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

Obama not to speed up Iraq withdrawal

US President Barack Obama noted that he does not plan to speed up US troop withdrawal from Iraq affirming that though the country was “moving in the right direction” it still needed US help.

“I think the plan that we put forward in Iraq is the right one, which is let's have a very gradual withdrawal schedule through the national elections in Iraq. There's still work to be done on the political side, to resolve differences between the various sectarian groups around issues like oil, around issues like provincial elections,” Obama said in an interview with CBS program.

The US President noted that Washington has still a lot to do as the US military should train Iraqi Forces and upgrade their capacities.

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

The Emir of Kuwait, staying positive developments in the political process in Iraq

the values of the Amir of Kuwait positive developments in the political process in Iraq, praising the "success" of the recent local elections.

"Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, in a speech to the Arab summit held in Doha on Monday" following with interest the developments in Iraq, which witnessed a remarkable progress recently in terms of stability and political security and economic. "

He added "We congratulate the brotherly Iraqi people and Government of the success of provincial elections that took place last January," and resulted in significant progress on the results of the list headed by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

The Iraqi-Kuwaiti relations have been made in all areas since 1990 after the former regime's invasion of Kuwait, but has seen a relative improvement after falling in 2003, although there are some files, especially with regard to the pending dispute on the demarcation of the border and the compensation approved by the United Nations to Kuwait for damage caused by the invasion .

The Arab summit held in the twenty-first Monday in Doha, the participation of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and the last two days.

http://209.85.229.132/translate_c?hl...DVy38jQFTcaWZw

Maliki qualify the item on Iraq in the "Doha Declaration"

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, a reservation on paragraph on Iraq in the final statement of the Arab Summit and the twenty-first session, which concluded in Doha yesterday.

The Prime Minister has called for his work in the closed sessions of the Arab leaders participating in the Doha summit last night, changes to the item on Iraq to include a paragraph emphasizing the achievements in all areas of Iraq, and the emphasis on commitment to previous resolutions, according to private sources of the "morning." Maliki said in a statement at the closing session last night: "The statement that was issued did not tell the reality that has been made in the country and is consistent with the view of the summit said democratic developments and achievements that have taken place in security," noting that "this paragraph suggests that it does not recognize the verification of the achievements in Iraq, but Iraq was telling, so that we on this text and wish to be reviewed in line with the previous resolution of the Arab summit itself. " The prime minister said, "We make a reservation on this text amendment and ask," but the chief judge was the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa told Mr. Maliki that he will be taking his remarks would be to amend the text. The summit's final statement made by the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, "We reaffirm our commitment to the unity and independence of Iraq and our support for the political path, which depends on the full participation of all its components."

Maliki said: "We affirm the right to patrol in Iraq by the Arab Summit, and it was scheduled to be held in Baghdad in 2010," noting that the convening of this summit means that Iraq has returned to normal, pointing out that "in order to be worthy of the summit, Iraq Arab leaders and the need for more logistics and therefore it was agreed with the Emir of Qatar, Arab League Secretary-General that Iraq retains the right to hold the summit in the year 2011 to be the order of these things. "He has called on the leaders participating in the Arab summit, the contribution of their country in the process of construction and reconstruction, and reconstruction and to increase the diplomatic representation of all the Arab countries and the opening of embassies in Baghdad.

The Doha summit has started its work yesterday, and was scheduled to conclude today, but some differences emerged during the closed meetings, which led to the declaration of the end of Tuesday night by issuing a final statement. The Chairman of Minister in a speech at a summit in Doha, Iraq yesterday, "the Arab states to extinguish the debt resulting from the Iraq war by the former regime, and assume their responsibilities in siding with Iraq in the stabilization of security and stability," stressing that "Iraq is closing the book on all the past pains and tragedies and problems of internal and external, to regain his position now to be an active partner and the potential of its responsibilities in the Arab solidarity, which is designed to start a new phase of cooperation and the establishment of better relations with Arab countries and neighboring countries, regional and world on the basis of responsibilities and common interests." It should be noted that the words of most Arab leaders were supportive of Baghdad, and supportive of the unity of the country and its sovereignty. Maliki said that "Iraqi forces are able to fill his shoes the withdrawal of U.S. forces from all Iraqi territory, and not to fear now from Iraq after terrorists and law-breakers who had received a severe blow, and strikes have lost sanctuaries and hideouts that are no longer safe" , urging "the adoption of an Arab strategy for reconciliation based on a true partnership of all members of the family, without exclusion or marginalization, or the confiscation of the role of others, and to stop the policy of axes and alliances at the expense of the unified Arab position, and the abandonment of the method of thinking on behalf of the other and direct intervention in the internal affairs." the center of the photo, especially sources of the "morning" on the participation of the President of the Government in the closed meetings brought the heads of delegations of Arab causes in the Doha Sheraton Hotel to discuss the agenda and decisions of the Summit (21). The sources said the "morning," said Maliki called for the amendment of item Iraq, to include reference to the achievements in Iraq."

