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

Australia pledges to help Iraq-VP statement

Australian Ambassador to Iraq on Tuesday announced his country's readiness to help Baghdad in different fields and to bolster mutual ties, the vice president's office said.

"Vice President Adel Abdel Mahdi discussed in his meeting with the Australian ambassador to Iraq the ways to cement ties and strengthen the economic cooperation between the countries, especially in the agricultural field," read a VP office's statement received by Aswat al-Iraq - Voices of Iraq - (VOI).

The Australian ambassador expressed his country's readiness to "help Iraq in different fields."

Australia had a small military contingent in the Multi-National Forces that toppled the former regime of Saddam Hussein and recently withdrew its forces.

Australia is the main supplier of wheat and many agricultural crops.

Australia pledges to help Iraq-VP statement | Iraq Updates

Top Commander: Iraq Assessment Needed

The top U.S. military commander in the Middle East said Tuesday that officials will probably need sometime this summer to reassess the situation in Iraq before drawing down more troops.

Adm. William Fallon said he expects Gen. David Petraeus will suggest to him that come midyear, "it's prudent to make an assessment of where we are."

Fallon said Petraeus, who oversees combat in Iraq, has the daunting task of making sure Iraqi security forces are ready to take over. The goal will be to try not to lose the momentum U.S. forces have gained, he said.

"We'll take actions based on the conditions that we find," Fallon told the Senate Armed Services Committee. "And if conditions change, I expect there will be a reconsideration."

By July, the Pentagon is on track to complete its reduction from 20 to 15 active-duty brigades deployed to Iraq.

Petraeus, who is slated to testify before Congress on April 8-9, has said he favors a "period of assessment" after that so as not to lose the security gains made in recent months. Petraeus is expected to ask President Bush to wait until as late as September to decide whether to bring home more troops.

Fallon cautioned that much of the timelines discussed is speculation.
"I think nothing is written in stone," he said.

PUKmedia :: English - Top Commander: Iraq Assessment Needed

Deputy Speaker of Iraqi Parliament Meets his British Counterpart

In the frame work of his visit to the EU states, Sheikh Khalid Atia the Deputy Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament arrived in London.

The visit comes as a response to an invitation by the British House of Commons for Sheikh Khalid to be acquainted with the Council’s work and to set the bases of collaboration between both countries in Parliamentary, Political and Economy fields.

Sheikh Khalid Atia met with his British Counterpart Mr. Michael Lord and they discussed ways of activating joint collaboration and consolidating bilateral relations and exchanging expertise between both councils.

On the other hand, Sheikh Khalid Atia explained the latest political developments in Iraq. He pointed out Iraq’s determination to go on the democratic way in spite of all challenges and obstacles of the last period. He also shed light on the Iraqi Government extra ordinary achievements in political, security and National Reconciliation fields which paved the way to make 2008 the year of construction.

Mr. Michael Lord expressed his Country’s readiness to offer all possible expertise to develop the Iraqi Parliamentary performance.

PUKmedia :: English - Deputy Speaker of Iraqi Parliament Meets his British Counterpart

Turkish Helicopters Resumes Striking Kurdistan Region Territory

A source in Sidakan border area, Erbil Province said that this morning, the Turkish Helicopters stroke Barazgr valley in Sidakan sub-district. The source didn’t refer to the bulk of the damages.

It’s worth mentioning that this is the first time that Turkey resumes its strikes on Kurdistan Region Territory after its withdrawal a few days ago.

PUKmedia :: English - Turkish Helicopters Resumes Striking Kurdistan Region Territory

President Talabani Visits Al- Maliki

Today the Iraqi President, Jalal Talabani visited the Iraqi Prime Minster, Nouri al- Maliki in Baghdad on occasion of his return from the UK.

Many political issues mainly the visit of President Talabani to Turkey were discussed during the meeting. The need for concentrating on efforts to succeed the political process as well as dealing with the suspended issues, activating governmental institutions and providing more public services to the Iraqi people were also discussed.

On his side, the Iraqi PM appreciated the visit and efforts of President Talabani to bridge the different views of the Iraqi factions and achieving the Iraqi national integrity.

