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

The current climate does not help to elect a new President of House of Representatives

The MP for the Iraqi National List, Osama Najifi that "the current climate does not help to elect a new President of the House of Representatives for the existence of many differences in attitudes."

Najifi He told the independent press (Iba) today, Monday, "I think we need a long time to resolve the matter."

And that "the Constitutional Court's decision that there is no legal problem with the continuation of the work until the selection of the new President, gave the area of the post-holiday legislative access to the President agreed upon by everyone."

Najifi stressed that "the results of the elections of provincial councils had an impact with regard to the selection of the Chairman of the House of Representatives, as some blocks that were believed to have a majority in the Iraqi street have been reduced, and this course gave a picture of all that has changed balances is supposed to be," he said.

The House of Representatives on Thursday failed to reach a consensus vote on a new president to replace outgoing President Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, which led to the postponement of the meeting on Monday.

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The Arab Monetary financial cycle is regulated by Iraqi officials

Opened the morning session yesterday, "the programming of financial and macroeconomic policies" for Iraqi officials organized by the Economic Policy Institute, Arab Monetary Fund And the Institute for International Monetary Fund in the framework of the Joint Regional Training Program for 2009 in Abu Dhabi during the period from 1 12 2 2009.

The course aims to deepen understanding of participants in the design and implementation of financial policies and the College in light of the experience of the International Monetary Fund to monitor economic performance Financial and program design.

And participate in the course 29 participants from Iraq, and on this occasion Dr. Saud Albraikan, Director of the Economic Policy Institute, on behalf of Dr. Jassim Al Qenae, Director General, Head of the Governing Council addressed the meeting and said the session will be based on themes dealing with the President of the fundamental characteristics of the various accounts used in macroeconomic analysis and diagnosis of macroeconomic performance and analysis of the effects of macroeconomic and structural policy on the key variables such as GDP, prices and balance of payments, and prepare a program of macroeconomic policies.

He noted that this session is to prepare a financial program aimed at strengthening economic stability and intensifying structural reform on the economy and, therefore, deals with the study of macroeconomic policies, including fiscal, monetary, trade and exchange rate.

Will be in session focus on the integration between the policies of macroeconomic stabilization and structural reforms and the importance of coordinating policies to achieve outstanding growth.

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Iraq is moving towards finding alternative financial resources for the oil

A government official warned of a situation of equal volume of public expenditure of the State with the volume of imports, criticizing what he called the case of relaxation by the authorities to deal with this serious issue Which is likely to lead to Iraq's oil reserves to the lower half, with another economic official revealed the formation of a government committee to take responsibility for a number of economic reforms and working to find the real action to activate the role of the Iraqi private sector ..He pointed out that the Commission is composed of representatives of the Ministries of Finance and Planning, Industry and Labor, Social Affairs and the National Authority for Investment and the Federation of Iraqi businessmen and representative of the Kurdistan regional government ..

The measures according to these observers, after the recent concerns over the future of the Iraqi economy in the global financial crisis and the decrease in the volume of imports and the financial impact negatively on the investment map, which had been prepared earlier by an international crisis as well as the decline in the volume of the general budget of the State, , which called on those in charge of economic policy for the country to take a number of precautionary measures with the latest call services and institutions of the State of austerity into something .. where the Chairman of the Finance Committee in the Iraqi parliament Iyad Samarrai, the need for the authorities in the Iraqi government, wary of non-spending is larger than the general revenues of the State, which is likely to confuse the calculation and adds the burden of other economic ..

Samarrai said: There is a state of relaxation to deal with the situation of inequality of public expenditure of the State with the volume of imports, and this relaxation will be Iraq if it continues in the next two years to an economic problem because of Iraq has done more than is paid through the sale of oil, he asked al-Samarrai as to how long it can to stand against Iraq, during which the matter, stating that the past four months had seen a decline in Iraq's oil reserves in the DFI by almost half .. He added that the Parliament intends to take the initiative to address the problem of inequality, indicating that the government is slowly dealing with this problem. And called for ways to move towards the planning of expenditure in the future ..

Iraq relies on approximately 80 percent of its revenue through the sale of oil in world markets, which still had objections and criticism from many economists, considering that the oil supplier .. depleted and the government to find alternatives to the financial resources that enrich the sale of oil revenues, according to economists call. .. On a related matter disclosed by the Minister of Planning and Development Cooperation Ali Baban, said his ministry will hold a special conference next month to find alternatives to development in Iraq, due to the fluctuation of world oil prices and the adoption of Iraq's oil as a financial one.

