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

Maliki's Mosul: oil & gas belongs to the people & the "sectarian" The cause of the problems

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said the oil and gas belongs to the Iraqi people, a reference to the problems of Iraq "sectarian," calling for equality before the law.

Maliki said in a speech Thursday in Mosul, said that "oil and gas resources are the property of all the Iraqi people and distributed by the ratio of the population and the proportion of benefits and this is the foundation."

And attacked the "sectarianism", describing it as "the root of the problem" in Iraq, which is a "multi-ethnic and nationalities."

Maliki was speaking at a gathering of elders and the people of Mosul, where clans reached the city on Thursday morning as part of the promotion of Qlimth "coalition of the state of law", which led in the areas of provincial elections to be held next Saturday.

"This is the reality and those who want to change the fact that the civil division of Iraq does not accept the two and can not exceed one over the other, all to Iraq and one in front of the Constitution," he said.

He stressed that "Iraq is the largest of the party and the largest of Iraq's religious affiliation and more nationalities ... Iraq is the one who combines all these components," he said "We believe that democracy is the real guarantee of every human being to protect his speech."

"If the implication of unity and the common position to protect the sovereignty of Iraq to Ankhcy from outside interference."

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

Barzani, the central government is accused of violating the constitution

Accused the president of the Kurdistan region Massoud Barzani, the Iraqi government of violating the Constitution, the question of the appointment of the leaders of the Iraqi Army divisions.

Barzani said during his meeting with a number of tribal leaders in the Arab Shammar resort of Salahaddin near Arbil, the Kurdish project is a national project aimed at dragging Iraq back from the atmosphere, where all military coups have all the freedoms of religion and practice their faith and creed, their very political freedom.

It also accused Barzani of his government in Baghdad of violating the Constitution, the question of the appointment of the leaders of the Iraqi army teams, stressing that the appointment of these leaders came without obtaining the consent of Parliament, as stipulated in the Iraqi Constitution.

Barzani also pointed to the need for a mechanism to resolve disputes between Arabs and Kurds in the overlapping areas of differences, especially on the ground

http://66.102.9.100/translate_c?hl=e...MQfuQH-Of0BhWA

The Jordanian port of Aqaba to take measures to facilitate the transfer of Iraqi goods

Aqaba Ports Corporation discussed with the Iraqi delegation that recently a mechanism to facilitate the transfer of Iraqi goods (transit) through the port of Aqaba, particularly grain, rice and sugar Almkissat in addition to discussing the problem of road transport of grain in particular.

A source familiar with the ports at the port of Aqaba that all have the potential to facilitate the movement of trade (transit) between Jordan and Iraq in terms of warehouses and handling equipment in particular help to speed the loading and unloading of goods at the port.

The source noted the readiness of the port to facilitate the procedures for the handling of goods in transit fees from the deal with transit cargo in the port special treatment.

The foreign trade data published by the Department of Statistics in Jordan, Iraq was ranked first in terms of the value of Jordanian exports to the States of the Arab trade.

http://66.102.9.100/translate_c?hl=e...3VYCbntpZJJq9g

Early Voting in Iraq Is Mostly Smooth

Thousands of soldiers, police officers, hospital patients and prisoners cast ballots on Wednesday as part of early voting in Iraq’s provincial elections.

At least one act of violence accompanied the voting. Two police officers guarding a polling center south of Kirkuk were killed by gunmen who fired at them from a passing car, according to an official from the Ministry of Interior who spoke on condition of anonymity. The gunmen escaped, the official said.

Overall, however, the voting appeared to go smoothly, Iraqi election officials said.

About 615,000 people, most of them employed by Iraq’s security forces, were eligible to vote Wednesday, three days before Saturday’s election. Government officials said the early balloting would help ensure that security forces would be on duty to protect polling stations on Saturday, when about 14 million more Iraqis are eligible to vote.

