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

Saudi Arabia tends to reduce the Iraqi debt

Saudi Arabia tends to reduce the debt resulting from Iraq during its war with Iran in the eighties. The Electronic Journal «Express» Saudi sources said Riyadh deducted part of the debt, pointing out that Saudi Arabia believes that the pipeline is established between Iraq and Saudi Arabia to transfer Algasaly Red Sea during the Iraq war - Iran was later transferred to Saudi Arabia to be the system through the transfer of gas or oil from the eastern region to the West, part of the debt that Iraq will be granted a funnel.

Fall of the Iraqi debt to its war with Iran to the two first is government, with the second of the private sector. And representatives of the two countries engaged in debt negotiations is only the government, because the debt of the private sector do not fall within the powers of the Saudi government.

http://209.85.229.132/translate_c?hl...9mtnVPWkJFWoSA

Awarded a U.S. company for oil in the West Qurna oilfield

The Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh has won the American company, the holding of oil worth 96.4 million dollars to raise the level of crude oil production in the West Qurna oilfield, without revealing the identity of this company.

It is assumed the U.S. company, according to the contract with the Iraqi government to ensure that the water pumping station equipment in the field in question.

The Iraqi government said earlier it had agreed to a deal worth 91 million dollars with a company (GE Oil and Gas) aims to upgrade the Italian gas field in West Qurna.

http://209.85.229.132/translate_c?hl...Vp-Abh4wVvRlOg

Syrian Prime Minister in Iraq next Tuesday

The Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Naji Otari next week visit to Iraq to head the delegation in the meetings of the High Syrian-Iraqi Committee, according to SANA news agency reported.

The agency said that during the visit will be Otri "talks with Iraqi officials on bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries and ways to develop and expand prospects in different areas."

The Syrian Minister of Economy Amer Hosni Lutfi held talks recently in Iraq as part of the preparatory meetings for the meetings of the High Syrian-Iraqi joint.

And will be signed during the meetings of seven documents, including export promotion and the free zones, housing and reconstruction, health, culture and higher education, and a draft cooperation agreement between the Union of Chambers of Industry in Syria and the Iraqi Federation of Chambers of Industries.

http://209.85.229.132/translate_c?hl...U0Dc-ccqd5uR_A

Iraq parliament promises to push Shell out of gas deal
Foreign companies hoping to exploit Iraq's oil and gas wealth face determined opposition

Expectations that foreign companies will cash in on Iraqi oil riches were called into question tonight after a key parliamentary body in Baghdad pledged to "push Shell out" and halt a forthcoming licensing round.

The warning from Jabir Khalifa Jabir, secretary of the Iraqi parliament's oil and gas committee, was seen by financial analysts as a serious threat to western investment opportunities in a country that holds the second-largest oil reserves in the world.

Shell has been considered a frontrunner in the race to seize control of the Iraqi energy sector after signing a $4bn deal to process and market gas from the south of the country and ship it, possibly to Britain as liquefied natural gas (LNG).

But the preliminary agreement – and a subsequent one with China National Petroleum Corporation – were unconstitutional and detrimental to Iraq's economic interests, said Jabir, who worked for more than 15 years at Iraq's state-run Southern Gas Company.

"We are going to do everything we can to revoke this deal and to push Shell out," Jabir told Reuters. "Both these deals are illegal because they didn't go through parliament. The companies and their lawyers knew the old Iraqi oil law very well," he added, saying that any new deals Baghdad signs in bidding rounds under way with BP and others would also be subject to revocation.

The oil ministry has said it does not need parliament's approval to sign new deals, but Jabir argues Iraqi law 97 clearly states all arrangements of this nature must be passed by parliament. The committee had studied the preliminary Shell deal for the past six months and all members have concluded that it is illegal, he said.

The arrangement with Shell and the wider oil licensing round have been highly controversial already because many critics believed they were unduly influenced by the US and British, who occupied the country after toppling Saddam Hussein in 2003. Critics saw the invasion as a "war for oil" and believed it would open the way for US and UK oil companies to regain assets seized from them decades earlier through nationalisation.