Baban said, "The Ministry of Planning and Development Cooperation will be held on a national conference (25 and 26) of the next month of March in Baghdad on finding alternatives to development in Iraq, due to the fluctuation of oil prices and the continued decline in the global market." He added that "Iraq is still dependent on oil as a financial one, in light of deteriorating economic conditions that afflict the world, and experts expect the global economy, the continuing decline in the price of a barrel of oil during the coming years."

The Planning Minister Baban that "the purpose of the National Conference to be held during the month of March under the slogan (Development Alternatives in Iraq), in light of the decrease in oil revenues, is to expand the circle of debate between the audience interlocutors economists specialists accredited continuing decline of oil prices." He pointed out that the conference will be attended by academics, economists and specialists, in addition to the members of the Economic and Finance Committees in the House of Representatives and Iraqi professionals abroad in the fields of the economy.

He described the two doors as "important" because it will find alternatives and financial resources as well as oil to assist the State to be able to Tqeil reconstruction and development plans and trade, "he said, adding that his ministry was working on preparations for the Conference is to give effect to the points agreed upon by the discussants at the conference ..

The economic Kurdish official disclosed that a number of Iraqi ministries set up a team of specialists and experts, economists and administrators to work on economic reforms and private sector development in Iraq, with the support of the international economic organization. The director of investments Dohuk province, Bakhtiyar Amin: "The team consisted of economic experts and administrators of the Ministries of Finance and Planning, Industry and Labor, Social Affairs and the National Authority for investment, and the Federation of Iraqi businessmen, and a representative of the Kurdistan Regional Government was formed in Paris late last month for this purpose ..

The Secretary pointed out that "the team will work to perform his duties in Iraq, in coordination with the Iraqi government to carry out economic reforms, and strengthening the role of the private sector", he said, adding that "the OECD will provide economic advice and consultancy group."

And the Investment Manager in the province of Dohuk, said: "the priorities of the work of the Panel to reconsider the Iraqi investment law, reform of laws relating to private sector activity, the study of barriers to investment and to address the administrative and financial corruption in Iraq," adding that "The team is awaiting approval from the Iraqi government to begin its work in Iraq."

He pointed out that the "Revitalization of the private sector's role in Iraq need to be safeguards and legal amendments and the government support to encourage investors and owners of capital to contribute to the implementation of projects and attract foreign investment to Iraq, as well as to create a climate of political and economic security and a stable, tackle corruption and other things that contribute to the support the private sector. "

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Iraq re-review the conventions with the countries of the world

The government intends to review most of the agreements and protocols signed with the countries of the world, to strengthen mutual relations with these countries in accordance with the higher national interests and serve the Iraqi people With the beginning of a source, a senior official to visit Baghdad and meet with senior officials in the country, but did not disclose his identity.

The announcement of the "morning," Sami al-Askari, deputy member of the Foreign Relations Committee in the House of Representatives, saying the government to continue opening the possibility of cooperation with all nations of the world.

He said the military: the government is seeking in particular to strengthen relations with neighboring countries and the region, adding that relations with Saudi Arabia will witness a major development this year to break the ice between the two countries, he said, pointing at the same time, the importance of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the region of interest and the development of these relations and the exchange of visits and meetings, and security cooperation between the two countries will contribute to the convergence of views with Saudi Arabia over the situation in Iraq.

The Iraq and Saudi Arabia has recently signed a security cooperation agreement, while the Riyadh more than once, close to the appointment of an ambassador to Baghdad. He added that the military government in connection with activation and a review of all previous bilateral agreements as the foundation for building relations of cooperation with all neighboring countries, especially in the security side and away from the bloc, adding that the threat of Iraq's security often Maioti of leaving its borders, and this requires activation of security agreements to prevent the infiltration and the entry terrorist elements.

