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

Iraq oil to Ceyhan is halted

A source at the Iraqi North Oil Company said that pumping oil from Kirkuk northern oilfields to the Turkish port of Ceyhan stopped yesterday.

Abdul Razzak Mohammed Al-Jiboori, from the pumping and production section at the company, explained that the pumping stopped, after the energy production of the fields reached between 150 and 200 thousand barrels a day, due to the storage system at the port of Ceyhan, as the reservoirs were filled with crude oil.

Al-Jiboori pointed out that the volume of Iraqi crude oil in the tanks of Ceyhan port hit 6.8 million barrels which will be sold during the coming days.

Iraq oil to Ceyhan is halted | Iraq Updates

Corruption eats away at Iraq's economy- deputy premier

Iraq's Kurdish deputy prime minister said on Thursday that the financial and administrative corruption are eating away at Iraq's growth and economy, citing 71 inspectors who have been assassinated, wounded, or kidnapped since 2003.

"Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki diagnosed the financial and administrative corruption as a serious challenge facing the government. Hence this meeting was held to launch a national mobilization campaign that aims at uprooting this epidemic," Barham Saleh said in a speech during a meeting of the National Assembly for Fighting Corruption, held in the Iraqi capital on Thursday.

"Political imbalances in the country are demonstrated in the sectarian quota system and partisan nepotism in ministries and other governmental institutions," Saleh indicated.

Shedding light on another aspect of the problem, the deputy premier explained that corruption feeds off terrorism and violence, highlighting the government's role in enacting laws and legislative items, which he said will help curb corruption and malpractice in the country.

"The government has to take a range of measures of transparency and accountability…," Saleh said, calling on Iraq's Commission on Public Integrity (CPI), the Financial Monitoring Committee and the Iraqi parliament to coordinate with authorities concerned with accountability and supervision.

The meeting was attended by several parliamentarians, ministers, governmental inspectors, the head of the CPI, and the head of the Financial Monitoring Commission.

Corruption eats away at Iraq's economy- deputy premier | Iraq Updates

ISX index higher in first session of 2008

The Iraqi Stock Exchange (ISX) index increased by 0.12% on Thursday compared to the previous session, the last in 2007, closing at 34.644 points, with a notable presence of non-Iraqi investors trading.
Traded shares in Thursday's session exceeded 248 million at a total value of 440.329 million U.S. dollars by implementing 113 contracts in the banking sector.

Non-Iraqi investors participated with over 7 million shares, totaling more than 20 million Iraqi dinars by implementing seven contracts
According to the daily analysis of the capital market, the banking sector's index closed at 36.2 points, 0.12% higher than the previous session, while the industrial index, in which three companies traded, ended at 11.36 points, the same as the previous session.

The statement concluded that 15 companies were traded in Thursday's session out of 94 companies registered in Iraq's Stock Exchange, of which eight indexes went up, one dropped, and 6 maintained their previous price.

ISX index higher in first session of 2008 | Iraq Updates

The application of loans project in Iraq's provinces in 2008

Iraqi Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Mahmoud Al-Sheikh Radhi, said that the loan scheme implemented by the ministry aims to develop local economy in the capital, and pledged to work to apply it in other governorates of Iraq; he revealed that the project has succeeded in providing 6157 loans which helped to provide 18 thousand jobs in various sectors, mainly the productive ones.

He explained that attempts are underway to transfer the Baghdad experience to other provinces which will present in their respective loans for 3 thousands projects, with the exception of Basrah which will present 5 thousand loans, expressing his hope that the new year will be the start of the second year of facilitated loans for the development of private projects which are estimated by 50 thousand and will provide 125 job opportunities. He pointed out that the reason for choosing loans instead of grants is that the latter do not stimulate the project owner to work seriously for the success of the project, while loans do.

He noted that the preference in granting loans will be for the unemployed graduates of universities and institutes, but that will not prevent the project from including ordinary people in support of the free economic business.

