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

Iraqi Parliament Postpones its Session

Iraqi Parliament speaker Dr. Mahmoud al-Mashhadani postponed today’s session until tomorrow, because of the failure in reaching a final solution concerning the Provincial Elections Law between the political leaderships.

In a private statement to PUKmedia website, Kurdistan Alliance Bloc member Sami al-Atroshi said “in a diminished meeting for the Parliament’s members today, al-Mashhadani postponed the extraordinary session until tomorrow.”

Al-Atroshi mentioned that there is a positive progress in the meetings of political leaderships in Baghdad concerning the elections law.

It’s worth mentioning that the Parliament has postponed its yesterday’s session, because of the failure in reaching an agreement concerning the elections law, namely Article 24 of it.

PUKmedia :: English - Iraqi Parliament Postpones its Session

Iraq is rehabilitating 225 oil wells within 9 months

An Iraqi official stated yesterday that his country was able to rehabilitate and repair 225 oil wells ,which their production rates ranging between 250- 300 thousand barrels per day in the context of plans to increase crude oil production.

Jabbar Allaibi Director-General of the oil company clarified to Al Bayan Emirates paper :«rehabilitation and repair of 225 oil wells during the past nine months will enhance the expected production from oil fields ranging between 250 and 300 thousand barrels of daily production rates, climb to 2 millions and 300 thousand barrels then the current rates that are about one million and 970 thousand barrels».

South Oil Company which was founded in the early seventies last century in the city of Basra, owns the investment rights and prospecting in 70% of Iraqi territory and its operations are extending on a large area starts from Basra in southern Iraq to the east of Baghdad , and it discovered more than 70 oil fields in those areas, including 20 fields Partially exploited.

The Iraqi official stated we have a plan «aimed at drilling 10 wells in oil fields of the Dome of Safwan and Arkatah which they lie on the south-west of Basra, the common borders with Kuwait, and the company has completed drilling of two oil wells in Arkatah field which is producing 20 thousand barrels per day and two wells in the dome Safwan, which range between 6-7 thousand barrels a day ».

Iraq is rehabilitating 225 oil wells within 9 months

Finance announces tariff revenue exceeded 120 billion dinars, and the introduction of smart card

Detect and Iraqi Finance Minister Baqer Jabr Al-Zubaidi said that the Ministry was able to achieve revenues of the Iraqi State by imposing tariffs on imported goods, estimated at more than one hundred billion dinars, announcing at the same time to start applying the credit card system for retirees and employees and a network of social protection.

This came on the sidelines of the conference and Finance Minister Baqir Jabr Al-Zubaidi today, Monday, in Baghdad on customs tariffs as a source of wealth and investment.

He explained in an interview with Al-Zubaidi "Uzmatik" that "has been since the day yesterday, Sunday, the application of smart card system in the Rafidain bank in collaboration with a foreign companies, pointing out that the first phase will include 20 branches of the bank in Baghdad, and then circulate to the rest of the governorates of Iraq" .

The Minister of Finance that the "first phase will include the beneficiaries of the salaries of retirees and a network of social protection and some staff."

The Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Sheikh Mahmoud Radi announced last Thursday on the application of smart card to pay beneficiaries of Social Welfare and from third Sunday in August.

Zubaidi stressed that "the application of smart card in Iraqi banks is a quantum leap in our banks and the trend towards global in their work" as he put it, adding that he "would reduce the burden of audit banks, and provides a tool for the efforts currently in retirement COMMENT transactions and reduction of corruption" as saying.

Elsewhere Minister of Finance said that the "manipulation of the kind of imported products and duration of validity prompted Customs Authority to work on activating the customs tariffs which guarantee of charging and quality control in addition to combat smuggling."

Zubaidi added that "the Customs Authority was able during the first half than in 2008 to maximize the state's resources through the revenue for the period from January through the end of the month of June amounted to 101.5 billion Iraqi dinars."

He noted in his speech told Zubaidi "Uzmatik" to "make money via customs centres and regions during the month of June last imports of reconstructing Iraq and tax amounting to 5% or approximately 23.3 billion Iraqi dinars.

Translated version of http://iraqalaan.com/

Parliament decision denies the existence of any negotiations for a deal to approve the supplementary budget

Parliament deputy denied decision on the consolidated list of coalition Mohammed Mahdi Al-Bayati "the existence of any negotiations with the Kurdistan Alliance list, for a deal to approve the supplementary budget, in conjunction with the adoption of district councils election law."

A member of the House of Representatives on the Accord Front Hashim Al-Taee has indicated, in an interview earlier told "Uzmatik," and that "there is a trend by some political blocs not to vote on the supplementary budget law of the Iraqi State, only one part of a deal with provincial council elections law" .

The statement added in an interview with "Uzmatik", today, Monday, that "the Kurdistan Alliance bloc does not have any problem with the supplementary budget, but stresses that the district councils election law a priority, before voting on the supplementary budget."