“The arrangements we are seeing today are a slap in the face to those who are betting that Iraqis will not go to the ballot box because they are despairing,” Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki said in a speech on Wednesday.

....... The election will be delayed in Kirkuk Province, a troubled region where much of Iraq’s oil reserves lie, and in the three provinces of Kurdistan, a semiautonomous region.

........In Iraq, unaccustomed to democratic exercises, the line between the official and the political is often blurred.

........In the Karrada district of Baghdad, soldiers and police streamed steadily into the Furat (or Euphrates) Middle School, a worn, dusty building where posters encouraged voting: “Register. Vote. Make the Change.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/wo...html?ref=world

Next Wednesday to vote on the new speaker of Parliament

Rep. behind Olayan of the National Dialogue Council, we have extended a formal invitation to all the political blocs (the Sunni and Shiite) because their candidates to submit to get out of the ring, but some of the sectarian and political blocs have rejected the idea because the Iraqi state, all based on sectarian quotas.

The Olayan, told the independent press (EYBENS) said Thursday that he will resolve the issue of the chairmanship of the House of Representatives on 4/2/2009, after the completion of the provincial elections.

He explained that the last period given for the completion of the provincial elections as well as to give ample time for dialogue and consultation with other political blocs in the House of Representatives to reach a figure agreeable to all.

He said there are several figures for the post of Chairman of the House of Representatives of the various blocks, adding that "the claim," the Accordance Front, that this is the position of its "invalid" because, according to the sectarian quota system, which was built by all of the political process, this office is a Sunni Arab It is not certain of the bloc.

The Olayan said despite opposition to the starter, but the sectarian quota system that is imposed.

Olayan said that the post of Speaker of the House when given in time for the Accordance Front, it was the sole representative of the Sunni Arab (by saying) nominated Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, who is a member of the Council of the dialogue, this office has become such as the dialogue we share.

Olayan expressed the hope that the House of Representatives is headed by a person worthy of the office and dutifully serve Iraq.

http://66.102.9.102/translate_c?hl=e...Up7owIDlLDcxKw

The final statement of the Conference of Iraq's banks - Bank

The auspices of His Excellency the Minister of Finance Baqir Jabr Al-Zubaidi, the invitation of the Trade Bank of Iraq to the Iraqi International Conference was held under the slogan of the banks ((Iraqi banking system and a solid means to establish a prosperous Iraq)) for the period from 28-29/1/2009 January / 2009

The conference was attended by Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq and a number of Ministers and Almsrawlin and representatives from the World Bank and the U.S. Treasury and a number of Ambassadors and representatives of civil and regional banks and international heads of boards of directors and managers of two years and Madara Commissioners of government and private banks and the Conference received a message of support from the International Monetary Fund.

Reviewed the Minister of Finance in his speech opening a package of reforms undertaken by the Ministry of Finance of the government and the banking sector, including:

1 - to start the restructuring of banks, through a plan of action was reached in collaboration with the IMF and World Bank

2 - Settlement of foreign debt of these banks according to the terms of the Paris Club

3 - The liquidation of these accounts mutual banks

4 - the focus of specialized banks (agricultural / industrial / real estate) has been working on specialized banking

5 - to increase the capital of banks, in line with the requirements of banking business

6 - to rid the banks of the budgets of the losses inherited the war and the loss of currency conversions

His Excellency's speech also included a number of themes that would support the private banking sector

First - the practice of turning around the banks to meet the banking business of the financing needs of the Iraqi economy and reconstruction

II - urged private banks to adopt the principle of twinning with the Arab and foreign banks

III - the expansion of its relations with banks and foreign correspondents to cover the credits and remittances, and foreign letters of guarantee

IV - Agreement with the Central Bank of the importance of strengthening banking supervision to ensure the protection

He also appealed to His Excellency the Central Bank of Iraq to reconsider the legal reserve ratios on deposits after the definition and study the possibility of lower interest rates to encourage reconstruction and development within the reality of the Iraqi economy.