Recently the Iraqi PM visited the UK to have medical tests.

PUKmedia :: English - President Talabani Visits Al- Maliki

Iran Says to Hold Talks with US on Iraq Thursday

Iranian and US officials will hold their fourth round of talks on security in Iraq in Baghdad on Thursday, the ISNA news agency quoted the head of Iran's delegation Reza Amiri Moghaddam as saying.

"Based on an agreement with the Iraqi government, the fourth round of tripartite negotations on Iraqi security will be held on Thursday with delegations from Iran, Iraq and the United States," the agency quoted him as saying.

ISNA said the Iranian delegation arrived in Baghdad on Wednesday, adding that the talks with be at the level of "experts".

The announcement comes after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad held talks with Iraqi leaders earlier this week in a historic trip that was the first by an Iranian president to the country.

PUKmedia :: English - Iran Says to Hold Talks with US on Iraq Thursday

Braham Salih Expresses Readiness of Iraqi Federal Government and KRG to Resolve PKK Issue

Today the Iraqi deputy Prime Minister, Braham Ahmad Salih met with a senior delegation of the European Commission.

He stressed on a more active presence of the European Commission in Iraq particularly in the current transitional era which has top importance in all the aspects. Meanwhile it shows the Iraqi interest to have best relations with the international community.

The latest developments on the international convention treaty were discussed during the meeting where both sides reiterated to intense their efforts to activate and carry out the treaty.

Latter, the latest developments in the Kurdistan region particularly the recent Turkish incursion into Kurdistan region was discussed. Salih stressed the need for abiding political and diplomatic efforts to deal with the PKK issue.

He expressed the readiness of the Iraqi federal government and the Kurdistan regional government, in cooperation with all the related sides, to deal with the PKK issue, the borders to be secured, and Iraq’s sovereignty to be respected.

PUKmedia :: English - Braham Salih Expresses Readiness of Iraqi Federal Government and KRG to Resolve PKK Issue

Slight drop in demand for dollar

Demand for the dollar slightly dropped in the Iraqi Central Bank's auction on Wednesday, registering at $116.880 million compared to $127.250 million on Tuesday.

"The demand hit $16.880 million in cash and $100 million in money transfers outside the country, all covered by the bank at a rate of 1,210 Iraqi dinars per dollar, stable for the 20th session in a row," according to the central bank's daily bulletin and received by Aswat al-Iraq - Voices of Iraq - (VOI).

None of the twelve banks that participated in the auction offered to sell dollars.

Speaking to VOI, Ali al-Yasseri, a trader, said that the general demand for the dollar still high but it is lower compared to the previous session, attributing the high demand for the dollar to the market activity.

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

Aswat Aliraq

New residential city in Baghdad

Iraqi Minister of Housing and Rebuilding Baian Dazaee discussed on Wednesday the preliminary sketches, submitted by Baghdad Mayoralty, to construct a residential city, at the location of Al-Rasheed military camp of the former Iraqi Army in Baghdad.

"During a meeting of the processes management committee of the national housing project, the minister discussed the sketches of the complete new residential city," said a release issued by the Ministry of Housing and Rebuilding.

"The Iraqi cabinet agreed to devote the lands of Al-Rasheed camp to build a complete residential city sponsored by Baghdad Mayoralty," the minister said, according to the release that was received by Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI).

Al-Rasheed camp is at the southeastern part of Baghdad – capital city of Iraq.

Aswat Aliraq

Iraq takes part in Arab foreign Ministers Meeting

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari participated in the meeting of Arab Foreign Ministers on Wednesday at the headquarters of the Arab League in Cairo.

Zibari arrived in Cairo on Tuesday and took part in the consultative meeting, attended by Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa, who posted the ministers with the results of his recent visit to Lebanon.

Eighteen Arab foreign ministers met on Wednesday at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo to discuss the Lebanese political crisis, the latest attacks on the Gaza strip and the situation in Iraq, while preparing for the Arab summit, scheduled to be held in Syria on March 29.

Aswat Aliraq