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

Iraq Parliament Speaker Taken to Jordan with Heart Problems

The speaker of the Iraqi parliament, Mahmud Mashhadani, was taken to neighbouring Jordan for treatment on Tuesday after suffering heart problems, his spokesman Jabbar Mashhadani said.

"He was sent to Amman in the afternoon after experiencing heart problems," the spokesman said. "He was in a bad way today."

A Sunni Arab, Mashhadani heads a three-man speakers' council with Shiite and Kurdish deputies, reflecting Iraq's delicate sectarian balance.

His election in April 2006 proved controversial with a full 97 of Iraq's 275 MPs spoiling their ballots.

Known for his loud rhetoric in parliament, Mashhadani was ousted from his post for more than a month in summer 2007 after he allegedly set his bodyguards on a Shiite MP after a heated verbal exchange outside parliament.

It was the second such incident in a matter of months -- earlier the same year he slapped a fellow Sunni MP near parliament's cafeteria following another heated exchange.

Mashhadani's brief ouster as speaker prompted a boycott of parliament by the main Sunni Arab bloc, the National Concord Front, of which his National Dialogue Council is a key member.

A staunch Islamist, Mashhadani had a death sentence under ****uted dictator Saddam Hussein's regime commuted to a 15-year prison term in 2000 after he bribed the judge.

Mashhadani has been an outspoken critic of the US military presence in Iraq. In his opening address to a UN-sponsored conference in July 2006, he accused US forces of "butchery" and demanded that they pull out.

PUKmedia :: English - Iraq Parliament Speaker Taken to Jordan with Heart Problems

The Iraqi Economy need for FDI

Increasing calls from several parties, to encourage foreign investment in the joints Iraqi economy, after 9/4/2003 .. The FDI is owning foreign investor in the mother country already productive in the host country to ensure some form of control and management, is obviously a goal of achieving sustained foreign financial returns .. States have resorted to this kind of funding sources to achieve economic benefits many Perhaps the most important increase in rates of economic growth and raise the level of operating (increasing employment) to diversify sources of income, transfer Tec, to increase competitiveness

The basic advantage of FDI is not to give him any financial burden on the host country compared with other finance sources (like borrowing for example), where States are obliged to repay those loans,

In addition to service that debt (all represented benefits) and, in certain circumstances may accumulate those benefits in case the State's inability to Sudadojsubh obligations greater than the total amount of the loan, the same. If we look at the reality of the Iraqi economy from specific angles, such as balancing the amount of payments and financial returns achieved especially with the rise in oil prices so that the budget estimates beyond (70) billion in 2008, and the relative stability of the levels of inflation and exchange rates, high levels of wages and salaries, these indicators might lead us to Non-acceptance at first sight. Or think this source of funding, but if we look at the high levels of unemployment, lack of productive capital base, lack of competitiveness, and the low level of Tec, it may be for us another view to promoting FDI in the joints economy.

The higher levels of economic development and revitalization of the economy requires, in our view, three key ingredients (assuming the availability of political and economic system to a relatively stable long-term), where often looking (capital of a particular long-term objectives for the environment is relatively stable in political and economic).

1 - financial and material resources.
2 - the human race (human skills and competencies).
3 - technical.

The Iraqi economy is characterized by great diversity in natural resources and huge financial resources and elements of human efficient and relevant experience in the areas of work.

The fundamental problem that must be seen as much as it is related to the need for foreign direct investment and the economy needed it, is technical. Iraq, which already dire need of this type of investment, but for the development and modernization of industries and establish new projects in specific areas, to diversify sources of income and increase competitiveness It is obvious that more employment opportunities, use and impact positively on the levels of unemployment.

In other words, the targets of that investment, the capital base of the country and not the consumer or marginal areas.

It is natural that foreign direct investment required for the purpose of attracting investment environment to certain requirements, such as regards infrastructure and to provide appropriate safeguards for owners of capital, legislation so that appropriate economic ultimate impact of this investment is to raise levels of economic development.

In sum, we .. with foreign direct investment according to specific conditions and controls that are in specific areas so that the impact on gross domestic investment and increase the transfer of sophisticated Tec or increase competitiveness and boost exports and its impact on the balance of payments, to use to create additional job opportunities capable To absorb unemployment as a key priority of economic policy.

