Thread: Archive Latest News - Think Tank - 01/01/08 - 14/04/08

Kurdistan premier signs 2 MoU with S.K. on oil, Reconstruction

Iraq's Kurdistan prime minister signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) on energy and reconstruction with South Korean companies, saying they were made "within the boundaries of the Iraqi constitution."

"A delegation from two South Korean companies working in the fields of oil and construction will soon visit the Kurdistan region to discuss means of turning the memorandums into action on the ground," the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) premier, Negervan al-Barazani, said during a press conference held at the cabinet headquarters on Sunday.

The memorandums were signed during Barazani's visit to South Korea last week.

The region had signed 15 contracts with 20 foreign oil corporations despite the central government's objection and ahead of the Iraqi parliament's final endorsement of a new draft law on oil.

The Iraqi Ministry of Oil invited foreign corporations to invest in the oil field in all Iraqi provinces, including those in the Kurdistan region and in Kirkuk, but excluded the companies that have signed contracts with the region without a prior approval from the ministry.

Aswat Aliraq

Academic Conference in Paris to discuss Iraq's Oil Policies

A three-day academic conference on Iraq's oil policies by the Iraqi Research Center in cooperation with the division of social sciences at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique began in the French capital on Monday with the participation of over 20 oil experts from Iraq and foreign countries.

"The idea of the conference stems from the need to hold systematic discussions on the Iraqi oil issue, especially in the aftermath of the emergence of a new liberal trend that dominated the country in the past five years, believing that the only way to democracy is to reduce the role of the state," Dr. Haidar Saeed, a member of the center's executive board, told Aswat al-Iraq, Voices of Iraq, by phone from Paris.

"The principle of wealth sharing, which is becoming popular in the country, is a strong incentive to discuss oil policies," Saeed added.

The participants will submit 15 pieces of research on the correlation between oil policies and the government's revenues and a re-examination of the state's role in the oil sector.

Among the participants are Mahdi al-Hafiz, Iraq's former minister of planning and a member of parliament; Qusai Abdul Wahhab, a parliamentarian; Thamir al-Ghadban, a senior advisor to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki; Adnan al-Mufti, the speaker of the Kurdish parliament; Ashti Hourami, the minister of natural resources in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG); Ibrahim Bahr al-Uloum, the former minister of oil; Fouad Hussein, the head of the KRG's presidency office; in addition to several researchers, including Fadil al-Jalbi, Muhammad Ali Zeini and Tareq Shafiq.

Established in July 2007 in Baghdad, the Iraqi Research Center was founded by a number of Iraqi researchers from different fields.

"The founders of the center have a deep feeling that Iraq, which has become the main topic of world concern, is still mysterious," Saeed added.

When asked about the choice of the conference's location, Saeed said that the theme of the conference was enthusiastically welcomed by the social sciences division at the National Center for Scientific Research in Paris, one of the largest official academies in the country.

Aswat Aliraq

Hike in the demand for the dollar in daily auction

Demand for the dollar was higher in the Iraqi Central Bank's auction on Monday, hitting $70.510 million compared to $19.920 million on Sunday.

"The demand hit $380,000 in cash and $70.130 million in money transfers outside the country, all covered by the bank at an exchange rate of 1,210 Iraqi dinars per dollar, unchanged for the 14th session in a row," according to the central bank's daily bulletin which was received by Aswat al-Iraq- Voices of Iraq- (VOI).

The nine banks that participated in the auction offered to sell $1.500 million, which the bank bought at an exchange rate of 1,208 Iraqi dinars per dollar.

Speaking to VOI, Ali al-Yasseri, a trader, said that foreign transfers increased, while bids for cash dropped sharply because off the deep recession in southern Iraqi provinces coinciding with the Shiite Arbaeen pilgrimage

The Arbaeen is a religious occasion marking the 40th day after the death of Imam al-Hussein, the Prophet Muhammad's grandson and the third holiest figure for Shiite Muslims, in the battle of Taf in Karbala in the Hijri year 61 (680 in the Gregorian calendar).

