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

Shell eyes Iraq to boost oil production

Royal Dutch Shell plans turn to other countries such as Iraq to counter lost oil production in Nigeria, after raising its investment spending targets for the year.

Chief ****utive Jeroen van der Veer said he would spend up to $36bn (£18bn) on drilling and acquisitions this year.

His comments came as he unveiled a 33pc rise in second-quarter net profits to $11.6bn (£5.8bn), boosted by record crude prices. The performance lifted first-half profits 41pc to $20.1bn pre-tax, on revenue up from $84.9bn last year to $131.4bn.

Mr Van der Veer also raised Shell's target for asset sales by $1bn to $5bn.

The company's output has taken a hit in recent years, after it was forced to sell control of its stake in Russia's Sakhalin-2 venture and continuing attacks in Nigeria, which lost the company 195,000 barrels a day in the second quarter. This week it suspended exports of Bonny Light crude after a raid.

Mr Van der Veer said: "We went through a difficult period in Russia a couple of years ago, but have a long term vision there and intend to continue to play a part in the country. In terms of Nigeria, we have a high appreciation of all of our staff that work there and understand that it is a challenging situation.

"We will look to go into countries with an acceptable, fiscal risk. For example, our progression in Iraq is subject to the security situation, but we are keen to make progress there. Nothing is signed yet, as many of the details take time to work out, but we are in active negotiations."

The company is also looking to complete the acquisition of Duvernay Oil Corporation for about $5.8m, including the assumption of debt, to expand gas output in Canada, which is currently subject to regulatory approval.

Mr Van der Veer, who is due to leave his post in July next year, would not be drawn on the company's succession planning. He was also reluctant to outline his views on current oil prices - BP chief ****utive Tony Hayward recently blamed high prices on lack of adequate supply growth.

However, he said: "We felt the increased amount of money going into the forward markets played a role, although on further studies, we are getting less sure what exactly drives this daily volatility. All I can say is that we are prepared for volatilty in the short and long term. That's the way the company is focused and what we tell our staff to prepare for."

Shell eyes Iraq to boost oil production - Telegraph

Parliament: De Mistura was subjected to pressure from Kurdish parties in his proposals to resolve the crisis in Kirkuk

Said board member Iraqi parliament, deputy independent Arab bloc Omar al-Juburi, "the representative of the United Nations in Iraq, Stefan de Mistura was subjected to pressure from Kurdish parties, regarding the issue of organizing elections in the city of Kirkuk."

The United Nations representative in Iraq, Stefan de Mistura peace, yesterday, Wednesday,, the political blocs in parliament proposals to resolve the Iraqi city of Kirkuk, including the issue of forming a committee consisting of representatives from Kirkuk in the Iraqi parliament, and two experts to find a solution to the crisis of the city.

And the Nation in an interview with "Uzmatik", today, Thursday, that "the proposals put forward by de Mistura, although it was good about the formation of a parliamentary committee to resolve the crisis of organizing the elections in Kirkuk, but it did not provide guarantees to find a compromise solution to the issue of Kirkuk contributed to ending the conflict which exists Permanently. "

The Nation "that the United Nations lifted its proposals in the initial paragraphs of the stresses to provide written guarantees to all political parties contending in Kirkuk, on the work of the Parliamentary Committee in Kirkuk."

He stressed the Nation "that the deletion of paragraph guarantees by the United Nations in its proposals, is evidence of the pressures exerted by the Kurdish parties, to prevent any written agreement provides for guarantees of implementation of Article 24 of the Electoral Act, after the amendment of them."

Attorney for the independent Arab bloc said that "safeguards must be provided to any agreement on the issue of Kirkuk, is to bring in a neutral security forces to the city, in order to be able parliamentary committee which would be formed to resolve the crisis the city to find a compromise, and without any pressure from the hand Certain. "

He called Nation political blocs to "develop written guarantees in the electoral law, ensure the implementation of the outcome of the parliamentary committee charged with the topic of Kirkuk, without any procrastination or delay."

