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

Both Iraqi President Vices Discuss Latest Developments in Iraq

The Vices of the Iraqi President Tariq al-Hashimi and Adel Abdel Mahdi met yesterday at the latter’s office in Baghdad. During the meeting Ways of solving Iraq’s important issues and latest political and security developments.

They also discussed the new government assortment, the return of the Accordance Front ministers to the government, the constitutional amendment, the electing law and also the Iraqi-US Agreement.

http://pukmedia.com/english/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4919&Ite mid=1

Kurdish lawmaker rules out oil, gas law to be passed this term

A leading Kurdish legislator ruled out that the draft law on oil and gas would be passed during the current legislative term.

Mahmoud Othman, a key member of the Kurdistan Coalition (KC), voiced optimism about solving outstanding issues between the autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan region and central governments during the visit being paid by the region's Prime Minister, Nejervan Barazani, to Baghdad.

Barazani's visit to Baghdad would "solve many pending issues between the central and Iraqi Kurdistan governments, but I don't think the draft on oil and gas would be passed during this legislative term," Othman told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI).

The KC is the second largest bloc in the Iraqi parliament with 55 out of a total 275 seats.

On Sunday a lawmaker said a visit by Barazani to Baghdad is "required" in order to resolve outstanding issues between the two sides.

"The pending issues need more consultations and coordination by the two governments," Jalal al-Din al-Saghir, a member of parliament from the Shiite Unified Iraqi Coalition (UIC), told VOI.

Iraq's central government had declined to recognize the oil contracts concluded by Iraqi Kurdistan with foreign corporations to explore and invest oil fields within the autonomous region and also refused to pay the salaries of more than 190,000 personnel of the region's peshmerga guards from the central defense ministry budget.

The peshmerga are irregular forces loyal to the two main Kurdish parties: Iraqi President Jalal Talabani's Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and Iraqi Kurdistan President Massoud Barazani's Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).

These forces were merged into the Iraqi army after foreign troops entered the country and toppled the ruling regime in 2003.

Falah Mustafa, the official in charge of the Iraqi Kurdistan region's foreign relations, had said on Saturday that Barazani arrived in Baghdad on Saturday on a visit to offer fresh proposals for Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki pertaining to the law on oil and gas and financial appropriations for the peshmerga forces, or Region's Guards, from the federal budget.

http://www.aswataliraq.info/look/english/article.tpl?IdLanguage=1&IdPublication=4&NrArticle =83453&NrIssue=2&NrSection=1

Jabbar Yawir: KRG Delegation to Meet Al-Maliki Today

Today, the official talks will start between the Delegation of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the officials in Baghdad’s Federal Government.

Major General Jabbar Yawir, the Spokesperson of the Region’s Guard Forces and member of the KRG Delegation to Baghdad stated to PUKmedia:” The KRG Delegation headed by Mr. Nichervan Barzani is going to meet Iraqi PM Nuri al-Maliki today. They will discuss Province Councils Elections, implementation of Article 140, Oil-Gas draft and the unresolved issues.”

“The budget of the Ministry of Peshmerga and the formation two divisions from Kurdistan Peshmerga forces will be also discussed in the meeting”, Yawir added.

http://pukmedia.com/english/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4920&Ite mid=1

Iraqi PM discusses with Kurdish counterpart oil, gas bill

Iraqi Premier Nouri al-Maliki on Tuesday discussed in Baghdad the oil and gas bill with his Kurdish counterpart Nejervan Barazani, said a statement issued by al-Maliki's office.

“They also discussed forming military divisions in the region,” the statement said, noting that al-Maliki described the talks as "positive".

"Al-Maliki today received at his office Nejervan Barazani, Kurdistan's regional premier, and his accompanying delegation," said the statement received by Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI).

"During the meeting, various cases, bills, and legislations were discussed, especially the oil and gas bill," it added.

"Discussions were open and positive and tackled all issues of mutual concern, including the Peshmerga (Local Kurdish armed forces operating within Kurdistan region), forming military divisions in the region and financial resources," it explained.

"Progress in laws' enactment will be added to political, security, and economic successes," the release quoted al-Maliki as saying.
"We strongly support al-Maliki's government, and support its efforts regarding the operation Bashaer al-Salam (Promise of Peace) operation currently taking place in Missan, and other operations in Baghdad, Basra, and Mosul," the statement quoted Barazani as saying.

"We support all the measures taken by the federal government to achieve security and stability, and to preserve the state's respect throughout the country," he added.

On Saturday, Barazani arrived in Baghdad, carrying suggestions to al-Maliki regarding the oil and gas bill, as well as the oil contracts.

A heated controversy took place between the Iraqi oil ministry and the Kurdistan Regional Government KRG on oil contracts concluded by the latter in November 2007 with a number of foreign companies undertaking oil prospecting and production.

Iraq's central government Minister of Oil Hussein al-Shahrestani had threatened to have these contracts rescinded and the contracting companies punished by prohibiting any form of cooperation between them and the Iraqi government.

Several political and parliamentary blocs criticized the contracts, which were signed without prior approval by the Iraqi government and parliament.

http://www.aswataliraq.info/look/english/article.tpl?IdLanguage=1&IdPublication=4&NrArticle =83524&NrIssue=2&NrSection=1

Deputy: oil contracts with international companies ink on paper

described member of the Committee on the oil and gas in the Iraqi parliament Noureddine toward technical support contracts entered into by the Ministry of Oil with foreign companies as ink on paper.

He said in press statements about published on the Iraqi Accord Front, "the amounts allocated to these contracts are not commensurate with the size of the service provided by these companies that have entered into these contracts with them."

