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

OPEC's Oil Production Rose 0.9% in May, Survey Shows

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries increased oil production 0.9 percent in May as Iraqi output climbed to a pre-war high, a Bloomberg News survey showed.

OPEC pumped an average 32.28 million barrels a day last month, up 300,000 barrels from April, according to the survey of oil companies, producers and analysts. April output was revised down by 125,000 barrels a day. Production by the 12 members with quotas, all except Iraq, rose 200,000 barrels to 29.79 million barrels a day.

Crude oil on the New York Mercantile Exchange reached a record $135.09 a barrel on May 22 and closed at $122.30 a barrel today. Prices are up 85 percent from a year ago.

`There is every incentive in the world for OPEC to produce as much oil as they can,'' said Peter Beutel, president of energy consultant Cameron Hanover Inc. in New Canaan, Connecticut. "It makes sense from both a short-term and long- term standpoint.''

Iraqi production increased 100,000 barrels to an average 2.49 million barrels a day last month, the highest since October 2002. Output in the Persian Gulf nation has been curbed since the March 2003 U.S.-led invasion.

April production was revised 25,000 barrels a day higher because of higher-than-reported output in northern Iraq.

Iraqi Exports

Iraq exported an average 2.01 million barrels of oil a day in May, up 100,000 barrels from the previous month and the highest since before the invasion, the survey showed.

Exports from Iraq's two Persian Gulf ports, Basrah and Khor al Amaya, averaged 1.56 million barrels a day in May, up 100,000 barrels from the prior month. The increase followed repairs to infrastructure damaged by military action during March in the Basrah oil-producing region.

Oil exports from Iraq's northern fields to Turkey's Ceyhan export terminal on the Mediterranean Sea were unchanged at 442,000 barrels a day in May. April exports from Ceyhan were revised 22,000 barrels a day higher. Iraq exported about 10,000 barrels a day overland to Syria.

Nigerian production rose 50,000 barrels to an average 1.9 million barrels a day last month. April's output was the lowest since 1999. Security concerns and militant attacks on oil infrastructure in the country's Niger Delta region hampered repair work last month.

Exxon Mobil Corp.'s Nigerian oil unit gradually restored output from the Qua Iboe, Erha, Yoho and Oso fields over the month following a strike by the Petroleum & Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, or Pengassan, which represents white-collar workers. The strike ended on May 1.

Bloomberg.com: Energy

Iraqi lawmaker: Talks over US-Iraq security pact at standstill

Iraq and the US are far apart on a security agreement that will shape their long-term ties, and talks have reached a standstill, a lawmaker close to the Iraqi government said Wednesday. The pact would establish long-term security relations, while a further agreement would spell out the legal bases for the presence of US troops in Iraq after their UN mandate expires in December.

"Iraqi negotiators rejected all US demands and talks have been suspended to allow negotiators to refer to decision makers with the aim of changing US ideas," MP Hasan al-Sanid told al-Iraqiyah state broadcaster.

The major stumbling block was the US demand for absolute powers in the anti-terror fight, which would undermine Iraq's sovereignty, said the lawmaker, who is close to Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

Iraq also rejects Washington's demand for its troops and independent security contractors to enjoy absolute immunity from prosecution under Iraqi law.

Iraqis have become alarmed by how much military authority the US could have over their country in the future.

Politicians are also concerned the treaty is already raising alarm in neighbouring countries, especially Iran, which the US perceives as destabilizing the region's security.

Iraqi lawmaker: Talks over US-Iraq security pact at standstill : Middle East World

Ministry draws up three-year plan for economic reform

The Iraqi Ministry of Industry and Minerals on Wednesday revealed a three-year plan as part of its economic reform program.

"The ministry has set a technological policy for its companies for the coming three years, in addition to goals that have to be met by these companies…," according to a statement released by the Iraqi cabinet's national media center and received by Aswat al-Iraq - Voices of Iraq - (VOI), quoting a senior official in the ministry, Sami Raouf al-Araji.

"The goals include the achievement of self-sufficiency and a transition to market economies…," al-Araji noted, revealing an investment plan on the participation in production, which was developed by the government in accordance with Law No. 22 of the year 1997.

Aswat Aliraq

I thought this was interesting because it mentions dealing in Euros - I think that's a first.

100 million Euros for agricultural equipment - Ministry

The Iraqi Ministry of Finance will allocate the first part of an Italian loan to the purchase of agricultural equipment and machinery for Iraqi farmers and peasants, an official statement said on Wednesday.

The decision was taken during talks between the minister of finance, Baqer Jabr al-Zubeidi and the Italian ambassador to Iraq, Maurizio Milani, according to a statement released by the Iraqi cabinet's national media center and received by Aswat al-Iraq­ - Voices of Iraq - (VOI), quoting the Iraqi minister.

The Iraqi government reiterated its keenness to develop mutual relations in all fields with Italy, which will help boost its infrastructure and industry, the statement noted.

"The Iraqi minister said it is important to benefit from the Italian sophisticated agricultural system, which he said will help steer the Iraqi agricultural sector," the statement added.

"The first part of the loan, 100 million euros, will be allocated for the purchase of agricultural machinery and equipment, as part of the Iraqi prime minister's initiative to develop the agricultural situation in the country and achieve a high level of self-sufficiency," it said.