The application of loans project in Iraq's provinces in 2008 | Iraq Updates

Brown holds talks with Iraqi Prime Minister

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown held talks with Iraqi prime minister Nouri Maliki Thursday here as efforts to achieve enhanced security and stability in Iraq continues.

The two prime ministers discussed the current developments in Iraq and the plight of the British hostages - who have now been captive for more than six months - at a meeting in Downing Street, Browns official spokesman said.

They also considered progress with reconciling ethnic groups in Iraq, and rebuilding the country's shattered economy.

Brown has previously demanded the release of the hostages, who have not been named.

In a video which emerged on December 5 the captors threatened to kill the men unless British troops were pulled out of Iraq.

The group were seized by a crowd of about 40 gunmen dressed in police uniforms at the Iraqi Finance Ministry in Baghdad on May 29.

A Downing Street spokesman said today: The Prime Minister and Prime Minister Maliki discussed the need for reconciliation in Iraq, UK support to Basra economic development, and the ongoing hostage situation.'' Malki had recently arrived here to have "routine medical check-up.

Brown holds talks with Iraqi Prime Minister | Iraq Updates

Patraeus: Iraqis will fill US troop withdrawals
US commander General vows to fight Al-Qaeda in Iraq despite impeding US troop drawdown

The impending drawdown of some 30,000 US troops from Iraq will not disrupt the "relentless" pursuit of Al-Qaeda as Iraqis are ready to take their place, says US commander General David Petraeus.

Washington has projected the withdrawal of five units by July, which would bring the number of US troops in Iraq down from 160,000 currently to about 130,000 - the level before a "surge" was launched last February.

Speaking on Wednesday in Owesat village on the banks of the Euphrates, about 25 kilometres (17 miles) southwest of Baghdad near the town of Yusufiyah, Petraeus vowed no quarter would be given in the fight against Osama bin Laden's extremist network, blamed for much of the violence in Iraq.

"We cannot let up - they are much more on the defensive right now than they have been in years and that is where we have to keep them," Washington's top general in Iraq said as he declared the village of Owesat, just months ago a hotbed of Sunni insurgency, now secure.

"This was a small Al-Qaeda sanctuary that offered an opportunity to go right across the river and right into Baghdad," he said. "Having this secured is very important to the overall security of the Iraqi capital."

He shrugged off concerns that the US troop withdrawals could see a reversal of gains made in the past six months, when according to US figures, the number of attacks across Iraq has dropped by 62 percent.

"It is very important to remember that our surge is dwarfed by the Iraqi surge that is taking place," Petraeus said on one of his trademark "battlefield" tours, accompanied by a small group of reporters.

"The official Iraqi security forces has increased by something like 110,000 or so in the past year -- during which (time) our surge was 30,000," he said after visiting the rural village, reaching it on foot by crossing a floating bridge the US military has thrown across the Euphrates.

"There are also 70,000 plus concerned local citizens who are now helping our forces and our Iraqi partners," he added, referring to members of powerful anti-Qaeda fronts being formed across the country by the US military.

The 30,000 US "surge" troops were deployed from February last year in a bid to quell raging sectarian violence that has killed thousands of Iraqis.
According to a Pentagon report last week, the surge has been working, with US forces achieving "significant security progress" in Iraq over the past three months and the number of attacks across the country down 62 percent.

Lean and tanned from his regular walkabouts in Iraqi frontline villages, the 54-year-old Petraeus was upbeat on Wednesday about the operations against Al-Qaeda.

"Because the Iraqi generation of additional army and police forces will continue throughout 2008, it allows us to hold an area that has been cleared and then we continue to move on farther with our Iraqi partners and the support of the locals," he said.

After meeting US military commanders, tribal sheikhs, local farmers and members of concerned local citizens groups, Petraeus warned that insurgents still posed a dangerous threat, as indicated by a suicide bomb attack on a funeral in Baghdad on Tuesday that killed at least 30 people.
"It is very, very important - we have to be relentless in our push against Al-Qaeda.

