Thread: Archive - Latest News Think Tank - 15/01/09 - 04/05/09

Gates will visit Egypt and Saudi Arabia to intensify their presence in Iraq

Intends to U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates visit Egypt and Saudi Arabia for talks on the security situation in the region and the issues of Iraq and Afghanistan and the Middle East peace efforts, in addition to the role of Iran in the region.

And American sources said that Gates will urge Egypt and Saudi Arabia to increase their presence in Baghdad and the diplomatic debt write-off of the Iraqi government and Iraq's involvement in the negotiations on regional security.

The American minister that one of the ways to contain Iranian influence in Iraq is to increase the Arab presence in this country.

The source at the Ministry of Defense that the purpose of the visits also include discussion of U.S. assistance to Egypt, which has taken additional measures to combat smuggling through tunnels along the border with the Gaza Strip, and the role of mediator, which can be played by Riyadh in the negotiations between the Afghan government and the moderate wing of the Taliban.

http://209.85.227.132/translate_c?hl...nbH-eVX8ovCriw

Lower demand for the dollar on Monday

Demand for the dollar dropped in the Central Bank of Iraq’s (CBI) auction on Monday, reaching $107.14 million compared to $122.850 million in the previous session.

“The demand hit $2.940 million in cash, covered by the bank at an exchange rate of 1,176 Iraqi dinars, and $104.200 million in foreign transfers outside the country, covered by the bank at an exchange rate of 1,173 Iraqi dinars per dollar,” according to a CBI news bulletin received by Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

None of the 12 banks that participated in today’s session offered to sell dollars.

http://en.aswataliraq.info/?p=112572

$30 million projects in Basra

The U.S. reconstruction team agreed to allocate $30 million from the donors countries to implement services projects in Basra, a U.S. official said on Monday.

“The fund will be used in carrying out three projects; the establishment of a desalination plant in Karmat Ali district at a cost of $10 million as well as two projects to set up sewage networks in Basra with $10 million each,” the official told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

“Carrying out the projects will be implemented soon by the U.S. reconstruction team,” he added.

http://en.aswataliraq.info/?p=112600

Who benefits from Iraq’s treasure of business opportunities?

There is no country in the world with as many business and investment opportunities as Iraq. Iraq is perhaps the only country in the world with an endless list of offers for firms and individuals to start business and make money.

Iraq itself has turned into an opportunity-for-all since the 2003 U.S. invasion. It has become a good opportunity for all those who lack the potential, the efficiency and the skills to do anything useful in life.

So, one should not be surprised to see an illiterate and unemployed person to suddenly become a big businessman and contractor.

It is not surprising in Iraq to see people with no education or background to become advisers for government ministries or worse have a hidden hand in all ministerial matters, mainly allocation of resources and contracts.

This virus has contaminated local media. It is not surprising to see ‘commentators’ and ‘analysts’, even in Arabic media outside Iraq, airing their views on crucial matters and they in reality have nothing to do with the subjects they talk about.

In Iraq, opportunists can play the villain and hero at the same time. In Iraq one can be a thief in the morning and an upright citizen in the evening. Both roles are possible for anyone seeking the ocean of opportunities currently available in Iraq.

The thing is once you get an opportunity in Iraq you may rest assured that it will breed so many others. But an opportunity will only beget another if you are close to political factions with power.

The unwritten law of opportunities in Iraq is strange and unique. You will never come across it anywhere in the world.

Iraq has become a country – and thanks to U.S. occupation and its lackeys – in which opportunities are snatched not by real entrepreneurs but by thieves.

Those qualified to get the opportunity to develop, reconstruct and bring peace to the country are persecuted, forced to flee and turned into refugees – if not killed or imprisoned.

Life is said to be an opportunity. But in Iraq it is not available to those qualified. The opportunity is given by those who in the first place did not deserve the opportunity they now enjoy.

http://www.azzaman.com/english/index...05-04\kurd.htm

Sarkozy Maliki: Iraq will be a center of investment in the region

Gave the visit by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, to Paris, a new impetus for strengthening cooperation and developing relations, Iraq - French in various areas.

Maliki, who met at the Elysee Palace yesterday evening, President Nicolas Sarkozy and assured him that Iraq would be a hub for investment in the region, Will hold talks with his French counterpart, Francois Fillon, as they hoped to lead to the identification conventions to be signed in Paris today or during a visit to Baghdad soon Fillon. The sources associated with the Iraqi delegation in France for the (morning), Maliki studied with President Sarkozy, a number of files, the most important directions for future investment, or the Government of French companies in Iraq, support for Paris to lift the international sanctions imposed on the country by the regime's policies Alambad, in addition to the security situation and how the contribution of France in this aspect by providing weapons to Baghdad, as well as the file of the trade and economic cooperation in other areas. The Prime Minister has arrived in Paris on Saturday night, at the head of a high-level delegation, within the European tour also included the London and concludes today. The sources said the earlier statement of the "morning" from the capital Paris, that Maliki will meet his French counterpart, as the two sides will discuss a number of issues in the forefront of the conventions to be signed between the two countries, which include sectors and vital areas. It should be noted that the Prime Minister said during his meeting with representatives of French companies and Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, said all the conditions are ripe for investment in Iraq by global corporations, calling at the same time, French companies to participate in developing the Iraqi economy and investment in various areas and improve infrastructure. The sources said there was a trend (an Iraqi - French) of the signing of a joint cooperation agreements, noting that either of these agreements signed today in Paris, or will close during a visit by Sarkozy to Baghdad. The Prime Minister had signed with his British counterpart Gordon Brown in London on the sidelines of his participation in the investment conference in Iraq last week, a cooperation agreement between the two countries aimed at strengthening the strategic relations, technical and economic.

In the meantime, the Prime Minister reassured French investors, said when the stability of the situation in Iraq and the recent operations is limited and should be discouraged foreign investors. Maliki said in a press conference held at the Diplomatic Academy International yesterday evening, "What happened in the recent period does not affect the process stability, and there is no question of a return to the situation that prevailed two years ago." He added that "some countries and banned after their firms to come to Iraq, is now encouraging them to invest in the country," he said, adding that Iraq and France enjoy privileged relations. He continued: "Iraq wants to open up to all members of the international community and our visit to France, the embodiment of this desire," he said, adding that "Iraq no longer poses a threat to world peace, and wants the international community to support the lifting of sanctions imposed on it."

http://209.85.229.132/translate_c?hl...3geRLnnvEl59xQ