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

405 Iraqi companies registered in Sept

A total of 405 Iraqi companies have been registered with the Ministry of Trade’s registration department throughout September.

“Those registered included 402 limited companies and three individual project companies,” according to a ministerial statement received by Aswat al-Iraq.

During the same month, the department issued 173 decisions to amend deeds of association of registered national companies, the statement noted.

Also, 260 Iraqi firms have been subject to investigation for violating the provisions of the amended Companies Law no. 21 of the year 1997, the statement added.

405 Iraqi companies registered in Sept. : Aswat Al Iraq

Saadi: the Draft Agreement was distributed to MPs by mail

Deputy Kamal Saadi from the United Iraqi Alliance that the draft agreement to be signed with the United States had been distributed today to members of Parliament-mail for information and knowledge content.

The Saadi told the independent press (Iba) today, Tuesday, that this is not officially Astelama Parliament of the draft Convention. Saadi explained that the Parliament pending receipt of the draft agreement of the Council of Ministers which discussed today (as Saadi believe).

He said the Cabinet had approved the Convention albeit with some reservations on some points, and may reject all of the Convention, "All possibilities exist."

Saadi stressed that the resolution would be acceptable or not, however, rejected the prime minister, but will make the decision through a vote by members of the Council of Ministers, if approved by the Council of Ministers will be formally sent to the House debated and voted upon.

And the Political Council for National Security had discussed the Convention, but did not decide on the order, believing that there was no full agreement on this issue among the members of the political council.

The Baghdad these days is dialogues and discussions on the subject of multiple agreement with the United States of America, which has swung between rejection and supporters, and between this and that is of the opinion did not go in this regard.

The Political Council for National Security had held two meetings, the two of them expanded to discuss the terms of the Convention and the Agreement on the consolidated resolution on the Convention but they did not Aithamra nothing.

http://74.125.93.104/translate_c?hl=...iSwPWrcQXShXDg

Dabbagh: Council of Ministers requested Amendments to Draft Convention Security

Said government spokesman Ali Dabbagh, the Iraqi cabinet met in its regular day to discuss a draft agreement with the United States of America, where the price of the efforts of the Iraqi negotiating team and its progress in the negotiations and towards a constant set by the government at the beginning of negotiations.

The al-Dabbagh said the Cabinet called on everyone to look at the deal objectively and responsibility and taking into account the public interest.

The al-Dabbagh said the Cabinet unanimously that the necessary amendments to the draft Convention can make them accept the national level and called on ministers to offer those amendments for inclusion in the negotiations with the U.S..

Office Spokesman Iraqi government spokesman Spokesman office for Iraqi Gov. Spokesman office for Iraqi Gov.
/ Press Release/ Press Release

Translated version of http://nahrain.com/news.php?readmore=30780

Parliament: I shall group signatures to put the oil and gas law to parliament

Vice Chairman of the Commission on oil and gas Abdul Hadi al-Hassani, he will collect the signatures of other deputies to put oil and gas law to the House of Representatives.

The al-Hassani, told a news briefing Tuesday to collect signatures for the parliaments to put forward a draft law of oil and gas for its first reading in parliament because that is long overdue.

The oil and gas law has been put forward for discussion in February of last year, allowing Arab and foreign companies with Iraq contracts to extract oil.

Has seen oil and gas law heated debate between the various parties involved and participate in the political process, because the items contain the law allows regions and governorates not associated with the territory of the signing of an oil investment contracts without recourse to Center.

Translated version of http://radionawa.com/(X(1)A(-FQuUy5qyQEkAAAAZTRlNTJmMjYtOTc4OC00M2ZhLTgwODctODM 2OGI0MWI1MzU0H47HnEA_KxF6w1BPNJ12gG_pgvA1))/ar/NewsDetailN.aspx?id=23075&LinkID=99

Dollar demand rises further on Tues.

Demand for the dollar went up further at the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) auction on Tuesday, registering at $183.045 million, compared to $176.755 million in the previous session.

“The demand hit $40.545 million in cash, covered by the bank at an exchange rate of 1,180 Iraqi dinars per dollar; and $142.5 million in foreign transfers outside the country at an exchange rate of 1,177 Iraqi dinars per dollar,” according to a release issued by the CBI.

None of the 14 banks that participated in the session offered to sell dollars.

The Central Bank of Iraq runs a daily auction from Sunday to Thursday.

Dollar demand rises further on Tues. : Aswat Al Iraq

Barzani travel to Iran on Wednesday heading a delegation of Kurdish parties

Iraqi Kurdish politician revealed that the President of Iraq's Kurdistan region Massoud Barzani on Wednesday to travel to Tehran to meet with senior Iranian officials, to discuss topics of common interest, in addition to developing existing relations between the Territory and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The President of the Kurdistan Toilers Party capable Aziz in an interview with "Uzmatik", late on Tuesday that "Barzani will head a delegation comprising a number of leaders of political parties," noting that "the visit is an official invitation from the Iranian side."

Aziz said that "the visit will last three days, will focus on the issue of strengthening ties in all fields, diplomatic, economic and other," adding that "the delegation will hold meetings with senior Iranian officials including President Ahmadinejad."

The Kurdish politician that "the visit is very important especially as it was to invite the President of the Territory and Kurdish political leaders to discuss bilateral relations," he said, pointing to "the importance of Iran's role and influence in the region."