The Nation need to develop a paragraph on the holding of elections in the city of Kirkuk, "a way that guarantees the election of ten representatives from the Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen, two Christians, in the event of the failure of reaching compromise to resolve the issue of Kirkuk."

It is noteworthy that the proposals representative of the United Nations to resolve the crisis in Iraq city of Kirkuk, including holding elections in the city, after reaching a compromise solution around before a parliamentary committee will be formed to find a solution to the crisis of the city, work on power sharing, including the posts of governor and chairman of the board to maintain a harmonious manner, That entitles the list to win a majority in the governorate of Kirkuk selecting one positions.

It also stressed the proposals de Mistura, the need to review the Parliamentary Committee for abuses occurring on public lands and private, in the city of Kirkuk before and after the ninth of April 2003, which will allow the Iraqi government to rectify these abuses, and give the right proposals to the parliamentary committee reviewing all records relating to the situation of population, Including the register of voters in Kirkuk, and make recommendations to the Independent Electoral Commission on this matter, as well as that provided recommendations on the continuation of the current Kirkuk Governorate Council in its work, until reaching a compromise solution on the city.

Translated version of http://iraqalaan.com/bm/Politics/4139.shtml

First Iraqi-Egyptian businessmen forum on Aug. 20

The first Iraqi-Egyptian businessmen forum will be held in Cairo next Aug. 20, the head of the regional office of the Arab exporters and importers federation said on Friday.

“The forum will be held every year, during which Iraqi and Egyptian businessmen and investors will meet to meet the needs of the Iraqi and Egyptian markets from agricultural and industrial products,” Thabet al-Baladawi told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq (VOI).

“There are several activities to support the marketing activities and to promote the trade among Arab countries,” he added.

“Iraqi investors will take part in the Damascus International Fair which will be held in mid August as well as their contribution in technical and vocational courses in Amman in the coming two weeks,” he also said.

Aswat Aliraq

Falah Mustafa: Demand of Kirkuk Provincial Council is Legitimate

The Kurdistan Regional Government hailed the announcement of Kirkuk Provincial Council, which includes 24 of the Fraternity Bloc members, to join the province to the administration of the Federal Kurdistan region that described it as legitimate and clarified that the settlement of this matter belongs to Kurdistan Parliament.

The statement of the extra ordinary meeting of the Kirkuk Provincial Council stated that the Council had practiced its constitutional right in announcing the join of Kirkuk to Kurdistan region.

Falah Mustafa, the Head of the Foreign Affairs Office in the KRG said during a phone call with “Al-Sharq Al-Awsat” newspaper “It’s the Council’s right to practice its constitutional authority and demand to emphasize the Kurdish identity of Kirkuk, especially the bloc that demanded this right is the Fraternity Bloc which includes not only the Kurds but also various components of the city’s People. It’s a legal Bloc because it was elected by the People.”

PUKmedia :: English - Falah Mustafa: Demand of Kirkuk Provincial Council is Legitimate

Adnan Mufti: Resolution of Kirkuk Provincial Council is Constitutional and Legal Right

The Speaker of Kurdistan Parliament paid a visit yesterday to the PUK Center in Baghdad. He was received by head and members of the center. During a meeting Mufti highlighted the latest political developments and the current discussions between the KRG and the Iraqi government and parties.

Mufti, referred to all catastrophes that the Iraqi People suffered from due to the wrong polices of Saddam Husain’s Regime. He also pointed out to the achievements after the liberation of Iraq.

“Problems and confusions occurred due to the passing on Article 24 of the Provincial Elections Law by the Iraqi Parliament”, Mufti said concerning the Iraqi Parliament resolution describing it as a danger on the democratic process and the country’s construction.

He also talked about the efforts of the Kurdistan Presidency, Parliament, Government and Leadership with the other Iraqi political parties in order to settle the problems.

Mufti also said that the decision which was taken today by Kirkuk Provincial Council is a constitutional and legal right of the council and the People of Kirkuk.

