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

Kirkuk Council Members Call for Anchoring Kirkuk to Kurdistan

After holding an extraordinary session by Kirkuk Provincial Council, 22 members raised a memorandum, calling for anchoring Kirkuk to Kurdistan region of Iraq.

The memorandum was written based on the 3rd paragraph of article 2 of the law for forming the regional authority.

The members called for enacting the memorandum if the political blocs do not reach an appropriate solution for the law pertaining to Kirkuk elections.

PUKmedia :: English - Kirkuk Council Members Call for Anchoring Kirkuk to Kurdistan

This is long..... Good Luck......

Iraqi Deputy PM: Kurds have Right to Self-Determination, Including Establishment of a State

Baghdad Al-Iraqiyah t.e.l.e.v.ision in Arabic at 1905 gmt on 29 July carries a new episode of its "Fourth Estate Parliament" programme, in which anchorman Abd-al-Karim Hammadi interviews Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih.

Asked about the Provincial Council Election Law and the rejection it faced because Article 24 was passed secretly, Salih says: "There were real problems with the procedures, especially with voting on a single article of the law and attaining the legal quorum in the Council of Representatives. Khalid al-Atiyah and Arif Tayfur, the two deputy speakers, objected to this procedure. The management of the parliament must be on clear bases and enjoy the confidence of the people and the members. What was passed on that day did not strengthen the confidence between the parliamentary blocs or the confidence of the citizens in the Iraqi Parliament."

Salih says that the Provincial Council Election Law is important. But the Kirkuk issue, sensitive as it, should have been handled separately and not thrust into this law.

However, Salih says, what happened on that day proved our sound constitution. The constitution, he adds, was applied and the problem was tackled by its mechanisms, which means, he says, there are guarantees in running the country and no side can force others to follow its whims.

Defending President Talabani's position on Iraqi issues, Salih says: "Of course, President Jalal Talabani is a Kurd. But he is the president of the Republic of Iraq and everyone far and near testifies that he tackles all issues, including Kirkuk, with a sense of patriotism and national responsibility. His position on this issue is not just because he is a Kurd. I hope that in discussing Kirkuk or any of these issues people will not view them as if they concern the Kurds only and not others as well. We have agreed on the constitution, which is the guarantor of Iraqi unity."

"In my opinion," he says, "Arabs, Turkmen, Shi'is, Sunnis, Christians, Muslims, and Kurds are called upon to respect this constitution. This law was rejected by the presidency, and I am not a spokesman for the presidency, but my reading of the clarification given to the Council of representatives is that it was based on a realistic interpretation of the constitution."

"Let us now come to the political aspect. In my opinion, we have a big problem in Kirkuk and this problem is well-known. It represents, in my opinion, a basic issue that must be determined according to the mechanisms in the constitution. Kirkuk is important for Kurds, Turkmen, Arabs, and in fact the whole of Iraq."

Continuing, Salih says: "We as Iraqis, and I as a Kurd, also say that we must reach a solution. We must not maintain a situation that has continued for 40 years. Whoever recalls the recent past will know that Saddam Husayn used racist tactics to change the demographic structure of Kirkuk through an operation he falsely called Arabization. I expect my Arab brothers to come forth even before the Kurds to defend Kurdish rights and demand the restoration of justice and normalcy in Kirkuk. The issue should not be presented as if it is the Kurds who demands justice in Kirkuk and the Arabs want to maintain Saddam Husayn's violations. This does not mean that the Kurds can exploit the injustice they suffered in the past to hurt the other components living in Kirkuk. We must have a concept based on mutual understanding and accord to resolve the Kirkuk problem. But it must be on a clear basis, which is the constitution and Article 140 we agreed upon."

Asked how the Kurdistan Coalition views the Kirkuk issue, Salih says: "I have been in constant touch with my brothers in Kurdistan; in Arbil and Al-Sulaymaniyah. I have also been following public opinion trends there. What concerns me in my post in Baghdad is that what happened was not good for strengthening the concepts of accord and the Iraqi national plan.

