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

Kurdistan to get 17% of 2008 budget - MP

MP from the Kurdistan Coalition (KC) Sami al-Atroushi said on Friday that Iraqi political blocs have agreed to dedicate 17% of the 2008 budget for Iraq's Kurdistan region until holding a census this year.

"A political agreement has been reached between the Kurdistan Coalition, the Higher Islamic Council party, the Islamic party and Daawa party, according to which 17 per cent of the state 2008 budget will be dedicated to the province of Kurdistan until holding a census this year," al-Atroushi, a member in the parliament's Financial Committee, told Aswat al-Iraq - Voices of Iraq - (VOI) by phone.

The parliamentary economic committee had proposed a 13% budget share for Kurdistan, but the regional government insisted a higher share of 17%.

The total amount of Iraq's general budget for 2008 is $47 billion.
The MP said "the financial committee will present its report on the budget and no voting will take place on it."

"I expect the budget to be approved next Monday or Tuesday." he underlined.

Aswat Aliraq

Gates:US uninterested in permanent Iraq base

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced that the United States is not interested in having permanent bases in Iraq. In response to reporters question about the US military agreement for Iraq that is subject to negotiations, Gates noted in a press conference that such a deal would not evoke the number of US armed forces in Iraq stressing that this agreement is a deal to normalize relations between the United Nations and Iraq.

Meanwhile, US State Department noted that US President Georges W. Bush will not bind the next President of the US by an agreement about future relations with Iraq, noting that such an agreement will not define the levels of US Forces. US State Department spokesman Tom Casey was responding to fears of US legislators and runners for US Presidency that the agreement to be negotiated stipulates a long term US presence in Iraq before presidency elections.

Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network | Iraq News | Gates:US uninterested in permanent Iraq base

Dabbagh: Reforming Iraq Cabinet not evident

Iraqi Cabinet spokesman Ali Al Dabbagh noted that reforming the government is not evident due to strong political clashes taking grip of Iraq. In an interview with Al Sharq Al Awsat Newspaper, Al Dabbagh added that filling ministerial gaps is achievable especially if Accordance Front ministers return to the government.

On the other hand, Al Dabbagh criticized the parliament’s delay in ratifying the budget’s draft law, which negatively affects citizens. He clarified as well that the government will receive Iraqi detainees from coalition forces this year in exception for former regime members.

http://www.alsumaria.tv/en/Iraq-News...t-evident.html

Accordance Front return to Cabinet imminent

While Accordance Front MPs are awaiting the government’s initiative to settle the return of resigned ministers to the government after the front sensed an improvement in the political process following the ratification of Justice and Accountability Law in addition to the first read out of the pardon law, Accordance Front leader Adnan Al Dulaimi affirmed the return of his front ministers to the government within a week. Al Dulaimi added that the government has started efficiently to meet some of the front’s demands. He stated to Al Hayat Newspaper that certain major demands have not been met so far, calling on the government to accelerate the process. However, Al Dulaimi did not note whether the same resigned ministers will return to government or whether they will be replaced with new ministers.

Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network | Iraq News | Accordance Front return to Cabinet imminent

Iraq to increase oil exports towards Turkey to 700 thousand bpd

A source in naval cargo said that Iraq resumed since yesterday pumping Kirkuk crude oil from northern oil field towards Turkey with a rate of 480 thousand barrel per day. The same source added that Iraq hopes to soon increase exports to more than 700 thousand barrels per day.

Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network | Economics News | Iraq to increase oil exports towards Turkey to 700 thousand bpd

International Energy Agency concerned about world economy

The executive manager of International Energy Agency Nobo Tanaka affirmed that the agency is concerned about world economic power. He added that oil producers can help improve the situation by increasing production, saying that consumer countries can do more as to energy consumption.

Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network | Economics News | International Energy Agency concerned about world economy

Al Rafidain Bank to open in Syria

A source in Finance Ministry announced that Syrian Iraqi Bank will be soon opened in Damascus under the name of Al Rafidain Bank with a capital of 60 million dollars.

Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network | Economics News | Al Rafidain Bank to open in Syria

GCC oil income to reach $9 trillion by 2022

McKinsey Global Institute said that GCC countries stand to earn up to 9$ trillion by 2022, if oil price was fixed to $100.

Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network | Economics News | GCC oil income to reach $9 trillion by 2022

Iraq in talks with majors on oil plans
Iraq Oil Ministry officials were meeting representatives from leading international oil companies in Amman this week as part of efforts to involve them in boosting output from the country’s giant fields.

The first meeting was understood to have been held with Shell, which sent a technical team to the Jordanian capital to meet experts from Iraq’s Petroleum Contracts & Licensing Directorate.

Upstreamonline - Iraq in talks with majors on oil plans

No need for OPEC oil supply adjustment: Iraq

There is no need for OPEC to adjust production when it meets on February 1 because world oil markets are adequately supplied, Iraq's oil minister said on Thursday.

Fears that top fuel consumer the United States may tip into recession have pressured markets from equities to commodities. Oil has slid to below $88 a barrel from a record high of $100.09 earlier this month.

"There does not seem to be a necessity to revise production figures, either to increase or decrease for the time being," said Hussain al-Shahristani.
"Things seem to be settling down, the price is coming down. There is plenty of oil on the market."

Asked about the possibility of taking barrels off the market in March, when OPEC holds another meeting, Shahristani said: "There has been no discussion. However, OPEC is always open to respond to market changes, and if there is any surplus in the market, then obviously OPEC will consider it."

"But for the time being, there doesn't seem to be any need or urgency for such actions."

No need for OPEC oil supply adjustment: Iraq | Special Coverage | Reuters