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

Russia Counts on Joint Oil, Gas Projects with Iraq– Lavrov
Itar-Tass

Russia counts on launching joint projects with Iraq in gas, oil and electric energy spheres, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at his meeting with Iraqi counterpart Hoshiyar Zebari in Moscow on Monday.

“Our energy specialists have long worked in Iraq in difficult conditions, in particular in Baghdad, Basra and Nasiriyah,” he said.

Lavrov also expressed the hope that Zebari’s visit o Russia “will allow giving an energetic impulse to the two countries’ trade and economic cooperation”.

“We are utmost interested in this, and we want to give assistance to friendly Iraq,” Lavrov stressed.

He said the signing of an accord on settlement of Iraq’s debt showed a real contribution of Russia to efforts to restore Iraq’s economy.

“Russian companies are going to actively participate in this project, but for the successful implementation of plans of economic development of Iraq it is necessary to solve two political problems: to achieve national reconciliation and settle the security issue. We expect that today we shall exchange views about how Russia can assist the efforts of the world community in this area,” Lavrov said.

The Russian and Iraqi foreign ministers have signed a memorandum of intention to develop trade, economic, and scientific-technological cooperation.

“This document will consolidate the achieved political understanding,” Lavrov said.

Zebari said at the talks that a substantial progress was seen in the bilateral relations.

Iraq is glad that Russia took an obligation to settle Iraq’s debt to the Paris Club of creditors, he said.

The situation in the security field is improving and regional cooperation is developing, Zebari said.

PUKmedia :: English - Russia Counts on Joint Oil, Gas Projects with Iraq– Lavrov

SIIC suggests replacing Nuri al-Maliki with current Vice President
The Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council (SIIC) accused the Iraqi premier, Nuri al-Maliki, of violating some of the accords that he signed with the Badr organization and the Council. In response, the Council sees the current vice president, Adel Abdul Mahdi, is more appropriate than Maliki for ruling Iraq in the current situation.

Zyadin Fayez, a member in the Council announced that the Supreme Council is hopeless in dealing with the Daawa party despite some positive signals.

“We are entitled to see Adel Abdul Mahdi as an alternative for Maliki as he is talented and comp****t for the current leadership. Therefore, if we perceive our accords with Maliki are ignored, we replace Maliki with his alternative.” he added.

PUKmedia :: English - SIIC suggests replacing Nuri al-Maliki with current Vice President

$1.750 million for Najaf's water projects

Najaf's construction department has allocated 2 billion Iraqi dinars ($1.750 million) for several water projects in the holy city, the head of the technical authority in the city's water department said on Monday.

"The projects concerned will be implemented as part of the 2008 plan for provincial development and reconstruction and will include the construction of three compounds in Kufa and the expansion of Najaf's water project to ensure an increase in production by 2000 cubic meter per hour," Haidar Adnan al-Jazairi told Aswat al-Iraq, Voices of Iraq, (VOI).

Work will also include replacing old water systems in the city, al-Jazairi indicated, noting that maintenance work on damaged pipes are currently underway.

Najaf, Iraq's holiest Shiite city, lies 180 km southwest of the capital Baghdad.

Aswat Aliraq

Euro, sterling dip, Syrian pound rises in local markets

Euro and sterling on Monday dropped against the Iraqi dinar in local markets in Baghdad, while the Syrian pound rose at 25 dinars, compared to 24 on Sunday.

In the Iraqi capital, the euro hit 1,780 dinars per euro for the selling price, compared to 1,790 yesterday. The sterling also dipped to 2,375 compared to 2,405 for the selling price on Sunday.

The dollar was stable against the Iraqi dinar in Baghdad markets, at 1,223 and 1,221 for the selling and buying prices, but dropped in Arbil city, the capital of Iraq's Kurdistan region, hitting 1224.5, compared to 1,225 on Sunday.

A higher demand for the Syrian pound in Baghdad markets increased its exchange rate by 0.25% for the buying price, reaching 24.50 dinars per pound on Monday.

The Lebanese pound's selling and buying prices also bounced to 750 and 700 respectively, compared to 700 and 650 yesterday.

The Kuwaiti dinar dipped to 4,470 for the selling price in Baghdad markets, but maintained its yesterday's price of 4,440 in Iraq's southern province of Basra.

The Jordanian dinar's buying price was stable at 1,675.

Aswat Aliraq

Originally Posted by Seaview

Cabinet reshuffle dominates Baghdad press

Iraqi newspapers gave prominence in their Sunday issues to Iraqi political blocs' consensus on a cabinet reshuffle that excludes the prime minister and where efficiency is a prime criterion for selection.

