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

Iraqi Presidency Council and the Iraqi PM discuss Several Issues

The Iraqi President, his Excellency Jalal Talabani held a joint press conference with both Vice Presidents, Adil Abdul Mahdi and Tariq al-Hashimi, and the Iraqi PM, Nouri al Maliki today in Baghdad following a meeting which included members of the Presidency Council and the Iraqi PM.

“We discussed passing the accountability and justice law .We welcomed passing the law and we hope the parliament to pass draft law of councils of the governorates and then the oil draft law.” President Talabani said.

President Talabani said the meeting, which is called 3+1, was successful; clarifying halting the meetings in the past was due to the visit of Iraqi PM to UK and the Vice President, Adil Abdul Mahdi abroad emphasizing the meetings will be held from time to time.

“It has been decided that these meetings will be held according to mechanisms agreed upon.”Iraqi PM said expressing his optimistic regarding the outcomes of the meeting.

Finally, regarding the withdrawn ministers of the Iraqi government, President Talabani said “This issue has been agreed upon to be discussed through a specialized committee aiming at ending the issue.”

PUKmedia :: English - Iraqi Presidency Council and the Iraqi PM discuss Several Issues

Demand for the dollar up, exchange rate down in daily auction

Demand for the dollar was higher in the Iraqi Central Bank’s auction on Monday, reaching $161.380 million compared to $55.345 million on Sunday.

"The demand hit $13.50 million in cash and $148.330 million in money transfers outside the country, all covered by the bank at an exchange rate of 1,214 Iraqi dinars per dollar, one tick lower than yesterday," according to the central bank's daily bulletin which was received by Aswat al-Iraq- Voices of Iraq- (VOI).

The 14 banks participating in the auction offered to sell $2.400 million, which the bank bought at an exchange rate of 1,212 Iraqi dinars per dollar.

In statements to VOI, Ali al-Yasseri, a trader, said, "Foreign transfers increased while cash bids declined due to the drop in the exchange rate after a period of stability that lasted for over a week."

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

Aswat Aliraq

FM, Kuwait's emir discuss bilateral relations

Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah discussed with the Iraqi foreign minister means of boosting bilateral relations between the two countries, reiterating his government's support for Iraq in its efforts to establish security, stability and national reconciliation.

On Sunday evening, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad met with the Iraqi foreign minister, Hoshyar Zibari, and his accompanying delegation, currently on a two-day official visit to Kuwait, according to an Iraqi foreign ministry statement received by Aswat al-Iraq- Voices of Iraq- (VOI).

During the meeting, Zibari affirmed his government's keenness to enhance bilateral relations with Kuwait in all fields and its willingness to launch talks on pending issues between the two sides.

The statement quoted Kuwait's emir as stressing his country's understanding of "the suffering of the Iraqi people" and praising "the encouraging security improvements in the country."

On Monday, Zibari is expected to meet with the Kuwaiti prime minister and the head of parliament, the statement added.

On Sunday, Zibari arrived in Kuwait on an official visit to discuss several contentious issues with Kuwaiti officials, including Iraqi debts, reparation payments and prisoners of war.

Aswat Aliraq

Parliament Oks Iraq's accession to Inter-Parliamentary Union

The Iraqi parliament approved Iraq's entry to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) during its Monday session, a parliamentarian from the Shiite Unified Iraqi Coalition (UIC) said.

"The parliament voted for Iraq's accession to the Inter-Parliamentary Union and approved a decision to seize smuggled money which has been circulated in markets," MP Shaza Abbousi told Aswat al-Iraq- Voices of Iraq- (VOI).

The parliament also discussed a draft law on canceling Law no. 9 of the year 2004 pertaining to the temporary authority of the UIC, the parliamentarian indicated.

The draft law is related to the management and the usage of Iraqi public property, Abbousi added.

http://www.aswataliraq.info/look/eng...=2&NrSection=1

More.......

President welcomes approving accountability, justice law

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani on Monday welcomed the parliament's approval of the accountability and justice law, voicing hope over similar approval of the provinces and oil laws.

Speaking at a joint press conference after his meeting with his two deputies and prime minister in Baghdad, Talabani said "We tackled the recent parliament's approval of the accountability and justice draft law. We welcomed the move and hope that parliament approves the provinces and oil laws."

The Iraqi parliament approved on Saturday the accountability & justice draft law by an overwhelming majority amidst rejection from four blocs.

The draft is an alternative to the debaathification law, enacted by former U.S. Civil Administrator Paul Bremer, who ruled Iraq after the fall of the former regime in April 2003.

Since it was first announced by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in June 2007, the draft has been facing fierce opposition and several reservations, mostly from the Sadrists, who occupy 30 out of a total 275 seats in parliament.