"What is more serious is the trend in the Kurdish leadership towards merger in the Iraqi national plan. This trend faced a great deal of questioning and doubts from the Kurdish public. They ask: Are our Arab allies really serious about the concepts of national accord and national unity based on accord and respect of the constitution? "What [Vice President] Adil Abd-al-Mahdi did and what I expect [Vice President] Tariq al-Hashimi will do also is to transform the issue from a Kurdish-Arab issue to a national issue. The objection to the law did not just come from the Kurdish president of the republic. Hopefully, sensible and wise Arab voices that are concerned about the future of this country will be able to address the Kurdish public and offer guarantees. In the end, there are also guarantees in the constitution. I hope that we will not dig deep as Kurds or other Iraqi opponents into our own national or sectarian trenches, since this will be a big disaster. There is the national margin, and I mean that the Kurds have an interest in the success of the democratic national plan in Iraq. This plan ensures a special place for the Kurds, just as it ensures it for the other components. We must benefit from that experience and it must not be repeated. And in the end, God be praised, the constitution has proven its feasibility and that there are guarantees in it that prevent unilateral action or ignoring a basic part of the Iraqi social and political equation.

Following a short interval, anchorman Hammadi asks members of the audience in the studio to pose their questions.

An unidentified member wonders about the staunch Kurdish stand on the Kirkuk issue and says why don't the Kurds make a concession on this issue by joining the national plan? I believe like many others that this is an initial step towards the independence of Kurdistan, he says. Another member says why isn't there a political accord on the Kirkuk issue? Responding, Salih says: "I will begin with the second question. Certainly, there must be an accord on these issues. This is the basic principle. This is why I said earlier that there cannot be a Kurdish, Arab, or Tukrmen solution to Kirkuk. There can only be an Iraqi solution, which we agree on.

"We agreed on a mechanism in the constitution to normalize the situation and settle this issue on the basis of a consensual, legal, and legitimate mechanism. What happened that day was contrary to the concept of accord, although there was an agreed upon provision that was followed. This is a violation of the spirit of the constitution, because the constitution is based on accord and the principle of democratic consensus.

"I return to the first question by the brother who says that Kurds are only concerned about their personal interests and do not cooperate within the Iraqi national plan. I disagree with you on this. We might differ in defining the Iraqi national plan. If your definition of the Iraqi national plan and Iraqi patriotism is ignoring the Kurdish peculiarity and Kurdish affiliation, I tell you right now that no Kurd will join this Iraqi national plan. If Iraqi patriotism means the genocide, deportation, and Arabization campaigns carried out by Saddam Husayn, certainly no Kurd will not join this concept of the Iraqi national plan."

He adds: "Second, the Kurds have the right to self-determination like all peoples of the world, including the establishment of a state." He adds: "Through their elected parliament, the Kurdish people agreed that the exercise of this right lies in a democratic federal Iraq."

Continuing, Salih says: "I here in Baghdad as Iraqi deputy prime minister have a duty to serve Basra, Al-Anbar, Madinat al-Sadr, Al- Kazimiyah, and Al-A'zamiyah, just as I serve Al-Sulaymaniyah. But, if by serving Al-Sulaymaniyah you say that I give priority to Kurdish interests over Iraqi interests, this is wrong. There is an inherent link. The interests of the Kurds lie in the advancement, stability, and security of Iraq. This is because we live in this environment and the events have proven that Kurdish leaders have dealt with the Iraqi national plan on the basis of this logic."

Replying to a question, Salih denies the charges that the Kurds want to secede from Iraq and says: "The Kurds have made the decision to be part of democratic federal Iraq and to be among the builders of this state." Salih reiterates that the Kirkuk problem was created by Saddam's ethnic cleansing policies and it is up to the Arabs in Iraq to reassure their Kurdish brethren, especially in Kirkuk, that new Iraq will not go back to those policies.

Following another short interval, anchorman Hammadi says that Kurds are said to be behind the disruption of the Oil and Gas Law by concluding oil contracts in the Kurdistan region. Salih says: "Certainly, there are problems between the Iraqi Kurdistan region and the Iraqi Oil Ministry. We agreed in February 2007 on a draft law, which was passed in the cabinet with the approval of the Kurdistan Coalition. But this draft law also depended on the approval of the National Oil Company Law, the Oil Ministry Law and other essential supplements."

Salih says that all the Kurdish leaders are now in Baghdad to resolve this issue. He also says: "The entire country needs the Oil Law and I will tell you why. Iraq has large oil resources. We are still exporting only 2 million barrels a day. We want to greatly improve the oil sector. If we managed it to develop it through new modern methods we could increase production to 6 million barrels a day. In light of the high oil prices, this will be a source of big revenue for the country. Every province and district in Iraq will have a share from the augmented revenues."