"This is one reason that their ability to carry out attacks, to plant more sophisticated explosive devices and to mount the bigger attacks against us and our Iraqi partners has been diminished," added Petraeus, who next month marks one year as general commander in Iraq.

While the creation of concerned local citizens groups was paying dividends, he acknowledged there are concerns over the programme.

"There are understandably a host of issues connected with concerned local citizens... certainly there are worries that they may be infiltrated by Al-Qaeda or by affiliated insurgent groups, that they could at some point in time turn on the government of Iraq," said the paratrooper, his boots kicking up clouds of dust as he strode along tracks that zig-zag through the farmlands.

"Those are all are legitimate concerns," he said, adding that he would prefer to see them being incorporated into the police force, which is controlled by the interior ministry.

He cited developments in the city of Fallujah in western Anbar province as further reason he is optimistic Iraq's security forces can take over when US troops begin withdrawing.

"Fallujah, which used to be held completely by an Iraqi army brigade or more plus our marines or soldiers over time is now completely held by Iraqi police... Our units and Iraqi army units have been able to move outside the city and pursue Al-Qaeda more to the north and south."

Patraeus: Iraqis will fill US troop withdrawals | Iraq Updates

Najaf to hold International Conference on Article 140 of Iraqi Constitution

Najaf governorate local authorities said the city will hold an international conference regarding the implementation of article 140 of the Iraqi permanent constitution.

“After the governor of Najaf, Asaad Sultan Abu Kalal attended a conference on ways of implementing article 140 related to Kirkuk and the disputed areas in several Iraqi governorates including Karbala, Ramadi, Samara; he showed his readiness to hold the next conference in Najaf aiming at completing the follow-ups. “No Pease Without Justice” Organization called for the conference and the Italian foreign ministry sponsored it.” director of media center of Najaf governorate, Ahmad Abdul Husain told PUKmedia on Thursday.

All the internal Geographic border problems and all what are related to the disputed areas in all the Iraqi governorates not only Kirkuk will be discussed during the meeting, he added.

PUKmedia :: English - Najaf to hold International Conference on Article 140 of Iraqi Constitution

Kirkuk Provincial Council takes Positions against the Government and demanding Maliki to apologize

During an extraordinary meeting held on Thursday, Kirkuk Provincial Council took positions against the Iraqi government with regard to delaying the implementation of Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution.

In the meeting, chaired by Mr. Rizgar Ali the President of the Council of the governorate of Kirkuk, the attendants discussed the proposals made by the Article 140 Committee and Legal Committee of the Council regarding delay in the implementation of article 140.

After discussions and deliberations of these proposals, the Council decided to ratify them with some changes.

These proposals are:

First: the Iraqi government and those who are concerned declare their commitment to complete the implementation of the requirements of Article 140 according to the following steps:

1 – Ask the Iraqi government to make an official apology to the Iraqi people, particularly the inhabitants of the disputed areas, as it did not take any official position at the expiry of the time limit as stipulated by Article 140 of the Constitution and in accordance with paragraph 22 of the Government’s agenda.

2 - Ask the Independent Electoral Commission to complete the procedures required for the expected referendum to determine the fate of the areas covered by Article 140 before the end of March 2008. The referendum will rely on the administrative border of the province of Kirkuk before July 17, 1968.

3 - To set a date for the referendum before the end of May 2008 and provide its needs.

4 - Give broader executive administrative authority to the Supreme Committee of the implementation of Article 140.

5 – Specify the negligent in implementing the resolutions and recommendations issued by the Supreme Committee for the implementation of Article 140.

Second: The new timetable is not to extend or postpone. In the case of the inability or failure of the government to implement the article in accordance with the proposed mechanisms, the indigenous people of those areas (in the administrative borders before 17 - July -1968) will have the right to self-determination according to the mechanism they find appropriate.

Third: In case of making a resolution to hold provincial councils’ elections in Iraq, Kirkuk governorate must be excluded till the end of the implementation of Article 140 as stipulated by the Constitution and paragraph 22 of the agenda of the current government.

