Thread: Archive Latest News - Think Tank - 15/04/08 - 26/08/08

Announcement of the first international exhibition of power in Iraq

Baghdad correspondent neighboring announced starting the first international exhibition of power in Iraq on the ground Baghdad International Airport.

The correspondent reported that the proximity of this exhibition was announced in a press conference gathering information advisor to the Ministry of Oil with the Director Alentive Chamber of Commerce Iraqi and her deputy, adding that he was in Congress an outline of the exhibition, which will include from 300 Studios to contribute directly in the oil industries and investment in Iraqi oil fields.

Our correspondent added that this exhibition, which will start from the seventeenth to the nineteenth of the month October for the current year is the first of its kind in Iraq.

Translated version of http://www.aljewar.org/news.aspx?id=3948

Bahrain Appoints Ambassador in Baghdad

Bahrain kingdom announced yesterday about appointing Salah Ali al-Maliki as a residential ambassador for the kingdom in Baghdad

Worth mentioning that the Bahraini step came after two days of appointing an ambassador in Baghdad by UAE in time of PM Norri al-Maliki visit to Abo Dhabi.The new Bahraini ambassador in Baghdad worked as his statement delegation to US before have a position in foreign ministry.

While EAU were appointed Abdullah Al-Shahi as an ambassador in Baghdad and announced deleting all Iraq's debts.

ÌÑíÏÉ ÇáÕÈÇÍ - Bahrain Appoints Ambassador in Baghdad

hidden behind the oil services contracts

Azmat federal government in Iraq to sign contracts for oil development and investment next Monday, with firms: BP, Shell Shell, Exxon Mobley ExxonMobil and Total Total. This is a precedent of its kind since been granted concessions to oil companies in 1925 and which was abolished in the early seventies, when the nationalization of the oil sector.

According to the Iraqi Oil Ministry, it is not something is controversial in these contracts covering six of the largest oil fields in Iraq. Although these fields contain nearly half of Iraqi oil reserves, but the duration of contracts of two years only, and companies which supply equipment and technical guidance for wages certified.

Even the biggest opponents of the privatization of oil, thus not object to "technical service contracts" TSC)): it is a normal pattern of work, where the company plays the role of the contractor, provided services to clients, whether national oil company or government, in return for an agreed price. That pattern prevails in the nationalized industries in the region such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

But when careful consideration, we find that the contracts will look strange.

Beginning, we have entered into these deals with companies error, companies that provide TSCs are usually provide specialized services, such as Schlumberger Schlumberger, Quebec Saipem, or Baker Hudz Baker Hughes. And often recruited for geological or expertise to carry out the construction and drilling, or the operation of the technique.

Even the leading oil companies themselves have acknowledged most of the functions of technical specialists for these contractors. In most sectors company BP for example, we find that about 10% of the workers are employees of BP and the rest of the posts from outside.

But technical service contracts to be signed next week is not with the operators of these professionals, but with four companies were members of precedent in the company of Iraqi oil companies are BP, Shell Shell, Exxon Mobley ExxonMobil and TotalFinaElf Total. Add to Chevron and BHP, Chevron and three other smaller companies.

Not from another country where companies such as BP, ExxonMobil, Exxon Mobley implement similar technical service contracts. Usually prefer decades of participation agreements pattern of production ((PSA, which invest capital funds at their own risk, and control the process, and then proceeds to realize capital obtaining a share of GDP. In Iraq, adding that the pattern of production participation agreements ((PSA is their demand Real, despite the opposition of the vast majority of Iraqis have been treated as a waiver on the actual sovereignty of Iraq for the confiscation of natural resources.

Why had expected companies to technical service contracts TSC)) paid? The answer is that they are the cornerstone of participation agreements production ((PSA.

The company BP saw the issue as a key issue and asked: "These contracts valid for several years, but what about the next stage?" And added the French company Total Total: "This transition necessarily, but it is not an appropriate course of action over the long term."