He adds: "As I said, the Kurdish leaders are in Baghdad now. We will enter into serious talks and discussions with the other parties, not just on the Oil Law. In my opinion, we also need to discuss the methods of running the country. It is clear that we have inherited many problems from the previous period. In that period, we faced security challenges. God be praised, all indications are the security situation has improved and we have overcome the most dangerous phase of these challenges. This does not mean that we do not still have problems in some areas. But, by overcoming these security problems, the country will open up to a chain of other economic and political challenges. It is time the national leaders met and discussed all issues: Our oil relations, the method of running the country and how to prevent the recurrence of the problems that occurred last week. In my opinion, the country is heading for transformations that call for dialogue."

Asked by an audience member if the US-Iraqi Security agreement would be signed as submitted or would the observations made on it in parliament and elsewhere be considered, Salih says: "I was among those who took part in preparing the first draft. I say to you and to history that the US side did not present any draft or proposals." "Portraying the situation as if it is a US demand, pressure, or proposal is contrary to the truth," he says, adding: "Please accept these words as the truth. The agreement was based on Iraqi national concepts."

Asked about government performance, Salih says: "Of course we need to ponder government performance. As deputy prime minister, I will speak frankly about this issue. Government performance must be better than it is now. We may have had good excuses in the past pertaining to the security situation and the security challenges that prevented us from fulfilling our duty as required. But, now with the improvement of the security situation, the Iraqi citizen expects his government to do better." Salih admits that the quota system may have led to the appointment of incompetent ministers. But it is hoped that performance will improve with time, he says...

Salih concludes with the following optimistic note: "Actually, after the recent incidents and the dialogues that took place between the political blocs, a new situation has been created calling for optimism. The return of Al-Tawafuq Front brothers [to the cabinet] was also important. Hopefully, this spring will be a lasting one, because in light of the challenges we are facing, Iraq is in need for real understandings. We have differences - and I am not voicing slogans or anything of the sort - we have problems and we have differences, but the challenges awaiting us are also opportunities. We must get together.

"I say, in light of the national plan that embraces the Kurds, Arabs, Shi'is, Sunnis and others Iraq is perhaps the only country in the world that can give the Kurds more than they want and give the Arabs, Shi'is, and Sunnis, more than they want. God has endowed this country with resources that do not exist in any other country - Natural resources, holy shrines, agriculture, water, nature, and a giving people. But I seriously say that it is time we rose above our disputes, which could be important, but the opportunities and scopes for progress that await us are vast. This is closely linked to the method of leadership and administration. I do not doubt that the team that is ruling this country is doing its best to serve this homeland."

PUKmedia :: English - Iraqi Deputy PM: Kurds have Right to Self-Determination, Including Establishment of a State

Iraq warns Iran of interfering in its internal affairs

A number of lawmakers welcomed Iraq’s Foreign Ministry warning to the Iranian Consulate calling not to interfere in Iraq’s internal affairs.

Iraq warns Iran of interfering in its internal affairs | Iraq News | Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network

Iraq Parliament fails to vote on election law

Iraq’s Parliament failed to vote on the provincial election law due to lack of quorum amidst mounting rows and people’s protests against the law mainly from Kurds. Iraqi Parliament speaker Mahmoud Al Mashhadani scheduled an exceptional session on Sunday to discuss anew the provincial law. Some politicians ruled out the possibility of deciding about the law in the coming session as rows between political parties have not been resolved yet.

While the third legislative quarter has ended without voting on the provincial law, politicians pointed out to the possibility of voting on the old draft law for disputed points are still unsettled.

In protest to the provincial election law, thousands of Kurds protested in Sulaymaniya as protestors held banners reading that the only way for peaceful coexistence between Iraqi people’s components is to implement the Constitution while other banners read “No to violating the Constitution. Yes to implementing Article 140”.

Iraq Parliament fails to vote on election law | Iraq News | Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network

Deputy Kordestani: will adopt the election law if approved by Arab and Turkmen parties on the proposals de Mistura

Expect a member of the Chamber of Deputies on Iraqi Kurdistan Alliance MP Mohsen Al-Adoption of the electoral law in the special meeting of the Iraqi parliament, next Sunday, "If the political blocs approval of the proposals of the United Nations on Kirkuk", as saying.

The Sadoun one of the members of the committee studying the presidential veto on election law, in an interview with "Uzmatik", today, Thursday, that "there is general agreement among the political blocs on the proposals submitted by the United Nations, with respect to Article 24 of the electoral law concerning procedures for organizing the elections in Kirkuk ".

The Iraqi Parliament decided to form a legal committee to examine the objections made by presidential election law on the district councils, to reach a formula acceptable to all political parties in the country.

