Thread: Archive News - Iraqi Dinar Think Tank - 06/05/09 - 04/09/09

Maliki visits Washington to discuss implementation of security provisions of the Convention

Decided that the Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's visit to the United States mid-month to discuss the implementation of the provisions of the signed security agreement between Baghdad and Washington.

He said the Kurdistan Alliance MP Mahmoud Othman said that the formal invitation sent to the owners several months ago to visit the United States, indicating that the visit will address many common issues, as well as the exit from Iraq Item VII.

Osman said that the visit included a lot of busy work and issues, he said, adding that the visit comes after the start of the countdown to the date of the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraqi cities and towns the end of this month.

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Asiacell breaks its silence and responds to the Iraqi Minister of Communications' Advisor Hiyam Al-Yassiri

In a televised broadcast on Alhurra Sa.tellite channel, Dr. Hiyam Al-Yassiri, Advisor to the Iraqi Minister of Communications, stated that the Ministry consulted with the private sector whilst drafting the Telecommunications Law over two years ago. This statement was made during Alhurra's weekly program, "In Iraqi". However, Asiacell strongly denied any truths to this statement, indicating that it was never consulted on any drafts for the law and that the current draft is absent of any comments from the Iraqi m.obile telecommunications companies. During the program, Dr. Al-Yassiri went on to say that the private sector played an active role in the drafting of the law, referring to an alleged meeting with the technical manager of one of the operators who was operating at the time.

Furthermore, the Minister of Communications' Advisor also made another statement on the Al Somaryeh sa.tellite channel in response to citizens' complaints on the high monthly bills they received from the Iraqi Telecommunication and Post Company (ITPC), indicating that the high costs incurred on calls from fixed lines to m.obiles are attributed to the high prices placed by m.obile telecommunications companies. This statement raised several questions made by various telecom operators who have not yet received any payments from the ITPC and have not even signed any agreements to that effect. On the contrary, operators have continuously stated that calls made from fixed lines to m.obile lines should be a service to the benefit of the general public, and that it is their duty to all Iraqi citizens not to receive any additional payments from the ITPC.

Asiacell was extremely confused by these allegations particularly in light of the fact that they were made by a senior government official. The company questioned the reasons behind the misleading allegations which could be interpreted as an intentional attempt to conceal the real reason behind the problems currently hindering the Iraqi m.obile telecommunications companies' transmissions; the current use of Jammer devices by both government and privately owned companies. The company has on a number of occasions requested to find a solution to this problem in an objective framework instead of placing false allegations that are misleading to the general Iraqi public.

Within this context and during a recent televised broadcast on Alhurra sa.tellite channel, both CEOs of Asiacell and Zain Iraq discussed the issues surrounding the signal blocking Jammer devices. It was highlighted that the use of these devices is becoming increasingly widespread in Iraq despite the fact that such devices are prohibited in most of the Middle East and the rest of the world because of their negative effect on various communication tools. In the absence of regulations on the use of these devices in Iraq and in light of the lack of proper governmental control to limit their use, Asiacell expressed its readiness to cooperate with the Ministry of Communications on finding a permanent solution to this problem instead of having officials such as Dr. Hiyam Al-Yassiri resort to making various false allegations which blame telecommunications companies instead of working constructively to serve the new Iraq.

In his response statement, Dr. Diar Ahmed, CEO of Asiacell, said: "Moving forward towards developing the telecommunications sector must involve public-private sector cooperation; the ideal venue for this cooperation would be an Iraqi Telecom Conference that involves all stakeholders to engage in a constructive dialogue on the problems and solutions of the existing situation. One of the most important factors that should be discussed is prohibiting companies from investing in the infrastructure through the installment of fiber optic networks which take away the Iraqi citizens' right to clear and undisrupted phone calls." Dr. Ahmed also requested that the conference be held on Iraqi soil and not outside of Iraq as was the case in previous years.

These statements are made during a time where the Iraqi Government is currently exerting efforts towards attracting foreign investment to the country in order to increase GDP growth rates. However, the problems facing many large companies in Iraq may send the wrong message to foreign investors about the Iraqi private sector and the level of cooperation between the government and private sector in a country that still operates under inadequate government procedures.

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Foreign investors to have the right to own state properties - spokesperson

The Iraqi government approved a bill to amend the investment law to allow foreign investors to buy state-owned, public and private properties, the cabinet's official spokesperson said on Tuesday, explaining that the decision comes to create a better environment for investments in the country.

"The bill will amend investment law number 13 of 2006," Ali al-Dabbagh said in a release issued by his office and received by Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

"Foreign investors will be allowed to own state, public, and private properties, according to a special payment system for the purpose of housing projects," he said.

"Iraqi investors already have the same right," he added.

Al-Dabbagh pointed out that the bill will also offer foreign investors the freedom to deal in the Baghdad Stock Market, and to join partnerships in private and public companies.

