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

Iraq Mustn't Let Kirkuk Feud Sink Polls, U.S. Says

Iraqi politicians must not let a bitter feud over the oil-rich city of Kirkuk stand in the way of provincial elections expected to redraw the country's political map, the U.S. ambassador in Baghdad said on Wednesday.

"It's important that the elections law focus on elections, not on attempting to use this legislation to solve a difficult and much more complicated problem," Ryan Crocker, Washington's ambassador to Iraq, told Reuters in the Kurdish capital Arbil.

Earlier this month, Iraq's parliament failed to pass a draft law needed to hold the provincial polls after politicians reached deadlock over how the vote might alter the balance of power in the ethnically mixed northern city.

Washington had been urging Iraqi politicians to shelve the feud over Kirkuk, which minority Kurds want to fold into their autonomous northern region over the fierce objections of Kirkuk's Turkmen and Arab residents.

The fate of Kirkuk threatens to force a serious delay in the long-awaited polls, originally scheduled for October 1, and poses a major political test for Iraq's fledgling democracy.

Both the United States and the United Nations hope the elections will foster reconciliation after five years of bloodshed and give a greater voice to the Sunni and Shi'ite
factions that stayed away from previous polls.

An earlier version of the law was vetoed by President Jalal Talabani, himself a Kurd, and sent back to parliament.

Crocker, speaking at an economic forum in Arbil, told officials from different ethnic and political blocs that they must do more to bridge partisan and sectarian divisions.

"You have faced and suffered from common enemies," Crocker said, such as former leader Saddam Hussein and Sunni al Qaeda militants who have targeted Iraqis of all stripes.

"It is very important to remember what brings you together, not only the differences," he said.
He said a plan brokered by the United Nations, which would have allowed the local polls to go ahead across Iraq, except in Kirkuk, whose fate would be dealt with in a separate law later on, "seems to be the way to proceed".

But so far, the plan has yet to produce any definitive consensus surrounding the Kirkuk tinderbox.

PUKmedia :: English - Iraq Mustn't Let Kirkuk Feud Sink Polls, U.S. Says

U.N to Propose Options on Disputed Areas in Iraq

The U.N special Envoy to Iraq Staffan De Mistura said during a press conference that the U.N will suggest in the period between September and October, several options to find a comprehensive solution to the disputed areas including, Kirkuk province which represents the most serious issue in Iraq.

De Mistura also said that he hopes the U.N suggestions to be put in consider and to reach to a compromise in order to ensure a peaceful and fair solution in Kirkuk.

PUKmedia :: English - U.N to Propose Options on Disputed Areas in Iraq

Al-Karbuli: Problem of Kirkuk has not reached an Impasse to become an International Issue

The Member of Parliament from the Accordance Front Omar Abdel Sattar al-Karbuli said in a press statement “The discussions among the political blocs on finding solution to Kirkuk Issue has not reached to a dead end for some who want to become an international issue.”

“The international courts are concerned with solving the international disputes; Kirkuk is an internal issue that should be solved via accordance among the political blocs and agreement between the central government and the KRG, hence it is early for it to become international issue”, he added.

PUKmedia :: English - Al-Karbuli: Problem of Kirkuk has not reached an Impasse to become an International Issue

US Pullout from Iraq Cities Could Start by June: US Military Official

US forces could begin withdrawing from Iraqi cities as early as June under a draft agreement reached between US and Iraqi negotiators, a senior US military official said Thursday.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the agreement on the US status of forces still awaited final approval.

But the official said that under the draft agreement a withdrawal of US forces from Iraqi cities "could be as early as June, conditions permitting."

PUKmedia :: English - US Pullout from Iraq Cities Could Start by June: US Military Official

Al-Esawi: Elections Delay is not in Political Blocs Interests

In an interview with al-Hayat newspaper, Iraqi deputy premier Rafie al-Esawi called the Iraqi politicians to come over their differences and resort to logical talks to solve the problems, especially the elections law and Kirkuk issue.

Al-Esawi said “delaying the elections is not in the political blocs interests. Kirkuk’s issue needs a national consensus to be solved. The politicians are close to find a final solution for the issue.”

Concerning suggestions and projects of the political blocs about Kirkuk, he said “all suggestions are relying on the U.N.’s proposal with making some amendments. U.N’s proposal is the best one to solve Kirkuk’s issue if some points were amended to suit the blocs’ notes.”

