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

Washington submitted a draft of a new security treaty that satisfies the political council of national security in the Iraqi

Foreign Ministry announced yesterday that the Iraqi minister Hoshyar Zebari met with President George W. Bush «, who expressed respect for the United States to the sovereignty of Iraq and diligence to meet the challenges to stability,

».

And the understanding of the sentiments expressed by the government during the ongoing negotiations to conclude a framework agreement of strategic and security agreement».

Zebari had said after his meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice yesterday in Washington that «chances of reaching Iraq and the United States to the security agreement at the end of July (July) next become a good show after the American side great flexibility in terms of the agreement».

He said Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, however, dependent characters l «life» to «negotiations on the Convention did not stop and continues even now, despite the objections and reservations they have faced».The Iraqi delegation «reach of the American side that will show flexibility over the demands of Iraq and will take them into account in future meetings».

In the meantime retreated wave of Iraqi objections to the ongoing negotiations to formulate the security agreement with Washington due to the draft presented by the American delegation and considered against the sovereignty of Iraq, following the submission of a draft new Washington modified its first draft.

He informed the member of Political Council for National Security, Sheikh Jalaluddin al-Saghir, the leading bloc in «coalition» Shiite «life» that «the American side presented a new draft differs from the first draft presented to serve as a basis for negotiations», and refused to reveal the content of this draft but said «where Greater interest of the country and has clearly taken into account the demands of Iraqi ».

He added that »Political Council for National Security agreed to complete negotiations under the new draft, explaining that the agreement is subject to change at any time», pointing out that «the Council also approved a set of proposals to address the potential non-completion of the drafting convention at the end of this year, including Asthsal UN resolution A new extension of the stay of foreign troops in the country as a guest of the Iraqi government ».

He revealed another member of the Political Council for National Security told «life» that «highlighted the contents of the draft new United States abandoned its request to secure immunity for private companies in Iraq, establishment of an Iraqi - an American security have taken upon themselves the supervision of the military operations carried out by U.S. forces inside Iraq after the United States rejects this ».

He added that «the Iraqi government agreed to Americans to exercise constant vigilance on the Iraqi airspace and it was decided to merge the two specialists to negotiate for the signing of two conventions security and political team and one to achieve maximum coordination to lead Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki direct negotiations».

Insisted that the tide of Shiite leader Moqtada Sadr rejected negotiations with Washington. His leadership in the current Bahaa Al-Araji: «reject signing the agreement with Washington and unequivocally call for the cessation of negotiations at the earliest opportunity», adding that «Cable Convention country for many years and will pave the occupation of a civilian long-term». He noted that the Sadrist bloc «would lead a campaign against the Convention within and outside the House of Representatives», explaining that «bloc will not vote on the agreement regardless of its clauses».

Translated version of http://www.aljeeran.net/

Initiative for Agricultural Development in the centre and south

The Ministry of Agriculture launched an initiative for the development of the agricultural sector to cope with the phenomena of desertification and drought in central and southern regions of the budget amounted to more than 180 million dollars at a time when the ministry pointed out that Iraq needs major strategic projects for many years to regain the agricultural sector recovered again .

This was emphasized by Minister of Agriculture Ali Hussein Albahadli in the press conference held at the ministry, indicating the readiness of his ministry to combat the phenomena of desertification and drought which hit the agricultural land, due to lack of rains this year through the release of government initiative to reclaim agricultural land with a number of ministries concerned with the development of solutions Urgent in the areas of the centre and south and improve the soil and groundwater exploitation, and said:

"Initiative to set things to him and quick to lend to farmers working and working to revive agriculture in Iraq if the farmer and planting Tomato Plants and reaps the win over nine months and that a quick solution in addition to allocating funds to increase livestock forage and instructive manner and manure and then get good profits during the One or two years we have allocated funds for the purchase of agricultural machinery for farmers who wish to change the pattern of their agriculture.

He pointed out that agriculture Albahadli helicopters are among the most important steps towards increased agricultural land and crops, especially for President to confront desertification, and added:

"There crops we produce a strategy that can compete with high-density and the crop-President and perfection that does not call them have left all of that is through agriculture helicopter to address this problem and today can reach the Iraqi dunum to 2500."

The Salahuddin Kazim Director General of the Department of Planning and Follow-up in the Ministry of Agriculture that the budget allocated to the initiative amounted to 168 million dollars including 20 million dollars allocated for the purchase of helicopters and fixed-wing as well as the release of soft loans to increase crop production in the national task, he said:

"We have the funds for agricultural lending specialist facilitator whether to farmers and farmers or to investors without interest and installments soft short-range and medium-term and long-term reimbursement for eight years to start from one million to one billion and ends."