He added Sadoun "The Kurdistan Alliance with some remarks about the United Nations proposals on the issue of Kirkuk, especially regarding the excesses dedicated public lands and private, before and after the ninth of April 2003."

He called Al-Arab political parties and Turkmen to "approve the proposals of the United Nations, as a compromise to the issue of elections in the city of Kirkuk, allowing the adoption of the electoral law and supporting the political process in the country."

Attorney for the Kurdistan Alliance, warned that rejection of United Nations proposals on Kirkuk by some political parties, "will lead to straining the situation in the country, rejected the direction of all components of the Iraqi people."

The Sadoun that the Kurdistan Alliance "supports the return to the census in 1957 a criterion to determine the true magnitude of the majority population in the city of Kirkuk, considering that this census was held at a time when the city did not witness any change in population."

It is noteworthy that paragraph 24 of the Law on Election of provincial assemblies, which discussed the situation in the governorate of Kirkuk included the postponement of elections in the province for six months, with the need to be making in the governorate of Kirkuk through a period of postponement by mutual agreement between the three main components "Arabs - a response - Turkmen", the That power-sharing among them by 32% for each component, while the proportion of 4% given to the Christians, as well as the transfer of the security file in the city to military units from around the southern and central Iraq, rather than military units currently operating.

Translated version of http://iraqalaan.com/

Al Sadr calls not to sign US-Iraqi agreement

Cleric Sayyed Moqtada Al Sadr, head of the Sadrist Bloc, called on the government not to sign the security agreement with Washington, expressing his willingness to support the government politically and popularly if it does not sign the pact mainly after certain scholars banned the signature of the agreement. In response to questions from his followers online, Al Sadr reiterated that armed resistance against the United States should be restricted on a specified group calling his supporters not to attack security forces or infrastructure in the country.

Al Sadr calls not to sign US-Iraqi agreement | Iraq News | Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network

Originally Posted by Seaview

This is long..... Good Luck......

Iraqi Deputy PM: Kurds have Right to Self-Determination, Including Establishment of a State

Baghdad Al-Iraqiyah t.e.l.e.v.ision in Arabic at 1905 gmt on 29 July carries a new episode of its "Fourth Estate Parliament" programme, in which anchorman Abd-al-Karim Hammadi interviews Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih.

Asked about the Provincial Council Election Law and the rejection it faced because Article 24 was passed secretly, Salih says: "There were real problems with the procedures, especially with voting on a single article of the law and attaining the legal quorum in the Council of Representatives. Khalid al-Atiyah and Arif Tayfur, the two deputy speakers, objected to this procedure. The management of the parliament must be on clear bases and enjoy the confidence of the people and the members. What was passed on that day did not strengthen the confidence between the parliamentary blocs or the confidence of the citizens in the Iraqi Parliament."

Salih says that the Provincial Council Election Law is important. But the Kirkuk issue, sensitive as it, should have been handled separately and not thrust into this law.

However, Salih says, what happened on that day proved our sound constitution. The constitution, he adds, was applied and the problem was tackled by its mechanisms, which means, he says, there are guarantees in running the country and no side can force others to follow its whims.

Defending President Talabani's position on Iraqi issues, Salih says: "Of course, President Jalal Talabani is a Kurd. But he is the president of the Republic of Iraq and everyone far and near testifies that he tackles all issues, including Kirkuk, with a sense of patriotism and national responsibility. His position on this issue is not just because he is a Kurd. I hope that in discussing Kirkuk or any of these issues people will not view them as if they concern the Kurds only and not others as well. We have agreed on the constitution, which is the guarantor of Iraqi unity."

"In my opinion," he says, "Arabs, Turkmen, Shi'is, Sunnis, Christians, Muslims, and Kurds are called upon to respect this constitution. This law was rejected by the presidency, and I am not a spokesman for the presidency, but my reading of the clarification given to the Council of representatives is that it was based on a realistic interpretation of the constitution."

"Let us now come to the political aspect. In my opinion, we have a big problem in Kirkuk and this problem is well-known. It represents, in my opinion, a basic issue that must be determined according to the mechanisms in the constitution. Kirkuk is important for Kurds, Turkmen, Arabs, and in fact the whole of Iraq."

