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

Baghdad Chamber of Commerce: a plan to set up a training center to provide economic

Baghdad Chamber of Commerce announced a plan to set up an advanced training center in the room to be a technical institute to provide training services.

The head of the room, Amjad Al-Juburi told the independent press (Entcha) said Friday that the Institute be formed which will be providing services in the fields of economy, trade and English at work, correspondence and independent Pawarap a room service offering almost free for members and their families.

He added that the plan is to create a future other advanced business center on the ground floor of the room contains all the communications requirements of Internet service and international flights of Foreign Affairs.

The room Jubouri seek to establish a permanent trade fair in the room in an area of 600 square meters and up to 50-60 kiosk for use by companies and Arab chambers of commerce and foreign Bajaur appropriate. He pointed to provide commercial services to exhibitors from hotel bookings and shipment of goods to and from the exhibition facility.

It should be noted that the exhibition room set up the first qualitative end of October last major exhibition room and with the participation of many Iraqi companies in various sectors, industrial and commercial banking.

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Economist expects higher rates of economic growth in Iraq next year

An economist predicted rates of economic growth in Iraq next year, citing the increase in labor input.

Said Dr. Nabil al-Saidi, professor at the Faculty of Economy and Administration, told the independent press (Entcha) said Friday that increasing the supply of labor resulting from the increase in population and the increasing rates of participation in economic activity is Mahasal in Iraq during the past two years after the increase of salaries for two consecutive years.

He said the government is called upon to improve the quality of labor input, people become more educated and understanding of the economic Oha than they were in the past and the result is owned by the community of human capital stock has risen of interest that could be in greater productivity. Indicating the need for government support of the ministries concerned, especially the sectors associated with the development and strategic development.

Saeedi pointed out that the greater size of the enterprise and the market economy grow, and notes that the experience of the United increases in output than input.

Saeedi stressed that the new information in the fields of economy when applied to production processes can reduce the amount of resources necessary to produce products and also provide new products and materials used were not of economic value. Calling for the implementation of successful programs to impose economic stability.

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Barzani said the Kurds refuse to separate their region from the rest of Iraq

The Massoud Barzani, Kurdistan's president, the Kurds refuse to separate from the rest of the territory of Iraq.

The Kurds are working to create a situation of interdependence between all parts of Iraq, pointing out that attempts to sabotage the relationship of brotherhood between Arabs and Kurds by the people and government bodies.

He should not sabotage the Arab-Kurdish brotherhood in order to get some votes.

The Kurds claim that a democratic federal system in Iraq is to prevent the recurrence of tragedies experienced by the Kurds during the rule of the campaigns of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

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Sunni & Kurdish parties led by Talabani calls for consensus on the Security Agreement

Met with a group of Iraqi parties, the Kurdish, Sunni and called today after a lengthy debate on the compromise resolution to the security agreement to be concluded between Baghdad and Washington. Convening of the meeting at the invitation of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani in the Peace Palace in Baghdad attended by representatives of a number of parliamentary blocs included

Accordance Front and National Dialogue Front and the independent Arab bloc and the Kurdistan Alliance and the Kurdistan Islamic Union and independents.

After the meeting, held a press conference which the President read out a presidential Naseer Ani, the text of a statement issued by the meeting stated that the conferees agreed that much progress is not aimed at parliamentary bloc or a certain party, and they agreed that the basic components together represents the will of Iraq and the need to observe the principle of consensus among themselves when making decisions Fateful and expressed their willingness to deal positively with advanced by the claimant.

They stressed the need to communicate with the parties and parliamentary blocs, especially the Supreme Council and Dawa Party and the Iraqi List, independents, and other parliamentary blocs to reach a compromise resolution on the Iraqi-American Convention, which serves as supreme interests of Iraq.

The statement said the meeting aimed to take binding decisions that would strengthen democracy and effective participation and the adoption of the principle of consensus in the political process.

The meeting comes a day after accusing Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's Kurdish parties of violating the constitution as well as the claim not to overlap of functions between the Presidency and the Council of Ministers.

The head of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region Massoud Barzani said earlier that the Iraqi government led by Maliki tend to work away from dictatorship and compatibility with Iraqi partners, a charge rejected by Maliki.