He said the current situation does not require the entry of Iraq into alliances because it had political implications Egged interest in Iraq currently and he is not ready, in addition to entering into blocs and alliances that could lead to tensions in the region is sliding is essential, indicating that the government would review all agreements and even international protocols and the selection of economic benefit from them, which is consistent with the policy of the government and lead to Iraq's national interests, announcing at the same time, attempts to activate the Iraqi relations with the countries of the region like Iran, Turkey, Syria and other regional countries. The prosecutor, Abdul Bari Zebari detection of the "morning" on Saturday, near the Parliament endorsed the candidates for the position of 60 new ambassador to Iraq, in a move aimed at revitalizing the work of Iraqi diplomacy and the promotion of the country's relations with the countries of the world, and to reach agreements have positive repercussions on the Iraqi people. A member of the Foreign Relations Committee about the existence of a signed oil agreements with three major countries that are (Russia, China and Brazil) did not benefit Iraq, noting that he is currently under review for these agreements to be activated or developed and modified in a manner consistent with the current situation in Iraq. To detect the source of the early ( morning), a senior official to visit Baghdad and meet with senior officials in the country.

The source added that the official will meet with Presidents Jalal Talabani and Nouri al-Maliki to discuss a number of important issues that would enhance the cooperation between Iraq and the country's official source, who declined to be identified.

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Parliament establishes 18 of this month to elect a new president of the Council

House of Representatives decided to postpone voting on a new president to the parliament to 18 of this month, the failure to reach agreement on a candidate for the job. "Sheikh Khaled al-Attiya

First Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives at the meeting, "the meetings of the Council postponed until 18 this month, to be settled once and for selecting the Chief." The candidates are competing for the post Tqlsoa to three and they (Iyad al-Samarrai, Khalil and Abdullah Mutlaq Jadoua Jubouri), after the withdrawal of Sheikh Tariq Khalaf Olayan Luhaybi and Othab Shaker. For his part, MP Abbas al-Bayati said in a statement quoted by Agence France-Presse, "The delay was the lack of consensus among political blocs on a candidate for the presidency of the parliament." The postponement of the election of the Speaker of the Parliament is the sixth in less than a month. Bayati said that " Accordance Front, has reached an agreement with the political blocs to a postponement for the purpose of determining the choice of candidate."

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Military: Baghdad is seeking to strengthen its relationship with Saudi Arabia

A member of the Foreign Relations Committee in the House of Representatives Sami al-Askari, Iraq is seeking to strengthen its relationship with Saudi Arabia at the same time denying the intention of entering into any regional alliances for the time being.

He said in a press statement published Tuesday that the government is seeking in particular to strengthen relations with neighboring countries and the region, adding that relations with Saudi Arabia will witness a major development this year to break the ice between the two countries, he said.

He noted the importance of the military to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the region of interest and the development of these relations and the exchange of visits and meetings, stressing that security cooperation between the two countries will contribute to the convergence of views about the situation in Iraq.

The Iraq and Saudi Arabia signed a security cooperation agreement recently in Riyadh, when it announced more than once, close to the appointment of ambassador to Baghdad.

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Kuwait, Iraq reach deal on oilfields
Kuwait and Iraq have reached a preliminary agreement over oilfields in a border area at the heart of Saddam Hussein’s 1990 invasion of Kuwait, an Iraqi official said.

The agreement sets out the technical and legal mechanism to invest in oilfields shared by the two countries, Iraq’s Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Mohammed Haj Humud, told Kuwaiti daily Al-Jarida.

Iraq and Kuwait had also agreed to contract international consultants to prepare a plan for joint development of the fields, he said.

Several oil fields are in the border area between Kuwait and Iraq, most prominently the Ratqa field, which is a southern extension of Iraq’s giant Rumaila field.

In the weeks before the 1990 occupation, Baghdad accused Kuwait of stealing billions of dollars worth of its Rumaila oil through horizontal drilling. Kuwait denied the charge.

After the Persian Gulf War, United Nations demarcation put all Ratqa wells within Kuwaiti territory.

Humud said Kuwait and Iraq have concluded the border demarcation according to UN Security Council resolutions.

Besides oilfields, the location of border posts on farms in the area was a factor in the dispute.

“After the border demarcation, a part of these farms is now on the border line and was divided up between Kuwait and Iraq, and Kuwait has recognized the ownership of these farms and has paid compensation for their Iraqi owners,” Humud said.

According to the U.S. energy department, the Ratqa field, which is run by state-owned Kuwait Oil Co, has a production of 45,000 barrel per day.

The Rumaila fields, operated by Iraq’s South Oil Co, are giant fields accounting for most of Iraqi oil output. They pump around 1.3 million bpd. Also extending into Kuwait territory is the Zubair oilfield, near the Rumaila field.

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Iraq awards engineering contracts for four refineries

Iraq has awarded Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) contracts to international companies to build four major new refineries with a combined total capacity of 750,000 bpd, Iraqi oil sources said recently.