Al-Bayati pointed out that "the confusion that has occurred among members of the Iraqi Parliament on the supplementary budget is focused on the constitutionality of the continuation of the parliament meeting, after the end of the legislative term, which said it Constitutional Court interpretation of the relevant laws and constitutional provisions, that the Council continue its work until the termination of the general budget, which is considered Supplementary budget part of it. "

The deputy independent Arab bloc Omar al-Juburi had been described in an interview earlier told "Uzmatik" Federal Court's decision on the extension of legislative work of the parliament of Iraq, and to keep its meetings open until the adoption of the supplementary budget as "forced", stressing that "there is confusion by the court-BUDGET Assembly of the State, which must not end before the legislative vote, and the supplementary budget, which did not provide the Iraqi Constitution to extend legislative term until decisions. "

Translated version of http://iraqalaan.com/

Kurdish Lawmaker: Kirkuk Council’s Request Not Yet Officially Reached Kurdish Parliament

Arez Abdulla, a lawmaker in the Kurdistan region parliament, said the request of the Kirkuk provincial council concerning annexing Kirkuk to Kurdistan region has not yet officially reached the Kurdistan region parliament.

According to the request, the Kirkuk provincial council will call for annexing Kirkuk to Kurdistan region if the Kurdistan Alliance bloc does not reach an agreement with other Iraqi blocs concerning the provincial elections law.

“If the request is officially sent to us, we will hold a special session and support the request. We will then send it to the KRG council of ministers. After that, the KRG will recommend the Iraqi high electoral commission to conduct the referendum within three or four months.”

“The Kurds, Turkmens, even Arabs are for the request. Then whom should we be afraid of ?” Arez said as he is optimistic about the destiny of Kirkuk if the Kurdish leadership is committed to the position of Kurdish people concerning Kirkuk.

PUKmedia :: English - Kurdish Lawmaker: Kirkuk Council’s Request Not Yet Officially Reached Kurdish Parliament

Barzani: Iraq Falls Apart if Constitution Violated

Kurdistan Region President, Massoud Barzani, said that there is a crisis on the ground between Erbil and Baghdad, calling on the Arab and Turkmen sides to come forward to settle the disputed issues with Kurds. He also said that foreign proposal is not accepted for addressing the issue of Kirkuk.

“Kurds do not have any plan to dismantle the Iraqi government because they have played a significant role in forming that government.” President Barzani said today in a press conference in Erbil, after his return from Baghdad.

“We do not accept the Kurdish people’s achievements to be aborted by the Iraqi parliament. Iraq will fall apart if the Iraqi constitution is violated.”

PUKmedia :: English - Barzani: Iraq Falls Apart if Constitution Violated

Kurdish deputy criticizes U.S. pressure to approve the election law

According to a member of the House of Representatives from Iraqi Kurdistan Alliance MP Mahmoud Othman, a great pressure by the American side of the political blocs in the Iraqi parliament, to push toward consensus on the election law, especially Article 24 relating to the city of Kirkuk, Othman said: "These pressures aim to reach a formula Hurry compromise on the election law by allowing political blocs pass through the coming hours", pointing out that "the American urgency in issuing the electoral law is unjustified because the Iraqi political blocs want more time to resolve contentious issues between them, make sure you agree on a formula for electoral law Satisfy all parties."

Translated version of http://almalafpress.net/index.php?m=39

Iraq Issues Tenders To Drill 11 Oil, Gas Wells - Ministry

The North Oil Company, an affiliate of the Iraqi Oil Ministry, issued tenders to drill seven oil wells in the East Baghdad oil field and four gas wells in Akkas field north west of the capital, the ministry said in its Web site.

It sets the closing date for wells in East Baghdad oil field at end of the working day on Sept. 15. As for drilling wells in Akkas gas field, the closing date for bids was set at end of the working day on Sept. 30.

East Baghdad oil field is currently producing around 17,000 barrels a day and the ministry is planning to develop the field whose estimated reserves stood at 7.5 billion barrels.

The Akkas gas field, which has estimated reserves of more than 2.15 trillion cubic feet, is among the eight large oil and gas fields which Baghdad opened up for development by international companies on June 30.

Akkas is located in the former Sunni insurgent stronghold of Anbar province. Development of the Akkas field could boost the economy in Sunni areas, where support for the government remains tenuous.

Company News Story

In an exclusive Statement to PUKmedia, Bamarni Uncovers U.N’s New Suggestion on Kirkuk

Azad Bamarni, the Member in the Iraqi Parliament from the Kurdistan Alliance Bloc, exclusively stated to PUKmedia “The U.N Envoy in Iraq presented a new suggestion on the Elections of Kirkuk Provincial Councils.”

Bamarni pointed out that the suggestion consists of many points among them: the current local administration continues its duties until holding the elections later in addition to forming a committee to monitor the demographic records in Kirkuk. The committee should present its recommendations regarding the situation in Kirkuk on December 31, 2008.

The Suggestion also includes the postponement of the elections in Kirkuk to December 31, 2008 and to consider their results in formation of its local administration.

“Kurdistan Alliance Bloc supports this suggestion of the U.N Envoy and its meeting is going on to reach a solution that satisfies all”, Bamarni added.

PUKmedia :: English - In an exclusive Statement to PUKmedia, Bamarni Uncovers U.N’s New Suggestion on Kirkuk

Demand for dollar soars in daily auction

Demand for the dollar soared in the Iraqi Central Bank's auction on Monday, reaching $218.355 million compared to $104.050 million on Sunday.

"The demand hit $54.765 million in cash and $163.590 million in foreign transfers outside the country, all covered by the bank at an exchange rate of 1,190 Iraqi dinars per dollar, unchanged for the second session in a row," according to the central bank's daily bulletin, which was received by Aswat al-Iraq - Voices of Iraq - (VOI).

The 16 banks that participated in the auction offered to sell 10 million dollars.

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

Aswat Aliraq