This is called the Ministry of Agriculture investors and farmers to regulate the growing of crops, according to the strategic geographical locations as well as the diversity of agriculture in the pattern of horizontal and vertical line with water shortages and rising temperatures.

Translated version of http://www.aljeeran.net/economic.html

Kirkuk suggests delaying provinces elections

As Iraq provincial elections are at hand, calls are raised to exclude Kirkuk from elections for several technical and political reasons which led Kirkuk parliamentarian crisis cell to initiate a proposal signed by 110 lawmakers calling to delay provincial elections all around Iraq.

For his part, MP Abdul Bari Zebari agreed to refer the issue to the ****utive authority represented by the government and the elections independent high commission. Kirkuk crisis cell threatened to boycott elections and called for regional an international protection as well as UN protection if the proposal is overlooked.

http://www.alsumaria.tv/en/Iraq-News...elections.html

Iraq FM: US drops security immunity demand

Speaking to the Independent British Newspaper, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hosheyar Zebari affirmed that Washington has dropped the demand to give foreign security contractors immunity from Iraqi law. Iraqi Foreign Minister said he had taken the example of US security contractors to prove that talks with the US have reached a dead lock. Visiting Foreign Minister to the United States expressed earlier his optimism over concluding US-Iraqi security agreement before the end of July. Following his meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, Zebari said the government is committed to these negotiations.

http://www.alsumaria.tv/en/Iraq-News...ty-demand.html

Iraq starts to fix itself

AFTER all the blood and blunders, people are right to be sceptical when good news is announced from Iraq. Yet it is now plain that over the past several months, while Americans have been distracted by their presidential primaries, many things in Iraq have at long last started to go right.

This improvement goes beyond the fall in killing that followed General David Petraeus's “surge”. Iraq's government has gained in stature and confidence. Thanks to soaring oil prices it is flush with money. It is standing up to Iraq's assorted militias and asserting its independence from both America and Iran. The overlapping wars—Sunni against American, Sunni against Shia and Shia against Shia—that harrowed Iraq after the invasion of 2003 have abated. The country no longer looks in imminent danger of flying apart or falling into everlasting anarchy. In September 2007 this newspaper supported the surge not because we had faith in Iraq but only in the desperate hope that the surge might stop what was already a bloodbath from becoming even worse (see article). The situation now is different: Iraq is still a mess, but something approaching a normal future for its people is beginning to look achievable.

The guns begin to fall silent

As General Petraeus himself admits, and our briefing this week argues, the change is fragile, and reversible (see article). But it is real. Only a few months ago, Iraq was in the grip not only of a fierce anti-American insurgency but also of a dense tangle of sectarian wars, which America seemed powerless to stop. Those who thought it was just making matters worse by staying on could point to the bloody facts on the ground as evidence. But now it is time to look again. Each of those overlapping conflicts has lately begun to peter out.

A few Sunnis, motivated by Islam or simple resentment of foreign military occupation, continue to attack American forces. But many Sunni tribes, repelled by the atrocities committed by their former and often foreign allies in al-Qaeda, have joined the so-called Sunni awakening, the Sahwa, and crossed over to America's side. At the same time, Sunnis and Shias have stopped killing each other in the vast numbers that followed the blowing up of a Shia shrine in early 2006. General Petraeus's surge is only one reason for this. Another reason, less flattering to the Americans, is that after last year's frenzied ethnic cleansing fewer neighbourhoods are still mixed. But it is also the case that a lot of Iraqis, having waded briefly into the horror of indiscriminate sectarian slaughter, have for the present made a conscious decision to step back.

The conflict between Shias and Shias has died down too. In the past few weeks Iraq's prime minister, Nuri al-Maliki, has belied a reputation for weakness by sending the army to take control of the port city of Basra and the Baghdad slum known as Sadr City, both strongholds until then of the powerful militia run by Muqtada al-Sadr, a vehemently anti-American Shia cleric. The fact that Mr Sadr considered it wise not to resist suggests not only that the army is now strong enough to out-face private militias but also that the state has acquired far greater political legitimacy, in Shia minds at least.