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

After the adjustment in monetary policy ..Expert bank: private banks look for outlets for investment

Abdul Aziz said Hassoun President of the Association of Iraqi banks, that the recent tendencies of the Iraqi Central Bank, private banks will adopt policies to recruit new investment and deposits for revenues to meet their needs. Revealed the existence of a new resolution being issued, allowing private banks to retain 25 per% of cash reserves, for investment purposes.

He added Hassoun, the directions adopted by the Central Bank of Iraq recently, "will pay private banks to adopt policies which employ new investment deposits to obtain the proceeds to meet their needs," as presented by these trends, including the retention of hitting 25% of cash reserves, for investment purposes.

The Hassoun, the legal reserve "is unusual for the protection of the entire banking work," noting that "instructed the Central Bank requires banks to maintain reserves of deposits by 25%, 20% of which was deposited at the Central Bank maintains a significant 5% remaining liquid funds to meet demand" .

And between Hassoun, when "allowed state institutions to deal with private banks, a jurisprudence says that the private banks to deposit 75% of government deposits with the central bank to keep its 25% only for investment."

The president revealed the special Iraqi Bank Association, on "the existence of a new resolution being issued, to maintain the previous ratio of 25% only cash reserve," pointing out that the decision was expected "will be a new mechanism for the use of deposits, based on deposits that are not used for governmental purposes placement in Central Bank, nor in the purchase of remittances central treasury. "

He went on to say: With respect to other deposits in the special reserve "is subject to a new mechanism in use, that does not increase the proportion of which is used to buy treasury transfers or remittances central bank deposit or investment in the Central Bank, about 35%," pointing out that this " Would put private banks are facing a new stage imposed by investment funds, any surpluses in financial market operations and new projects. "

He added that Hassoun saying such a step "is an advanced and was expected to announce in August last year," noting that "the monetary authority had to replace obsolete by the gradual reduction of interest, which dropped from 20 to 17% so far."

The Almaty Hassoun unveils "new challenge facing the private banking sector", calling on private banks because "improvement in the deal because they will stand - as he says - on an equal footing with state-owned banks, including requiring banks to correct those of their management."

He demanded "the Central Bank to issue clear instructions based on the laws in force, to the private banks would begin working to implement the new stage."

The "Association of Iraqi private banks", was founded in 2004, belongs to (25) out of banks (30) metaphorically banks, including the three branches of foreign banks, are Arab Banking Corporation, Bank (agriculture), the Turkish Bank (Mullah) Iranian.

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

Skinner announces Cabinet decisions

1. Approval to extend the decision to ban the import car models with less than two years with effect from 1/9/2008 until further notice.

2. Approval of the amendments proposed by a number of ministries controls on overtime issued by the Secretariat of the Council of Ministers under her book s / 2/2/21/7740 on 13/4/2008 and uncles on all ministries and institutions approved amendments that Mr. Ashraf, Minister of Finance to develop Controls above.

3. Approval of the recommendations of the relevant committee to consider the comments received from ministries on the implementation of instructions of the Ministry of Finance on the application of a new salary and the suspension of approval of the increase in the salaries of general managers and owners of special grades of pending receipt of an answer by the Ministry of Finance in the light of available financial PROFILE assigning the task of coordinating with the ministries concerned to find out The problems arising from the application of the laws of the civil service and work to develop recommendations to ensure comprehensive treatment of all the problems experienced by the ministries to submit its recommendations next week.

4. Approve the authorization of the minister of Finance the power to negotiate and sign the draft convention Iraq - Syrian cooperation in the field of customs.

5. Proposal to approve the draft law on accession of the Republic of Iraq to the Convention on the establishment of the Islamic Committee of the International Crescent to the parliament for approval on the legislation.

6. Approval upon authorization of the Minister of Trade or the Council of Ministers grants him the power to sign the draft convention provisions regulate the electronic signature in the area of electronic transactions in Arab countries.

7. Approval of the building (100) elementary school in a rapidly in the provinces except for the Kurdistan region and custody private company and $ (139150) million Iraqi dinars and the duration of the implementation period (180) days.

8. Approve the formation of a committee from the ministries of Finance and Foreign Aldaralti belong to the sale of slips of the former regime in the city was French.