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

Aswat Aliraq

Senior Arab League delegation to arrive in Baghdad today-spokesman

The spokesman for the Iraqi government Dr. Ali al-Dabbagh on Monday said a senior Arab League delegation would arrive in Baghdad later in the day.

"The delegation will meet a number of top Iraqi officials to back the government's efforts on the path of the national reconciliation," Dr. al-Dabbagh told Aswat al-Iraq- Voices of Iraq- (VOI).

The Iraqi government spokesman added "the delegation would meet Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh, Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zibari, National Dialogue Minister Akram al-Hakim."

Al-Dabbagh who declined the names of the delegation members also said "there will be a meeting between the delegation and the Iraqi National Reconciliation Committee."

Aswat Aliraq

Sadrists failing to honor freeze to be disowned – spokesman

Members of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army failing to honor Sadr's decision to freeze the militia's activities would be disowned, a spokesman for Sadr said on Monday.

"Those not committed to the freeze decision are in fact declaring mutiny and would be disowned," Salah al-Ubaidi said in statements to Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI), adding "there would be mechanisms and steps to follow the freeze decision."

On his views regarding the government's position on the Sadrist bloc, Ubaidi said "the government is showing positive stands manifested in statements and media reactions, but it does not have the same positive attitude on the ground."

The Iraqi government had welcomed on Friday the Shiite leader's decision to extend the freeze on his Mahdi Army militias for six months, noting "the Sadrist bloc represents a fundamental pillar in the political process."

Sadr had announced a decision in August 2007 freezing any activities of the Mahdi Army, including military operations against U.S. and allied forces, for six months for "restructuring purposes."

"The Iraqi government had given a free hand to the army and police to target members of the Sadrist bloc in some areas," said Ubaidi, adding "many followers of the Sadrist bloc were killed or detained."

The U.S. army had welcomed on Saturday Sadr's decision to extend the freeze for more six months, pointing out that the decision "would contribute to pacifying security conditions."

Asked on the U.S. statements, Ubaidi said "When Muqtada al-Sadr decided to freeze Mahdi Army activities, he did not consider any U.S., governmental or partisan aspects. The decision rested on mere legitimate and national reasons."

Aswat Aliraq

Arab League delegation meets FM, Iraqi officials in Baghdad

A high-level Arab League delegation led by the deputy secretary general Ahmed Bin Hilli arrived in Baghdad and met with foreign minister Hoshyar Zibari and Iraqi officials, a statement from the foreign ministry said.

"The Arab League delegation met a number of Iraqi officials and will meet other Iraqi forces later to hold talks on backing the government's efforts to strengthen the national reconciliation,” read the statement received by Aswat al-Iraq - Voices of Iraq - (VOI)

Earlier, the spokesman for the Iraqi government Dr. Ali al-Dabbagh on Monday said a senior Arab League delegation would arrive in Baghdad later in the day.

Dr. al-Dabbagh told VOI "The delegation will meet a number of top Iraqi officials to back the government's efforts on the path of national reconciliation." The Iraqi government spokesman added "The delegation will meet Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh, Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zibari, and National Dialogue Minister Akram al-Hakim."

Al-Dabbagh, who declined to mention the names of the delegation members, also said "there will be a meeting between the delegation and the Iraqi National Reconciliation Committee."

Aswat Aliraq

AL delegation's visit focuses on national reconciliation

The official spokesman for the Iraqi government on Monday said that the three-day visit of the Arab League delegation led by Deputy Secretary General Ahmed Bin Hilli aims at discussing the national reconciliation process and boosting Iraq's relations with Arab countries.

"The delegation met with the Ali al-Dabagh, spokesman for the Iraqi government, and discussed AL efforts to realize national reconciliation," al-Dabagh told Aswat al-Iraq- Voices of Iraq (VOI).

"Talks tackled Iraqi-Arab ties and encouraging Arab countries to open embassies in Baghdad," he explained.

He expressed hope over an Arab strategy to deal with Iraq, asserting that Iraq hopes for an active Arab role in the Iraqi arena.

