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

Iraq seeks cuts in comp to Kuwait for war losses

Iraq will ask the UN Security Council (UNSC) to reduce from five to one percent the amount of compensation paid by the Iraqi government, from oil revenues, to the State of Kuwait for damages caused by the 1990-91 Iraqi invasion of the North Gulf state. Finance Minister Baqer Al-Zubaidi, addressing a special parliamentary session, said this issue was discussed by Iraqi and Kuwaiti officials. “This issue was discussed with attendance of President of the Republic (of Iraq) Jalal Talabani with officials in Kuwait,” he said. “Iraq will submit a request to the Security Council to reduce the percentage to one instead of five of the value of sold oil,” Zubaidi told the lawmakers. He did not elaborate on the issue. The UNSC informed the Iraqi government on Dec 14 last year the compensation issue was under the jurisdiction of the Geneva-based UN Compensation Commission (UNCC).

Meanwhile, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari on Tuesday said that his government considers the Arab League initiative to achieve Iraqi reconciliation as one of the best that were put on the Iraqi arena. Zebari denied, in a statement to reporters following his talks with the Secretary General of the Arab League Amr Moussa the existence of rejection of Prime Minister of Iraq Nouri al-Maliki of the League’s efforts to achieve reconciliation in his country. He said that al-Maliki supports the initiative of the Arab League for reconciliation, saying that “the conditions are in place now for a more effective Arab endeavour to be led by the Arab League towards achieving reconciliation in Iraq especially after the existing security and economic improvement in Iraq.” He added that “there is a real chance we rely on in Iraq by the Arab League to activate the Arab initiative for reconciliation noting that a delegation from the Arab League is to visit Baghdad soon to continue the League’s efforts on the path of achieving reconciliation and harmony in Iraq.”

http://www.iraqdirectory.com/DisplayNews.aspx?id=5310

Iraqi FM welcomes Arab league efforts

Following talks with Arab League Secretary General Amro Moussa in Cairo, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hosheyar Zebari welcomed the league’s initiative to promote its role in Iraq’s national reconciliation. In a joint press conference with Moussa, Zebari declared that an Arab League delegation will be heading to Baghdad to boost up national reconciliation and consensus efforts at a time when the political and the security situations are improving.

Zebari denied Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki’s opposition to the Arab League initiative.

As for Iraq’s stand over US President Georges W. Bush’s tour in the region, Iraqi Foreign Minister noted that it might be Bush’s last visit to the Middle East stressing the importance of issues that he will discuss with the region’s leaders on the peace process, Iraqi issue and relations with Iran.

Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network | Iraq News | Iraqi FM welcomes Arab league efforts

Al Maliki: Iraqis seek peaceful coexistence

Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki stressed that Iraqi Muslims and Christians are seeking peaceful coexistence and are ready to unite against terrorists and outlaws. While receiving Vatican’s Ambassador to Iraq Archbishop Francis Chullikatt, Al Maliki said that terrorists’ criminal acts are targeting all the Iraqi people, adding that these crimes prove that perpetrators do not believe in God breaching religious, human and moral values. Al Maliki renewed his condemnation to attacks targeting churches in Baghdad and Nineveh. He stressed that the government is determined to chase down perpetrators targeting sanctuaries and provide latter required security.

Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network | Iraq News | Al Maliki: Iraqis seek peaceful coexistence

Iraq seeks new relations with Kuwait

Visiting Vice President to Kuwait Tarek Al Hashemi, heading an official delegation, affirmed that Iraq seeks to resume new relations with Arab countries especially Kuwait. While meeting with a number of officials in Kuwait, Al Hashemi noted that both countries have a common interest in overcoming past relations and resuming new strong ties between Kuwait and Iraq, stressing on both countries’ common interests and respect of sovereignty.

Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network | Iraq News | Iraq seeks new relations with Kuwait

Bush, Gul call to pursue actions against PKK

The bilateral summit between US President Georges W Bush and Turkish President Abdullah Gul in Washington has clearly stressed the necessity of pursuing military operations against Kurdish rebels stationed in the mountains and northern border regions. While Bush asserted that the United States will continue to help Ankara in its war against terrorism, he urged his ally in the NATO to find a political solution to the problem.

“One such problem is our continuing fight against a common enemy, and that's terrorists, and such a common enemy as the PKK. It's an enemy to Turkey, it's an enemy to Iraq, and it's an enemy to people who want to live in peace”, Bush said.

For his part, Gul affirmed that Turkey benefits from the US offer.

“We are also working against our common enemy, the PKK, and we have once again underlined the importance of our cooperation in fighting against the PKK”, Gul said.