This brings us to attribute the second strangest thing and the larger impact in these contracts: that the drafting of these contracts is not the companies and the Iraqi government.

In any government contracts, anywhere in the world, especially if the building or a hospital or to get rid of garbage containers, the official government set the conditions and then invite companies to tender.

In this case, has not been abandoned a bid only - company BP ensured Rumaila Shell and Shell secured Kirkuk, and so on - but these companies have set the conditions themselves.

And in order to obtain a literal translation of our articles in the long term, the lawyers oil companies to write drafts using a flexible language gives them the right of future contracts that expire after a period of such contracts. If the law was adopted then the oil, which is what the company hopes, will become the participation of the production contract agreements.

According to an article published last week in the International Herald Tribune International Herald Tribune will succeed the way in which the matter is that the fields will be opened for bids, but companies with a "technical service agreements" TSA will be given the right of first refusal to receive the best bid.

In any case, the processing of tender for the oil field requires a large number of items of data and analysis of legal, economic, and operation of a team of workers for several weeks. Few companies would be willing to make this effort when learning that another company will be given first preference in all circumstances. So firms with TSA will be able to conclude deals fields in the long term and without any competition.

If this happened, it would cost Iraq substantial amounts of revenue but to no avail. The fields involved are some of Iraq's largest fields, Rumaila, Kirkuk and the West Qurnah, which produced an estimated ten million barrels. Estimates vary, but these fields contain six-third to two thirds of Iraq's reserves.

With all this, it is necessary to make clear these contracts before they sign. The committees have to Iraqi civil society, academics and oil experts, members of parliament to discuss and examine their own terms before they take Iraq to give the same rights to foreign companies to control a potential long-term confiscation of normalcy.

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Three people arrested on charges of counterfeiting currency north of Wasit

A source at the Directorate of Information and National Investigation Command of the police and security force that Wasit arrested, today, Wednesday, on three people accused of counterfeiting Iraqi currency north of Wasit governorate.

The source said in an interview with "Uzmatik" that "precise intelligence information led to the arrest of three people in the town of Aziziyah, about 90 km north of Kut Centre province, accused of counterfeiting Iraqi currency, was seized in possession of large sums of counterfeit currency."

The source, who asked to remain anonymous said that "three persons who were printed Iraqi currency, the category of 25 thousand dinars, and sell on the domestic market through the purchase of cars, real estate and other commercial goods as found in possession of various equipment and devices they used in their work," noting that "Arrested and placed under investigation."

Translated version of http://iraqalaan.com/bm/Security/3577.shtml

Lower demand for the dollar on Thursday

Demand for the dollar was down in the Iraqi Central Bank's auction on Thursday, reaching $157.245 million compared to $161.375 million on Wednesday.

"The demand hit $61.955 million in cash and $95.290 million in foreign transfers outside the country, all covered by the bank at an exchange rate of 1,194 Iraqi dinars per dollar," according to the central bank's daily bulletin, which was received by Aswat al-Iraq - Voices of Iraq - (VOI).

None of the 19 banks that participated in the auction offered to sell dollars.

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

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

Originally Posted by Seaview

Announcement of the first international exhibition of power in Iraq

Baghdad correspondent neighboring announced starting the first international exhibition of power in Iraq on the ground Baghdad International Airport.

The correspondent reported that the proximity of this exhibition was announced in a press conference gathering information advisor to the Ministry of Oil with the Director Alentive Chamber of Commerce Iraqi and her deputy, adding that he was in Congress an outline of the exhibition, which will include from 300 Studios to contribute directly in the oil industries and investment in Iraqi oil fields.

Our correspondent added that this exhibition, which will start from the seventeenth to the nineteenth of the month October for the current year is the first of its kind in Iraq.

Translated version of http://www.aljewar.org/news.aspx?id=3948

Update.......

Chamber of Commerce and Industry of America maintains the Iraqi Energy Conference and Exhibition I in Baghdad

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of America from the Iraqi administration and the energy exhibition in Baghdad in the first XVII of October and the next three days, amid welcomed by the Iraqi Oil Ministry.