Needless to say, these conflicts could resume. The Sunnis fighting on America's side today could direct their fire back towards the Americans and Shias tomorrow if not enough room is made for them in the new, Shia-dominated order. On the Shia side, it is not clear whether Mr Sadr has given up violence for good. And his is not the only political movement to have a private army. Sunnis, Shias and Kurds alike still see their respective militias as a hedge against an uncertain future.

To that extent, Iraq is still far from normality. But if the calm survives, politics will at least have a chance. Mr Maliki's next job is therefore to go ahead with the provincial elections due before the end of the year. A good showing by the Sunnis, too few of whom voted in 2005, could bring them back into the political mainstream, enabling them to wield serious power in their own provinces at least. The elections can also provide a useful alternative path to power for the Sadrists, if they really have given up violence and decide to take part.

George Bush meanwhile has a further part to play, which consists mainly of not doing things that might tempt him. He should not, for example, attack Iran. One of the impressive things about Iraq's present government is its refusal to take sides between America and its next-door neighbour. It needs good relations with both if it is to prosper. Mr Bush has also to find a way to leave to his successor the business of negotiating a new agreement on the status of American forces in Iraq. This may become a toxic issue in Iraq's elections as the existing UN mandate expires. Mr Maliki is said to want a guarantee that America will defend its borders. His opponents accuse America of seeking permanent bases in Iraq, turning it into a vassal. It would be wrong for a lame duck in Washington to tie the hands of the next administration on such matters.

It's really not about that any more

In highlighting the improved conditions in Iraq we do not mean to justify The Economist's support of the invasion of 2003 (see article). Too many lives have been shattered for that. History will still record that the invasion and occupation have been a debacle. Iraqis even now live under daily threat of violent death: hundreds are killed each month. They remain woefully short of the necessities of life, such as jobs, clean water and electricity. Iraq's government is gaining confidence faster than competence. It is still fractious, and in many places corrupt.

Nor does it follow that a turn for the better necessarily validates John McCain's insistence on America staying indefinitely. A safer Iraq might make Barack Obama's plan to pull out most American troops within 16 months more feasible, though at the moment a precipitate withdrawal looks foolish. But to guard the fragile improvements, the key for America must be flexibility. Both candidates have to keep their options open. If America's next president gets Iraq wrong because he has boxed himself in during the campaign, all the recent gains may be squandered and Iraq will slide swiftly back into misery and despair. That would be to fail twice over.

http://www.baghdadtimes.net/

Mufti: Iraqi provincial council elections will not include the Kurdistan region

The information advisor to the President of the Kurdistan parliament Thursday that the provincial council elections scheduled for Iraq in the month of October next will include the three provinces of Kurdistan province of Arbil, Sulaymaniyah and Dahuk

He Tariq essence is restored, quoting the President of Kurdistan Parliament, Adnan Mufti that "there is a special law for the provincial council elections in the province before the parliament of Kurdistan but currently there remained ratification of the intervention force and, when this law legislation that will organize elections" in accordance with the provisions of this law

He is restored, in a statement to Agence (Lucky) Italian news that the Mufti met with the head of the Office of the elections in Kurdistan on the capable Ebeid to discuss with him about the ongoing preparations for the holding of parliamentary and provincial assemblies in the Kurdistan region

He restored "with respect to elections to the parliament of Kurdistan has confirmed that the Mufti under the rules of procedure for the Territory Parliament elections will be held before the expiry of the mandate of the current parliament, amounting to four years" and which expires by the fourth of June next year

The Head Office made a presentation about the preparations and activities emanating from the Committees UNHCR to register the electoral rolls and identify the names of voters who are eligible to vote in upcoming elections

It is noteworthy that the issue of holding elections for provincial assemblies facing sharp differences among Iraqi political blocs, especially in areas disputed between Arabs, Kurds and Turkomen.

Sotaliraq.com -

White House confirms constructive proposals put forward in a telephone call ...Maliki and Bush discussed the conduct of negotiations Convention long-term

U.S. President George Bush with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki had a telephone conversation discussed the ongoing UNHCR between the two countries and proposals to reach agreement on strategic long-term, and stressed that things are going well. This comes amid intensive meetings by Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari in Washington, got assurances from the U.S. side not to include the terms of the agreement to any long-term items violate Iraqi sovereignty.

The White House spokesman Gordon Jondro that the ongoing negotiations on a long-term security agreement between Iraq and the United States of America are performing well, and that the two sides have achieved good progress in this area.