sources said the Prime Minister on the sidelines of the meetings discussed the situation in the country and the region of the summit with a number of leaders, including Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, King of Bahrain and other leaders. He has discussed with the State of Qatar Amiri, Kuwait and the presidents of Syria and Lebanon and the UAE President a number of important issues and the relations between Baghdad and Arab capitals, and ways to strengthen it. Prime Minister also discussed with Jordan's King Abdullah II on ways to strengthen bilateral relations. The two leaders affirmed that these relations moving in the right direction with the need to build a partnership of common interest to both countries, as stressed Jordan's support for the sovereignty and stability of Iraq and efforts to promote national unity. In a similar framework, headed by President Maliki, the Iraqi delegation participating in the Arab summit - Latin, which starts today in Doha, where it is hoped that the Prime Minister of South America to invest in Iraq and to participate in the campaign of building and reconstruction.

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

Iraq's central interest is reduced 200 basis points to 9% to spur growth

Said a senior adviser in the Iraqi Central Bank, told Reuters that the bank reduced interest rates by 200 basis points to nine percent of 11 percent on Monday in an effort to stimulate growth, which is threatened by decline in oil revenues.

At the beginning of this month, the bank reduced interest rates a percentage point in order to strengthen the Iraqi economy and protection of the global financial crisis.

But interest rate changes are considered largely symbolic in Iraq, where the economy outside the government sector and the production of crude oil is not a formal part mostly. And undermined years of war and sanctions, the country's financial system.

http://209.85.229.132/translate_c?hl...vokD6Gofzxl7Tw

Iraq issues tender for 45 oil wells in South Rumaila

Iraq's South Oil Company on Monday issued a tender for the drilling of 45 new oil wells in its super giant South Rumaila oilfield.

The 30 producer wells and 15 injection wells, tendered on a turnkey rate basis, should be completed within 25 months, according to the tender posted on the state-owned company's website.

"This tender is a part of the urgent plan ordered by the Iraqi oil minister to raise production rates in the southern fields," said a senior engineer with the South Oil Company, who asked not to be identified.

"There will be more tenders in the coming days."

Bids must be received by April 23.

Iraq sits on the world's third biggest oil reserves but decades of war, international sanctions, sabotage and a lack of investment means its fields are underexploited.

The government is almost entirely dependent on oil exports for revenues and the decline in oil prices is starving it of the funds needed to rebuild after the years of violence that followed the 2003 U.S.-led invasion to topple Saddam Hussein.

Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani and other government officials have called for a swift increase in currently slack output levels of around 2.3-2.4 million barrels per day.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt...58740120090330

Iraq seeks to amend economic pact with U.K.- ministry

The Iraqi Trade Ministry on Monday said that Iraq wants to reconsider and amend the economic pact with Britain, to comply with the developments taking place in the country.

"This came in a meeting between the ministry's undersecretary, Waleed Habeed al-Mousawi, and a British diplomat in Baghdad," said a release issued by the ministry and received by Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

"Al-Mousawi called on activating the Iraq-U.K. mutual committee," it added.

"Iraq is keen to have Britain as a partner in the rebuilding process," it noted.

http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZA...K.-%20ministry

Higher sales to the Central Bank auction of three-fold

the U.S. dollar sales of the Central Bank in an auction for the sale and purchase of foreign currency, on Tuesday, a three fold to 128 million versus $ 37 million and 740 thousand dollars, at the previous meeting.

The bulletin issued by the Central Bank and the Agency has received (Voices of Iraq) a copy of which was that "the total volume of demand for the dollar stood at 128 million dollars and three thousand dollars at the exchange rate was stable compared to 1170 dinars per dollar."

