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

Action Committee to deny that the parliament will be a delay in the approval of the oil law

The panel and services in the House of Representatives the government responsible for the delay in ratification of the oil and gas because of the lack of agreement on a specific version.

The Committee member Boshra Kinani "The government sent a copy of assessments for more than once some of the points have been modified and installed, but the parliament had not yet received the amended version."

Kinani denied in a press statement that the parliament will be the cause of the delay in the ratification and adoption law.

They believed that Iraq is the least productive among the exporting countries if they are not calling for the development of the oil sector to accelerate the adoption of important decisions to give effect to the decisions on hold.

http://74.125.91.132/translate_c?hl=...7L1GLqEocAQhpg

Iraq needs to look beyond oil wealth: PM

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said Iraq can no longer rely on its oil wealth to secure its future development and urged other sectors to rise to the challenge, at an economic conference on Wednesday.

"Iraq has industrial, agricultural and tourism capacity, and we must find alternatives from these sectors," he said at the start of a two-day conference on developing new revenue sources as substitutes for declining oil income.

"The Iraqi economy has been dependent on a single source of income for too long," Maliki warned in his opening address, referring to the sector which accounts for 98 percent of state revenues.

Iraq has been hit by the slump in world oil prices, already forcing it to cut its the state budget twice, slimming it down to 62 billion dollars from the original forecast of 80 billion.

The prime minister called for "a process of reconciliation and integration among the various components of the Iraqi economy to provide opportunities for development."

"The one-source economy was imposed on us as a result of previous policies and wars," he said.

Maliki said his war-battered country was over the hump in its fight against an insurgency sparked by the US-led invasion of 2003 that toppled former dictator Saddam Hussein, and he invited foreign firms to join Iraq's growth.

"No foreign companies wanted to come to Iraq because of the security situation," he said.

"But today the situation is different. South Korea, yesterday, ordered their companies, like Germany, France, the United States and all countries, to come back to Iraq," he said.

Science and Technology Minister Raed Fahmi said the state also has a key role to play alongside the private sector.

"The state should play a role in improving the economic situation by developing Iraq's infrastructure in order to help the country pass through the doors of technology," he said.

"All the nations of the world have achieved economic development through the support of their governments," he said, referring to examples in Asia.

On Sunday, Planning Minister Ali Baban said the development of Iraqi agriculture, industry and religious tourism were the top three economic priorities of the government.

"We should pump a lot of investments into these sectors and focus on them. We should solve their problems to compensate us for the decline in oil revenues," he said. "We want to encourage the local private sector and foreign investment," the minister said.

http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidAN...wealth%3A%20PM

Obama vows to end Iraq war responsibly

US President Barack Obama pledged in his first speech to Congress to end Iraq war responsibly and leave the fate of Iraq to its people.

In his speech, US President stressed that the US military interference in Iraq will come to an end.

“We are now carefully reviewing our policies in both wars, and I will soon announce a way forward in Iraq that leaves Iraq to its people and responsibly ends this war,” Obama said.

Obama added that the US Treasury could have saved 200 billion dollar during the last decade weren’t for US military expenses mainly Iraq war expenses.

“We'll eliminate the no-bid contracts that have wasted billions in Iraq, and reform our defense budget so that we're not paying for Cold War-era weapons systems we don't use.That is why this budget looks ahead ten years and accounts for spending that was left out under the old rules — and for the first time, that includes the full cost of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. For seven years, we have been a nation at war. No longer will we hide its price”, Obama noted.

A number of officials reported that President Barack Obama looks likely to order U.S. combat troops to withdraw from Iraq over a period of about 19 months as a formal announcement is expected by the end of the week.

However, officials speaking on condition of anonymity since they are not allowed to disclose this matter affirmed that Obama has not reached an official decision yet regarding withdrawal options. While other officials noted that an official announcement about the withdrawal might be declared in Thursday.

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

UK blocks publication of Iraq war discussion

The British Government refused to publish records of cabinet discussions on the legality of Iraq war in 2003, despite a court ruling in January that binds it to release them.

Justice Secretary Jack Straw used a ministerial veto to block the request made under the Freedom of Information Act, saying the release of the records would “in my judgment risk serious damage to Cabinet government.”

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

Iraq interested in boosting ties with Britain, Zubaidi

Iraq Minister of Finance Baker Jaber Al Zubaidi called the British Companies to take part in Iraq reconstruction and in rebuilding the infrastructure. Zubaidi also called them to invest in energy field, electricity and habitat. Al Zubaidi said that the Iraqi Government is interested in boosting ties with Britain. Minister of Finance uttered these statements while he was receiving a high-level British delegation especially in the financial and economic field. Zubaidi added that 2009 budget will concentrate on supporting investment and boosting Iraq economy in spite of the drop in international oil prices.

http://www.alsumaria.tv/en/Economics...C-Zubaidi.html

Smart Card soon in Villages, Al Rafidain Bank

Al Rafidain Bank Director Abdul Hussain Al Azim said that the smart card that is actually used will arrive to the town’s and villages which would allow the majority of the citizens to make use of it. Abdul Azim affirmed that the government is determined to lop the three zeros from the national currency since this measure will help reducing the inflation rate.

http://www.alsumaria.tv/en/Economics...dain-Bank.html


Arabic side of the same Newspaper.