The ****utive Director of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of America Iraqi Raad Omar in an interview with "Uzmatik" that "the exhibition, which will be held on the territory of Baghdad International Airport, in collaboration with the Ministry of Oil would be the first of its kind to be held in Baghdad."

Omar explained that "international companies that have expressed willingness to participate in this conference, reaching about 80 companies, including French company TotalFinaElf, the English company BP, Shell and the Dutch, Russian Lukoil, which will be the sponsor of the exhibition."

Omar said that "Energy Fair will focus on increasing oil production, and how to invest approximately 2000 oil wells in Iraq, which needs to be invested as leading to greater financial resources of Iraq," adding that "most of Iraq's imports come from oil and current production is estimated Two million and 500 thousand liters per day, is very small compared with owned reserves estimated at 115 billion barrels.

The ****utive Director of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of America to Iraq that "international companies anxious to come to Iraq for investment because of the security situation," Mstdricka saying, "But this exhibition is breaking the barrier of fear among these companies, especially after the improvement in the security situation in Iraq."

Has welcomed the Iraqi Oil Ministry establishing the first exhibition of energy and oil in Baghdad, said the official spokesman for the Iraqi Oil Ministry Assem Jihad in an interview with "Uzmatik", "The Oil Ministry welcomes this idea, and will provide all the help and support to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Iraqi-American success of this event."

He said Jihad "establishing such an exhibition is a message to the world that Iraq had started to regain its health, reflecting the stability of the security situation in Iraq."

http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Firaqalaan.com%2F&sl=ar&tl =en&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

2009 budget focuses on investment and services

Having focused over the last four years on security

She said the Iraqi government that the state public budget in 2009 to focus on the economy, investment and services after that focused during the last four years on security confirming that it took into account the reasonable expectations of the price of crude oil and petroleum products exporter, taxes and fees also included proposals on financial resources and government spending, both operational and investment.

He said government spokesman Ali Al-Iraqi Skinner in a press statement to "Ilaf" The cabinet today discussed the strategy for the general budget in 2009 and prepared by the Finance Ministry in coordination with other concerned ministries in order to start preparing next year's budget in its final on time. He explained that the Commission has prepared the budget includes representatives of the Ministries of Planning and Development Cooperation, oil, trade, agriculture, water resources, industry and minerals, and Construction and Housing, Education, in addition to the Central Bank of Iraq in order to develop a strategy for preparing the federal budget, according to a scientific concept of modern, reflecting the content Financial policies adopted in Iraq, where the strategy took into account the reasonable expectations of the price of crude oil and petroleum products exporter, taxes and fees, also included proposals on financial resources and government spending sense (operational and investment).

He pointed out that the proposed strategy relies on multiple factors including the economic challenges facing Iraq and the international obligations which it must meet the new principles of economic policy of decentralization and granting a greater role for local officials and the gradual withdrawal of government from direct management of economic institutions and focus instead on providing infrastructure to The growth of the economy and provide conditions for the advancement of the private sector and the rationalization of government support and policy support conversion to support totalitarian wave in addition to building the operational capacities of ministries and government institutions.

Skinner said that next year's budget aims to focus on the economy, investment and services that focus was in previous phases focused on security suggests the strategic interest in the oil sector, human development and rebuilding of basic infrastructure (transport, health, water, electricity, education and housing) and the shortest period of time, where would invest in These sectors to create jobs and events in the evolution of human development and enhance the investment environment for the private sector.

He added that the strategy focused on the development factor, linking growth rates, where the state is aware that any process of economic growth will not be credible unless the human factor of human development present at all joints where economic development is to achieve high rates of economic growth necessary condition for lifting the rate of income Individual but did not indicate the value of the proposed budget next year.

At the same Skinner announced that the cabinet had ratified the supplementary budget in 2008 and the total amount of 21 billion dollars. He explained that the budget was ratified after the transfers and adjustments between the ministries and Iraqi institutions where the total amount of the budget in 2008 to nearly 70 billion dollars, the highest budget in the history of Iraq.