A senior official in the US government revealed that both leaders have evoked the necessity for political reform in Turkey and economic development in south eastern the country in order to prevent Kurdish minority from turning into new PKK rebels. It has been noted that Bush has not offered Gul other than intelligence and military cooperation agreed upon in last November.

The second summit discussed as well the energy issue and Ankara integration into the European Union. In this context, US President praised Turkey as an example of democracy in the Islamic World noting that it should be accepted in the European Union as a “constructive bridge” to the Islamic World.

Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network | Iraq News | Bush, Gul call to pursue actions against PKK

Baiji refinery fire has not affected its oil production

The fire that started off in Baiji refinery did not affect its production, Iraqi oil ministry said. Oil Deputy Minister Ahmad Al Shamaa said in a statement after the fire that started off due to a technical failure that Baiji refinery in northern Iraq produces fuel and oil derivatives by more than 200,000 barrels a day, adding that some refinery units have stopped as a preemptive measure but resumed later on.

Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network | Economics News | Baiji refinery fire has not affected its oil production

Basra electricity ministry plans to build electricity station working on gas

Basra Council Province announced that in 2008 electricity stations and generating rehabilitation units will be built up while 360 projects for electricity distribution will be put in place in Basra and the South. The source clarified that the electricity ministry’s plan in Basra for 2008 includes establishing an electricity station that works on gas in Al Rmayle region with 250 MW power.

Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network | Economics News | Basra electricity ministry plans to build electricity station working on gas

Economic studies expect rise of Iraqi Dinar value

Iraqi Researches Institute noted that several studies for economic researchers have confirmed that if the central bank’s policy continues to boost open auctions and withdraw money liquidity, Iraqi currency will rise in comparison with the dollar and other foreign currencies. Experts have agreed that the gap between the fiscal and monetary policies is the cause of Iraqi currency increase, warning against inflation of the real Dinar value stressing the necessity of finding drastic measures to limit its impact.

Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network | Economics News | Economic studies expect rise of Iraqi Dinar value

StatoilHydro says to register for Iraq deals

Norwegian oil and gas group StatoilHydro will put its name on an Iraqi government register for companies who want to invest in the oil-rich but war-torn country, its chief executive said on Wednesday.

"We will qualify," Chief Executive Helge Lund told a news conference in London after a day of presentations to investors and analysts.

Last week Iraq set a Jan. 31 deadline for international oil companies to register to compete for tenders to help develop the world's third-largest oil reserves.

StatoilHydro says to register for Iraq deals | Industries | Energy | Reuters&

Update......

Posted on the U.S. Department of Commerce Website for Iraq Investment and Reconstruction Task Force (IIRTF). (It's official )

Oil Ministry of Iraq Begins Pre-Registration for Upcoming Tenders

The Oil Ministry of Iraq has begun pre-registration for its upcoming tendering of upstream sector projects including service and oil extraction licenses, to begin later this year. Comprehensive, detailed information on the necessary documents for pre-registration can be found in the official notice from the Ministry of Oil. Please note the English portion begins on page 9 of the pdf. The deadline is January 31, 2008.

Companies seeking to pre-register must physically submit all the documentation requested either in person by a company representative or by registered mail to:

Petroleum Contracts and Licensing Directorate, Ministry of Oil
Petroleum Complex Building – Port Saaid Street, Baghdad

UPS, FedEx, and DHL all have active global delivery options in Iraq. All questions specific to the pre-registration requirements of the Ministry of Oil should be directed to: [email protected]. The U.S. Department of Commerce has no further information beyond the attached at this time.

Concurrent (and possibly prior) to pre-registering with the Iraqi Ministry of Oil, interested companies must also register their business as a business entity in Iraq. This process is managed by the Iraqi Ministry of Trade and explained, in detail, on their website at: www.br-iraq.com/English. This process takes approximately 10-days and the documents must be submitted in person at either the Baghdad, Erbil, or Sulaymaniyah offices of the Ministry of Trade. The U.S. Department of Commerce is actively seeking clarification from the Iraqi Ministry of Oil whether business registration with the Ministry of Trade may be sought concurrently with pre-registration. Current information regarding this issue will be available at www.export.gov/iraq.

Attachments:

• Ministry of Oil Announcement and Pre-Qualification Submission Form
• Presentation: “ New Structure of the Iraqi Oil Industry” – Prepared by the Director General of Petroleum Contracts & Licensing, Ministry of Oil, N.K al-Bayati. Delivered atthe Iraq Oil, Gas, Petrochemical & Electricity Summit, 2-4 Sept. 2007, Dubai, UAE

Iraq Investment and Reconstruction Task Force