Smart Card will soon be to the villages and rural areas

Director of Bank of Iraq Abdul-Hussein Abdul-Azim, said that the smart card, which will be introduced to the villages and rural areas, will provide the opportunity for the largest possible segment of the citizens to make use of it. Abdel-Azim said that the government is bent on the abolition of the three zeros from the currency, the fact that this will contribute to the reduction of inflation.

http://74.125.93.132/translate_c?hl=...fLwt4VNHSsqVaw

Abdul-Mahdi: the potential for investment in Iraq has begun

A Vice President Dr. Adel Abdel Mahdi of the oil and gas projects implemented by Japanese companies, stressing that the possibilities of investment started in Iraq.

And Dr Abdul-Mahdi with the delegation of the Alliance group of Japanese companies, the presence of the Japanese ambassador to Iraq, Italy, Shoji, ways to strengthen bilateral relations between Tokyo and Baghdad and opening the doors to investment by Japanese presentations of projects. The Deputy President of the Republic: that Iraq is demanding full transparency to move and work in this area due to the interest of both peoples, he said, adding that the economic crisis in the world created by the movement of investment seeking countries, and Iraq, which needs to be more than 400 billion dollars to invest as it deems relevant in the field of economics is a positive for the attention of investors in various vital functions and their fields.

Japanese companies expressed during the meeting, ready for work in Iraq, especially projects in Dhi Qar, in the production of crude oil and oil products and gas to the other side is ready to increase and improve the production of electric power. The new delegation of Japan's full support for Iraq in various fields, praising the upward development in Mesopotamia tourism and security, economically and developmentally.

In a press statement following the meeting, said Vice-President of the Republic: "The Japanese companies specializing in the oil industry, refineries, and now an important project to Iraq in these circumstances, because there is a project to build oil refinery capacity of 300 thousand barrels per day, and a project to develop the fields Gharraf card 600 thousand barrels per day, and the financing of the project's oil output, which is extracted from the field Gharraf, not the government of the capital. He said: that Iraq was interested in these matters and has been and continues to open negotiations proved a great merit, and demands full transparency in Iraq to move forward, these trends are indicators of positive and clear signal that the Iraq is entering an era of investment, and the advent of large companies in this way reflects a good understanding and a good sense of the world."

And Abdel-Mahdi said: "The potential investment could be started in Iraq, the Iraqi side should be prepared to accept to go along with investment in the investment environment and provide safe, appropriate and beyond the complexities of the situation before," he said, pointing out that "the days passed and the world is undergoing an economic crisis, There is a decline in oil prices, and Iraq needs to invest, in fact, possible to arrive at the site where the good, it must raise the standards of living, particularly the increasing population of the Iraqi people, and it must evolve and keep pace with the times.

http://74.125.93.132/translate_c?hl=...MAO9awHX594O6g

The parliamentary blocs to vote in favor of the general budget

Tendency to defer some changes to the paragraphs .. and the Federal Court announces its decision on the presidency of the parliament soon

Despite the divergence of views in the House of Representatives on the paragraphs of the General Budget for the year 2009, but directed most of the parliamentary bloc is moving towards approval at a vote in the parliament next week.

A source familiar with the presidency of the Parliament: that the ongoing discussions between the blocs to reach a common view towards them, pointing to the existence of efforts by the presidency of the Council for a vote on the budget as soon as possible. The source of the "morning" that partisan advocacy Ptnzimih Caucus "Independent" vote for the budget public because of their prejudice to direct the lives of Iraqi citizens, and that will delay the country in a financial crisis because of the launch of the amounts required for the implementation of important projects. The First Deputy Speaker Sheikh Khaled al-Attiyah said yesterday during a closed discussion on the budget., while the Finance Committee that it will reconsider its budget based on proposals and observations of deputies they have displayed over the past few days.

The powers of the House of Representatives on the budget, "a reduction in allocations and transfers, or calling for an increase in allocations. For his part, MP Mahmoud Othman said the Kurdistan Alliance will vote in favor of the budget, following approval of the remarks block.