Skinner was announced last Wednesday that the Ministry of Finance submitted to the Cabinet to draft a supplementary budget in 2008 amount to 21 billion dollars.

Skinner explained that the budget for Iraq in 2008 and approved by the House reached over 48 billion dollars, an increase of 18% over the 2007 budget and with the addition of this supplementary budget, the total budget for the current year had reached about 70 billion dollars. He described the increase as an important breakthrough in the history of the budgets of the Iraqi state and was the result of the rise of Iraq's resources from oil exports and that will effect positive changes in concrete economic movement and services in the country.

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Turkish PM Erdogan Arrives in Baghdad on His First Visit to Iraq

Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Baghdad on Thursday to meet top Iraqi officials on his first visit to the neighboring country. He was welcomed by Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and other Iraqi ministers.

Erdogan was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek, Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, Trade Minister Kursad Tuzmen, Energy Minister Hilmi Guler and Prime Ministry Chief Advisor Ahmet Davutoglu.

Tight security measures have been taken in Baghdad for Erdogan's visit, the Anatolian Agency reported.

Erdogan and the accompanying delegation will meet Maliki in Prime Ministry building. The two prime ministers are expected to sign an agreement on establishment of a strategic cooperation supreme committee to boost bilateral relations between Turkey and Iraq.

The high-level strategical dialogue mechanism, which will include Turkish interior, foreign and energy ministers; and Iraqi interior, trade, energy, water, electricity and oil ministers, will be co-headed by the prime ministers of the two countries.

Turkish prime minister will later meet Iraqi vice presidents Adil Abd al-Mahdi and Tariq al-Hashimi.

Turkish ministers accompanying Erdogan will have bilateral talks with their Iraqi counterparts after the lunch which al-Maliki will host in honor of Erdogan. Turkish delegation will later meet Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Meshadani.

Erdogan and the accompanying delegation are expected to return to Turkey in the evening after attending dinner to be hosted by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani in his honor.

PUKmedia :: English - Turkish PM Erdogan Arrives in Baghdad on His First Visit to Iraq

Kuwait called an ambassador in Iraq soon

Kuwait announced Thursday that it would be named soon an ambassador in Iraq, after the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Jordan, the three Arab countries that have already appointed ambassadors in Baghdad. The Kuwaiti News Agency quoted "official KUNA" the Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Khaled Al-Jarallah said that Kuwait "will be announced soon name its ambassador in Iraq after the security had developed positively." He pointed out that this step comes in line with "our brothers in the designation of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the UAE Ambassador in Iraq," in reference to two members of the Gulf Cooperation Council to which it belongs, also includes Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar.

Jordan was also appointed him ambassador in Iraq. He favored Jarallah be fortified Green Zone in Baghdad headquarters of the Kuwaiti embassy, this region includes the headquarters of the Iraqi government and U.S. embassy.

Bahrain, newspapers reported Wednesday that the Bahraini ambassador in Iraq takes over his duties soon.

The Emirates announced the start of its ambassador duties on the sixth of July and Jordan in the thirtieth of June.

There is no Arab ambassador in Baghdad because of instability and insecurity, but there is a diplomatic representations in the Iraqi capital.

Translated version of http://www.hewarat.dk/hewarat_data.php?sid=8011

Iraq signs contracts for new oil refineries

Iraq's Oil Ministry says it is close to signing two contracts to build two new oil refineries in southern Iraq.

A senior oil official says he expects the ministry to sign one contract by the end of July or early August. That contract will be for a 300,000 barrel-per-day refinery in Nasiriyah province.

The official says the ministry also is studying proposals presented by international companies to build another 150,000 barrel-per-day refinery in Karbala.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity on Thursday because he is not authorised to make statements.

Nasiriyah is located about 320 kilometers south of Baghdad, and Karbala about 80 kilometers south.

Gulfnews: Iraq signs contracts for new oil refineries