Mufti hoped that all parties to reach to an agreement and solve all problems of the Iraqi People and to resort to the Permanent Constitution of Iraq and the National Accordance that are the base of building the New Iraq.

PUKmedia :: English - Adnan Mufti: Resolution of Kirkuk Provincial Council is Constitutional and Legal Right

Turkey Concerns over Kirkuk Provincial Council Stance

In a press statement issued yesterday, Turkish Foreign Ministry said “Turkey expresses its concerns on what had happened in Kirkuk Provincial Council, where members of the council agreed to anchor Kirkuk to Northern Iraq”, (according to the statement).

The statement denied the news, which were published by local and regional agencies, about Turkey’s acceptance on the stance of the Kurdish bloc in Kirkuk Provincial Council. It also emphasized that Turkey refuses this stance and the news that were published are incorrect.

The statement also said “Turkey supports coexistence in Iraq and Kirkuk. We think that Kirkuk’s issue can be solved via the participation of its entire components in ruling the city. Concerning Kirkuk, Turkey’s stance will never be changed neither now nor in the future.”

“The tensions in Kirkuk are not in the interest of any component. Turkey is looking closely to the situation in Kirkuk. We call all the Iraqi components to solve the issue through the dialogue and accordance between them. We support security and stability in Iraq”, the statement added.

PUKmedia :: English - Turkey Concerns over Kirkuk Provincial Council Stance

Iraqi Deputy PM: Issues between KRG & Iraqi Government should be Resolved according to Constitution

On Friday the ongoing joint meetings of PUK and KDP politburos in Baghdad discussed joint relations between the two parties, conditions of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and dealing with the issues were discussed during the meeting.

“We in PUK and KDP have a common stance regarding the issues between KRG and Iraqi federal government .We insist that the issues should be resolved according to the Iraqi constitution,” Iraqi deputy Prime Minister Barham Ahmed Salih told reporters.

PUKmedia :: English - Iraqi Deputy PM: Issues between KRG & Iraqi Government should be Resolved according to Constitution

KPC Call for Kirkuk to become Part of Kurdistan Region is a Legal Move, Official Says

Sirwan Zahawi, an official of Kurdistan Alliance Bloc Friday told Kurdistani Nwe daily newspaper that Kirkuk Provincial Council’s (KPC) call on Thursday for Kirkuk to become part of the Kurdistan region is a legal and constitutional move.

He said that articles 115 and 118 o the Iraqi permanent constitution clearly addresses the issue, indicating that article two , item three of the Iraqi law for establishing the regions says that any province has the right to became an independent region or integrate into another region.

He clarified that the call by Kirkuk Provincial Council will be presented to the Kurdistan region and the Iraqi government, saying Iraqi government should respond to the call within a fortnight by implementing the legal measure. He said that the Iraqi government does not have the right to reject the call. Therefore, after implementing the demand, it will be presented to the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq and the commission should conduct a poll process in a short period in the city.

Zahawi pointed out that holding a referendum is to confirm the demand .If the overall majority of Kirkuk population positively votes to the move, and then the city will be joined to the region which Kirkuk’s people demand.

PUKmedia :: English - KPC Call for Kirkuk to become Part of Kurdistan Region is a Legal Move, Official Says

Economists welcome the development of relations with Germany and the memorandum of understanding to support the auto industry

Economists and researchers have welcomed the cooperation and ways to consolidate economic relations between Iraq and Germany confirmed by the visit of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to Berlin. They pointed out: "The German position internationally in the economic sphere evident when considering the large number of cooperation agreements between them and the countries of the world which include the promotion and protection of business and investment The memorandum of understanding in the fields of economy, trade and technical cooperation. Stressing the opening page of cooperation with Germany and to give investment opportunities for companies and businessmen. Naim Mustafa finds a researcher at the Centre for Economic Studies and Research at the University of Baghdad and should benefit from German expertise and experience in technical and industrial.