Analysts at IHS Global Insight, the economic forecasting group, said the latest developments were alarming, especially given Shell was expected to formalise its southern gas deal within the next few weeks. "The Shell deal looks increasingly like a litmus test for progress on all Iraq's oil and gas projects, with any potential failure likely to remove most of the political legitimacy from the oil ministry's interpretation of Iraq's constitution and oil law," they argued.

Shell declined to comment on Jabir's remarks with a spokesman at head office in the Hague saying they were a "matter for the ministry of oil" in Baghdad. But he added: "We believe our experience in large-scale integrated gas projects and knowledge of Iraq has contributed to the decision to work with Shell."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2...shell-gas-deal

Some oil contracts violate the law- lawmaker

An Iraqi lawmaker on Saturday said that some oil contracts with foreign companies violate the Iraqi law, arguing they were signed in the absence of a parliamentary approval.

“The multi-dollar gas contract signed last year between the Ministry of Oil and Royal Dutch Shell, and another between Iraq and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) violate the law because they did not obtain a parliamentary approval,” the rapporteur of the Iraqi oil and gas committee in the Parliament, Jabir Khalifa Jabir, said in a statement published on the official web site of his bloc.

“The agreement with Shell is unconstitutional and harms Iraqi economic interests. We will do our best to cancel this agreement and expel Shell…,” Jabir noted.

In September 2008, Shell signed a contract with the oil ministry, which was rejected by Iraqi parliamentarians, who said it allowed the company to have a monopoly on natural gas in southern Iraq.

http://en.aswataliraq.info/?p=111730

Kosirt Messenger: Talabani will run for a second presidential term

Vice President of the Kurdistan region Kosirt that the Messenger of President Jalal Talabani, would run for another term.

The relocation of the Prophet pukmedia confirm that Talabani will run in upcoming presidential elections and there is no alternative in Iraq.

Talabani had earlier expressed his desire not to seek a new presidential mandate in the next elections, and work full time for the party.

And the security situation, he said that «not quite good, but is from time to time, some terrorist operations, if compared to previous years, it is very simple». And the relationship with Turkey, said: «We have no relation with the PKK, Turkish, and there is good cooperation between the regional government of Kurdistan and the Turkish government». And the return of Baathists to some positions, he said that «those who have committed crimes against the Iraqi people must be prosecuted and not allowed to participate in the political process».

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

Member of the Commission on oil and gas: some oil contracts harmful and contrary to the law

Rep. Jaber Khalifa Jaber decision of the Commission on oil and gas from the Iraqi parliament, the parliamentary bloc of virtue that the Commission was seeking to cancel contracts of some foreign companies such as the gas, worth billions of dollars and signed with the Ministry of Petroleum and Royal Dutch Shell last year, and another between the billions of dollars in Iraq, and oil company China National (CNN.. me.'s) contrary to the law because they did not receive the approval of the Iraqi parliament, as provided for in the Constitution.

Said Khalifa, who has worked in the South Gas Company for the Iraqi government that the 15-year agreement with Shell is unconstitutional and damaging the economic interests of Iraq.

"We will do everything we can to cancel this Agreement and the expulsion of Shell, both agreements was illegal because it was not presented to Parliament, Valcrkian and counsel were aware of the old Iraqi oil law is good."

He said: that any new agreements signed by Baghdad in the current round of bids is also subject to revocation.

He added that the Committee examined the preliminary agreement with Shell over the past six months and all members agreed that it is illegal.

Shell has signed an agreement last September to collect the gas lost through the burning of Iraq when the oil production. But the deal faced opposition from lawmakers to give him a monopoly on the rights of Shell gas production from the South in the future, where under the contract, Shell will have a monopoly on the rights of each gas in the Basra and the south.

The professor said Jabir Khalifa: that the agreement did not set any conditions they give priority to supplying the domestic market, although the Ministry of Oil, Shell said at the outset that he would provide it, there are fears that Shell will be issued by the gas instead of filling the growing domestic needs.

He explained: Shell said the agreement also grants the right to sell gas at world prices, which means that if a Shell gas sold domestically will have to pay world prices of Iraq and then the support price to industrial consumers and electricity companies.

The alternative is that the customer pays the local prices, the global price, which will put them in a weaker position to compete with their counterparts in other countries in the Gulf Arab region who have access to cheap energy supplies.

