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

Iraq, China open major oil field

Chinese engineers have inaugurated an Iraqi oil field, the first major oil development deal secured by a foreign firm since the 2003 fall of Saddam Hussein, officials said on Thursday.

The project, which follows the signing of a three-billon-dollar contract late last year, revives a deal signed in 1997 that granted China exploration rights to Al-Ahdab oil field in central Iraq.

"This project will provide a number of jobs and opportunities for investment," Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani said at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, quoted in an official statement.

"It will provide the province with electricity and power to operate the power station in Zurbadiyah and to help contribute to development and prosperity," he said.
Al-Ahdab's oil production is expected to reach 25,000 barrels per day in the first three years and expand to up to 115,000 barrels per day in six years, according to China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC).

The contract, signed in November in Baghdad, allows CNPC and another Chinese company, Zhenhua Oil, to develop Al-Ahdab oil field in the province of Wasit for 23 years.

"We look at this opportunity as the start of rebuilding the prosperity of Wasit," said Abd al-Latif Hamad Tarfah, the provincial governor. "This is the first investment project in Wasit and we hope it will last a long time."

After China won the rights in the 1997 deal, then valued at 700 million dollars over 23 years, activities were suspended due to United Nations sanctions and then by security issues following the US-led invasion in 2003.

Output from the field will mostly be exported but some will be used to fuel power generation stations nearby to ease electricity shortages.

Baghdad said earlier it had managed to change the previous joint venture contract into a service agreement, under which CNPC would charge a service fee of six dollars a barrel, decreasing eventually to three dollars.

The Al-Ahdab oil contract, while now strictly a service deal, will be worth an estimated three billion dollars to the Chinese and offers them an entry into Iraq ahead of Western majors.

http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidAN...%20oil%20field

Originally Posted by Seaview

Economic Commission considers the government "delayed" fight against financial corruption

Deputy Chairman of the parliamentary economic committee, we Yonadam Kanna announcement by the Secretary-General of the Council of Minister Ali Alaak the Government's intention to launch a campaign to combat corruption as "late."

He said: "The announcement came late Makhlgueth because of the negative aspects of this phenomenon has hurt the economic reality of the country and led to the depletion of billions of dollars, not to mention the delay in the implementation of projects and service development."

He pointed out that we were "the security conditions of the past and shed the greatest impact on the militia phenomenon is ex****bated in recent years and prevent the government from taking decisive action against those involved in the administrative and financial corruption."

http://74.125.79.132/translate_c?hl=...3QoW_nMp72GhKA

there you have it ...something that Mike{OSW}had said since 2005 and that most of us in rolclub had agreed with...corruption.....now they want to investigate it and do something about it....FINALLY.....lol..i guess that means that they have stolen enough for their own personal needs....BILLIONS are missing...construction and reconstruction projects have been put on hold and delayed because of this government...even their president,who is a Kurd,will resign at the end of his term this year....i guess even he has taken enough....maybe....just maybe....the reveal is not too far off...Pat

Maliki: we seek to increase oil and gas revenues to cover the investment

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, on Friday, in a speech to a symposium organized by the Australian Institute of Commerce, said that his government is keen to speed up the process of construction and reconstruction of Iraq in cooperation between companies and foreign companies, noting that there are tendencies to increase oil and gas revenues in order to cover investments in other sectors.

A statement by the Office of the Prime Minister received the agency (Voices of Iraq) a copy of which is that Maliki gave on Friday, a speech at the symposium organized by the Australian Institute of Commerce in cooperation with the Australian Chamber of Commerce - attended by Arab and a large number of companies and businessmen and Arab Australians.

The statement quoted Maliki as saying that "national unity government is keen to speed up the process of construction and reconstruction must be carried out by national companies as well as the Iraqi foreign companies associated with their good relations with Iraq," he said, "There are two main tasks facing the construction and reconstruction, namely, the reform what has been shattered by wars, and the second is reconstruction and development of services."

The Maliki that the Iraqi government "has directions to increase oil and gas revenues in order to cover the investments in other sectors."

The Prime Minister said "We meet today in the development of relations between Iraq and Australia, and our history of the friendly country proved the basis and principles for further constructive cooperation between the two countries."

"When we talk about reconstruction in Iraq must point out that the magnitude of the devastation caused by the inherited policies and reckless wars and adventures of his former regime."

Maliki said that "this is why today we feel that the time has come to accelerate the process of construction and reconstruction after the positive developments in Iraq, and that this task needs to be concerted efforts of local and friendly and the participation of international companies in the process of construction."

"We know very well that the companies and venture capitalists can not work and investment, but if the appropriate circumstances," noting that "conditions in Iraq have become the occasion of the turnout in the conditions that promote the work of companies, most notably the existence of the national will to move in the process of construction and security conditions become appropriate in the light of developments and successes of the security, as well as the political situation Divulge fluctuations and away from the adventures and wars. "

Maliki said that "Iraq today, where the political system is based on the adoption of the Constitution and the election to determine the positions of responsibility, and these factors made the companies accept to work in Iraq and to participate in the process of construction and reconstruction."