Once the law is passed, about 30,000 Baathists, or members of the former ruling Baath Party, would be allowed to return to their original jobs and receive their retirement rights.

"The president described today's meeting, which has been called (3+1), as successful," Talabani's office said in a statement.

"We discussed some important issues, we have agreed upon it, and will announce it in time," the president noted.

On the return of the withdrawn ministers, Talabani said "We agreed to discuss this issue in a committee formed to finalize it."

The statement, received by Aswat al-Iraq- Voices of Iraq- (VOI), quoted Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki as saying that "the meeting tackled important and essential issues."

He asserted the parliament and judiciary's role in running the state.

Aswat Aliraq

Controversy between parliament's speaker, deputy on appropriation in making decision

Parliament's Deputy Speaker Aref Tifour accused Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani of appropriating in decision making.

"This is not the first time that al-Mashhadani has allowed statements to be read without the parliament's chairmanship's knowledge," Tifour said, threatening to resign if this happened again.

For his part, the speaker said "Tifour was absent," calling him to be more flexible in dealing with such issues.

He accused his deputy in eclecticism of dealing with the statements.
"Rejecting others' opinions is a form of unacceptable dictatorship in a democratic society and all members have the right to present their issues," al-Mashhadani asserted.

Aswat Aliraq

Iraq’s national grid grinds to a halt

The Iraqi capital Baghdad and other major cities are plunged into darkness due to prolonged disruptions of power supplies from the national grid, a source at the Ministry of Electricity said.

The stoppage is the severest to hit Iraq and comes amid reports of further fuel shortages and more acts of sabotage directed at electricity towers and stations.

Nearly four years after U.S. invasion, the country’s power generating capacity has plummeting to levels unseen before despite investments estimated at billions of dollars.

The shortages follow a halt in the export of gas oil from Turkey used in driving major power stations in the country.

Both Turkey and Kuwait have also unexpectedly halted exports of electricity to the country.

Aziz Sultan of the Electricity Ministry said neither the Turks nor the Kuwaitis have given any reason for their latest actions.

However, Sultan, who heads the ministry’s information department, said violence and sabotage were the main reason for the poor performance of the grid.

He said certain parts of the country were still ‘no-go areas’ for electricity technicians. “Pylons and lines damaged in these areas cannot be repaired,” he added.

Sultan urged U.S. occupation troops and Iraqi forces to provide enough security for the ministry’s repair teams to be able to work in violent areas.

The other crucial problem was related to fuel, he added.

Natural gas-driven plants were not working because of lack of fuel. Natural gas output has plunged recently, he said without elaborating.

“Available capacity in the range of 600 megawatts is out of reach now because we have no more fuel to run the plants,” he said.

Azzaman in English

Update.......

Iraqi parties sign understanding memorandum

Twelve parliamentarian blocs have signed an understanding memorandum aimed to resolve the most disputed issues in Iraq namely Constitution Article 140 regarding the normalization of Kirkuk through political consensus. MP Ousama Al Nujaifi read out a statement stressing that authorities to manage the country’s wealth should remain in the hand of the central federal government, while noting major concern over any separate measures in this regard without referring to Baghdad’s government.

For his part, Al Sadrist Bloc member, Hassan Al Rubaie, affirmed that the understanding statement aims to near points of views and settle major points but is not an alliance. The main parties that have signed the memorandum are Al Sadrist Bloc, the Iraqi List, Al Daawa Party and the Iraqi Front for national dialogue in addition to an independent bloc.

Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network | Iraq News | Iraqi parties sign understanding memorandum

Kurdistan leader rejects understanding pact

Kurdistan leader Massoud Al Barazani refused the understanding memorandum saying that Kurds insist on implementing Article 140 that has been adjourned for six months according to a proposal by the United Nations. Barazani noted that attempts against the Constitution article will not work as those who seek to form an alliance against the Article were against Iraq’s Constitution, still, they won’t reach their aim, he added.

Barazani who has met Italian Deputy Foreign Minister and Vice President of the ruling party Giovanni Vernetti, praised the role of the United Nations in implementing Article 140 and affirmed that as long that the United Nations are involved, opposing attempts will not work.

For his part, Iraqi Bloc MP Iyyad Jamal Din affirmed to Alsumaria that the alliance announced recently is not targeted against any party especially Kurds, while stressing that Iraq’s wealth should be in government’s hand.

Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network | Iraq News | Kurdistan leader rejects understanding pact

Zebari: Iraq committed to provide Jordan with crude oil at preferential rates

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hosheyar Zebari affirmed from Amman that Iraq is still committed to provide Jordan with crude oil at preferential rates despite that oil agreements have been stumbled while the arrival of oil shipments is being delayed. He noted as well that transferring oil is being carried out in better security conditions.

Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network | Economics News | Zebari: Iraq committed to provide Jordan with crude oil at preferential rates