He added “Kirkuk’s issue will not lead the country into a civilian war. The Iraqis in general and politicians particularly learned how to overcome the crisis and understand Kirkuk’s issue. It needs a solution, not a crisis. Politicians are approaching a final solution that fits with the consensus of Kirkuk’s people and depends on their views for the future of their city. We must forget our differences and return to a national project, which will serve all the Iraqis.”

PUKmedia :: English - Al-Esawi: Elections Delay is not in Political Blocs Interests

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Shabibi will be talking about "IRAQ'S DESIRE, AS AN OIL RICH COUNTRY, TO OBTAIN SOVEREIGN CONTROL OF ITS WEALTH AND TO MAXIMIZE INVESTMENT EFFICIENCY"

Skinner: Reuters quoted on the departure of U.S. forces permission inaccurate

Announced the official spokesman for the Iraqi government, Dr. Skinner that the news agency Reuters from a statement by the Spokesman for the departure of U.S. forces three years after the departure of combat troops was scheduled to end in 2011 was incorrect and that they are not a professional reporter Agency has been misrepresented so that its meaning is clear Due to lack of agency correspondents professionals can keep up with professional work in Iraq.

Skinner added that the statement is true ((the departure of all troops from Iraq would be subject to the requirements of national security, Iraqi and Iraqi government sees the need for the existence of these forces or not in agreement with the U.S. administration that will later be determined jointly, and the dates and deadlines are the dates proposed Virtual Iraqi side trying to claim them and installed in the proposed convention).)

Translated version of http://nahrain.com/news.php?readmore=21473

Agreement for the marketing of Iraqi gas produced from the field (Kurmur) north

A report issued by the company (Crescent Petroleum) Iraq, Friday, the company agreed with the Turkish energy company (Trcellir) to establish a joint venture to buy gas produced from the field of Iraqi "Kurmur" in the northern region and exported to Turkey, as well as other countries.

The report was received by the Independent News Agency (Voices of Iraq) a copy of which was today (Friday) that "the question of gas output in the field (Kurmur), which is the" oil Crescent "extracted under contract with the Kurdistan Regional Government, which amounted to 650 investments Million. "

He added that "the quantities produced in the first phase, scheduled to begin on the twentieth of the month of November next will be 3.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually to gradually escalate to ten billion cubic meters."

Turning to the report, "subsequent investments aimed at laying the infrastructure for the transport and supply natural gas from the field (Kurmur) to Turkey and other countries want access to Iraqi natural gas producer."

The Crescent Oil Company Foundation Iraqi exercise investment activities in the areas of oil and gas industry, and manages various projects in Egypt, Nigeria and the former Yugoslavia and the UAE, as well as the Kurdistan region of Iraq.

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Banking Association invites the Central Bank to resolve the issue of ownership of the headquarters of private banks

Asked the ****utive Director of the Association of Banks Iraqi Central Bank of Iraq to expedite the solution forms caused by the recording companies preventing private banks with capital participation of Arab and foreign ownership of the headquarters of its branches.

He said Abdul Aziz Hassoun of the Independent News Agency (Voices of Iraq) that "action taken after the enquiry service company registration from the state council girls inadmissibility of Iraqi banks have shared with those of Arab and foreign ownership of its headquarters, killing investors in these banks stagger large impact The cruise dealings. "

Hassoun and that "contrary to the provisions of the laws of the Central Bank, banks and investment together is a blow to the banking sector and work ahead in fulfilling the hopes of economic reality."

He added that "such action by the committees on which the Central Bank as the banking sector on the work of both civil and governmental concern that applies to banks other eligibility after passed investment law No. 13 in 2006 to foreign investors trading shares of banks and companies Pan."

He considered that "it will inevitably serious inconsistency with the requirements of the private banking operations in Iraq" and called on the Central Bank "the importance of finding solutions rapidly and decisively to end such a big way."

It is noteworthy that among the five private banks and twenty five banks entered partnerships with those of Arab banks and foreign banks are Banque Credit and Baghdad, commercial and Dar es Salaam.

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My God Seaview, you are a trooper. Though I don't visit much anymore, everytime I do, you are still posting all the current news. No one can doubt your work ethic and dedication.
I'll say thanks for your hard work, for what it's worth.

Do you ever feel like your the only one in the room, LOL.

Keep up the good work!