Continuing, Salih says: "We as Iraqis, and I as a Kurd, also say that we must reach a solution. We must not maintain a situation that has continued for 40 years. Whoever recalls the recent past will know that Saddam Husayn used racist tactics to change the demographic structure of Kirkuk through an operation he falsely called Arabization. I expect my Arab brothers to come forth even before the Kurds to defend Kurdish rights and demand the restoration of justice and normalcy in Kirkuk. The issue should not be presented as if it is the Kurds who demands justice in Kirkuk and the Arabs want to maintain Saddam Husayn's violations. This does not mean that the Kurds can exploit the injustice they suffered in the past to hurt the other components living in Kirkuk. We must have a concept based on mutual understanding and accord to resolve the Kirkuk problem. But it must be on a clear basis, which is the constitution and Article 140 we agreed upon."

Asked how the Kurdistan Coalition views the Kirkuk issue, Salih says: "I have been in constant touch with my brothers in Kurdistan; in Arbil and Al-Sulaymaniyah. I have also been following public opinion trends there. What concerns me in my post in Baghdad is that what happened was not good for strengthening the concepts of accord and the Iraqi national plan.

"What is more serious is the trend in the Kurdish leadership towards merger in the Iraqi national plan. This trend faced a great deal of questioning and doubts from the Kurdish public. They ask: Are our Arab allies really serious about the concepts of national accord and national unity based on accord and respect of the constitution? "What [Vice President] Adil Abd-al-Mahdi did and what I expect [Vice President] Tariq al-Hashimi will do also is to transform the issue from a Kurdish-Arab issue to a national issue. The objection to the law did not just come from the Kurdish president of the republic. Hopefully, sensible and wise Arab voices that are concerned about the future of this country will be able to address the Kurdish public and offer guarantees. In the end, there are also guarantees in the constitution. I hope that we will not dig deep as Kurds or other Iraqi opponents into our own national or sectarian trenches, since this will be a big disaster. There is the national margin, and I mean that the Kurds have an interest in the success of the democratic national plan in Iraq. This plan ensures a special place for the Kurds, just as it ensures it for the other components. We must benefit from that experience and it must not be repeated. And in the end, God be praised, the constitution has proven its feasibility and that there are guarantees in it that prevent unilateral action or ignoring a basic part of the Iraqi social and political equation.

Following a short interval, anchorman Hammadi asks members of the audience in the studio to pose their questions.

An unidentified member wonders about the staunch Kurdish stand on the Kirkuk issue and says why don't the Kurds make a concession on this issue by joining the national plan? I believe like many others that this is an initial step towards the independence of Kurdistan, he says. Another member says why isn't there a political accord on the Kirkuk issue? Responding, Salih says: "I will begin with the second question. Certainly, there must be an accord on these issues. This is the basic principle. This is why I said earlier that there cannot be a Kurdish, Arab, or Tukrmen solution to Kirkuk. There can only be an Iraqi solution, which we agree on.

"We agreed on a mechanism in the constitution to normalize the situation and settle this issue on the basis of a consensual, legal, and legitimate mechanism. What happened that day was contrary to the concept of accord, although there was an agreed upon provision that was followed. This is a violation of the spirit of the constitution, because the constitution is based on accord and the principle of democratic consensus.

"I return to the first question by the brother who says that Kurds are only concerned about their personal interests and do not cooperate within the Iraqi national plan. I disagree with you on this. We might differ in defining the Iraqi national plan. If your definition of the Iraqi national plan and Iraqi patriotism is ignoring the Kurdish peculiarity and Kurdish affiliation, I tell you right now that no Kurd will join this Iraqi national plan. If Iraqi patriotism means the genocide, deportation, and Arabization campaigns carried out by Saddam Husayn, certainly no Kurd will not join this concept of the Iraqi national plan."

He adds: "Second, the Kurds have the right to self-determination like all peoples of the world, including the establishment of a state." He adds: "Through their elected parliament, the Kurdish people agreed that the exercise of this right lies in a democratic federal Iraq."

Continuing, Salih says: "I here in Baghdad as Iraqi deputy prime minister have a duty to serve Basra, Al-Anbar, Madinat al-Sadr, Al- Kazimiyah, and Al-A'zamiyah, just as I serve Al-Sulaymaniyah. But, if by serving Al-Sulaymaniyah you say that I give priority to Kurdish interests over Iraqi interests, this is wrong. There is an inherent link. The interests of the Kurds lie in the advancement, stability, and security of Iraq. This is because we live in this environment and the events have proven that Kurdish leaders have dealt with the Iraqi national plan on the basis of this logic."

Replying to a question, Salih denies the charges that the Kurds want to secede from Iraq and says: "The Kurds have made the decision to be part of democratic federal Iraq and to be among the builders of this state." Salih reiterates that the Kirkuk problem was created by Saddam's ethnic cleansing policies and it is up to the Arabs in Iraq to reassure their Kurdish brethren, especially in Kirkuk, that new Iraq will not go back to those policies.

