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

Iraqi gov’t postpones Arab League representative visit to Baghdad-spokesman

Iraqi government spokesman on Tuesday announced that the visit of Arab League’s representative to Baghdad has been postponed to the end of January.

“The visit of the Arab League’s representative, Ahmed Bin Hilli, aims at cementing the ties between the Iraqi government and Arab League and enhancing the cooperation to implement the results sought by the two sides” said Ali al-Dabagh, the Iraqi government’s spokesman.

He pointed out “Iraq appreciates the steps taken by the Arab League to boost the national reconciliation and stabilize the security.”

The visit of the Arab league’s representative was scheduled for Tuesday, yet the Iraqi government called for calling it off to enable the Arab representative to meet with the highest number of Iraqi politicians.

Aswat Aliraq

Iraq VP decries Justice & Accountability law

Iraqi Vice President Tarek Al Hashemi criticized Justice and Accountability Law ratified by the Parliament recently saying it includes gaps and weak points that need amendment. Al Hashemi vowed to work on this law in order to dedicate it for national reconciliation between Iraqis. In a statement, Iraqi Vice President hoped the number of beneficiaries from this law would be larger than expected while it would enjoy a democratic framework that goes in line with the current situation.

On the other hand, Al Hashemi noted that there are positive indications about the demands of the Accordance Front submitted to Iraqi government mainly regarding the release of detainees and the pardon law that has been passed to Parliament.

Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network | Iraq News | Iraq VP decries Justice & Accountability law

Accordance Front underlines Iraq Pardon Law

The future of Pardon Law will define the fate of the Accordance Front in the political process. This is how Accordance Front MP Adnan Al Dulaimi shaped the picture in a statement to Al Hayat Newspaper, warning that blocking the ratification of the law will reflect on the whole political process. While the bill is still pending between the government that approved the law last month and the Parliament, Accordance Front called to accelerate the ratification of the bill as a step to boost up current negotiations between parties from the front and the government over the return of Accordance Ministers to the government.

Accordance Front demands have coincided with reports by the Supreme Judiciary Council on the release of 7000 detainees from US Forces d****tion facilities, and prisons from the Justice, Interior and Defense ministries since the start of Imposing Law Operation in Baghdad early 2007. In an interview with Al Hayat Newspaper, Judiciary Council spokesman Abdul Sattar Birqadar stressed that 4900 detainees have been transferred to comp****t courts for not being convicted knowing that the pardon law drafted by the Judiciary Council stipulates the release of thousands of detainees.

Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network | Iraq News | Accordance Front underlines Iraq Pardon Law

Iraq Parliament fails to vote on 2008 Budget

Iraq’s Parliament did not vote yesterday on 2008 budget due to the absence of Finances Minister Baqer Al Zubaidi and Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh. A number of draft laws have been read out during the parliamentarian session including the law of damaged people from the Shaabani Intifada and pardon law.

On the other hand, a delegation from the Arab League headed by Secretary General assistant for political affairs Ahmad Ben Halli is due to visit Baghdad next week. Reconciliation and consensus as well as the issue of displaced are points to be introduced on the agenda of the delegation’s meetings with Iraqi officials.

Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network | Iraq News | Iraq Parliament fails to vote on 2008 Budget

Agriculture production decreases in Iraq

In a special interview with Alsumaria, water resources Minister Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid explained that the decrease of agriculture production and cultivated lands is due to the low water level in Euphrates and Dijla rivers.

On the other hand, Islamic Al Daawa Party carried out today funerals service in the occasion of Imam Hussein (A.S) martyrdom in the presence of Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki as well as tribal and religious figures. Al Maliki stressed in his speech the necessity of taking lessons from Imam Hussein (A.S) to denounce violence and partition and spread love and forgiveness in all communities.

Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network | Iraq News | Agriculture production decreases in Iraq

Ratio Card units to be distributed for 6 additional months

Economy and Reconstruction Committee Chairman MP Haidar Al Ubadi revealed that ratio card units will be provided for 6 other months. He also affirmed that the budget of the current year should have been ratified last Thursday, yet, it has been delayed because of the security measure that were taken in Ashura’ memorial.