The leader of the Coalition in a statement to "Al-Sabah:" the lawmakers have no objections to the paragraphs of the budget, particularly with regard to the points on the province of Kurdistan, the Peshmerga forces. Lawmaker, said the Accordance Front, Abdel Karim al-Samarrai: "The LTTE will agree to the draft budget in the event of conducted by the amendments include a reduction of transfers and allocations in the area and increase in other sections. The Samurai of the "morning": The Commission on Security and Defense is still a report on the budget, submitted, available, saying: "we will adopt the budget after the amendments. For his part, linked to the leadership of the Supreme Council Islamist MP Mohammad Naji mass parliamentary approval of the acceptance of the demands and objections made by the Board chief. Naji revealed the "morning" for an initial agreement announced by the Minister of Finance and Central Bank Governor and the Secretary General of the Council of Ministers to make amendments to the general budget, pointing out that these amendments will take place during the reading of the draft when the budget vote next week. In the last part, the Presidency of the Council of Representatives confirmed that it sent to the Federal Court of all the belongings of the legal claim to take the issue of MP Iyad al-Samarrai, the presidency of the parliament or not. The Accordance Front, announced the surprise disappearance of request submitted to the Federal Court on the crisis in the presidency of the parliament of the memorandum filed by the House of Representatives. A statement of the Presidency has received a "morning," a copy of it, that "disclosure statements have proved to the House of Representatives for all papers attached to the request of the Accordance Front, called on all the parliamentary blocs to move away from the result of the competitions caused and non-employment issues for political ends. and the court will Federal decision on the issue of Samurai in the next few days, according to the probabilities of the "morning", parliamentary sources informed.

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Iraq says 38 more firms applied to bid for oil

Iraq has received submissions from 38 international energy companies to qualify for a second round of bidding for contracts to work on some of its prized oil and gas fields, an Iraqi oil official said on Tuesday.

Iraq will decide by the end of March which of those companies were qualified to bid, said Abdul Mahdy al-Ameedi, deputy director general at Iraq's petroleum contracts and licensing directorate.

"Some of the companies applied last time but didn't qualify, some are new," Ameedi said.

Iraq announced a second-bidding round for oil and gas fields at the end of December, naming 11 fields it would open up for bidding for service contracts. That came after the first bidding round was opened in June for six of Iraq's largest producing oilfields and two gas fields.

Some 35 companies qualified in the first bidding round after around 120 applied, and 32 were still in the race for deals.

The first bidding round was announced in June for 8 oil and gas fields.
The fields announced in the second round could increase oil production by up to 2.5 million barrels per day (bpd) in a few years, Iraq's Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani said when he announced the tenders.

That is about equal to what Iraq, which has the world's third largest oil reserves, currently pumps.

The fields announced in the first round could provide another 1.5 million bpd in additional output. The oil ministry was expected to announce the winners of the first round by the middle of this year, while contracts for the second round would be finalised by the end of 2009.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt...61699120090224

Kuwaiti Embassy in Baghdad, marking the liberation

Kuwait has established an embassy in Baghdad late Wednesday, the eve of a visit planned to the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad al-Salem al-Sabah, a ceremony to mark the eighteenth anniversary of the liberation of Kuwait during the occupation regime of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. He said Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told AFP on the sidelines of the ceremony in a luxury hotel in central Baghdad that his Kuwaiti counterpart will arrive in Baghdad on Thursday. He said while he was sitting along with the Kuwaiti Ambassador Ali Mohammed the insured that "the visit will be tomorrow." "It is the first time when we celebrate the liberation of Kuwait in Baghdad. There is a new chapter of respect (...) look forward to good relations between the two countries."

For his part, said that the insured event which was attended by about 300 figures, politicians and diplomats, the military holds a special significance for his country. He told AFP that "the establishment of the celebration is here means a lot to me personally and to our people and our leadership. We have great tasks ahead of us and we will make maximum efforts." Written on the form of a huge candy "brothers forever" was decorated with flags of Iraq and Kuwait before he descended Zebari insured.

It should be noted that the embassy is temporarily based in the hotel to them. The visit of Sheikh Mohammed is the first high-level official since the invasion of Kuwait in August 1990. A European diplomat, who declined to be named, said: "We received a call to include the commemoration of the eighth session of the liberation of Kuwait." Kuwait was appointed last July the insured group, a former chief of staff, ambassador to Iraq for the first time since 1990, and presented his credentials on October 22 last.

The Iraqi occupation of Kuwait continued for seven months from August 1990 to February 1991. The Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said earlier this month that Kuwaiti officials will visit Baghdad. He said the parties a list of outstanding problems, which include the joint exploitation of oil fields one of the border and the demarcation of maritime boundaries and the billions of dollars in damages claimed by Kuwait. Kuwait has declared two days before it got so far, 3.13 billion dollars in compensation from Iraq for the invasion and occupation. The UN Security Council, Iraq was forced to pay 5% of oil revenues to fund the United Nations to compensate for the invasion of Kuwait. The Fund has received requests for compensation of $ 368 billion dollars, but he was only 52 billion, including 39 billion for Kuwait, based on figures from Kuwait and from the Fund. And demands that Iraq repeatedly since the fall of the former regime, foreign countries, especially Kuwait and the write-off tens of billions of dollars owed, or significantly reduced, at least.

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