Fourth: Demand from the Iraqi House of Representatives to summon and question Mr. Prime Minister, the involved officials in the executive authority and officials of the Higher Committee for the implementation of Article 140, for failure to abide by their promises and the government’s agenda particularly paragraph 22, and in the presence of Kirkuk Provincial Council.

Fifth: the Iraqi government and others concerned with the implementation of what mentioned above to coordinate with Kirkuk Provincial Council to accelerate and achieve what everyone aspires, including administrative and technical matters for the implementation of Article 140 in the governorate of Kirkuk.

PUKmedia :: English - Kirkuk Provincial Council takes Positions against the Government and demanding Maliki to apologize

Crocker Welcomes the Postponement of Implementing Article 140

The American ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker said that U.S. is ready for the 4th round of talks with the Iraqi and Iranian governments about the security dossier in Iraq. In a statement to Radio Sawa, he said that a decision about this issue will be made soon, where the talks with the Iraqi government are continuous to identify a date for the triple talks.

Crocker also welcomed the postponement of implementing the Article 140 for six months and the U.N. decision to present the technical assistant. He emphasized the necessity of making this matter relative to Iraqis only.

Crocker also said that the recent year will witness a political development between the Iraqi parties as a result of the security stability.

PUKmedia :: English - Crocker Welcomes the Postponement of Implementing Article 140

Oil Prices Steady Above $99 in Asia
Oil Prices Steady Above $99 After Larger-Than-Expected Drop in US Crude Stockpiles

Oil prices rose slightly Friday from the previous session's close after setting a record above $100 a barrel overnight on a larger-than-expected drop in U.S. crude stockpiles.

The U.S. Energy Department's Energy Information Administration said Thursday that crude inventories fell 4 million barrels last week, more than the 1.7 million barrel decline analysts surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires, on average, had expected.

But the large decline wasn't able to keep oil prices above $100 "likely because the inventory drawdown was at least in part attributed to year-end inventory management by American oil companies," said Victor Shum, an energy analyst with Purvin & Gertz in Singapore.

Light, sweet crude for February delivery added 14 cents to $99.32 a barrel in Asian electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange by mid-afternoon in Singapore.

The contract had risen 47 cents overnight to $100.09 a barrel, a trading record, before retreating to settle at $99.18 a barrel, down 44 cents.

Crude's move to $100 a barrel prompted Indonesian officials to announce plans to ask OPEC to boost output to bring down oil prices, Dow Jones reported. While that may be tempting to some Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries members, many analysts think high prices will themselves do the trick by cutting demand.

"By the time OPEC meets on Feb. 1, crude oil prices will have softened because the peak winter season demand in the northern hemisphere will be over and typically in the second quarter, pricing is weak so there will be less pressure on OPEC to raise output," Shum said.

The EIA also said in its weekly report that inventories of distillates, which include heating oil and diesel fuel, rose 600,000 barrels, countering analyst expectations that distillate supplies would fall 600,000 barrels. Supplies of gasoline rose 1.9 million barrels, more than the 1.3 million barrel increase analysts had expected.

Crude supplies at the closely watched Nymex delivery terminal in Cushing, Okla., were unchanged last week at 17.5 million barrels. Falling supplies there are seen as a symptom of a tight market, and those concerns ease when Cushing inventories rise.

Refinery activity rose by 1.3 percent last week to 89.4 percent of capacity. Analysts had expected refinery use to increase by 0.4 percentage point.

Prices have been volatile in recent days due to low holiday week trading volumes. That means some of the price moves, including Thursday's record, may be exaggerated.

Heating oil futures added 0.31 cent to $2.7222 a gallon while gasoline prices fell 0.2 cent to $2.5394 a gallon.

Natural gas futures gained 5 cents to $7.724 per 1,000 cubic feet.

In London, Brent crude rose 32 cents to $97.92 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.

PUKmedia :: English - Oil Prices Steady Above $99 in Asia