Thread: Archive Latest News - Dinar Think Tank - 27/08/08 - 15/01/09

Most members of Iraq Coalition preparing to pull up stakes

Multi-National Force-Iraq says there are 21 countries still participating in the war effort in addition to the United States, including such contributors as Australia, Japan, Britain, Albania and Estonia.

A senior administration official, briefing reporters on background about Bush's speech, said the number of coalition members will shrink to a "handful" in the next few months. He declined to say which countries will remain, saying that decision should be up to the Iraqi government to announce. After the United States, which has 146,000 troops in Iraq now, the British have the largest remaining foreign presence, with about 4,000 troops, he said.

Australia has about 1,000 troops and Poland has 900 troops, but they will be drawing down, as Bush said. "We're going to reshape the coalition," said the senior administration official.

PUKmedia :: English - Most members of Iraq Coalition preparing to pull up stakes

The future economic relations between optimism and slow development

And you think the Iraqi market we are elated to the large number of commodities and goods that fill the shelves of shops but the feeling of anti confused and you read the prices in dollars have written what it means to most obstinate people and seen so much hesitating in the question of price because they know befo*****d that it unattainable ..

The picture looks clear result of lack of demand for the purchase of such goods by analog .. And in order to highlight the economic reality and suffering of the Iraqi .. I asked Dr. Abbas-Yahya, economy professor at the University of Baghdad, where he said .. The Iraqi economy continues to suffer loss and kinetic as well as the primitive methods despite the existence of a touch of modernity and innovation in some joints, the statistics say that the GNP of the Iraqi 20 / 5 billion dollars in 2005 to 29 / 2 billion dollars in 2007 and the Iraqi economy appeared features booming Through higher sales to consumers and private sector growth.

The matter needs to be sophisticated infrastructure to make up the Iraqi economy has suffered from neglect .. The experts stressed that the economy in the Iraqi economy has grown by 34% over the past year with another view believes that the Iraqi GNP decreased rate of 3% in 2006 in the expectation that this product will resume the ascent in 2008 .. In this context attaches economic researcher Nasser Hussein Alwan said .. Should not be overly optimistic because the Iraqi economy is changing very gradually in 2007 is not much different than in 2006 and the reason is due to the worsening security situation and I think the obvious improvement of security and international understanding to urbanization and development projects and economic growth will help the Iraqi economy, especially after the elections The next Haouallah especially those with financial grants given to Iraq, whether from America or from other donor nations where the United States has allocated only 20 billion dollars for Iraq reconstruction projects to be used in the liquidation of safe drinking water and development of government buildings

The development of electricity and building institutions to develop Iraq's balcony ..

While the view of Ms. Khaleda Karim Al-Bayati .. Bank employee: that investments in Iraq could not find clean hands that want the country's interests, the funds were originally consuming, especially in the public sector which still need the reforms, which impacted negatively on the economy of Iraq, let alone a whole unemployment and the large unemployed, which was supposed to work With these many projects and even increase the salaries of state employees, incorrect solutions to revive the Iraqi economy, but rather it will lead to inflation and price increase was for the State to address the high prices and control the import and not raise salaries so unstudied. Lawyer Mohammed Saleh Oweidat: finds that the administrative and financial corruption is why Assistant important for the rest of the reasons for the worsening economic state which must take more resolute action and strength for the return of the Iraqi economy to what it was previously, where the price of Iraqi dinar in the eighties up to three dollars with The employee's salary but the few consistent with the market price of the government and we need also to provide security for the purpose of encouraging investment in Iraq, where many of the contractors killed by terrorist acts and their number reached to 500 Iraqi civilian contractor and a lot of capital owners fled out of Iraq because of the deteriorating situation Security, which requires the state to make a lot of return in order to develop Iraq.

As Mr. Ali Jawad Aberdeen (Master of Economics) .. Opined that the Iraqi funds still frozen abroad and this requires sustained efforts from the government to release these funds and also be necessary protection for investors to develop the economy and facilitate corporate investment and reconstruction projects in Iraq, particularly Iraq after spending terrorism through the peace plan, security and ought to start a plan to fight Corruption and work to stabilize the market through creating a balance between salaries and goods stored and export promotion and protection of oil wells especially with the rise in oil prices .. All these things lead to the revival of the Iraqi economy.

http://www.almadapaper.com/paper.php...page&sid=50390

Heads of parliamentarian blocs meet to discuss elections law

A source from the Iraqi parliament, on condition of anonymity, told PUKmedia website correspondent that the head of the parliamentarian blocs held a close session today to discuss the elections law in an attempt to reach an agreement.

“The meeting, which was chaired by the parliament’s speaker Dr. Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, will try to reach an agreement on the elections law, especially Article 24”, the source added without any further details.

PUKmedia :: English - Heads of parliamentarian blocs meet to discuss elections law

Shahristani: Technical service contracts canceled

Minister of Oil Hussain Al Shahristani affirmed that the ministry canceled technical service agreements it was negotiation about with Foreign Oil companies. Shahristani had earlier said that the chance to go forward in signing the contract decreased after delays in finalizing the contracts.