The figure is up from the previous meeting, which recorded total volume of demand for the dollar stood at 37 million and 740 thousand dollars at the exchange rate at 1170 dinars per dollar.

The Bulletin that "the distribution of demand for the dollar by 15 million and 150 thousand dollars in cash, covered by the bank at the exchange rate at 1176 dinars per dollar, including the central bank and a commission of six dinars per dollar."

With the value of remittances outside the country 112 million and 853 thousand dollars, covered by 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 9 banks to participate in the auction, offers to sell the dollar.

http://209.85.229.132/translate_c?hl...4lCDvtyivYsRpQ

Ban Ki-moon urges Arab states to open embassies in Iraq

The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon are likely to increase tension and violence in the disputed areas in Iraq, particularly Kirkuk.

Moon said in a speech at the opening of the 21 Arab League summit in Doha that it is the duty of all States to work to avoid the occurrence of such tension in the future and resolve it through dialogue.

He urged the Secretary-General of the International Organization of the rest of the opening of embassies in Iraq, pointing out that democracy in Iraq is continuously being strengthened and tends to stability, particularly after provincial elections that took place recently.

http://209.85.229.132/translate_c?hl...6sroyrFNn2WaCw

Mosul’s new provincial council wants to develop three oil fields

Mosul’s new provincial council has drawn a plan to upgrade the city’s public services, revamp domestic industry and develop its oil fields. According to Atheel al-Najafi, a council member tipped to become the governor of Nineveh Province of which Mosul is the capital, stability and peace will not return to the city without economic development.

Najafi is lobbying the city’s businessmen and industrialists, most of them currently in exile in neighboring states, to return and invest in their city.

Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city and home to nearly two million people, is one of Iraq’s most restive areas and still a stronghold for groups resisting U.S. occupation and the current government. But Najafi said conditions were improving and the city’s new administration was keen to work harder in order to reinstate law and order. Najafi and his bloc won the majority of the council’s seat in the latest provincial elections, ousting the former Kurdish-led council which many still blame for the city’s disturbances.

Najafi wants to build a new network of roads to link the province with both Syria and Turkey the states with which the province shares borders. Due to mounting violence, the province failed to spend most of the allocations the central government had earmarked for reconstruction. Najafi said most of the money was returned to the central bank but hoped it would be added to current year’s allocations for the city.

The province is rich in oil reserves and agriculture. For decades it has been the country’s bread basket but negligence and lack of investments have slashed its yields.

One of the province’s oil fields, Ain Zala, is among the first to have been developed in Iraq. But while Ain Azala is aging, the province’s three other fields, Kasba, Najma and Kaiyar are believed to hold billions of barrels of proven oil reserves which await development. Najafi said the development of the three fields was at the top of the new council’s agenda. He said if stability returns to the province, foreign oil major would certainly be interested to invest in developing the fields.

http://www.azzaman.com/english/index.asp?fname=news\2009-03-30\kurd.htm

Abu Dhabi investment group targets Iraq
Emirates International Investment Company (EIIC), the Abu Dhabi-based group, hopes to announce investment opportunities it is making in Iraq within the next two months, its chief operating officer said.

Oil and gas, real estate and financial services were sectors it was looking to target with investors’ money, said Constantin Salameh, whose diversified investment company owns 51 percent of Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank.

“We are very bullish on Iraq,” he told Arabian Business in an interview

“We believe there will be a huge window of opportunity in Iraq over the next two to three years.”

The firm had carried out a feasibility study and hoped to make an announcement on projects within the next two months, he said.

Increasing government spending on infrastructure projects and the improved security situation following six years of war were the main drivers for focusing on Iraq, he said.

Iraq is due to spend around $15bn during 2009 on repairs to its civil infrastructure including upgrading oil and energy facilities.

In the oil and gas sector, he said the company was interested in investing in building up Iraq’s hydrocarbon capacity.

The country is targeting a $50bn investment as it looks to raise its oil output from 2.5 million to six million barrels per day within five or six years.

EIIC was also focusing on the real estate sector, with an increasing number of property developments expected to meet growing demand from Iraq’s middle class.

“There is increasing demand from a cash-rich middle class with earning power,” he added.

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/55107...p-targets-iraq