I propose to Maaleh conferences held the first two workshops sponsored by the Ministry of Finance and the second sponsored by the Central Bank to discuss the requirements to support the private banking sector and the mechanisms that ensued 0 Address by His Excellency the Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq, Dr. Sinan Shabibi, which outlined the vision of the Central Bank of Iraq in support of the private banking sector and encourage the entry of foreign banks Iraq.

http://66.102.9.101/translate_c?hl=e...Z6mnjv436NLjEw

Continued.......

Gentlemen managers review two banks, the most important achievements during the past three years, which include:-

Iraqi trade bank

1 - meet all the requirements of the ministries of the opening credits for operational purposes and the implementation of investment projects amounted to more than 5 .9 billion dollars in 2008

2 - the implementation of orientations and His Excellency the Minister of Finance to open the distribution of government appropriations for the private banking sector after the lifting of the (1) million to (2) million dollars for the adoption of the one reached during the year 2008 (1116) be about to adopt (500) million to $

3 - Bank of Iraq

First - the granting of 39 thousand soft loan for small businesses to advance and 197 thousand of staff and (126) advance for a retired

II - the implementation of the overall banking system and the smart card and the system of cash payments

III - the granting of loans to citizens for the purpose of buying cars and the (6000) loan to the province of Najaf and would be applied to other provinces II - the implementation of the overall banking system and the smart card and the system of cash payments

IV - The (1059) to the staff of the bank loan for the construction of housing units

V. - The (500) loan to the traders in Shorja and Sadriya market affected of terrorism

VI - to give (45) advance of a marriage

4 - Rasheed Bank

First - the granting of micro-entrepreneurs around (6000) loan

II - the granting of advances and personal loans to citizens, employees and retirees About the (240) loans

5 - the Agricultural Bank

Grants (40) agricultural loans to farmers to support the development of agriculture

5 - the Land Bank

Grants (15) a soft loan of citizens to build homes and so was the number of soft loans and advances (706) a total loan 85 .1 trillion IQD

http://66.102.9.101/translate_c?hl=e...Z6mnjv436NLjEw

Continued..........

Recommendations

In order to implement the proposal of His Excellency the Minister of Finance, held during the second day after the two workshops and extensive discussions, the participants reached the following recommendations:

The workshop held under the auspices of the Ministry of Finance under the title

((To support the private banking sector by the State))

First - the lifting of the ceiling of the credit for the purpose of private banks in opening credits to the (4) million, rather than (2) million dollars, according to the foundation established by the World Bank

Iraqi Central

II - The ministries made directly with the opening of banks eligibility

The possibility of opening of current accounts in banks, government departments eligibility.

IV accept letters of guarantee issued by the banks, the private sector by government departments.

V. thinking process of the integration of weak banks or non-actors with Some of them and strengthen their financial positions

VI application to the Central Bank to reduce the statutory reserve deposits

After the government classified the minimum 25% from 75% as Most self-financing services surpluses deposited with the bank interest rate And the use of surplus cash to the banks for development.

VII tax reduction on the overall banking profits are on the Net Profit, not the overall profit.

VIII approached the Commission to intervene to cancel the recommendation of the Shura Council The abolition of the State's decision not to allow banks to contribute to Iraq Where a foreign investor to purchase the property on behalf of the bank in Iraq.

IX to amend the resolution, which prevents foreign investors to participate Council Administration only one member, whatever its contribution.

X. enact a law or a special resolution of the foreign banks to open branches In Iraq.

Eleven allowed to amend the law to allow banks to open the window Where Islamic law did not provide for that.

Twelve follow up the implementation of a package of recommendations for the restructuring of banks

Thirteen demand from the Central Bank to reduce interest rate, which has become Obstacle in the process of investment.