The spokesman explained that President Bush made the telephone call with Nouri al-Maliki on Thursday, and both sides agreed that the ongoing negotiations for the holding of a security agreement long-term moving well. He said that negotiations between the two countries is the form required, and there are constructive proposals presented by both sides in order to reach the desired goal. The al-Maliki had said last week that the negotiations reached an impasse.

The Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari met with U.S. President George W. Bush and National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley at the White House.
He stressed Bush, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United States to respect Iraq's sovereignty and the will of his people and his eagerness to assist him in the face of challenges to stability and discharge, and expressed appreciation for the feelings raised by the Iraqi government during the ongoing negotiations for the conclusion of the Framework Convention Strategy and Security Agreement.

For his part, Zebari explained the considerations that govern the willingness of Iraq to conclude these conventions and the stage reached in negotiations and the options available to the parties. The minister expressed satisfaction with the significant improvement in the security situation throughout Iraq and easing political horizon which opens the way for further progress on all fronts, and said: We should therefore maintain these achievements and not exposed to the risk of legal vacuum after the expiration of the mandate of the Security Council on the existence of forces Multiple nationality.

The parties agreed to seek appropriate solutions to the outstanding issues to reach an agreement to meet the immediate needs of the parties and contain sufficient flexibility to leave the choices open to the following Governments.

On a related, foreign minister met U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has been research on the Framework Convention Strategy and Security Agreement, and across Zebari regretted the politicization of the United States and Iraq and its neighbouring States, and he sought to clarify the dimensions and emphasis on transparency, which must be accompanied by this Convention when Held and put it on the Iraqi parliament.

For his part, Minister of Defense said that the U.S. negotiating position taken by steel Iraqi government in these negotiations proof of the success of the Iraqi experiment. He stressed that the Iraqis are acting platforms and national duties, and we respect that.

http://www.almadapaper.com/paper.php...page&sid=45038

Iraqi oil pipeline sabotage drops sharply

A sharp drop in attacks on pipelines has enabled Iraq to increase oil exports from northern oil fields and profit from the rise in world energy prices, the country's oil minister said Friday.

Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani said pipeline attacks fell from an average of 30 a month in 2007 to only four last month. Most of the attacks had been in the north, where Sunni insurgents were active.

Al-Shahristani told Al-Sharqiya t.e.l.e.v.i.s.i.o.n that the reduction in attacks has enabled Iraq to export about 450,000 barrels a day from the northern oil fields around Kirkuk to the Turkish Mediterranean port of Ceyhan.

The northern pipeline had been frequently shut down for extended periods during the past four years because of sabotage.

Iraq's oil exports, most of which come from southern oil fields around Basra, have risen above 2 million barrels a day for the first time since the U.S.-led invasion of 2003, the Oil Ministry said this month.

Officials expect the figure to rise further this month because of increased activity at the northern fields.

The boost in exports comes at a time of record-high oil prices worldwide, providing Iraq with a financial windfall as it struggles to rebuild the country after decades of war, U.N. economic sanctions and misrule.

Al-Shahristani has said the country expects to reap revenues of $70 billion by year's end if world prices remain high.

Al-Shahristani, a Shiite, attributed the drop in attacks to better security provided by "awakening councils" _ Sunnis who have abandoned the insurgency and now provide protection in their home areas.

He said the Oil Ministry was recruiting more guards from among Sunni tribes to protect the pipelines, especially the export line to Ceyhan.

"A year ago, terrorism was active. But now we are seeing great cooperation from the tribes living in the areas where the pipeline passes," he said.

Iraq sits on an estimated 115 billion barrels of oil and it also has an estimated 112 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves, according to the Oil Ministry.

Despite improvements in security, violence continues, especially in northern areas of the country where al-Qaida in Iraq and other Sunni militants still operate.

The U.S. military said an American soldier was killed and five others were wounded in a series of bombings in Diyala province northeast of Baghdad.

At least 11 Iraqi policemen were wounded when a roadside bomb exploded near their patrol in Mosul, 225 miles northwest of Baghdad, police reported.

Fears rose about security in the southern oil fields last March when heavy fighting broke out in Basra between government forces and Shiite militias, including the Mahdi Army militia of anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

But a cease-fire mediated in Iran brought an end to the Basra fighting, and the Iraqi army moved quickly to assume control of areas of the city dominated by the militias for years.

On Thursday, Iraqi forces moved into the southern oil-producing city of Amarah, believed to be the hub of networks smuggling weapons from Iran to Shiite extremists in Iraq.