Shahristani pointed out that comprehensive development contracts should come into effect by mid next year.

http://www.alsumaria.tv/en/Economics...-canceled.html

Political blocs agree on U.N.’s suggestion

Following the meeting of the political blocs’ heads and the legal and regional committees of the Iraqi parliament to discuss the elections law, MP Bahaa al-Aaraji from the Sadrist bloc told PUKmedia website “the meeting was positive and consensus. All the parties agreed on the U.N.’s suggestion to solve the elections issue in Kirkuk.”

“The meeting decided to establish a small committee from 5 to 6 members, who will be named today. The committee will attempt to find an agreement on a consensus form and to look for guarantees and time table. The committee will hold its meetings for one week.”

Al-Aaraji assumed that the law will be ready to vote on next week.

Meanwhile, Mp Sami al-Atroshi from Kurdistan Islamic Union bloc told PUKmedia website correspondent “the committee is headed by Dr. Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, Sheikh Khalid al-Attiya as a representative and the members are Saadi al-Barazanchi, Younadim Kana, Mohammed al-Tamimi, Saad el-Din Arkaj and Hashim al-Taiee.”

PUKmedia :: English - Political blocs agree on U.N.’s suggestion

UAE dispatches new ambassador to Iraq

Iraqi Vice President Tarek Al Hashemi received the new UAE Ambassador to Iraq Abdullah Ibrahim Abdullah. Al Hashemi noted while receiving the Emirati Ambassador that the Emirates step to dispatch an ambassador to Iraq is a message for other countries reluctant to re-boost their diplomatic representation in the country to reopen their embassies in Baghdad soon.

For his part, Sheikh Abdullah stated that the decision to restore diplomatic relations with Iraq reflects the determination of President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Khalifa Ben Zayed Al Nahyan and Vice President Mohammed Ben Rashed Al Maktoum to contribute in ascertaining security and restoring stability in Iraq.

PUKmedia :: English - UAE dispatches new ambassador to Iraq

Update.......

Iraqi government confirms plan to buy F-16 fighter jets from US

Iraqi Defense Minister Abdel Qader Jassim Mohammed confirmed Wednesday that Baghdad planned to purchase F-16 fighter jets from the U.S.

"This plane is to improve the future ability of the Iraqi army to protect the entire country, including Kurdistan, from any foreign aggression," Mohammed told reporters in Baghdad's Green Zone.

On Friday, the Wall Street Journal reported that Baghdad wanted to buy 36 advanced F-16 fighters from the U.S. Mohammed didn't specify how many jets the government would purchase.

Such a deal would be expected to reduce Baghdad's reliance on U.S. air power and possibly clear the way for the withdrawal of more U.S. troops.

U.S. officials have previously maintained the U.S. would have to keep fighter aircraft and helicopters in Iraq even after U.S. combat troops leave. But even if the deal were approved, countries in the region would likely be concerned with Baghdad's fledgling government having control of such sophisticated arms, the Wall Street Journal said.

The news comes as Iraqi and U.S. officials are negotiating a sensitive security agreement governing the eventual withdrawal of U.S. forces.

PUKmedia :: English - Iraqi government confirms plan to buy F-16 fighter jets from US

Arab states decided to review its debts on Iraq
CAIRO - Al Sabah: "The board of the League of Arab States Länder's intention to review its debt with Iraq for the purpose of cancellation or reduction as the initiative taken by the United Arab Emirates, while the price of government efforts to help displaced Iraqis to return to the country,

Called on Arab states to facilitate the procedures for granting visas to Iraqis and residencies. This came at the conclusion of the Arab foreign ministers to work round of meetings after thirty percent of the Arab League Council chaired by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal, the presence of Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari.

He called on Arab Foreign Ministers Council to speed up building The rehabilitation of military forces and Iraqi security on a national basis, professional and up to the exit of all foreign forces from Iraq, stressing the importance of Iraqi neighboring countries play an active role to help promote security, stability and non-interference in its internal affairs and deal with terrorism and stop acts of violence that threaten its unity, land and people and support efforts to achieve Reconciliation and the Iraqi National Accord, and emphasizing the importance of coordination and cooperation between their security procedures to enhance border control and prevent infiltrators from crossing the common border with Iraq. The Secretary-General Amr Moussa of the Arab League has stressed in a speech opening the necessity and inevitability of diplomatic presence and development and investment in Arab Iraq.

The Council called upon Arab countries to expedite the procedures for granting visas and residencies of the displaced Iraqis and to provide decent livelihoods for them, including the health care and education for their children, according to economic conditions, regulations and laws applicable in the host countries, warning of the danger of ex****bating the crisis of displaced Iraqis in the host Arab states, calling in The same time to speed up the provision of material assistance in the urgent special account opened by the Secretariat of the Arab League to support displaced Iraqis in the Arab host and contribute actively to improve their living conditions, humanitarian and ease the burdens borne by those states.