"This is harmful to the Iraqi economy. Can not pay world prices for Shell and finance support of the budget.

He added that the Commission will give priority to the cancellation of an agreement by Shell to turn its attention to the agreement with CNN.. I. C. And that concerns the agreement with China on the less damaging the Iraqi economy is less.

http://209.85.229.132/translate_c?hl...oicljNhgOLB7TQ

Dubai hosts Arab banking conference to discuss repercussions of global financial crisis

Is scheduled to be held for the Arab Banking Conference 2009 in Dubai on Sunday to discuss ways and solutions to address the repercussions of the global financial crisis and to develop plans for the advancement of the economies of Arab countries.

The conference goes, organized by the Union of Arab banks and two under the title (see the crisis of tomorrow ..) with the participation of ministers of finance and economy, investment and governors of central banks and about 300 people from 22 Arab countries representing the leaders of Arab and foreign banks and joint financial institutions, investment and economic in addition to the Arab representatives of the major economic and financial organizations Arab and international experts to work the Arab banking and finance and foreign.

Almwtmralozmp examines the international financial implications of current and the steps taken by the Arab states to confront issues Alastra Tejip crucial to the future of the Arab region at both the banking and investment.

http://209.85.229.132/translate_c?hl...1WUu9tEwXgC5Xg

Iraqi oil experts call for the formation of the federal oil and gas

The results of a study called for by Iraqi oil experts, the need for the formation of the federal oil and gas, and the restructuring of the Ministry of Oil and hiring techniques and foreign companies in this area.

The study, prepared by the chief adviser to the Iraqi government, Dr. Thamir Ghadhban, and Chancellor of the Council of Ministers, Prince Abdul Ilah, and thrown in the First National Economic Forum to develop the oil and gas sector in Iraq, the need for the formation of the federal oil and gas in the affairs of the extractive sector, and restructuring of the National Oil Company Iraq.

She stressed the study, published on Saturday the importance of the structure of the Ministry of Oil to focus attention on regulatory affairs "of the sector and to prepare implementation plans and follow-up without going into the affairs of the operation of the extractive companies, which have to be given ****utive powers and wide, and highlighted the importance of continued rounds of licensing by the Ministry of Oil.

And stressed the need to attempt to accelerate the adoption of the oil and gas law by the Iraqi Council of Representatives, as well as a solution to the Kurdish region on the administrative and legal problems of existing oil contracts between the provincial authorities and foreign oil companies.

The study urged the Iraqi government to open oil exploration work (in order to compensate for the depleted reserves and increase production as well as to strengthen the future of oil) in the Western Sahara, through a bilateral deal with countries or companies that were previously contracted with them and to reach a formula acceptable new contract, which provides much the period of the contract.

http://209.85.229.132/translate_c?hl...XDQmTHj2n9XcKQ

Iraq Parliament to vote for Speaker position

Iraqi Parliament opened candidacy for the position of Parliament Speaker which is still vacant since December 2008 when former Speaker Mahmoud Al Mashhadani resigned. It is still unknown whether this issue will be resolved in Sunday’s session through secret ballot or will there be several rounds of elections in this regard.

Political parties presented six candidates most of them participated in the previous round of voting early this year.

While the Accordance Front insists on its candidate Iyad Al Samirrai, reports say that the latter has withdrawn its lawsuit submitted to the federal court about the legitimacy of his candidature.

A statement by the Parliament reported that voting will be carried out on Sunday clarifying that the process will pass through three stages. During the first stage, candidates compete among each others. The candidate to win should rally 138 votes out of 275 lawmakers plus one.

The statement added if these votes were not reached, a second round will be carried out with the participation of candidates who got most votes in the first round. Yet, if during the second stage, candidates fail to rally 138 votes, a third round is carried out during which the candidate who obtains the majority of votes wins.

Moreover, parliamentarian sources told Al Sharq Al Awsat Newspaper that the six candidates are namely: For the national dialogue Front: Mostapha Al Laithi, Taha Al Luhaibi and Mohammed Tamim. For the Iraqi List: Hajem Al Husni, and Adnan Al Bajaji as compromise candidates in addition to Al Samirrai.

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