He added about the Iraqi Accord Front member of the "Committee for the oil and gas will host the minister in charge of the House of Representatives for the purpose of discussing these contracts and an amount of up to 500 million dollars and seek clarification directly from the nature of these contracts and the reasons for this great figure appropriated by the ministry of those contracts."

A spokesman for Iraqi oil has stated that his country has chosen more than 35 oil companies worldwide within the first licenses for the development of a number of Iraqi oil fields a view to increasing rates of crude oil production in the country.

He said Assem Jihad, spokesman of Iraqi Ministry of Oil that "regardless of the names of companies, more than 35 companies selected from among more than 100 companies submitted offers for contracts to develop a number of Iraqi oil fields in the framework of the first session of licenses which include large oil fields followed Other courses future. "

Iraq owns oil reserve of 115 billion announcing barrels and another in the process of exploration of 214 billion barrels in the fields of the most prominent giant West Qurna and Rafidain and crazy and Halfaye and Rumaila and rivers Omar.

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Expectations beyond the price of oil, $300

Oil prices yesterday recorded a slight rise in global markets with increasing tension on Iran's political situation and fear of possible attacks on oil pipelines in Nigeria.

The price of a barrel of crude rose U.S. $ 136.4 to settle at $ barrel, also increased price of a barrel of North Sea crude delivery in August next to 135.8 dollars per barrel, up 94 cents, while Brent rose mix B 1.29 dollars to settle at 136.15 dollars per barrel.

At the same time, expected that the French Institute for Petroleum that the price of a barrel of oil up to $ 300 by in 2015, pointing to the need not to bet on lower prices in the case had not been taking necessary measures to prevent this.

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Public loans

State resort in exceptional circumstances to the public as we get the loan through which the necessary financial resources to allow its revenues when the normal funding and therefore resorts to the state general presentation in two cases:

First: when it reaches the maximum tax where the tax rate is the optimum size and this means that the estimated national assignments have been exhausted, so it was not possible to use the state to more taxes, but this behavior was threatening to economic activity and standard of living.

Second: When the Tax violent social reactions even before reaching the level of the previous case, this means that taxes are limits to economic and social restrict the state's ability to use and then the loan becomes effective means, however, the State of accumulating savings that fail to do taxes and, therefore, it must finance public activity to be distributed Between lenders and holders instead of limiting it to the category of tax payers.

What year loan?

Is the amount of money received by the State through recourse to others (individuals, financial institutions and banks) and a pledge apron and profit implications of interest during the limited duration in accordance with the terms of this definition could specifically similarities and differences between loans and taxes:

A - drew similarities.

Both are placed on individuals while the direct tax burden, the burden of loan money will be individuals later when shot from the tax proceeds mostly to such services beneficial addition to the special benefit accruing to the general community therefore participate in shouldering the expenses of those services, personnel payors such fees and the rest Community as beneficiaries also through taxation.

Third: to exceed the amount of the fee expense of services provided, where the state pledged to achieve the objectives of this rule behind the contraction in demand (service) before the day of the price and the House of Commons Aitard with these rules and to meet the objective of the fees for these services is the goal of Mali get behind him State revenue, so most specialists agree in public finance that in the case of increasing the fee for the service, such as a tax increase disguised.

Price comparison between the public and painting.

Both paid to obtain a special benefit is the service provided by a public utility or a commodity of its products.

Both equal to the cost of service.

Both contain hidden tax in the case of overstated revenue obtained more than the expense of service or product.

The fee payable for the benefit of particular benefit associated with play in the annex to the community, while pay-for the benefit of special T, which acquired the product.

J.a.b.r.a pay the fee when requesting the service, while the price paid is optional.

Diminished the importance of duty with the evolution of state functions and the growing importance of the financial year the price for the same reason.

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Kurdish and Shiite Officials Reaffirm Support for Maliki’s Govt

The representatives of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Kurdistan Democratic Party and Supreme Islamic Council of Iraq met today in Baghdad.

From the Kurdish political representatives, Barham Saleh, Fuad Maasum and Nechirvan Barzani while from the Supreme Council, Adel Abdul Mahdi attended the meeting.

Several mutual key issues were discussed during the meeting. Meanwhile, the latest political developments on the ground in Iraq were focused on.

Both sides stressed the necessity of strengthening relations and affirmed their support for the Nuri al-Maliki’s government.

PUKmedia :: English - Kurdish and Shiite Officials Reaffirm Support for Maliki’s Govt

Officials say U. S. May Open Outpost in Iran

The United States is considering setting up a diplomatic outpost in Iran in what would mark a dramatic official U. S. return to the country nearly 30 years after the American Embassy was overrun and the two countries severed relations.

Even as it threatens the Iranian government with sanctions and possible military action over its nuclear program, the administration is floating the idea of opening a U. S. interests section in Tehran similar to the one the State Department runs in Havana, diplomatic and political officials told The Associated Press on Monday.

Like the one in communist Cuba, an interest section, or de facto embassy, in the Iranian capital would give the United States a presence on the ground through which it can communicate directly with students, dissidents and others without endorsing the government, one official said.

PUKmedia :: English - Officials say U. S. May Open Outpost in Iran

Barzani Meets Iraq’s PM in Baghdad

The Iraqi Prime Minister, Nuri al-Maliki, met today with the KRG Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, in Baghdad.

During the meeting, several key issues were discussed including the draft bill of oil and gas. Citing from a statement issued by the Iraqi Premier’s office from which PUKmedia got a copy; the meeting was positive and opened to all mutual issues between Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the federal government. The issue of establishing division army out of Peshmerga forces in Kurdistan region was also discussed.

On his part, the KRG Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, affirmed his support for Maliki’s efforts to stamp out violence in Iraq through conducting military offensives to impose law across Iraq.

PUKmedia :: English - Barzani Meets Iraq’s PM in Baghdad