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Parliament is likely to adopt Law "111" to vote on the troop withdrawal Agreement

Likely deputy, Kamal Al Alliance bloc that the House of Representatives adopted the law 111 of 1979 to vote on the agreement to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq.

Saadi said in a press release that this law depends on a simple majority of the votes of the deputies to ratify international treaties and conventions.

Adding that the use of Parliament to enact new law to the Iraqi constitution provides that two-thirds majority to ratify the treaties and conventions is ruled out.

He pointed out that the new law for the ratification of the Convention needs to be a long time, it is difficult to enact so quickly.

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Iraqi minister of finance for (discussion): funds are oil sales

Discussion | Saad Salloum | with the Iraqi economy stayed away from the direct effects of the global financial crisis, but the indirect effects seemed unclear because of reduced global demand for oil is a source of national income in Iraq, prompting the reduction of the budget in 2009 of 80 billion dollars To 67 billion. Result, there was a wave of concern in the Iraqi street for fear of the Iraqi government had backtracked on the disbursement of salary increases, Which amounted to 150%, and indeed the Ministry of Finance suspended payment increases since the beginning of last October promising the distribution of these accumulated increases early next year. The detection and Planning Minister Ali Baban, a tendency to cut staff numbers by 75% due to inflation, which complained to the economy.

On the other hand Street was Iraqi money, business concern over the fate of other funds and financial assets in Iraq with U.S. banks may be exposed to the risks after the advent of the new U.S. administration headed by Obama. Make us those and other questions to the Office of the Minister of Finance Bayan Jabr Solagh:

Debate: How do you see the advent of black president to the White House?

Solagh: it is undoubtedly a blank page in the history of the United States, and the position has to the American people, to elect a black man of African origin to be president of the United States, while we all know he had until recently prevented a black man to enter the restaurant eggs, so that the section Indicating the store to prevent them from entering.

What happened in the U.S. elections, in our view a positive development, the Chief will not in the United States but the whole world.

Debate: Can the U.S. administration's policy towards Iraq to change with the advent of Obama?

Solagh: By Allah, I think the policy of the United States sum does not change with the change of people, not change the ruling parties, we can not take quick decisions to change this policy both in their political, economic or security or otherwise. I think it will go as it is in the Bush era, at least in the first six months of next year, because it is difficult to change the essence of politics.

Debate: Is there a genuine fear of Iraqi funds in the United States?

Solagh: funds of funds are afraid to trade any money oil sales, we have two kinds of money in the United States: money business resulting from the oil sales go to fund protected by the United Nations (to the Development Fund for Iraq, an Iraqi funds in U.S. banks are protected The UN resolution ending the protection 31-12-2008 - editor) and now we are taking a new Security Council resolution to extend the protection ..And more money is money the Central Bank of the (Iraqi), which has up to forty billion dollars, the money does not fear it because it is not commercial but money is money reserve can protect both in Europe or the United States, and examines by the governor of the Central Bank how to protect them.

Our concern is unwarranted claims on Iraq that threaten the funds in U.S. banks (if protection was lifted about - editor), it was Iraq during the former regime is a state sponsor of terrorism, but the new Iraq is without a doubt affected by terrorism, and there Claims of U.S. citizens affected by the events of 11 September and Oklahoma that stands behind them a mad man, he was arrested and punished and ****uted after admitting he took his fair punishment, however, citizens are demanding compensation against many countries, including Iraq.

Despite that on 11 September there was no suicide of Iraqi nationality, but many U.S. citizens who calls against us. These cases can be traced easily, and now the Ministry of Justice is working day and night with the team of lawyers from the United States to respond and the formation of defenses, and we hope to get rid of them soon, these are the risks to the Iraqi money in the United States. We are planning for how to protect the money as much as we can.

There are also multiple claims on Iraq debt, are held by the private sector (external), which remains a fraction of them are in no case exceed the amount of $ 7 billion, and we cut our debt, which was a descendant of 140 billion dollars, and we are with the legal advisor to extinguish the debt-final.

Debate: class staff is concerned about the receipt of the backlog of salary increases the last three months of this year, may increase will be spent?