Maliki said that "construction projects capital needs, and Iraq has the praise of God because he is almost the first or second in oil reserves, a factor that encourages companies to additional demand to Iraq."

On the relationship between Iraq and neighboring countries, Maliki said that "the tension inherent in the regional relations between Iraq and neighboring countries has changed and has become Iraq builds its relations with these countries on the basis of common interests."

He pointed out that "the guarantees for the investment process in Iraq for the first time when the law attempts to ensure the protection of investment capital and investors," he said, adding: "We have agreed with the Australian side to six memorandums of understanding, signed yesterday included the aspects and the basic requirements, but are not all What Iraq needs. "

Maliki called on Australia to participate in the reconstruction process in Iraq, saying "It was Australia's positions in support of Iraq in the face of challenges Alssayaspwalamnip, and today we want to have the same stand in the process of construction, the request of the government and Australian companies."

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

Al-Bayati denied the prime minister's call for reconciliation with the Baath Party

MP denied on the mass of the United Iraqi Alliance Abbas al-Bayati, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's reconciliation with the Baath Party.

Al-Bayati said in a press statement, the Iraqi constitution is structured Mhoudora the Baath Party, while the Baathists would have a chance to return to Iraq and resume their administrative and functional Iraqi citizens, unless they wanted or wanted to eliminate the right of public or private.

On the invitation of organizations opposed to the political process to return to Iraq to al-Bayati said that the media and expression and freedom of political thought is available to all, and the prime minister wants the opposition to return to the country, and not turn into votes, does not affect the far abroad, has been exploited by certain quarters against the process politics.

http://209.85.227.132/translate_c?hl...7gOvPV4DxbSpgA

Head of Supreme Council: the Adoption of the Act excludes oil & gas during the current legislative

Prime block of the Presidium of the Supreme Council the responsibility for delaying the resolution of the Parliament to choose a new president of the Council of Representatives, at the same time ruled out the adoption of the law of oil and gas during the current legislative.

"Sheikh Jalaluddin small that" the Federal Court gave its interpretation of the concept of an absolute majority of the former, but the Presidency was the reason for the delay in the issue of the President of the House of Representatives, "adding:" We are waiting the reply of the Court if the federal and came to the disadvantage of the consensus candidate, Iyad al-Samarrai Fsnsreet to vote again, "and the possibility of Samurai re-election for himself, he pointed out that small, "there is no prevented him from doing so and there are no agreements to prevent those who have lost the vote of the run again," the other hand, ruled out the small «Adoption of the law of oil and gas in the current legislative session," attributed to "the presence of significant differences between the political blocs. "

http://209.85.227.132/translate_c?hl...opI7gtXaPQ6z5g

Parliament is likely to halt the policy of the central bank's daily auction of Dollars

Likely a member of the Finance Committee of the Sami Parliament Atrushi depend on the policy of the central bank's daily auction of $ and replace the fixed exchange rate linked to the financial market if the Iraqi market and the entry of global investment companies.

Atrushi and praised the recent action adopted by the Central Bank and the reduction of the interest rate on loans to 11 percent, stressing the need for interest rates linked to inflation rates in the country.

The central bank cut interest rates on loans from 14 percent to 11 percent after a decline in inflation rates in the country.

http://209.85.227.132/translate_c?hl...VTOdvJQExrXzHw

Originally Posted by Seaview

Talabani told Press TV: I shall be retiring from politics, to write Memoirs!!

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, on Thursday, less than in the station with exclusive Press TV Press TV Iranian TV news, he will retire from the political field this year and the richest businessman to write his memoirs.

The Iraqi president, who calls the station Balnact able in the field of human rights is the first president of post-invasion Iraq, U.S. in 2003, said Thursday that he had "no plans to seek re-election in the forthcoming presidential elections after the end of his term later this year."

Talabani said in an interview with the "Press TV" program in the English-speaking "face to face", "No, I do not plan to continue [as]. think that the end of this year will come to an end and I hope that my retirement, I am going back to my home and will have the time to write Mzkrati."

In response to a question whether the Kurdish community, a distinct political like "unwritten rule" in Lebanese politics, which saw the election of the President of Christian routine, Talabani strongly "not.

No. ... Not in Iraq, according to the Constitution, all Iraqis have the same rights. In Iraq it is not provided by the Constitution is not a gentlemen's agreement that the prime minister must be a Shiite, and Kurdish President, the President of the Arab Parliament ... we can elect as an Arab, Kurd, and prime minister, and a Christian as president of the parliament. According to the constitution, all Iraqis are equal. "

Talabani arrived in the Iranian capital in March 10 to attend the tenth summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) as guest of honor.
The channel will be full text of the meeting on Friday.

http://74.125.79.132/translate_c?hl=...oLbnDRTwRDXxnw

Talabani's office: president Aergb retirement from the political and partisan

office said Iraqi President Jalal Talabani on Saturday, the President declared his unwillingness to run for a second term, denied the rumors about his desire to leave politics and partisanship.

