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

America: Kurdistan Region’s businessmen sign several contracts

Kurdistan Regions’ Exporters and Importers Union made crucial role in encouraging the foreign companies to invest in the Kurdistan region during their visit to Building Material Exhibition in the American city of Las Vegas, according to a report by the Media Department of Exporters and Importers Union.

Regarding this, Head of Exporters and Importers Union Sheikh Mustafa Abdulrahman, in a phone call, told PUKmedia, “The exhibition was attended by several prominent figures including the special representative of Barak Obama, Mayer of Las Vegas in addition to 1.500.000 tradesmen and well-known figures. In which various kind of building material, home and car equipments were exhibited by 500 US companies and 1200 European companies.”

Sheikh Mustafa also said, “An introducing conference was held at the sidelines of the exhibition in the Hall of Vizen Hotel in Las Vegas in which each company introduced its identity to the attendees. We could choose a group of high-level company to meet with them about signing some deals.”

http://pukmedia.com/english/index.ph...=8939&Itemid=1

Doha Centre offers refuge to shoe thrower

The Doha Centre for Media Freedom yesterday called for the immediate release of Iraqi journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi, who has been in prison since he threw his shoes at US President George W Bush during a press conference in Baghdad last month, and offered to give him temporary shelter to ensure his safety.

The Centre's director-general, Robert Ménard, said that while Al-Zaidi's gesture on December 14 was not in line with the values defended by the Doha Centre, the time he had already spent in prison was out of proportion to the offence committed and the effect on Bush. He made the offer in an open letter to Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki.

One of Al-Zaidi's lawyers, Mauro Poggia, from Switzerland, said that his client had been beaten in detention and tortured to get him to sign an apology. He said he would go to Baghdad for his trial on January 31. If convicted of premeditated aggression, the journalist would face between five and 15 years in prison.

http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZA...shoe%20thrower

Iraq imposes transport bans, curfews for election

Iraqi election officials on Saturday ordered transport bans and night-time curfews to boost security during the provincial polls on January 30 and 31.

Iraq's borders will be sealed off as well as all civilian airports and provincial borders from 10 pm (1900 GMT) on Friday until 5 am (0200 GMT) on February 1, the election commission announced.

Curfews are to be imposed next Friday and Saturday nights frm 10 pm until 5 am, and civilians banned from carrying guns, even with a permit. Only vehicles with official authorisation will be allowed to take to the streets of Baghdad and provincial capitals on Saturday. "In no instance will any car be authorised to approach a polling station," it said. Both days of polling are to be declared public holidays.

With the help of the United Nations, Iraq is holding the elections in 14 of its 18 provinces -- the first vote in the country since 2005. Some 15 million Iraqis are being called to the polls to elect officials for 440 seats.

http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidAN...for%20election

CBI sells $861m, lowers exchange rate 1 point

Total demand on the dollar went down at the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) auctions this week to reach $861 million with an exchange rate that was less one point at 1,170 Iraqi dinars (ID) compared to last week's.

The CBI sales last week hit $1.106 billion while the exchange rate was stable at ID1,171 after it was decreased by one point compared to the previous week.

The demand reached $129.260 million in cash at an exchange rate of ID1,176, while foreign transfers hit $731.765 million at an exchange rate of ID1,173.

"The CBI policy in its foreign exchange sessions hinges on fixing and enhancing the Iraqi dinar's rate versus the dollar in a bid to face the inflation pressures," CBI advisor Madhar Muhammad Saleh told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZA...te%201%20point

Turkey, Iraq, US to cooperate against PKK

Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said his country expects from Baghdad to take tangible measures in order to face Kurdistan Workers Party separatists stationed in the mountains of northern Iraq. In a joint press conference with his Iraqi counterpart Hosheyar Zebari who is visiting Ankara, Babacan noted that diminishing PKK activities in northern Iraq is an “essential element” in consolidating Iraqi-Turkish ties.

For his part, Zebari noted that Turkey, Iraq and the United States have agreed to set up a joint command centre in northern Iraq to gather intelligence to fight Kurdish PKK rebels in the region.