Following another short interval, anchorman Hammadi says that Kurds are said to be behind the disruption of the Oil and Gas Law by concluding oil contracts in the Kurdistan region. Salih says: "Certainly, there are problems between the Iraqi Kurdistan region and the Iraqi Oil Ministry. We agreed in February 2007 on a draft law, which was passed in the cabinet with the approval of the Kurdistan Coalition. But this draft law also depended on the approval of the National Oil Company Law, the Oil Ministry Law and other essential supplements."

Salih says that all the Kurdish leaders are now in Baghdad to resolve this issue. He also says: "The entire country needs the Oil Law and I will tell you why. Iraq has large oil resources. We are still exporting only 2 million barrels a day. We want to greatly improve the oil sector. If we managed it to develop it through new modern methods we could increase production to 6 million barrels a day. In light of the high oil prices, this will be a source of big revenue for the country. Every province and district in Iraq will have a share from the augmented revenues."

He adds: "As I said, the Kurdish leaders are in Baghdad now. We will enter into serious talks and discussions with the other parties, not just on the Oil Law. In my opinion, we also need to discuss the methods of running the country. It is clear that we have inherited many problems from the previous period. In that period, we faced security challenges. God be praised, all indications are the security situation has improved and we have overcome the most dangerous phase of these challenges. This does not mean that we do not still have problems in some areas. But, by overcoming these security problems, the country will open up to a chain of other economic and political challenges. It is time the national leaders met and discussed all issues: Our oil relations, the method of running the country and how to prevent the recurrence of the problems that occurred last week. In my opinion, the country is heading for transformations that call for dialogue."

Asked by an audience member if the US-Iraqi Security agreement would be signed as submitted or would the observations made on it in parliament and elsewhere be considered, Salih says: "I was among those who took part in preparing the first draft. I say to you and to history that the US side did not present any draft or proposals." "Portraying the situation as if it is a US demand, pressure, or proposal is contrary to the truth," he says, adding: "Please accept these words as the truth. The agreement was based on Iraqi national concepts."

Asked about government performance, Salih says: "Of course we need to ponder government performance. As deputy prime minister, I will speak frankly about this issue. Government performance must be better than it is now. We may have had good excuses in the past pertaining to the security situation and the security challenges that prevented us from fulfilling our duty as required. But, now with the improvement of the security situation, the Iraqi citizen expects his government to do better." Salih admits that the quota system may have led to the appointment of incompetent ministers. But it is hoped that performance will improve with time, he says...

Salih concludes with the following optimistic note: "Actually, after the recent incidents and the dialogues that took place between the political blocs, a new situation has been created calling for optimism. The return of Al-Tawafuq Front brothers [to the cabinet] was also important. Hopefully, this spring will be a lasting one, because in light of the challenges we are facing, Iraq is in need for real understandings. We have differences - and I am not voicing slogans or anything of the sort - we have problems and we have differences, but the challenges awaiting us are also opportunities. We must get together.

"I say, in light of the national plan that embraces the Kurds, Arabs, Shi'is, Sunnis and others Iraq is perhaps the only country in the world that can give the Kurds more than they want and give the Arabs, Shi'is, and Sunnis, more than they want. God has endowed this country with resources that do not exist in any other country - Natural resources, holy shrines, agriculture, water, nature, and a giving people. But I seriously say that it is time we rose above our disputes, which could be important, but the opportunities and scopes for progress that await us are vast. This is closely linked to the method of leadership and administration. I do not doubt that the team that is ruling this country is doing its best to serve this homeland."

PUKmedia :: English - Iraqi Deputy PM: Kurds have Right to Self-Determination, Including Establishment of a State

Everygroup or country wants to be a sovereign entity, with understanding neighbors. The UN likes to hear that. And if a neighbor was treated like a
neighbor, it would be great.

However, Irag seems to know how to play this out...and how long to do it.