The independent daily al-Sumariyya newspaper published an article entitled, 'Golden chance,' by its Editor-in-Chief Basim al-Fadhily, in which he described the expected cabinet reshuffle as a great opportunity for Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to bring in a technocrat government on grounds of efficiency rather than the sectarian quota system.

The author criticized ministries which he said "have devoted their efforts to serving the interests of their parties rather than those of the Iraqi people" and called to take advantage of the notable political consensus to better serve the country's needs.

Al-Fadhily further urged the Iraqi premier and members of parliament to place the interests of the Iraqi people above all else and to select "the right person for the right position."

Al-Mashriq, another independent daily, published an opinion article by Hamid Abdullah in which he defined national bias as love for the homeland and loyalty to the country.

"Iraq is a homeland that deserves our national bias…whoever does not have this national bias, their loyalty will remain questionable," the author said.

Aswat Aliraq

Interesting,

How many times have we heard of reshuffle, yet all we see are more articles of talk, and no action. Sad to see so little effort or progress in getting their cabinet squared away. Oh well, someday, just not today. (g)

Good luck to all, Mike

Up-to-the-minute lab equipment to examine ration card items

The General Company for Foodstuffs Trading said on Monday it had imported modern and high quality laboratory equipment to examine ration card items before distributing them to residents.

Scientific staff and technicians are currently receiving training abroad to use the appliances, the company's general director, Qays Muhammad Naseeb, said in a statement released by the Ministry of Trade and received by Aswat al-Iraq, Voices of Iraq, (VOI).

The equipment includes germanium and sodium iodide detectors, which will be used in examining ration card items.

The director indicated that all foodstuffs unsuitable for human consumption will be disposed of through burning.

Aswat Aliraq

Banking company launches credit card in Kirkuk

Al-Aman Banking Company launched credit cards in Kirkuk city, a company official said on Monday.

"The company launched the service on Monday through agents and distributors all over the city," Firas al-Hamadani, the director of the company's branch in Kirkuk, told Aswat al-Iraq, Voices of Iraq, (VOI).

"The clients will be able to obtain the cards from the main office in downtown Kirkuk and the agents spread all over the city," al-Hamadani added.

When asked about the advantages of the service, the director said that credit cards are available nationwide as well as outside Iraq. "The credit card holder can withdraw cash from the company's 222 branches all over the world," al-Hamasani added.

Kirkuk, a mixed city of Kurds, Turkmen, Christians and Arabs, lies 250 km northeast of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

Aswat Aliraq

Jordanian king agrees to cancel fines on returning Iraqis

Jordanian King Abdullah II agreed to cancel all fines imposed on Iraqi wishing to return home, a statement of Iraqi Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi said on Monday.

"The king agreed to al-Hashemi's demand to cancel the fees imposed on Iraqis wishing to return home to facilitate the process," said the statement received by Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq (VOI).

"This came during a phone call between Jordanian Prime Minister Nader al-Dahabi and al-Hashemi," the statement added.

"The vice president, for his part, expressed gratitude to the Jordanian king and people for the decision," it said.

Jordanian authorities impose 1.5 JD (2$) on every Iraqi living in Jordan without a residence permit.

The authorities do not allow Iraqis to leave Jordan without paying these fees.

Aswat Aliraq

Kurdish PM visits S. Korea

Kurdish Prime Minister Negervan al-Barazani on Monday started a visit to South Korea, al-Barazani’s office said in a statement.

"The visit aims at boosting bilateral relations in various domains," read the statement received by Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq (VOI).

"The visit represents an opportunity to discuss means of bolstering bilateral ties toward strategic and long interests," the statement also said.
The premier had visited South Korea in 2005.

South Korean forces have been stationed in Arbil since 2004 with Multi-National Forces in Iraq. They work in providing services and reconstruction operations.

Aswat Aliraq

Iraq to handle security at Baghdad International Airport

The Interior Ministry says it has given the foreign firm handling security at the Baghdad International Airport until April to end its operations.

“The Ministry of Interior has given the British firm responsible for the security of the airport a limited period of time to leave the airport premises,” a senior ministry officer said.

Lt. Gen. Abdulkarim Khalaf said as from the start of April Iraqi security forces will be in charge of the airport.

There are no international scheduled flights to Baghdad but the airport handles flights from both Amman and Damascus.

Security is said to have seen relative improvement recently encouraging Iraqis to urge foreigners to give them the chance to do things on their own.

Azzaman in English