The Council urged the closing statement received by "Assabah" yesterday a copy of it, the international community and the competent organs of the United Nations system, regional organizations and donor countries to provide the necessary assistance to Arab countries hosting displaced Iraqis as soon as possible. The final statement of the Arab League Council in eight pages, in which he reviewed the situation In all Arab countries. The price of Arab foreign ministers and government efforts to help displaced Iraqis to return to the country, the government will shoulder the costs of travel and transportation security and to create ways to survive with dignity and security.

http://66.102.9.104/translate_c?hl=e...OFwUKnIB6Ib7nw

Exiled doctors return home as security improves

Hundreds of medical doctors who had fled the country since the 2003 U.S. invasion are returning to their former jobs, a senior Health Ministry official said.

Amer al-Ghuzaai, the ministry’s undersecretary, said the returnees were sent back to work almost immediately.

“Medical specialists returning to the country must be given their former jobs back within 72 hours. These are our orders,” he said.

Ghuzaai said those returning only need to write an application expressing a desire to resume their former jobs.

The drive home by the specialists comes following relative improvement in security particularly in Baghdad, he said.

To lure doctors to return the ministry has put in place “a very generous scheme” of bonuses particularly to medical consultants.

Ghuzaai said the ministry has decided to give a reward of one million Iraqi dinars (about 1000 U.S. dollars) for every major operation Iraqi specialists perform in the country.

Tens of thousands of Iraqi professionals, including engineers, doctors, university professors and artists fled the country in the aftermath of the upsurge in insecurity that immediately followed the U.S. invasion.

Azzaman in English

U.S. President Bush Meets Iraqi President Talabani

Yesterday, American President George W. Bush received Iraqi President Jalal Talabani at the White House. They discussed situation in Iraq, political and security developments, provincial elections law and the strategic framework agreement between Iraq and U.S.

Following the meeting, the two Presidents made a press release for journalists and Medias. Below is the full text of their press conference:

PRESIDENT BUSH: Mr. President, welcome. First of all, I am so pleased to see that you're looking good. The President's health is strong, and that's going to be very important for the people of Iraq. After all, there's been no stronger defender of a free Iraq than President Talabani. I've known him for a long time. He cares deeply about the Iraqi people, and he has been a strong defender of human liberty. Mr. President, thanks for the good conversation we had about the election laws, about the need to get a strategic framework agreement signed. And thank you very much for bringing me up to date on your perspective about life inside of Iraq. It's -- things have changed a lot since we've known each other.

PRESIDENT TALABANI: Of course.

PRESIDENT BUSH: And attitudes are completely different now that people realize the security situation has changed and mothers can raise their children in a more normal life. It's still difficult, but there's no doubt that the surge has been effective, which has enabled us to take out troops. Iraqis want there to be fewer U.S. troops, the United States wants there to be fewer U.S. troops, but both of us want to realize that vision based upon success. And so, Mr. President, welcome back. I'm glad you're feeling good. And thank you for the visit.

PRESIDENT TALABANI: Well, Mr. President, thank you very much for giving me the honor of meeting you again. I think it's clear that we are in Iraq looking to you as a hero of liberation of Iraq from worst kind of dictatorship. And now we are working with your -- with you, Mr. President, for finalizing the strategic framework agreement between United States and Iraq. And also, we are always getting benefit from your views about how to secure Iraq. I think you know very well that you and we in Iraq achieved very good successes on terrorism. Now I can say all parts of Iraq liberated from terrorist control and activities. It's true that some groups remain hiding themselves from here or there, but there's no place, no inch of Iraqi land under the control of terrorist activities. There are some terrorist -- still groups working -- hiding themselves, and thanks to you and sacrifice of your brave army and to Iraqi people, now we can live in peace and security. And Iraq government started to spend the money which we have for serving the Iraqi people and rebuilding the country, reconstructing the country. Not only we liberated our country from terrorist activities, but also from militias, outlawed militias who are also making troubles and danger for Iraqi people. And as you have heard, the Basra city, Sadr City, (inaudible), Ninawa, Baquba -- all these cities are now liberated. So we are thankful to you and to your people, your army. We hope that the agreement about this strategy formation will be signed soon. And as usual, we are working, our parliament is working now for finalizing the draft of a new law for election provinces, and I hope that, as I heard the news yesterday, I hope that today it will be finalized, because the groups -- head of groups of parliament are now gathering in parliament to reach -- to finalize this. In our country, we are now busy to reconstruct our country and to rebuild our country. And I am glad to tell you, Mr. President, that our position with our neighbors is improved very well -- with Turkey, with Syria, with Iran, with the Arab countries. The relation is notable now and we have no problem with any of these countries. In contrary, many, many new ambassadors are coming--

PRESIDENT BUSH: That's right.

PRESIDENT TALABANI: -- to our country from Arab countries. And our visit of Prime Minister of Turkey, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and of the -- His Majesty, the King of Jordan, to Baghdad were very successful, and was encouraging to Iraqi people to understand that they have friends outside Iraq. So I hope that friendship and relation between your great people and the Iraqi people will continue and will be strengthened. And we will never forget what you have done for our people.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you, President.

PUKmedia :: English - U.S. President Bush Meets Iraqi President Talabani