Solagh: Last week, agree to pay for those increases received by employees in the month of January (January) next, only transferred to the banks to hand them over to them, it's irreversible, with all the concern is tendentious rumors of enemies at home who do not want to answer them And Sotrkhm say we will not pay increases for staff, and leave the next few days to prove the contrary, the staff will lose confidence, bearing those words.

Debate: Are you the level of courage to take difficult decisions negatively affect the social level, but positive for the Iraqi economy, reduction of salaries and increase taxes and reduce the size of public sector employment, particularly since 25% of the budget goes to salaries and pensions?

Solagh: in fact, I am against the salary reductions, and I will stay as long as I insisted in the Ministry of Finance that the Iraqi staff member receives the highest salary possible, although many economists stressed the need for an increase in the non-payment of salaries, but Abart for payment, and insisted will continue as long as I am In the ministry, the employee must receive the increase for the years 2009-2010.

Debate: What is behind this insistence?

Solagh: simply and oil Iraq is a country where many good things, and we have to develop this industry and agriculture sectors instead of real pressure on the citizen and reduce the salary, on the other must go to develop and increase oil production. I'm with Iraq exported 3 million barrels a day so that the Iraqi people and Itervh Itnam this blessing.

Debate: We are about to receive the new year, how do you evaluate the work of the Ministry of Finance during the year 2008?

Solagh: 2008 saw the use of smart cards for pensioners and social welfare included for the first time in the history of Iraq, which contributed to the elimination of trouble the elderly and the reduction of administrative corruption, this case was a dream for me a year ago, and I hope to start next year, credit card, etc. However, this is a dream ever since I work on now, and God Sokmlh next year.

The other case, which lasted 6 months of my effort is to re-impose customs duties, some said that Minister of Finance and not the jurisdiction of a subject, but I regularly to Protect Iraqi farms through the imposition of duties on imported vegetables and fruits in season harvest in Iraq. Now we are planning the same thing with the industrial sector for development. Helmi my latest general budget of $ 150 billion b where Merfha Iraqi citizens and Iraqi staff member receives the highest salary in the Middle East.

Debate: how to achieve this dream last?

Solagh: will be achieved when the oil ministry to increase output to 3 and a half million barrels a day, and here I mean export production and not only, with production should be more export need to fill the domestic market of petroleum products, so we do not have to import oil derivatives, I'm not here I want to rely exclusively on oil but must participate industry and agriculture with the oil sector.

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Investment Authority to draw up a program to encourage investment in Iraq

Announced the National Authority for the investment program to encourage investment and transfer of modern technologies to contribute to the development of the economy and encourage the private sector.

The chancellor said the Abdullah in Bandar said the program also aims to encourage foreign investment in Iraq by providing the necessary facilities for the establishment of enterprises and enhance competitiveness by market requirements and provide jobs for the unemployed.

The program is carried in some of its instructions concerning the protection of the rights and property investors and the expansion of exports, balance of payments and Iraqi trade balance with the investment policies and controls.

He said that given all the laws of the projects submitted by foreign concessions and guarantees would be continued and developed with the most important sectors to identify and prepare projects to map the light of the information provided by the provincial and district bodies.

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Iraq's presidency demands suspension of pro-Maliki groups

Iraq's presidential council demanded on Friday that Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki suspend pro-government tribal councils so their legality could be reviewed amid an escalating quarrel over them.

"We demand that you intervene to order a halt to the work of these councils until there is agreement about them, in order to provide administrative and legal cover for them," the council said in a letter posted on its website.

The so-called Support Councils have already drawn fire from Iraq's two main Kurdish parties, who earlier this month accused Maliki of creating his own militias to consolidate Baghdad's grip on ethnically mixed regions.

But the council statement -- coming from Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, Shiite Vice President Adel Abdel Mahdi and Sunni Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi, could set the stage for a wider political brawl over the groups.

The council has a veto power over all laws ratified by parliament.

Maliki has defended the Support Councils as a natural outgrowth of the Sahwa (Awakening) movement that began in the western province of Anbar in 2006, when the government allied with local Sunni militias to drive out Al-Qaeda.