9. Approval
A. That the Ministry of Construction and Housing Construction of housing complexes for the benefit of Martyrs Foundation and in coordination with and in certain time periods with a capacity of the ministry to implement the action specified volumes.
B. The Investment Authority, in coordination with the National Foundation martyrs Declaration investment opportunities for the construction of housing complexes in the interest of ensuring the payment according to finance projects of Martyrs Foundation.
T.. The Martyrs Foundation to provide a draft bill to amend Article (20) of the law, including giving it the power to implement housing projects in addition to the direct use of the Ministry of Construction and Housing.

Translated version of http://nahrain.com/news.php?readmore=20447

The Guardian: Washington put pressure on its allies in the region, particularly Saudi Arabia, to cancel its debts on Iraq
The Guardian says that the visit of King Abdullah is the first Arab leader to visit Iraq since the occupation in 2003, and was obedient to American pressure to normalize relations with the Iraqi government.

The paper says that the Jordanian monarch, strong ally of Washington, entered directly into talks with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki of Iraq and a number of senior Iraqi officials, although the meeting was more symbolic significance than actual.

This visit followed a visit by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iraq last March, but the neighboring Sunni Arab states have been slow, according to the paper, to adapt to the reality of the post-regime of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

The paper said Washington put pressure on its allies in the region, particularly Saudi Arabia, the Arab State heavier weight in the region, to cancel its debts on Iraq and sending envoys to Baghdad, but Sunni suspicions and mistrust was, according to The Guardian, slowly disappearing and disappearing.

She says that in 2004 the Jordanian monarch had warned in a radio statement reputation, the emergence of an Iraqi government loyal to Iran, and what is called "Shiite Crescent", which links Iraq with Iran and Syria and Lebanon, a statement that seems, is keen on what to say, remorse It later.

Translated version of http://www.baghdadtimes.net/Arabic/index.php?sid=30793

Iraqi diplomatic success ... 7 Arab countries reopen embassies

Life ... after two days of submission of the new President of the Arab League Hani controversial report on the situation in Iraq to the Secretariat of the League, which it praised the improved security conditions and political, governmental sources said that 7 Arab embassies in Baghdad will be reopened before the end of the year as a result of « Iraqi diplomatic successes and improve the security situation in the country ». The sources confirmed that Algeria and Morocco, UAE, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait and Syria will lead to return to Baghdad in Arabic the next two months, and that «the Iraqi government provided security guarantees for the protection of the missions are currently studying the project of building a complex for embassies enjoy special protection center of the capital».

He said Tarek Abdel Salam secretary of the Arab mission in Baghdad told «life», the mission «quoted the new reality experienced by Iraq to other Arab countries to urge them and encourage them to send missions to Baghdad» He noted that a number of these countries promised to its relations with Iraq soon and stressed that the strengthening Arab presence in Iraq of the priorities of the university in the coming period.

To announce that the Iraqi Chargé d'affaires in Cairo, Saad Mohammed Ridha that «political delegation from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry would visit Iraq soon to discuss the opening of the Egyptian embassy in Baghdad and appoint a new ambassador». In Baghdad embassy now 52, including 5 embassies of Arab states. The reasons for the retreat Arab diplomatic representation to political considerations and security in the period following the fall of Baghdad in 2003 the hands of U.S. forces especially with the emergence of a wave targeting of Arab embassies year 2005 when it was hijacked and killed the Egyptian ambassador followed the bombing of the Jordanian embassy and the assassination attempt on the Bahraini ambassador and the abduction of the UAE embassy charge d'affaires.

A member of the Foreign Relations Committee in the House of Representatives Hamid milestone welcomed the new orientation Arab told «life» the «Arab states are beginning to realize that the situation in Iraq and change the draft reconciliation in the ongoing evolution of what he called upon to seriously re-think its diplomatic and we consider that the nomination of Ambassador Mission Arab League is a recognition of political experience in Iraq ».

Translated version of http://www.hewarat.dk/hewarat_data.php?sid=9194

UPDATE : Iraq Ends Talks With Anadarko Group Over Oil Deals - Source

Iraq has terminated negotiations with an Anadarko Petroleum Corp. (APC)-led consortium for a short-term oil service contract, Iraqi oil industry sources said Tuesday.

The consortium, which also consisted of Vitol Holding and the United Arab Emirates' Dome International, was negotiating a short-term no-bid technical service contract, or TSC, to develop Luhais oil field in southern Iraq.