Italy has given Iraq a €400-million loan for investment in agricultural projects.

Aswat Aliraq

'US security pact will enslave Iraqis'
Head of Iran's Assembly of Experts says the long-term security accord between Washington and Baghdad aims to enslave the Iraqi nation.

Ayatollah Ali-Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani, who is in the holy city of Mecca to attend a Muslim interfaith conference, expressed strong opposition to the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) being negotiated between the US and Iraq.

Chairman of the Expediency Council said the US 'occupation of Iraq represents a danger to all regional nations' and warned that the security deal was an introduction to permanent occupation.

Ayatollah Hashemi-Rafsanjani pledged that the Muslim world would stop the deal and said 'the essence of this agreement is to turn the Iraqis into American slaves'.

He, however, added that the Iraqi people and government as well as Muslim nations would not allow this deal to follow through.

As July 31st, the date set for the signing of the SOFA agreement, draws closer widespread protests are building up in Iraq.

The Iraqi nation now insists that the government put the contract to a general referendum or at the very least to a parliamentary vote before agreeing to sign it.

Press TV - 'US security pact will enslave Iraqis'

Ezidies Demand Implementation of Article 140

Today the Committee of Relations inside the Kurdistan Region National Assembly met with a delegation from Baazre and Mahd compound, Ezidies areas of Shekhan district(Duhok province), demanding the implementation of article 140 of the Iraqi permanent constitution in their areas.

The delegation, representing 14000 Ezidies, indicted that unemployment, poor basic public services, the non-existence of an elected municipality council in Shekhan and the implementation of article 140 in their areas are among the basic demands.

They also pointed out that their areas administratively are confused between Duhok and Nineveh provinces, saying their villages are not reconstructed and people of the area are not running their areas. The Committee expressed the Kurdistan Region National Assembly’s support for their demands, indicating that they will submit their demands to the presidency of the Kurdistan Region National Assembly and the Supreme Committee for Implementing Article 140.

http://pukmedia.com/english/News/4-6-2008/news13.htm

President Talabani Receives Mr. Di Mistura

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani received today in his residence in Baghdad Mr. Stephan Di Mistura, the private representative of U.N.’s secretary-general in Iraq.

Mr. Di Mistura presented to President Talabani a copy of the 1st analysis of U.N.’s delegation report, which will help Iraq in implementing Article 140 in some of disputed areas. He also emphasized his intention to introduce an additional analysis report about the other areas in the next few weeks.

They also discussed the issue of Provinces Councils’ elections, especially in Kirkuk Province, and the necessary mechanisms to support the peaceful and civilized coexistence between all the people of Kirkuk.

Mr. Di Mistura praised President Talabani’s stances to solve the problems in Iraq, and his efforts to achieve fraternization between all Iraqi people.

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UAE Foreign Minister on Landmark Visit to Iraq

United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan arrived in Baghdad on Thursday on the first visit to Iraq by an official from an Arab country in the Gulf since the 2003 US invasion, an Emirati official told AFP.

"Sheikh Abdullah's visit to Baghdad is the first by a foreign minister from any Gulf Cooperation Council country," the official told AFP, requesting anonymity.

He said Sheikh Abdullah was set to meet his Iraqi counterpart Hoshyar Zebari.

"The UAE has been offering a lot of support to Iraq since the war" which toppled Saddam Hussein's regime, he said.

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KRG Planning Minister: Swedish Companies Ready to Invest in Kurdistan

KRG Planning Minister, Othman Shwani, said today that the giant Swedish companies expressed their readiness to start investment in Kurdistan.

In a press conference, the KRG Planning Minister shed light on the content of the Annual Review Conference recently held in Sweden to review the International Compact with Iraq (ICI).

On the sideline of that conference, the KRG Planning Minister met with a number of the Swedish companies that expressed their willingness to invest in Kurdistan region.

“We called on the Swedish government to open an office in Kurdistan region to coordinate the work of those companies which intend to invest here,” Shwani said. Concerning the compact, Shwani said that the compact included 262 projects which the Iraqi government is supposed to e.x.e.c.ute them from 2008 until 2011.

“53 of those projects were e.x.e.cuted. Preparation is undergoing to implement the remaining projects,” Shwani added.

The International Compact, which was launched at Sharm el-Sheik Resort in May 2007, is an initiative of the Government of Iraq for a new partnership with the international community. Its purpose is to achieve a National Vision for Iraq which aims to consolidate peace and pursue political, economic and social development over the next five years.

The primary focus is to build a framework for Iraq’s economic transformation and integration into the regional and global economy. However, it is recognized that good governance and resolution of security and political challenges are pre-requisites for progress in all other areas, including economic revival and normalization.

http://pukmedia.com/english/News/4-6-2008/news14.htm

President Talabani Meets Turkey’s Envoy to Iraq

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani met today with the Turkey’s special envoy to Iraq, Murat Ozcelik, in Baghdad.

Both sides discussed ways to reinforce joint relations between Iraq and Turkey in general and Turkey and Kurdistan region in particular.
Separately, President Talabani met with Senior US Advisor to the Secretary of State and Coordinator for Iraq, David Satterfield in Baghdad.

The latest political development in Iraq, particularly the ongoing negotiation between Iraq and US to establish joint strategic relations were discussed during the meeting.

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