BUT IT IS CLOSE TO RV

Maceman

An Iraqi guide to the Security Council for debt cancellation and reparations

The country's leaders are seeking a compromise formula for electoral law
BAGHDAD - Al Sabah
Entered the prime minister Nouri al-Maliki on the line of good for a consensus to amend the election law, when a guest yesterday, a number of political leaders to a lunch

In a meeting held yesterday Quintets discussed developments in the country. Coincide such moves aimed at reunification of the national front in the direction of sensitive issues, with a series of meetings held during the past few hours, find a compromise formula on the Law of provincial council elections with the identification of the House of Representatives next Sunday date for the vote on the items After the presidential veto. In another context, the Government has the option of resorting to the UN Security Council for adopting a resolution to relieve Iraq of its debts or damages arising therefrom, less strongly in the case was fruitless bilateral diplomatic moves for a solution. And examine the Prime Minister after a lunch among other issues on the scene Iraq, including the issue of electoral law and ways of mutual agreement on it, after reversing the presidency. The meeting was attended by President Jalal Talabani and his deputy, Dr. Adel Abdul Mahdi and Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih and Dr. Rafie Isawi, a key province and the Government of Kurdistan and Massoud Barzani Nnigervan Barzani, in addition to a number of officials in the State. The prime minister has confirmed he received the Australian Ambassador Mark Brown that there was progress in the political process and consensus between the political blocs in Iraq.

On a related yesterday was also meeting brought together five Presidents, Ministers and the Kurdistan region, in addition to Mr. Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, leader of the coalition unified and Vice President Adel Abdul Mahdi. According to informed sources told "morning", the meeting discussed the developments in the situation, especially after the approval of electoral law In Parliament, objections and the Kurdistan Alliance and the number of deputies on how to vote. Leaders agreed to continue efforts to unify visions and uphold national unity and strengthening of governmental successes achieved recently.

The House of Representatives yesterday, ending the current legislative separated, and a special meeting next Sunday, to decide on Issues "set aside the presidency of Bill provincial council elections and the ratification of the supplementary budget and extend the work of the parliamentary committee charged with reviewing the Constitution. And the political class to continue their efforts to moisturizing through its airspace, both within the Parliamentary Commission, or through bilateral and trilateral meetings, to find a compromise formula on the electoral law, Especially after the UN mission in Iraq, a new proposal. In another file, said Deputy Prime coalition bloc in parliament, Dr. Ali went on: "The abolition of compensation or debt of Iraq is one of our most fundamental, since Kuwait met a lot of huge amounts of the budget Iraq over the past years through compensation by 5% of Iraq's imports and these awards were not fair as a result of the policies of the first "incubator Kuwaiti government to" follow the example of many of creditor nations of the world for Iraq and cancel debts faced by Iraq economically and financially result of previous policies".

The parliament has sent a delegation to Gnapea Kuwaiti National Assembly to discuss the issue of Kuwaiti reparations Iraq, but the Council refused to topple the nation or reduction of compensation, uncovered the Kuwaiti delegation participating in the Arab Parliamentary Union Conference, held in Irbil three months ago: that he holds Draft contains the idea of dropping debts on Iraq in return for his country to supply excess water Shatt al-Arab.

The writer relied on the possibility that "verify the nature of the evolving relations at the bilateral level results paid towards debt relief and compensation," suggesting that "the second option might become of the Iraqi diplomatic efforts to move towards the Security Council for adopting a resolution to exempt Iraq from its debts

Translated version of http://www.alsabaah.com/

Originally Posted by Seaview

Deputy Kordestani: will adopt the election law if approved by Arab and Turkmen parties on the proposals de Mistura

Expect a member of the Chamber of Deputies on Iraqi Kurdistan Alliance MP Mohsen Al-Adoption of the electoral law in the special meeting of the Iraqi parliament, next Sunday, "If the political blocs approval of the proposals of the United Nations on Kirkuk", as saying.

The Sadoun one of the members of the committee studying the presidential veto on election law, in an interview with "Uzmatik", today, Thursday, that "there is general agreement among the political blocs on the proposals submitted by the United Nations, with respect to Article 24 of the electoral law concerning procedures for organizing the elections in Kirkuk ".

The Iraqi Parliament decided to form a legal committee to examine the objections made by presidential election law on the district councils, to reach a formula acceptable to all political parties in the country.

He added Sadoun "The Kurdistan Alliance with some remarks about the United Nations proposals on the issue of Kirkuk, especially regarding the excesses dedicated public lands and private, before and after the ninth of April 2003."

He called Al-Arab political parties and Turkmen to "approve the proposals of the United Nations, as a compromise to the issue of elections in the city of Kirkuk, allowing the adoption of the electoral law and supporting the political process in the country."

Attorney for the Kurdistan Alliance, warned that rejection of United Nations proposals on Kirkuk by some political parties, "will lead to straining the situation in the country, rejected the direction of all components of the Iraqi people."

The Sadoun that the Kurdistan Alliance "supports the return to the census in 1957 a criterion to determine the true magnitude of the majority population in the city of Kirkuk, considering that this census was held at a time when the city did not witness any change in population."

