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

Iraq will lose 16 billion dollars a year if it did not agree on the security agreement

Revealed reports of a U.S. firm warning indicates that U.S. officials extended to the Iraqi government of the consequences of non-conclusion of the convention security, which included sanctions, including cutting off aid reconstruction and stop training Iraqi security forces and Border Protection Iraqi airspace.

According to newspaper (McClatchy) U.S., the warning by General Raymond Odierno, commander of U.S. forces in Iraq and contains a list of services which will make the United States and the U.S. General warned that Iraq would collapse in the absence of the signing of the Convention.

According to the same source, it is between these warnings that Iraq would lose 6.3 billion dollars of U.S. aid for reconstruction and security forces and economic activities, as well as 10 billion dollars a year on military purchases.

According to the newspaper, the Iraqi officials, that it ((the threat of danger)) and are concerned that blocking the Convention on the legal status of forces in Iraq, the U.S. could lead to crisis in Iraq.

Without agreement, or renew the UN mandate, the U.S. occupation presence would be illegal under international law.

A spokesman for General Odierno, Lt. Col. James Huoton list ((give information as part of our routine with many (institutions) of the Government of Iraq)).

According to a document warning, which came in three pages, the ((not a mandate or a new weight Convention in the first (January), the United States will depend on the exchange of intelligence with the Iraqi government and stop the provision of air traffic control and air defense training teams Or advisers in the ministries. And that there would be no room for the disposal of Iraqis held by the United States)), without a security agreement.

Odierno says a letter warning that U.S. forces would stop training Iraqi security forces and Iraq's air force and navy almost non-working, and patrolling the borders and protect waterways.

The U.S. military also stop the recruitment of about 200 thousand Iraqis and renovation of 8.500 Humvee that had been given to Iraqi security forces

Translated version of http://www.iraqpa.net/user/newsdetail.aspx?id=6884

Iraq intends to reduce interest rates by one percentage point to reach 15 percent

The governor of the central bank said on Thursday that Iraq intends to reduce interest rates by one percentage point to reach 15 percent in order to stimulate growth and that Iraq wants to reduce the annual core inflation to ten percent in 2009 from 13 percent currently

Sinan al-Shabibi told Reuters in Amman that economic growth in the non-oil sectors has been modest this year at 3.5 percent. He said the government aimed to lift this ratio to five percent in 2009 and at least seven percent in 2010.

The governor said that Iraq would move soon to lower interest rates and interest rates at banks will suffer one percentage point to 15 percent.

Translated version of http://www.hewarat.dk/hewarat_data.php?sid=12669

Oil Minister ... Budget for Iraq in 2009 based on the price of $62 Oil

Iraq's Oil Minister Hussein Shahristani said on Thursday Iraq's new budget for 2009 assumes a price of $ 62 per barrel of oil. Iraq was supposed by the average oil price of $ 80 a barrel. Shahristani was speaking at a meeting in Amman between the IMF and the Iraqi government to examine the impact of falling oil prices on the economy of Iraq. Oil prices rose more than a dollar above $ 68 a barrel on Thursday, supported by dollar weakness and expectations that lower interest rates in the United States and China will strengthen the global economy.

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Demand for the dollar doubles in CBI auction

Demand for the dollar was remarkably higher at the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) auction on Thursday, registering at $169.375 million, compared to over $74 million in the previous session.

“The demand hit $33.875 million in cash, covered by the bank at an exchange rate of 1,179 Iraqi dinars per dollar; and $135.5 million in foreign transfers outside the country at an exchange rate of 1,176 Iraqi dinars per dollar,” according to a release issued by the CBI.

None of the 13 banks that participated in the session offered to sell dollars.

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

Demand for the dollar doubles in CBI auction : Aswat Al Iraq

Zeros removal from currency still under study

The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) on Thursday confirmed that the proposal to drop three inflation-generated zeros from the Iraqi currency is still under study.

“The crystallization of the idea is part of the CBI’s future plan to develop the Iraqi national currency in accordance with the ongoing economic development in the country,” according to a CBI statement received by Aswat al-Iraq.

The statement noted that all progress made on the issue will be announced to the public.

A recent proposal to drop three inflation-generated zeros from Iraqi banknotes has sparked heated controversy in Iraqi economic circles, with some experts arguing that the process will not boost the economy or the country’s monetary mechanism.

Several economic experts argued that dropping zeros from inflated currency is a purely administrative process that will have no influence over the Iraqi economy.

Zeros removal from currency still under study : Aswat Al Iraq

Alawi calls for delaying sign of pact till U.S. elections end

Iyad Alawi, the head of the Iraqi List in the Iraqi Parliament and the former prime minister said that its illogical the U.S. forces to withdraw from Iraq if the security pact was not signed at the end of this year.

During an interview with a T.V show broadcasted by Al-Hurra S.a.t.ellite channel, Alawi called for delaying the sign on the pact until the new U.S. administration officially begins its work.