"The delegation will meet also with the Minister of the National Dialogue Akram Hakim and Deputy Prime Minister for Economic
Affairs Burham Saleh," Ali al-Dabagh highlighted.

A statement from the foreign ministry had said earlier a high-level Arab League delegation led by the deputy secretary general Ahmed Bin Hilli arrived in Baghdad and met with foreign minister Hoshyar Zibari and Iraqi officials.

"The Arab League delegation met a number of Iraqi officials and will meet other Iraqi forces later to hold talks on backing the government's efforts to strengthen the national reconciliation,” the statement added.

Aswat Aliraq

Modern technology is necessary to develop Iraqi Oil Sector

A number of economic researchers stressed the need for using modern techniques which will accompany foreign investors in developing the Iraqi oil sector, taking into consideration the national interest and not compromising the sovereignty of Iraq.

This came during a scientific symposium held at the headquarters of the Iraqi Federation of Chambers of Commerce on Tuesday, in collaboration with the Centre of Arab and International Studies in Al-Mustansiriya University; researchers also discussed the negative and positive effects on the oil status in Iraq if the oil and gas law is applied without amendments. Director of the Arab and international Studies Center at Mustansiriya University, Dr. Mahmoud Ali, stressed the need to pay attention to this issue and oblige investors to introduce modern techniques before starting implementation of the Law on oil and gas.

The economic researchers demanded: completing legislations for foreign investment in the oil sector in light of the supreme national interest, the use of natural gas in broader economic sectors, encouraging the private sector to work in the Iraqi oil industry and clarify the contents of licensing contracts to be awarded to international companies.

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UAE invited to invest in the future of Iraq

An Iraqi minister will visit Dubai to woo investors and companies willing to support 40 state-owned companies whose operations have been severely hit by the war.

The firms ranging from petrochemical, cement, textile, engineering and construction material sectors to car manufacturers, have assets worth billions of dollars. Fawzi Hariri, Iraq’s Minister of Industry and Minerals, will outline investment opportunities at a summit in the emirate in April.

“The summit comes after Hariri decided to open up Iraq’s state-owned industries to the global market,” said a spokesman for Iraq Development Corporation. “This will provide international companies with an opportunity to be joint-venture partners as it begins its journey from planned economy to regional economic powerhouse.

“The ministry is looking for investors to rehabilitate and upgrade state-owned companies producing cement, ceramics, paper, vehicles, iron and steel, petrochemicals and fertilisers.”

The summit will be attended by 70 senior Iraqi Government officials and the United States’ Under-Secretary of Defence responsible for economic reforms in Iraq.

One of the companies that will be showcased will be Sinjar cement plant in Mosul, which was severely damaged by bombs. “The plant consists of two production lines, with a daily capacity of 6,400 tonnes,” said the spokesman. “It is working at a reduced capacity and needs comprehensive rebuilding by an experienced cement company. It has sufficient sources of raw materials such as limestone and gypsum.”

Another venture that needs support is a urea fertiliser plant in Abu Al Khasib, Basra, which has a capacity of 420,000 tonnes per year. A glass factory in Al Anbar, which has been out of operation for five years, also requires investment, as does a paper plant in Missan.

UAE invited to invest in the future of Iraq

Iraq agreed to an aircraft deal costing $5 billion

Iraq said on Tuesday it agreed to buy 40 new aircrafts from the American Boeing for aircraft industry and six aircrafts from the Canadian Bombarde for the benefit of the Iraqi Airways which is run by the State in a deal worth up to $5 billion.

According to a government statement issued earlier on Tuesday, Iraq will buy 40 aircrafts from Boeing with an option for ten other planes. Bankeen Ruqani, Deputy-minister of Iraqi Transportation, said that receiving Boeing aircrafts is scheduled in 2015, while Canadian aircrafts are scheduled this year and in 2009; however, no details are currently available on the type of aircrafts.

The national Airways Company suspended its flights since the early nineties due to international sanctions and much of its fleet and assets were destroyed and exposed to looting during the war led by the United States in 2003. The Company resumed international flights in 2004.

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