Aziz ruled out that the support shown by the Kurds against Iraqi security signing of the agreement - the U.S., and rejected by the Iranians, "negative impact" on the talks between Iranian leaders and Kurdish delegates, adding that "Iran certainly believe that the Kurdish position on the Convention is not good, and often they send The blame on that, but the region built on the basis of his position and the interests of Iraq, and it supports the premise that the Convention signed in the interest of Iraq and without the Iraqi government can not rely on themselves. "

The many political parties in the Kurdistan region of Iraq has good relations with Iran, expand those relationships for years to the opposition to the former Iraqi regime, it allowed Iran to the parties to establish offices in the Iranian territory and was backed in many cases. In order to develop relations, Tehran in 2003 after the opening of consulates in the region and one in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah in the second.

http://66.102.9.104/translate_c?hl=e...05kTOyDHE8ji6A

Western Zagros Company: Kalar oil is considered to be of very high quality

The KRG deputy premier Omar Fatah on Tuesday met with a delegation from the Western Zagros company which is currently engaged in oil explorations in Bawanoor area in Kalar district of Sulaimani province.

The delegation briefed the KRG deputy premier on their company’s work, announcing that they commenced with drilling the first oil well, which currently reached 3000m in depth, indicating that after digging at about 1200m oil would be found.

The delegation also said that they are ready to dig six other oil wells in that area by the end of the year, indicating that the project might offer job opportunities for thousands of local citizens for more than 20 years.

They announced that the oil in that area- Kalar- oil is considered to be of very high quality according to the international standards.

The KRG deputy premier in addition to applauding their work, clarified that the KRG oil policy is based upon the Iraqi constitution , saying the KRG plans to allocate part of the oil ravenous to rehabilitate, and promote public services in those areas which the oil fields has been found.

Omar Fatah also reiterated the KRG’s support and facilitations to the company’s work in the Kurdistan region.

http://pukmedia.com/english/index.ph...=7121&Itemid=1

'Dramatic' consequences without US-Iraq troop accord: Gates

US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates warned of "pretty dramatic" consequences of not having an accord governing the presence of US troops in Iraq.

As Baghdad leaders said they wanted more changes to the draft agreement now under review, though, the US defense chief also said the door was "pretty far closed" on further negotiations -- though it wasn't slammed shut, he added.

"The consequences of not having a SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) and of not having a renewed UN authorization are pretty dramatic in terms of consequences for our actions," said Gates, speaking to members of three news agencies including AFP.

A status of forces agreement would replace the current UN mandate -- which expires December 31 -- as the legal basis for the US military presence in Iraq.

"Clearly, the clock is ticking," said Gates. "Clearly there is a need to keep moving just so that we don't run out of time."

On Tuesday Iraq Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's cabinet called for changes to the planned security pact, unanimously agreeing to seek unspecified amendments, according to government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh.

"The cabinet called on the ministers to submit their suggestions to be included in the negotiations with the US," he said.

The demand for changes is expected to significantly delay the agreement, which still must be approved by the Iraqi parliament after endorsement by the cabinet.

Iraq's Al-Sharqiya t.e.l.e.vision reported that ministers from both the largest Sunni block -- the National Concord Front -- and the ruling Shiite grouping, the United Iraqi Alliance, wanted amendments.

But Gates and other US officials stressed that the current document should be acceptable to both sides.

"We believe that this is a good text. We wouldn't have had the secretary of state and the secretary of defense making phone calls about this text, if we didn't think it was a good text," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.

According to Gates there are "only two alternatives: the SOFA or a renewed UN mandate, and going back to the UN at this point there is no assurance that you get a clean rollover."

He said there is "great reluctance" to on craft further changes, as the US government consults with Congress on the current draft.

But, Gates said, "if they (Baghdad or Congress) were to come up with something we haven't thought of, or identify problems we missed some way, we would have to take that seriously.

"So I don't think you slam the door shut. But I would say it's pretty far closed."

Earlier Tuesday Iraq's cabinet met on the pact and unanimously called for changes despite US warnings that time is running out for Baghdad to approve the deal.

http://pukmedia.com/english/index.ph...=7123&Itemid=1

Russia, Iran and Qatar agree to form natural gas cartel

Forming an OPEC-style cartel on natural gas was the main headline of talks between Russia, Qatar and Iran despite US and Europeans warnings of proceeding with such a decision.

The Chief ****utive of Russia's state-controlled energy company Gazprom, Alexei Miller, along with Iranian Oil Minister Gholam Hossein Nozari as well as his Qatari counterpart, Abdulla Bin Hamad al-Attiya, announced from Tehran that they have agreed to form a technical committee to study joint projects of natural gas investment and enhance the forum of gas export countries revealing that meetings will be held soon in Moscow and Doha. Iranian Oil Minister clarified that the three countries have agreed to form a joint gas cartel while the other officials were a little reserved about the durability of this organization.

For his part, Qatari Oil Minister avoided the declaration of a new organization saying that there is a common vision of the present gas forum without giving further details.

It is to be noted that Russia, Qatar and Iran are the largest natural gas producing countries holding some 60 percent of world gas reserves. Yet, they differ export wise as Russian is the largest source of liquid natural gas while Qatar is seeking to become the largest export country. As for Iran, it imports gas due to lack of investments and high internal consumption rate.

Russia, Iran and Qatar agree to form natural gas cartel | Economics News | Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network

Japan considers investment opportunities in Iraq

Head of the national committee for investment Ahmad Rida met with Japan’s Ambassador to Iraq in aim to discuss investment opportunities available for Japanese investors. Both officials stressed the necessity of enhancing bilateral relations as Iraq encourages foreign investments therein to raise the country’s economy and increase competition between companies operating in different sectors.

Japan considers investment opportunities in Iraq | Economics News | Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network