“We agreed to set up a joint command centre in Irbil,” Zebari said.

http://www.alsumaria.tv/en/Iraq-News...ainst-PKK.html

Ministry of Transportation agrees with German company over railroads projects in Iraq

Ministry of Transportation signed contracts with a number of German companies in order to implement a project that aims at linking Baghdad to provinces with railroads and to link the same to neighboring countries. A source in the Ministry said that the same held many common meetings with representatives of German Companies specialized in implementing railroads and that these companies uttered willingness to enter the Iraqi market and to start transportation projects.

http://www.alsumaria.tv/en/Economics...s-in-Iraq.html

Maliki: Iraq regained its sovereignty, complete and incomplete

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki that the Iraqis were able to miss that opportunity to their enemies and make their way towards a new life. Maliki said at the large population of Iraq that there was no sectarian, ethnic and party-building in the new Iraq. He pointed out that the national cohesion among the residents returned the same country and that the fabric is no longer Balterv but returned very difficult circumstances experienced by Iraq has suffered. He also said national unity is impregnable barrier, which unites the people. He stressed that Iraq has regained its full sovereignty and rights, and this is achieved through the solidarity of his sons.

http://66.102.9.101/translate_c?hl=e...3hTzxW8In7uwRg

The Presidency Council to discuss Iraq's participation & economic summit meeting of Qatar

Council discussed the presidency Thursday, my participation in the Iraq-Arab economic summit in Kuwait and Qatar, the consultative meeting, which took place a few days ago, focusing on debt issues and the relations with Kuwait.

He said a presidential statement received by the agency (Voices of Iraq) a copy of which was that the presidency held a meeting at the Peace Palace in Baghdad, today (Thursday), headed by President Jalal Talabani, discussed Iraq's participation at the Arab summit and the economic and social development - a summit of solidarity with the Palestinian people in Gaza, which was held in Kuwait recently.

The statement quoted Talabani as saying that the summit in the 1-19 was "an important statement of the positions of Iraq where the issues raised, from which the Israeli attacks on the Palestinian people in Gaza, where Deprecate the attacks and called for the immediate withdrawal of invading forces and opening the crossings to the entry of humanitarian aid and the lifting of the economic embargo on the civilians. "

During the meeting, President Talabani said, "Iraq called on Arab states and friendly and the international community to contribute to the reconstruction program and the building was destroyed by the war in Gaza."

The Talabani "light on the results of the Iraqi-Kuwaiti talks, which took place on Wednesday before leaving the State of Kuwait, stressing that the results were positive and encouraging on all issues that concern the two countries, and including the issue of debt and the demarcation of the border, and set up a joint committee chaired by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs Iraq and Kuwait to oversee the resolution of outstanding issues, "according to reports statement.

The Deputy President of the Republic, Mr. Tariq al-Hashemi, who presided over the official delegation participating in the consultative meeting held in the Qatari capital Doha in the 1-16, on the positive role of Iraq at the meeting, according to the statement.

http://66.102.9.102/translate_c?hl=e...fvGRraDwjJ0gjw

Features of investment in the Iraqi arena

Iraqi arena witnessed the movement of investment and initiated a large province of Karbala during the signing of a number of investment agreements with a number of local and international companies.

With the National Authority signed a memorandum of understanding for investment with the United Nations Development Program in order to assist in the preparation of the national strategy to invest in Iraq and revealed the level of its intention to convene a conference on the broad middle of next February will include the heads of the departments in the provinces and specialists in this field in all the ministries, the delegation visited Tejari Saudi province of Karbala to prepare and agree on a number of giant investment projects in the city ..

She was the National Authority for Investment signed a memorandum of understanding with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in the Jordanian capital Amman for the preparation of national strategic investment for the presence of representatives of the Iraqi embassy.

A statement by the Cabinet Information Center, said the strategy will be to draw a clear picture of the level and nature of foreign direct investment and domestic investment, which Iraq is seeking to acquire them. The statement quoted in the authoritative source as saying that the strategy will determine the role of such investments in the Iraqi economy and how they contribute to the well-being of the largest citizen. He said the Iraqi government will work to recruit the productivity of these investments and to identify signs of comparison to the experience of other countries.

On a related matter disclosed in the Chancellor Abdullah Bandar on the near completion of all necessary preparations to hold an extended conference of the heads of departments of the provincial officials in the ministries. The Abanndran conference to be held in Baghdad in mid-February of next month to discuss the issue of allocation of land identified for investment, both domestic and foreign investment and mapping in Baghdad and the provinces, adding that the conference aims to activate the relationship between the one hand, and provincial and local councils on the other. He added that many research papers will be presented during the conference to get to the ways of overcoming the difficulties faced by the investors and provide guarantees and privileges, especially the preservation and that the consent required for the commencement of any investment project submitted by the Commission, stressing the need for cooperation between government departments and ministries concerned with economic affairs and the Board.

Bandar said that the Authority has implemented a program to develop the work of the single window of their needs through the provision of work, explaining that the department is under follow-up requests for investors who wish to work in Iraq and leave them with the official legal to do so.

The move has been welcomed moves the center of economic investment in Iraq, which count it an important step towards the achievement of a number of construction projects and strategic, which Iraq is in dire need them, especially as land investment is now ready to receive the full images of companies and businessmen who have a desire to invest in the country benefiting from the stability The security's great all Iraqi provinces at the present time, which allows for businessmen and companies to work freely and more open than it was more than a year ago, according to the number of those involved in economic affairs ..