He pointed out that democratic members in the Congress told him on Wednesday that Presidential candidate Barack Obama prefers to delay sign of pact after the U.S. elections.

http://pukmedia.com/english/index.ph...=7278&Itemid=1

Washington may offer "a compromise" of the Security Agreement. Bush hopes to sign "Sofa" and his administration begin to study amendments to Baghdad

Likely source to provide the American administration "compromise solution" of the amendments demanded by Baghdad on a draft security agreement

The source said in a telephone conversation with the "morning": that the government had applied to amend the national convention, indicating that the U.S. side was not taken aback by these demands, and said he will be investigated thoroughly. He said "the ball is now in the court of the United States wants an agreement if the government Feltqubl draft" Available, saying: "There we received signals include the possibility of accepting some changes, and reach a compromise on the last. Did not indicate the source said," The government will accept the implementation of some and left others to the adjustments or not, "he said," comes the official American response would be for every incident.

In Washington, U.S. President George W. Bush: It is the hope and confidence in the security agreement passed, and the United States is considering amendments requested by Baghdad. Bush said during a meeting with Iraq's Kurdistan regional president Massoud Barzani said that "the United States is considering amendments to the Convention on the U.S. troops I have received from the Maliki government, "he said:" We analyze these amendments, and of course we want to be builders of hope and without undermining the basic principles.

"Informed sources had said the" morning "on Saturday, the government had sent the amendments approved amendments to the Convention security to the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker, The U.S. embassy in Baghdad on information "morning", indicating that the proposals under consideration Baghdad. In the meantime, informed sources revealed that Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and U.S. President Tdarsa during a telephone conversation between the two sides Monday, the security agreement. The sources said Bush told Maliki, his willingness to consider proposals of Baghdad, without giving further details. In Najaf, said the religious leader Ali Sistani keen not to prejudice the sovereignty of Iraq security agreement.

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Commuter rail serves comes to Baghdad

Iraqi officials have launched a new commuter train service in an attempt to ease congestion on Baghdad's chronically crowded, dusty streets _ another sign of improved security in the capital.

The new service, which started this week, comes as public irritation is mounting over traffic jams. The clogged streets are a result of better security but also caused by numerous police checkpoints that help stop bombers but also slow down cars and trucks.

«We have launched this train to ease congestion and traffic jams on Baghdad's streets,» said Abdul-Ameer Hamoud, the director of central transport. «The arrival of a passenger by train is faster than by car to and from the center of Baghdad.

Starting in the morning, the commuter train pulls out of the Baghdad's blue-domed main station and runs north to the mostly Shiite neighborhood of Kazimiyah, then cuts down through central Baghdad to the mainly Sunni suburb of Yousifiyah in the south.

The train makes a handful of stops, in both Sunni and Shiite neighborhoods, along its 15-mile (25-kilomter) journey. A ticket costs 1,000 Iraqi dinars ($.80).

Still, transport officials say they are unsure just how popular the new service will be as Iraqis adjust to the idea of rail travel in Baghdad, and it may face an uphill struggle in winning passengers.

AP T.e.l.e.vision News footage showed only a small number of people riding the train Thursday morning.

At the moment, the only major rail line in the country runs from Baghdad to the southern city of Basra.

Last September, rail officials put Saddam Hussein's private luxury train _ complete with chandeliers and Italian-made curtains _ into public service to help ease Iraq's train shortage.

http://www.pr-inside.com/commuter-ra...ad-r889849.htm

Update......

Iraq agreed with the International Monetary Fund to balance the value of 67 billion dollars for 2009

Iraq agreed with the International Monetary Fund to balance the value of 67 billion dollars for 2009, as announced by Finance Minister Bayan Jabr. Jabor, who said at a press conference: "We have agreed with the International Monetary Fund to Moisntna of 2009 would be worth 67 billion dollars." He added: "Moisntna based on the price of 62 dollars per barrel of oil." The basic expectations for next year's budget in Iraq worth $ 79, based on the price of 80 dollars per barrel of oil.

Translated version of http://www.hewarat.dk/hewarat_data.php?sid=12678

Government raised the possibility of removing a clause to extend the stay of U.S. troops beyond 2011 the Convention on the Sofa

MP from the Dawa Party, Ali al-Adeeb, said among the proposed amendments to the security agreement with the United States planned to cancel the possibility of extending the survival of U.S. forces after the year 2011 and re-wording of some articles in the Arabic version.

The Attorney-Adeeb, told reporters that the Iraqi government submitted amendments to Washington on five points in the final draft of the Convention on the most important security removing a clause that "the possibility to request an extension of U.S. forces remaining in the country."

The previous draft of the Convention indicated that U.S. troops withdraw from Iraq by the end of 2011 unless requested to extend survival in the country.

A writer that the Iraqi government is demanding that the withdrawal of U.S. troops from cities by specific dates and not to mention any paragraph refers to the possibility of extending those dates.

Writer also revealed that Baghdad had proposed an amendment to the paragraph referring to the U.S. authorities is the benchmark against which determine whether U.S. soldiers who commit crimes or offenses were committed during the military mission of the crimes or not, he stresses that Baghdad to be the common task is to decide which That.

The Iraqi government demands all subjected to material within and out of Iraq for inspection and control.

It should be noted that the writer is the second man in the Dawa party led by Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, a close to the Iraqi side negotiator

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