The clarification was issued by the Office of the President of the Republic today received Agency (Voices of Iraq) a copy of which is that the Taliban's response to a question in an interview with the agency during his participation in the Paris summit in Tehran, Echo, "that he wished to apologize for the nomination (for the presidency of the Republic) and the time of his political party and perhaps also find time to write his memoirs."

The Office explained that the words of President expressed the wish not to run for the president's new "without the means to retire from politics and partisanship."

And President Jalal Talabani said on Thursday (12-3) in an exclusive interview with Press TV station, Press TV Iranian TV news, he will retire from the political field this year and the richest businessman to write his memoirs, adding that he did not plan to seek re-election in the upcoming presidential election after the the end of his term later this year.

The bureau said that the President "sought on various occasions emphasized the importance of tradition and the need to devote the devolution of power, functions and responsibilities of leadership in the state, especially at this stage ... including in the final analysis lead to the completion of the rebuilding of the Federal State, democracy, deliberative."

The "complex tasks and challenges faced by the process of building democracy and preventing Intekasthe and to ensure the deepening of the concepts of national consensus and participation in the management of political life, governance and the adoption of national standards for national reconciliation in terms of power and on the conditions and objectives of all of this requires of leaders and parties to devote their efforts to contribute to the accomplish these tasks successfully. "

http://209.85.227.132/translate_c?hl...OgyM5Vixko-_5Q

Atrushi: No hope for the Government to provide a supplementary budget this year

The member of the Committee in the House of Representatives Almtalip Sami Atrushi that there is no hope for the government to submit a supplementary budget for this year because of the continuing decline in oil prices and the impossibility of verification of income estimates.

Atrushi He told the independent press (Iba) today, Saturday that the federal budget crisis in 2009 has not yet ratified by the Parliament and after that took up a great deal of discussion and debate regarding the reduction agreed upon by all the political blocs and the various committees of the Council, and even reduction of $ 4.2 billion dollars will not solve the crisis that we face in the implementation of that budget, particularly the issue of disability, which we expect to grow by one third of what it is now.

He is no hope for the government to submit a supplementary budget for this year because of the continuing decline in oil prices and the impossibility of investigating the estimated income, the government was very optimistic estimate of imports obtained from the sale of oil in their ability b (36.5) billion dollars, calculated the price per barrel b ($ 50) and the sale ( 2) two million barrels a day, although it did not exceed the price of a barrel of oil ($ 37) dollars to date and the rate of (1850) only a million barrels per day, ie, that income will be reduced by (11.5) billion dollars by almost a third of the expected .

Atrushi and invited the Government to confirm the continuation of the policy of rationalization and reduction of expenditures up to the amounts currently allocated for each institution to expedite the additional funds to supplement the budget, both the development of the oil sector, the adoption of laws or customs tariffs and an increase in the duties of reconstruction and the law of the consolidated tax and other laws.

He predicted that the government is not able to provide a supplementary budget Bnaqs as introduced by the Minister of Finance of the House of Representatives during the discussion of the general budget, as found during the follow-up allocations with the Ministry of Finance that the sums had been allocated to all of the obligations can not be abandoned by then it will be concentrated for the six months last year where the other amounts were spent, and therefore would be no supplementary budget LOWER.

The House of Representatives approved the budget in 2009 after lengthy discussions regarding the percentage of disability and who has decided to reduce the amounts, including approximately 10% that does not affect the salaries of staff and a network of social protection and pensions.

http://209.85.229.132/translate_c?hl...CBq23GOnwLTNEw

Kurdistan region to start exporting oil thru Iraqi pipelines

The Minister of Natural Resources in Kurdistan Government Ashti Horami said that the region will start to export oil thru Iraqi pipelines in the next few months. The Minister added that he expects no problems in spite of the disputes with Baghdad Government and pointed out that the oil will start flowing as soon as pipelines will become ready.

http://www.alsumaria.tv/en/Economics...pipelines.html

Fuad Masum: President Jalal Talabani leaves office next year

Rep. Fuad Masum from the Kurdistan Alliance Party leadership and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Led by President Jalal Talabani, President Talabani is likely to retire and will not seek a second term when his mandate expires at the end of this year.

Added Massoum told a news correspondent transfer This does not mean that he was withdrawing from political life, but I mean he would not run in the race for the presidency And will remain chairman of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan."

He explained that "the role of mediator between the Talabani different groups weary task extremely harsh, including working with all Iraqi parties and attempt to reconcile the different points of view

He "This choice by the Taliban is not a final decision may come as a serious departure for Iraq."

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