Al Ubadi clarified that a new survey will be conducted this year, according to which poor and rich social groups would be determined. Consequently, materials would be distributed on poor and on needy families. To that, ratio card will be carted off from rich families.

Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network | Economics News | Ratio Card units to be distributed for 6 additional months

Iraq Oil contracts dilemma exacerbates

One more time, Oil Minister Hussein Shahristani was attacked by Kurdistan Region Government on the background of Oil contracts turn out to become a legal and political problem with the central government. While each party backs its stance with constitutional and legal pretexts, Kurdistan Government refused to talk over with Shahristani the legal status of these contracts that Kurdistan government signed with foreign companies in order to invest oil in the Kurdistani territories.

Director of Foreign relations Office in Kurdistan Cabinet Falah Mostafa revealed that some efforts are exerted in order to bring parties from Both Kurdistan region and central government together on talks table so as they tackle the obstructions that impede reaching a settlement as to oil contracts. However, Mostafa ruled out including Shahristani in these talks and stressed that Kurdistan government is not ready to sit with him and it doesn’t expect him to bring any new. Yet, it is ready to hold talks with other persons in order to reach satisfactory solutions.

Kurdistan government spokesman Khaled Saleh belittled Shahristani visit to Kurdistan which aims to discuss oil relations. He said that the problem is legal and it will not be solved without the efforts of Kurdistan Natural Resources Minister.

Kurdistan Cabinet backs its allegations by Kurdistan oil law. In Fact, Minister Ashti Hurami, Natural Resources Minister, said that the law determined Kurdistan’s right in oil sector: Contributing in old field, managing new fields and investments as well as participating fairly in all oil incomes. Resources Minister also affirmed that 30 to 40 exploiting field that are expecting to raise investment rate in Kurdistan according to this law during a year. He also clarified that Kurdistan exports will reach 1 million barrel per day during the 5 years to come. He added that oil incomes will be all transferred to federal government given that the part of the region will be deducted later.

However, Oil Ministry in The central government announced that it would not work with any foreign company that signed contracts with Kurdistan region government starting last Thursday. In addition, it boycotted Emirati, Canadian, Indian and Austrian companies that had signed contracts to participate in producing oil extracted from northern fields.

Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network | Economics News | Iraq Oil contracts dilemma exacerbates

Iraq citizens ask for oil derives

Citizens urged the Cabinet and Oil Ministry to work on providing oil derives especially white oil to the national stations after the ministry issued a resolution that bans providing oil derives to gas stations.

Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network | Economics News | Iraq citizens ask for oil derives

OPEC to take all option into consideration

OPEC will be taking into consideration all its options at the upcoming Vienna summit on February, Oil Minister of the Arab Emirates Mohammed al-Hamli said.

US Energy Minister Sam Bodman, had expected a decrease in oil reserves at the first half of the current year and added that markets need more supply.

Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network | Economics News | OPEC to take all option into consideration

Oil Majors To Meet Iraqis Thursday To Discuss Tech Pacts - Official

An Iraqi Oil Ministry delegation will meet in Amman later this week with senior executives from five oil majors to discuss the possibility of signing technical support agreements to help develop five oil fields, an Iraqi oil ministry spokesman said Tuesday.

"A delegation from the Petroleum Contracts and Licensing Directorate will be in Amman later this week to meet with five well-known international companies," Assem Jihad told Dow Jones Newswires in a telephone interview from Baghdad.

Jihad didn't name these companies but a former Iraqi senior oil official who is still close to the oil ministry said they were BP PLC (BP), Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSB), ExxonMobil Corp. (XOM), Chevron Corp. (CVX), and Total SA (TOT).

Jihad said the Amman meetings would be the second round of talks Iraq is holding with these companies. The first was held in December last year, he said.

"If they reach conclusions they could sign technical agreements if not they would meet again in a third round," the official said.

These new agreements would help increase production in five producing oil fields which could include Rumeila and Missan in the south, Kirkuk in the north and East Baghdad in the center, Iraqi oil officials had said before.

These technical support agreements could be the first step before awarding service contracts to these companies to develop oil fields, the Iraqi officials said.

Oil Majors To Meet Iraqis Thursday To Discuss Tech Pacts-Official