Anadarko, however, is among the 35 international companies pre-qualified by the Iraqi oil ministry to bid for long-term deals to develop Iraq's vast oil fields, the world's third largest.

Iraq opened on June 30, eight of its oil and gas fields for long-term development by international companies.

The Iraqi oil ministry is still waiting for other major international oil companies to submit new proposals for the TSCs, the officials and sources said.

The TSCs have been negotiated on an exclusive basis with selected oil companies. BP PLC (BP) was selected to develop the giant Rumaila fields; ExxonMobil Corp. (XOM) for the Zubair field; Chevron (CVX) and Total SA (TOT) for the West Qurna field, stage 1; Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSA) for the giant Kirkuk field; and Shell and BHP Billiton (BHP) for Missan fields.

ExxonMobil and BP are the most enthusiastic firms that want to sign the TSCs, a person close to the oil ministry said.

"They are about to submit their new proposals," he said.

The Iraqi oil ministry decided to limit the TSCs to one year instead of the two-year term agreed upon earlier in the year, in order to avoid overlap with longer-term deals designed to develop large producing oil fields that the country tendered the end of June, Iraqi oil officials said.

The TSCs would be a stopgap measure to boost production of each of the five major producing fields by 100,000 barrels a day each over a one-year period, the officials said.

"Iraq sets new conditions for the TSCs namely limiting them to one-year and that the oil ministry could abolish any of them whenever a longer-term contract is signed," a person close to the oil ministry told Dow Jones Newswires.

UPDATE:Iraq Ends Talks With Anadarko Group Over Oil Deals-Source

The Iraqi Oil Sector and the Chaos over Responsibilities

Iraq's oil industry is currently passing through a critical phase caused by political disputes. As such, it becomes impossible to determine which side is truly in charge of this vital sector.

The federal ministry of oil is supposed to elaborate policies as well as negotiate and conclude contracts with international oil companies. Meanwhile, the national oil company and its subsidiaries are supposed to run and monitor approved projects. In reality, however, the current situation differs completely. The government of Kurdistan, for example, has interpreted the ambiguous oil-related articles in the constitution in accordance with its own desires and interests without paying heed to the federal government in Baghdad. Consequently, it has so far signed up to 22 agreements with international companies without the knowledge or approval of the federal government.

Iraq's oil sector suffers so much chaos to the point that it is impossible to determine which side is in charge of negotiating and contracting with international firms. For example, the federal government concludes agreements with international parties to sell and export a certain volume of crude oil or natural gas, while a few local groups sign agreements with other firms over the same volumes of crude oil and natural gas without the knowledge of the federal government. This is all in the name of federalism - while the federal system has nothing to do with the overlapping and conflicting process of decision making in this vital sector. What is more serious is the attempts by local groups outside Kurdistan to imitate this process without consulting with the federal ministry of oil. This constitutes a much bigger threat in terms of dismembering Iraq's oil policy.

What made things worse was the recent statement by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki that the council of ministers was in the process of forming a commission designed to conclude direct agreements with international oil companies to develop oil fields. In other words, three entities enjoy the prerogative and authority to contract with international oil companies, which will create more chaos and confusion in Iraq's oil industry. In parallel, Iraq's oil minister confirms that the said commission will not be tasked with formulating agreements on the development of oil fields, but with granting major oil contracts such as pipelines or refineries.

The problem with identifying responsibility in Iraq's oil decision making cannot be easily overlooked since its consequences will impact the growth potentials of this vital industry in the years and decades to come. This industry will gr.a.p.p.le with today's erroneous foundations for a long time to come. Another factor that has contributed to the chaos lies in the discrepancy in the type of contracts awarded. The Kurdish authorities, for example, have so far awarded production sharing contracts which allow international companies to maintain a share in oil field reserves, a major demand by international firms. In parallel, oil minister Hussein Shahrastani favors service contracts, whereby international companies are rewarded for their services without being entitled to any share in reserves. But with the Kurdish authorities ultimately concluding production-sharing contracts, the ministry of oil comes under significant pressure to grant similar contracts to international companies. This chaos will create further confusion with the international companies which will inevitably try to exploit this chaos for their advantage, especially with the support of their governments, some of which have been occupying Iraq since 2003.