"The new amendment requires the state ministries to offer lands and properties suitable for investment projects," he noted.

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Saedi, Iraqi government calls for dialogue to end the intense differences with Kuwait

Called on the mass of the Fadhila Sa'idi morning and diplomatic Iraqi government to launch intensive dialogue with the State of Kuwait with the States which have impacted on them in order to resolve the outstanding issues between the two countries.

Saadi said in a press release published on Wednesday that involved opening a dialogue with regard to compensation for the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait by the former regime of Kuwait, which did not earn, but the Iraqi people and the mass killings and displacement and therefore the occupation of Iraq.

The Saadi to be Iraqi diplomatic highly efficient, so that it can affect the Kuwaiti side to resolve the issue of Iraqi debt and reparations owed by Iraq and must also be raised another key issue is that there is damage caused by the entry of U.S. troops to Iraq.

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Shahristani renewed rejection of the oil contracts concluded by the Erbil

New Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani, the federal government's refusal to contracts entered into by the KRG with international companies to extract oil without the approval of Baghdad.

He said al-Shahristani told a news correspondent transfer that the contracts entered into by the province of Kurdistan was "an open and competitive, however, did not take into account the interests of the Iraqi people, stressing the need to hand over the" income from the sale of oil (the territory) at world prices On the download "to the Federal Government to be distributed to all regions according to the Iraqi budget assessments.

Shahristani denied the existence of administrative corruption in his ministry, accusing the former ministry of corruption and theft of oil, saying a rise in the rate of export of oil. The Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said yesterday that the export of oil from the province through the national pipeline to the outside, adding that the proceeds of this oil will be for the budget of the Federal Government.

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decline of the central bank sales to 101 million dollar

Closed the canteen in the Iraqi Central Bank daily for the sale of foreign currency High level of dollar sales 101 million and 215 thousand dollars after it was in its day on Tuesday 164 million and 103 thousand dollars at a fixed exchange rate was 1170 dinars per dollar.

Media office said in the bulletin of the Bank's got a copy of that total dollar sales reached 28 million and 590 thousand dollars in cash and the bank paid a fixed exchange rate was 1176, including the World Bank's commission of $ 6 dinars per dollar.

While the value of foreign remittances and 72 million 625 thousand dollars, paid in cash, including the World Bank's commission of $ 3 dinars per dollar.

Did not provide the 21 banks participating in the auction, any offers to buy the dollar, the bank note Receive a commission of $ (3) dinars per dollar with a deduction of (1) JD / Dolreetn amounts purchased.

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Lubaid Abbawi: the debt issue resolved through bilateral relations between the parties

Under Secretary of the Ministry of State for Political Planning, Lubaid Abbawi Kuwait seeks to dissolve the Iraqi debt issue through the UN Security Council only.

Lubaid Abbawi said in a statement to the radio that the Tigris debt issue resolved through bilateral relations and the existence of a positive atmosphere between the parties.

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U.S. Ambassador affirms Washington sought to improve relations between Iraq and Kuwait

U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Christopher Hill that the Iraqi government is striving to lift itself from the provisions of Section VII.

Hill said during a press conference held on the sidelines of inauguration of the highway linking the capital, Baghdad, Basra, in the Babil province, south of Mariam attended the Tigris Radio correspondent that the U.S. government supports the re-drafting of this resolution.

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Cabinet decides to purchase the items of the ration card of the countries of origin directly and without intermediaries

Iraq's Cabinet decided to set up a committee to contract directly for the importation of items of the ration card through the opening credits exception of the conditions of the invitation and tender.

The government spokesman, Ali al-Dabbagh said the cabinet in its condition of 19 items to be procured the ration card of the countries of origin and the known global companies to stop direct and indirect procurement through intermediaries cash.

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Parliament confirms the existence of pressure on the political blocs to prevent the questioning of Minister of Oil

Said the decision of the Commission on oil and gas in the parliament, Jabir Khalifa Jabir said there was pressure and contacts with some representatives in the parliament who signed the motion to question the oil minister, Hussain al-Shahristani.

He said, adding that the atmosphere inside the Parliament supports the process of interrogation of al-Shahristani, the oil because of the wrong policy pursued by the ministry.

Khalifa pointed out the disastrous consequences of the policy of the Ministry of Oil in Iraq, lost opportunities worth billions of dollars as well as the construction of any refinery in the past period as well as the budget had allocated $ 9 billion for the implementation of projects that have not implemented any of them.

Stressing that the parliament was determined to question the oil minister during the month of June and the current request the Minister of Oil, to submit his resignation to the Government, and particularly to Parliament irrefutable evidence and documents that can not be misleading to the public or parliament.

Khalifa said that in the event of failure to submit his resignation and the oil minister, the parliament was determined to be removed from office, as saying.

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