He says that one of the most important agreements are to be signed joint cooperation to develop trade and investment links for the benefit of both countries and learn more about investment opportunities in Iraq through the opportunities for companies in the country and the formation of a joint committee work. Alluding to the similarity in the economy of both countries are important aspects First common understanding that foreign investment is essential for the transfer of knowledge and expertise.
Naim added that the Iraqi government directed towards an open economy and stress the positive role of foreign direct investment and the role of communities living in the areas of transport research and development and technical knowledge, opens up a broad manner to expedite the two Germans exploit opportunities in Iraq posed.

He pointed out that the government was engaged in during recent efforts to develop the country's economy better to match the ambitions of international investors and regional and local communities. For its part confirmed Inas unitary Professor at the Faculty of Administration and Economy that Iraq possesses in the field of investment tax very positive atmosphere encourages companies to work in the State Protection Act to include foreign investor. Farewell to the opening page of cooperation with Germany and to give investment opportunities for companies.

She says with regard to promoting investment, the government has prepared a draft law of foreign investment, which would provide guarantees of international investment, including confiscation and prevent the free transfer of capital and returns and the settlement of investment disputes, and I think that German companies in favour of such resolutions lost many of the world. Adding that many countries place conditions on the non-flexible investor Unlike approved the Iraqi government.

The increased unitary oil sector is a priority task, which is supposed to Prime Minister emphasis on investment by German companies, especially that Germany has invested companies in the oil sector in African countries as well as investment in industrial and agricultural sectors. The Royal Government's bold strategies in the area of economic diversification in terms of both the diversity of production or development of innovation sectors and to diversify sources of income. For his part, drew Association member Samir al-Husseini economists Iraqis should not overlook the great capacity of Germany in the development of SMEs.

He says that Germany with experience in supporting projects and SMEs pay a point to agree with the two Germans on hiring to benefit from these experiences in the establishment of many governmental institutions to meet the needs of Iraqi companies, which retreated performance in recent years and provide the necessary support.

He pointed to the need to sign free trade agreement between Iraq and the European Union as soon as possible as these convention of substantial support for strengthening relations and the development of trade in goods and services, investment and industrialization between the two sides since the owners of another visit to Italy after Germany.

Husseini called for strengthening cooperation among concerned bodies to infrastructure construction and apartment buildings, communication and the development of technical cooperation in the fields of projects and vocational training, environment, health and educational issues and strengthen partnerships. Conveying the importance of opening page of cooperation with Germany and to give investment opportunities for companies and businessmen. Recalled that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki Went to Europe this week to attract businessmen, the visit comes within the framework of a wave of diplomatic activity to strengthen Iraq's relations upon which it wrote off debts and rebuild Iraq.

The other hand, Iraq signed two memorandums of understanding with two batteries to manufacture cars. He said Fawzi Hariri, Minister of Industry and Minerals in a press statement from Berlin: "The Ministry of Industry and Minerals has signed memoranda of understanding with the company Marsides Company (or any that) to support German Company for the auto industry in Iraq . "He added that:" was signed two memoranda of understanding to set up factories for the auto industry in Erbil and Alexandria. "Hariri described the visit of Iraqi delegation, headed by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to Almalinia successful.

Translated version of http://www.almadapaper.com/paper.php?source=akbar&page=107

13 million barrels .. Monthly exports from northern Iraq

American news agency monitors the reconstruction process in Iraq exports oil through the main oil pipeline in the north of the country increased more than tenfold during the past year, attributing this to the sharp decline in the number of attacks on the oil pipeline and to develop new infrastructure to protect it, according to newspaper New York Times in its issue published on Saturday. He said the report of the Office of the Comptroller-General's Special reconstruction of Iraq that there were no attacks on the main oil pipeline which carries crude oil from Kirkuk to Turkey since last July when the U.S. began the project to develop an infrastructure to protect it. As a result, exports of crude oil from the rate of one million barrels per month to more than 13 million barrels, according to newspaper quoted a report.

Translated version of http://www.almadapaper.com/paper.php?source=akbar&page=107