The U.S. military, which is supporting the Amarah operation, said troops seized hundreds of mines, mortar rounds, rocket-propelled grenades and four homemade rocket launchers in the vicinity of the city, 200 miles southeast of Baghdad.

Washington Times - Politics, Breaking News, US and World News - Iraqi oil pipeline sabotage drops sharply

Representatives of Sistani and Sadr renewed his rejection of the Convention

AFP - a new religion scholars yesterday refusing to sign a long-term security agreement with the United States, believing it violates the principle of sovereignty and an insult to the people and government alike.

He said Sheikh Asaad Nassiri, a senior Sadr aides and before Friday prayers in the town of Kufa south of Baghdad that "the signing of the Convention long-standing between Iraq and America is unacceptable and does not accept any Iraqi Sheriff." Adding that "Neither the Iraqi government signing the agreement after the rejection of all factions and political powers In Iraq of the provisions of the Convention. "

The Nasserite that signing the convention "is insulting to the Government and people of Iraq," stressing that "the roadmap in full confidentiality include immunity for American soldiers, mercenaries and security companies which contracted with the American army of Iraqi justice."

He added: "The convention will include building stable bases in Iraq did not specify the number and make the ministries of defence, interior and intelligence for ten years under supervised by American forces." Demonstrated after the prayers congregation It denounced the Convention.

The demonstrators carried banners with the "Convention violation of the law and the Constitution" and "We will not allow Iraq to be an American colony" and "Convention bondage was suspicious of Iraq" and pretended to crowds of supporters of the current issued in Sadr City, east of Baghdad after prayers for the same reason.

In turn, demanded Sheikh Abdul Mahdi Alkrblaney representative of the large Shiite Ali al-Sistani, to preserve the fundamental constants in rejecting the Convention, in reference to Iraq's sovereignty. Alkrblaney said during a sermon at Friday prayers yesterday dish Husseini in Karbala "should be transparent convention and not by any Terms secret. "

He emphasized the importance that "exposure to people and to keep the political blocs on the position with regard to maintaining the fundamental constants," referring to preserve Iraq's sovereignty and not to set up rules or grant immunity to U.S. troops.

Translated version of http://www.aljeeran.net/

The colourful oil denies news about setting a date for conclusion of agreements with international companies

Denied ministry spokesman Assem Jihad oil accuracy of the western newspapers reported on the ministry's intention to develop agreements fields of Iraqi oil producer with international companies late this month.

The Jihad in an interview with "Radio Sawa" continuing negotiations with some major global companies on the development and maintenance of some oil fields. He added:

Between Jihad and the Oil Ministry has identified the end of this month to nominate a number of Iraqi fields 35 to compete for other international companies were chosen from among 120 companies compete:

Regarding what distinguishes companies from other companies, Jihad said that those companies have the necessary experience:

And the Jihad that the aim of concluding these conventions is the addition of 500 thousand barrels to national production and development of oil fields:

The New York Times reported in its issue published on Thursday that four major Western companies on the verge of signing the end of this month on the oil contracts will lay the foundation for the first commercial activity to international companies in Iraq since the nationalization of oil before the thirty-six years.

The U.S. newspaper report that the goal of Saartjie Nuri al-Maliki government from behind the conclusion of contracts is to increase crude oil production by half million barrels a day through the introduction of expertise and modern methods of modern technology to Iraq.

The Iraqi government wishes to spend the additional oil revenues in reconstruction projects, despite what the newspaper endemic problems of bureaucracy in state institutions, which obstructed even the exchange revenues last year, as required.

He says analyst David Fife in Middle East issues at the International Energy Agency responsible for controlling oil production in developing countries from its headquarters in Paris, that Iraq's production could increase to three million barrels per day compared to two million and a half now after the conclusion of these contracts, but it is estimated sufficient time to re - Rehabilitation of oil fields around these six months.

The Fife These contracts will enable Iraq to increase oil production to four million bpd over the next few years, adding that after exploiting new fields are expected to Iraq produces six million barrels a day, which may lead to rein in oil prices in global markets.

The newspaper report that these contracts include special items that we might not see in other contracts such as global item, which allows these companies to reap enormous profits current oil prices, these companies are still negotiating with the Iraqi Oil Ministry on the possibility of obtaining profits through the acquisition of crude oil instead Of money.

The paper stresses that these contracts include the provision of technical assistance for the oil sector in Iraq will lead to a marked increase in the final product of Iraqi crude oil.

Translated version of http://www.radiosawa.com/arabic_news.aspx?id=1620667