II - the recommendations of the workshop which was held under the theme - the development of mechanisms for banking work, and in accordance with the principles of international - the chairmanship of the Central Bank of Iraq:

1 - a claim the Central Bank of Iraq to reconsider the mechanisms of the work of some means of investment, especially in the calculation of outstanding deposits to induce banks to invest their funds in the areas of development

2 - The work of the three specialized banks (agricultural cooperative industrial and real estate) to the development banks and the abolition of the exercise of its commercial banks to provide loans only Canada

3 - to reconsider the interest rate charged by commercial banks, commercial credit commensurate with the benefits granted to depositors in savings

4 - Islamic banks are not subject to the controls for the commercial banks and the issuance of a special law by

5 - to reconsider the provisions of Article (28) activities prohibited direct investment banks within the provisions of the law No. 94 for the year 2004 with a view to broadening the areas of credit and investment, and reducing restrictions whenever possible, especially in the field of investment real

6 - The need to treat government departments and public sector companies with banks, similar to a civil government in the banks to deposit funds with or issuing letters of guarantee and opening documentary credits both

7 - The State banks, especially the Rafidain and Rashid, a mixed-stock companies and the sale of a part "of the capital of the private sector

8 - to reconsider the provisions of the Act in force banks to increase the total credit provided by it and make it more than eight times the capital and reserves to keep the credit to deposit ratio of 70% of the total deposits

9 - to include any request for the establishment of a new Bank report to the Iraqi Central Bank, the bank's electronic banking services for the development of modern means of payment, credit and asking banks to the adoption of modern technology-based

10 - urged the ministries to open accounts for their employees to pay their salaries and the adoption of modern means of payment (credit card) issued by banks and private Iraqi government to pay salaries through the banks to deal with

11 to find an appropriate mechanism for coordination between the Central Bank of Iraq and the National Investment for the organization to facilitate the entry and exit of capital and profits to foreign investors in Iraq serves to attract foreign investment to Iraq, as well as the activation of the granting of soft loans to investors in the Investment Law No. 13 of 2006.

12 - The Central Bank of Iraq to study and assess the financial situation of the Iraqi banks that have obtained the participation of foreign funds so as to encourage capital to extend the work of the local banks in the banking through the intensification of capital, compared to their list.

13 re-examine the representation of the participating heads of Iraqi banks and the development of Omulhe representatives on boards of directors in proportion to the percentage of contribution to the capital and a re-examination of the special provisions in the Companies Act No. 21 of 1997.

14 by the Central Bank of Iraq to open a branch in the Kurdistan region for the purpose of monitoring and inspection on the performance and activity of branches of banks operating in Kurdistan, in addition to banking supervision at the site of anti-money laundering and terrorist financing.

15 - to reconsider the decision of the Board of Governors of the Iraqi market for securities by the imposition of fees (one per thousand) of the capital of the bank or a member of the company mentioned in the market towards the reduction so as to encourage the development of financial market activity and the role of banks in it.

16 - the legal claim to address the problem of the banks in which the foreign shareholders in the capital in the ownership of real estate for the purposes of its performance through the effective application of the Banking Act to force the banks that these companies set up in accordance with Iraqi law of real investment provided by the Investment Law No. 13 of 2006.

The conferees recommended the formation of an ad hoc committee of the various actors to follow up the implementation after the adjournment of the above recommendations to the Commission on Economic Affairs to study the possibility of implementing

((Peace be upon you and the mercy of God))

http://66.102.9.101/translate_c?hl=e...Z6mnjv436NLjEw

Projects for the establishment of four new oil refineries in the provinces of Iraq

The Iraqi Oil Ministry on four projects for the establishment of new oil refineries in several Iraqi provinces by international companies, and pointed at the same time to reduce the funds allocated for importing oil derivatives.

A spokesman for the Iraqi oil ministry, Assem Jihad, in an interview with "Uzmatik", on Thursday, "It was agreed to establish three refineries capacity of 150 thousand barrels a day, in each of the provinces of Karbala, Kirkuk and Maysan, in what will be the fourth refinery in the province of Dhi Qar, 300 card barrels a day."

