / / completed / u p / u p / security.

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Iraq security improving de****e attacks

Saturday, August 18, 2007 08:14 GMT

Number 2 US Forces leader in Iraq, General Raymond Odierno, said that security in Iraq is improving de****e the attacks that targeted Mosul last Tuesday killing hundreds of civilians in the most violent attack since the topple of the former regime. He added that “such an attack in 2006 might have triggered a spiral of revenge killings, but, today, such horrific events actually unite Iraqis of different ethnicities and confessions in their outrage.”

Odierno said that Al Qaeda is forced to undertake its attacks in more remote parts of the country, rather than in the capital, attributing this shift to the pressures made by Iraqi security forces and the weakness of Al Qaeda leaders.
He affirmed that the coalition forces and the Iraqi security forces enjoy the people’s trust noting that Iraqis are condemning extremists and reporting on weapons caches, and are claiming to enroll in the security forces.
Back

Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network | Iraq News | Iraq security improving de****e attacks

Referendum on Kirkuk may be delayed
Saturday, August 18, 2007 09:01 GMT

A referendum that will determine the status of the city of Kirkuk is unlikely to go ahead on schedule, U.S. ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker said.

Crocker stressed the importance of a comprehensive entente in the country to get out of this critical situation. He emphasized that it would be impossible to reach an Iraqi solution out of a Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish accordance.

Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network | Iraq News | Referendum on Kirkuk may be delayed