The Kurdish experience has also created a new precedent, not only in Iraq's oil industry, but in the entire Middle East. It has awarded contracts to companies represented by the same American political and military officials who played a crucial role in orchestrating the war on Iraq. The best examples illustrating this precedent are former Pentagon consultant, Richard Pearl, and the first American governor of Iraq Jay Garner. The interference and interests of these two and many others have raised many questions among the Iraqi public about the real causes behind the war, more than five years after its outbreak, and the extent to which the oil factor has come into play. Was oil the primary reason behind this war? Were the interests of some individuals involved in decision making or e.x.e.cution behind their enthusiasm for the war?

The phenomenon of retired senior American political and military officers representing oil companies is common in the US but alien to the oil industry in the Middle East, especially when ambiguity engulfs these contracts as they land into the hands of certain companies without competition and through bilateral talks in which the deciding factors are the nationality of the company and the identity of its senior officials as well as their ties to the forces ruling Iraq since 2003.

The ongoing chaotic developments in Iraq are aimed at marginalizing Iraq's oil apparatuses including national oil institutions and companies as well as local experts. This is a repetition of the scenario involving the army and the police forces which led to so much chaos and destruction in this country. The policies of excluding national oil companies and the brain-drain pushing skilled national workers to other countries will eventually lead to the same result in the oil sector. This is not to mention the risk of losing continuity and over four decades of experience in building and developing national institutions. It is worth mentioning that the oil sector did not shape Iraq's policy under the former regime. Rather, it was its victim as the case was with other institutions. In fact, there is consensus that the officials in this sector made every possible reasonable effort to ensure the survival of this industry despite the wars, siege, and more recently, occupation and terrorism.

Dar Al Hayat

Parliament's first deputy speaker, British ambassador confer Election Bill

The Iraqi Parliament's first deputy speaker Sheikh Khalid al-Attiya on Wednesday conferred the latest developments regarding the provincial elections bill with the British ambassador in Baghdad, expressing his optimism that the law would be passed after the end of the parliament's summer recess.

"This morning, al-Attiya received the British ambassador in Iraq, and they conferred the most important developments in the political process and the latest progress within the level of the Iraqi Parliament regarding the enactment of laws, especially the provincial election bill," said a release issued by the parliament's media office and received by Aswat al-Iraq - Voices of Iraq - (VOI).

"Sheikh al-Attiya expressed his optimism concerning the discussions currently underway about the election bill," it added.

"Al-Attiya hoped that the election bill would be passed after the end of the Parliament's summer vacation," it noted.

From his side, the British ambassador stressed that his country is "ready to offer support and assistance to Iraq in the fields of economy, rebuilding, trade, and security forces training."

The controversial provincial election bill aims at holding a provincial poll scheduled for October 1, but it has hit a major snag over how the council governing the multi-ethnic region of Kirkuk - claimed by Kurds, Arabs, and Turkmen - should be formed.

Iraq's 275-member Parliament on July 22 adopted a bill which should allow the provincial polls to go ahead. But the draft faced strong opposition from major blocs in parliament - mainly Kurds - who walked out in protest, leaving only about 140 MPs to vote.

The legal wrangle centers on article 24 of the draft legislation that aims to evenly divide power in the regional council among Kirkuk's three main groups - Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen. The Kurds, who currently constitute a majority, are vigorously opposed.

The vote forced the three-member Presidential Board, headed by President Jalal Talabani, himself a Kurd, to send the legislation back to MPs for reworking, where it remains stalled.

Article 140 of the Iraqi constitution called for normalizing the ethnic condition in Kirkuk and deciding the status of the city by holding a referendum.

Arab and Turkmen residents are concerned they would be marginalized if the city was handed over to the Kurds, who now make up the majority of the population.

Ethnic tension has dogged Kirkuk since the U.S.-led invasion of 2003 that ousted the former regime of Saddam Hussein.

Aswat Aliraq

Registering more than 60,000 Voters in Kirkuk

Sheikh Farhad Majid Talabani, the manager of the Independent Electoral Commission in Kirkuk said that 60.792 voters were registered in Kirkuk Province, including 429 displaced people.

In an interview with Radio Sawa, Talabani said “according to the order of the Electoral Commission in Iraq, we have extended the period of registering the voters’ names for one week, until August 21st, to give the chance to the voters who haven’t registered their names yet. Extending the period was due to the little willingness by the voters to register their names, which affected the commission’s work in all the provinces, not only in Kirkuk.”

PUKmedia :: English - Registering more than 60.000 Voters in Kirkuk