The Sahwas have since expanded across the country and have played a key role in the dramatic improvement in security over the past year.

But the presidential council said the Support Councils formed more recently might be unnecessary and required legal review.

"For us to begin today to form councils paid for by the national budget to assume a role that has no known institutional or legal place, this is a situation that needs a serious pause," it said.

The statement said officials outside of the prime minister's office had received no briefings about the councils and were relying solely on press reports and public statements.

Both the Kurds and Shiite rivals to Maliki have objected to the councils, viewing them as an instrument of expanding the premier's power, fears that could deepen ahead of provincial elections slated for January.

http://pukmedia.com/english/index.ph...=7736&Itemid=1

RIL's oil deals with Kurdistan illegal: Iraq

Almost a year after TOI had reported that Baghdad could blacklist Mukesh Ambani-controlled Reliance Industries Ltd over its "acquisition" of prospecting rights in two acreages in the Kurdistan region, Iraq's oil minister Hussain Al-Shahristani has gone on record saying the contracts were illegal and the Indian company would not be allowed to bid in the forthcoming auction of oilfields.

To make matters worse -- and perhaps embarrassing -- for Reliance, the Iraqi minister also said any oil produced and taken away or out of the country without approval of the central (Baghdad) government was tantamount to "smuggling" and would be dealt with accordingly.

Reliance had signed a contract for the Rovi and Sarta blocks in northern Iraq, paying a signature bonus of $15-17 million. Nearly 80% of the blocks, measuring 450-500 sq km, are made up of oil-bearing structures and the company had expressed confidence of making a discovery soon. The deals with Reliance were part of seven contracts signed by the Kurdish government recently in defiance of Baghdad's exploration law.

On November 15, 2007, Al-Shahristani had told TOI on the sidelines of the 3rd OPEC summit in Riyadh, "Our position is very clear. Any company that signs oil contracts (with regional governments) without federal government approval will compromise its chances of getting future oil contracts in Iraq."

He had also said the "companies have been told" about the consequences. Asked what these consequences could be, the Iraqi minister said, "Well, for one they will not be allowed to take Iraqi oil out of the country."

Confirming the move, Al-Shahristani told the official monthly bulletin of OPEC, the oil exporters' cartel that accounts for 40% of global supplies, "The contracts that were signed by the KRG (Kurdistan Regional Government) were in violation of current laws and in violation of the draft hydrocarbons (law)... therefore we have announced that those contracts are not standing with Iraq." Iraq is an OPEC member but its oil production is not included in output quotas for members.

"Foreign companies have no right to work on Iraqi territory without the approval of the central authority and they deal with the consequences of their actions... Any oil produced in Iraq or taken out of the country without the approval of the central government is considered smuggling and will be dealt with as such... we again draw the attention of the international oil companies that any contract with these sides (KRG) without the approval of the central government is illegal and they will be not allowed to participate in any bid rounds in Iraq," Al-Sharistani said.

Iraq, with the world's second-largest proven oil reserves, already announced first round of bidding for oilfields that saw explosive interest by global energy giants. State-run ONGC Videsh is among the companies shortlisted but Reliance does not figure in the list. A second bid round is likely to be announced before the end of the year.

Along with Reliance, the regional government had also signed two production-sharing contracts with Austria's OMV Petroleum Exploration Gmbh for Mala Omar and Shorish blocks. Separately, the Akre-Bijeel block was awarded to Kalegran Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MOL Hungarian Oil and Gas Plc and Gulf Keystone Petroleum Ltd, a subsidiary of Britain's Gulf Keystone.

http://pukmedia.com/english/index.ph...=7737&Itemid=1

Kurdistan region to release its stance on al-Maliki’s statements, official spokesman says

“Kurdistan Regional Presidency has been studying recent statements by Iraqi premier Nouri al-Maliki,” Fuad Hessen, the Head of Kurdistan Region Presidency Office, told the reporters.

He also said that al-Maliki’s statements were all against the constitutional and official Iraqi and the Kurdistan region institutions.

“Following the study of such statements, we release the stance of the Kurdistan region.” he concluded.

http://pukmedia.com/english/index.ph...=7743&Itemid=1