Jihad said, "It is now the design of these refineries, and there will be agreement on the construction of the refinery with the well known international companies in this area."

The Iraqi parliament has endorsed in the eighth month of October of 2007 to the Law on private investment in the activity of the liquidation of crude oil, through the establishment of oil refineries in Iraq, which allowed the private sector to establish refineries to refine crude oil and the possession and operation of facilities, management and marketing of their products, the that 75% of its workers from Iraq, and to keep the ownership of the land of the Iraqi state.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Oil, "The objective of the establishment of the refinery was to fill the need for domestic oil products and turning Iraq from a country importing petroleum products exporter to the country," stressing that "the Ministry is seeking to be a 2009 self-sufficiency in petroleum products and to rely on refineries Iraq, through the rehabilitation and establishment of new refining units at the refineries in Iraq."

The other, to draw the Jihad ", the ministry reduced much of the money allocated for importing oil derivatives, which were more than four billion dollars spent on the purchase of petroleum products from abroad, are now in the allocation of 500 million dollars to buy oil from neighboring countries, White to fill the local need" He said that "the completion of its oil ministry, through reliance on refineries in the provision of oil derivatives."

Iraq has been made to suffer from its oil installations, resulting in Iraq nearly two million and 500 thousand barrels per day of crude oil, which is without a quota within the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which Iraq is one of the founding members, and issued approximately two million barrels per day of crude oil.

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

Iraq said that the payment of 300 million dollars does not mean the resolution of debts in full .. chairman of the Kuwait Airways Corporation: We raised the booking «Iraq» to meet the desire of Amiryaht

Kuwait House::, the chief of the Board of Directors of Kuwait Airways Corporation Hamad Al-Falah said the enterprise has dropped the entire debt owed by the Iraqi government, amounting to 1,200 billion U.S. dollars, saying its money as the years have to be collected unless the government decision on the reduction or elimination.

Seizure of aircraft
The farmer in the meeting with reporters on the sidelines of the ceremony organized by the Kuwait Airways Corporation to honor the campaigns of Hajj and Umrah and those who made it said that the company had raised the issue on the Iraqi side before the Canadian courts requesting a reservation to provide them with aircraft that were bought ten lines of the Canadian equivalent of 40 to 41 million dollars per aircraft and not allow them to be taken off the plants from the ground or Canada unless the Iraqi side to pay U.S. $ 500 million to the Kuwaiti side to lift the arrest, and the empowerment of the Iraqi side of the receipt, he said, pointing out that the Iraqi side has succeeded in one way or another, from the receipt of one of those ten aircraft parked at the airport or the Canadian processing plant, in preparation for delivery to the Iraqi side, while Kuwait has succeeded in the arrest of two others, the Iraqi side on the verge of receiving.

The Filaj some of the negotiations conducted by the Iraqi side with His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah of Kuwait during the hosting of the summit of the Economic and finally ordered the Prince on the institution that currently only accept the amount of U.S. $ 300 million offered by the Iraqi side to lift the ban on the attachment, aircraft instead of the amount requested by the institution of $ 500 million to help them

The rest of the debt is settled later ..However, the Iraqi side - might have to understand - that the whole matter has been concluded at this point, namely that things settled once and after they pay the $ 300 million dollars for the Kuwaiti side.

The farmers to some other issues brought by the Foundation on the Iraqi side, including those established by the British before the courts and the rule was issued on 16/7/2008 committed as the Iraqi government and its solidarity with the Iraqi National to pay the amount of 42 million pounds, a law firm fees on the cases filed by side Kuwait, which is the amount which was then equivalent to about 85 million U.S. dollars .. Which pays them the amount of the debt of between 1.300-1.350 billion U.S. dollars.

http://216.239.59.101/translate_c?hl...1XfJmTLkcaKp1w