He called on the Iraqi government was also concerned to move quickly towards the presentation of the paragraphs of the investment law, which passed in the year 2006, global companies are taking advantage enjoyed by the country's security situation could be a cover most of the work of such companies in Iraq at the present time, stressing the importance of taking the National Authority for Investment real role in attracting investments to the country by removing a number of obstacles facing the work of businessmen and to proceed to complete the law of force and the deployment of one of the concepts of international companies and draw the map of the major investment needs of the country's architectural projects have priority in the implementation and the needs of the country as it ..

To ... Met with Vice-Chairman of the Investment Authority in Karbala, Al-Hajj Jamal Yassin, a delegation representing the Group of Companies Al Bo fifty Saudi Arabia. Yassin al-Hajj, said "The delegation declared its willingness to establish investment projects in the province, especially the industrial, residential and tourism, which is one of the best areas to invest in Iraq," The group has received all the Albu Fifty investment projects submitted by the Commission, will be to complete a number of them after the the selection of an appropriate project for the work of the company, "as the access to the investment map and made a number of proposals for the establishment of new projects. The delegation included the Chairman of the Board of the group, Mohamed Moussa Bo fifty, and a number of heads of subsidiary companies filed with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates. of said the chairman of the group "that enjoys the benefits of Karbala make the focus of attention of many Arab and foreign investors alike," he said, stressing the existence of a "competition between the major companies to enter Iraq for the purpose of investment, particularly in view of the sanctity of Karbala and geographical stance suitable for a number of tourism projects. "

As announced in the body of Karbala eight work permits granted to foreign companies will set up projects in the province .. The chairman said there is Dr. Jalal Jawad al-Hashemi said that the leave was granted to eight companies, investment worth 838 million U.S. dollars. The al-Hashemi: "The eight Iraqi and foreign companies, including Turkish, Iranian and British obtained the leave of the body to invest 743 million dollars in Karbala.

He added: "The Investment Authority of Karbala during the 2008 to conduct negotiations with several companies of Iraqi, Arab and foreign cities for the creation of residential and tourist facilities and agricultural projects would be granted leave to the number of investment during the year.

http://translate.google.co.uk/transl...hl=en&ie=UTF-8

Maliki: will not be out of work in 2009

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki government's efforts to keep any non-unemployed in the current year, calling on citizens not to believe the rumors that aim to spread concern among them.

The Prime Minister to take care of the families of martyrs and injured and the needy, saying the government had to provide full services to the families of Iraq.

The Maliki in a speech in the southern city of Basra yesterday, the Council of Ministers to adopt a resolution providing for the non-deportation of families exceeding the territory of the State so as to provide fair compensation and fair, reflecting the continuation of the Ministry of Finance staff salary increases, regardless.

He continued: We will continue to support industry, agriculture and all areas of life, We're going to see what we have done from the security and reconstruction in 2008, will remain out of work in 2009, he said: "We have a lot of achievements during the period of record, we were able to actively lift the siege of Iraqis loyal to Iraq and the provincial and end The presence of foreign forces with a specific timetable, Iraq regained its internal and returned ambassadors and foreign companies began investing in the country. "

The premier urged the people of Basra and all Iraqis go to the men and women flying the flag and celebrate about the polls on election day, describing the turnout as a "certificate which is not permissible."

He said in a statement received a "morning" yesterday, a copy of which was to be the candidate chosen by the citizens a sincere and honest and courageous and honest, the interest of the country on his personal and partisan group, called "The people of Basra to remember how the situation in the city in Iraq and how it is now a the achievements of every citizen to preserve and strengthen it through the selection of the dedicated and efficient. "

He renewed a warning of the conduct of unfair methods of competition, calling for all candidates from the various lists that do not make the electoral arena of conflict and create hatred and settling of accounts at the expense of the higher interest of the country. Prime Minister said: "Basra is the lifeline and the jewel of Iraq and the Gulf, if the Iraq stabilized, and if thrown embarrassed Iraq," he said, adding that "Basra needs a lot of services and reconstruction is no excuse for limiting the following day because the conditions of security and a stable financial allocations available and we will not allow the return of one ounce of the State budget. "

He added that "the elections can only be good in freedom and responsibility to uphold freedom and you realized that you do not believe that the state may restrict the freedoms Crown, which does not allow freedom of opinion and the establishment of institutions and parties, and also believe that we say to you Nmnekm to perform these rites Hosseinieh propaganda aimed at the dissemination of hatred, we support and ensure the exercise of freedoms ", he said," We want to build a strong country capable of protecting the citizen and the sovereignty and the provinces also want them wide powers to enable the construction and reconstruction and to benefit from the allocations will not allow the return of one ounce of the State budget. "

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