The sources said the first contract, valued at an estimated US$65 million, was signed between the State Company for Oil Projects and Foster Wheeler of the US to carry out the FEED for a proposed 300,000 bpd refinery to be located in Nassiriyah in southern Iraq.

The Nassiriyah refinery, and the adjacent Nassiriyah oil field, were the subject of a confidential memorandum of understanding signed last August between the Oil Ministry and a partnership of Japan's Nippon Oil and Italy's Eni. Under the MoU, which has not been made public and was not included in Iraq's two bid rounds, Nippon will build the refinery and Eni will develop the oilfield to supply the refinery with crude. Both projects are to be implemented on an Engineering, Procurement and Construction basis with Nippon providing the financing for the estimated US$5 billion project.
There has been no confirmation from Eni on the report, which follows a visit to Iraq by Eni CEO Paulo Scaroni, the most senior oil ****utive to have visited Iraq since the US-led war of 2003.

According to a report from Platts, the Oil Ministry later invited Spanish oil company Repsol to bid for development of the Nassiriyah field, to provide some sort of competition after objections by some quarters in the ministry that the award to Eni was exclusive and non-competitive.

Sources said Repsol was responding positively to the Ministry's request.

The second contract, valued at an estimated US$27 million, was signed between SCOP and French engineering giant Technip, for a 150,000 bpd refinery to be located in the south central province of Kerbala. This is the old Central Refinery project which has been on and off since the late 1980s.

The third and fourth contracts, valued at US$60 million each, were negotiated by the Oil Ministry in Baghdad with Shaw & Webster of the US to carry out the FEED for two 150,000 bpd refineries, one to be located in the southern province of Meissan and the other in the northern oil province of Kirkuk.

The contracts were signed on the Iraqi side by the Southern Refinery Company and the Northern Refinery Company respectively.

Iraq currently has three main refining centres: the northern Baiji refining complex with a nominal capacity of 300,000 bpd; the Dora refinery near Baghdad with 90,000 bpd capacity and the 140,000 bpd Basrah refinery in the south.

It also has 15 units of an old How-Baker design with a capacity of 10,000 bpd, some of them assembled locally in recent years, which are capable of producing naphtha and gasoil only.

These units make Iraq's total installed refining capacity 680,000 bpd, but actual operating capacity during 2008 was around 450,000 bpd.
Iraq currently imports large quantities of products, to meet local demand, mainly from Persian Gulf countries, including Iran, at an average daily rate of refined products imports, including gasoline, exceeding 5 million litres per day during 2008.

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Central to the decline in the sales of 108 million dollars in the canteen

The U.S. dollar decreased sales of the Central Bank in an auction for the sale and purchase of foreign currency, on Tuesday, to 108 million and 365 thousand dollars compared to the previous meeting and a stable exchange rate was 1170 dinars per dollar.

The bulletin issued by the Central Bank received the agency (Voices of Iraq) a copy of which was that "the total volume of demand for the dollar stood at 108 million and 365 thousand dollars, a stable exchange rate was 1170 dinars per dollar."

The figure is a decrease from the previous meeting, which recorded total volume of demand for the dollar stood at 150 million and 535 thousand dollars at the exchange rate was 1170 dinars per dollar. The Bulletin that "the demand for the dollar is distributed by 24 million and 405 thousand dollars in cash, covered by the bank at the exchange rate was 1176 dinars per dollar, including the central bank and a commission of six dinars per dollar."

According to the bulletin, "the value of remittances outside the country reached 83 million and 960 thousand dollars, covered the central exchange rate was 1173 dinars, including the central bank and a commission of three dinars per dollar," did not make any of the 132 banks participating in the auction, offers to sell the dollar.

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Communications are directed to a partnership with Microsoft Gold

Ministry of Communications and tend to raise the level of partnership with Microsoft Corporation, to reach the level of partner BOOK.

A statement of the ministry received a copy of the Tigris Radio on Sunday quoted an official source in the company of General Services web site as saying that the company planned to implement a series of development projects in 2009, including raising the level of partnership with the company (Microsoft) to develop the work of the company, and to activate the use of online training through a series of training courses.

The source noted that this is the first experience in Iraq, indicating that the experience includes the establishment of centers Amthanip global networks and databases in the provinces of Baghdad, Basra, Anbar and Nineveh.

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