It is noteworthy that paragraph 24 of the Law on Election of provincial assemblies, which discussed the situation in the governorate of Kirkuk included the postponement of elections in the province for six months, with the need to be making in the governorate of Kirkuk through a period of postponement by mutual agreement between the three main components "Arabs - a response - Turkmen", the That power-sharing among them by 32% for each component, while the proportion of 4% given to the Christians, as well as the transfer of the security file in the city to military units from around the southern and central Iraq, rather than military units currently operating.

Translated version of http://iraqalaan.com/

Hmmm..Attorney for the Kurdistan Alliance, warned that rejection of United Nations proposals on Kirkuk by some political parties, "will lead to straining the situation in the country, rejected the direction of all components of the Iraqi people."

The UN is the really influential entity.

Update......

Iraq's Basra set for multibillion-dollar investment

Most headlines about Basra, the port city in southern Iraq that is home to the bulk of the country's vast oil wealth, tend to focus on death, destruction and wasted opportunity after five years of war.

Yet after seven months as co-chair of the Basra Development Commission, a British-Iraqi body responsible for kick-starting the area's economy and attracting foreign investment, Michael Wareing is a confirmed optimist.

Not only has security shown sustained improvement in recent months, but large multinational companies are actively looking to pour money into the country, not just into oil and gas industries, but secondary ones such as fertiliser and finance.

In fact, says Wareing, the international chief ****utive of tax and consulting giant KPMG, a turning point may have been reached that could see billions of dollars of international investment flow into the city in the next two to three years.

"There's significant interest, with active investor visits," Wareing told Reuters at KPMG's headquarters in London.

"We're talking about a dozen companies, most of them, but not all, significant multinationals, who are looking at quite significant opportunities," he said, referring broadly to Middle Eastern, European and U.S. firms but not wanting to be more specific because of the imminence of contract announcements.

"Providing there isn't a fallback in the security position, my sense is that security today would not need to improve further in order for us to see quite significant investment."

When quizzed about the size of flows, Wareing prefers to talk in hundreds of millions or billions of dollars, saying investment when it comes -- and he believes the breakthrough will occur before year-end -- will be large and sustained.

Iraq has the world's third-largest oil reserves at around 115 billion barrels but it needs heavy investment to modernise and diversify its oil industry.

As well as oil and gas, the major areas of interest are ports and shipping, construction, infrastructure -- including the airport and railways -- and in industries that range from fertiliser production to iron and steel and banking.

"Basra has got an awful lot of things going for it," said Wareing, listing its geographic position as a port on the Gulf, its natural resources, its university and ready labour supply.

"In terms of a number of other countries in the world that have perfectly successful, healthy economies with growth and inward investment, it's much closer to those today than it would have been a year ago."

BILLION DOLLAR FLOWS

Security remains a concern, with militia groups and criminal gangs threatening to strike at any time. But Iraq's armed forces have made progress since launching a security sweep in March, Wareing said, and Britain, which has 4,000 troops based outside Basra, is cautiously confident about the outlook.

The sort of companies looking to do business in the region are well aware of its risks. At three Basra investment meetings this year, more than 70 companies attended, said Wareing.

"If you're used to operating in Kazakhstan, Venezuela or the Niger Delta, then actually you look at Iraq in a very, very different way than someone would sitting in London," he said.

Corruption is an issue, but not dissimilar to other parts of the world, Wareing argues. "You have to balance it in terms of a world view of Iraq as opposed to matching Iraq to whatever countries in the world you would judge to be best in terms of governance," the 54-year-old said.

In recent months, Iraq has issued tenders for an array of big-ticket contracts. It is those Wareing expects to be awarded in the coming months. The more contracts awarded, the more confidence will grow and investment flow, he believes.

"There's no question that, even on a one-to-two year view, it's actually quite easy to see that investment could be measured in billions," Wareing said. "I would very, very much hope and expect that within this calendar year we would see some real movement on that. It's the next thing to happen."

While he's happy to identify himself as an optimist, he's quick to point out examples -- like Northern Ireland -- where the security tide has turned and investment followed.

If jobs can be created for the swathes of young men among Basra's 30 percent unemployed, not only will there be growth, but it will have a reinforcing impact on security.

"Iraq is a significant economic country, certainly within the region, but arguably within the world," he said.

"It has real, serious natural resources and in today's world, having real serious natural resources is a tremendous advantage wherever you are."

Energy and Oil | Africa - Reuters.com