Thread: Iraq/Dinar News. 09/05 to 01/14/07

Iraq to renew Saddam-era oil deal with China
Baghdad, Beijing to renegotiate $1.2 billion agreement

Last Update: 3:04 PM ET Oct 28, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- In search of investment dollars, Iraq is working with China to revive an oil deal first signed by Saddam Hussein and Beijing in 1997, Baghdad's oil minister said Saturday, according to a media report.
Next month, officials will nail down the details of the $1.2 billion deal, which involves developing an oil field called al-Ahdab, in Iraq's southern region, said Hussain al-Shahristani, Iraq's oil minister, the Associated Press reported.
The upsurge in violence in Iraq has made the country less attractive to U.S.-based and other Western oil companies, so Iraq courted China, a country which appears more willing to invest in potentially risky regions, the AP said.
China National Petroleum Corp., a state-owned firm, originally signed the deal in 1997, when United Nation's sanctions prohibited dealing with Iraq's oil industry. While China was waiting for sanctions to end, the U.S. invaded Iraq, according to the report.
Contracts signed between Baghdad and other energy producers during that time must also be renegotiated, the AP said.

http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Stor...eid=mktw&rss=1

Sunday, October 29, 2006
Iraq file

Iraqi American joint statement emphasizes the building of a stable democratic Iraq

Preparation and submission : Faris Umar

One of the most prominent themes file :
** American Iraqi joint statement confirms work for a stable and democratic Iraq
** Concern of the United Nations the loose sectarian violence

** ** **

The Iraq and the United States issued a joint statement stressing their governments of the two countries agreed to work to bring about security and stability in Iraq.
The statement said the two parties at the time appreciate the difficulties they were aware that the continuation of the partnership and strategic alliance will allow them to meet the challenges facing Iraq.
The statement added that the United States will continue to stand by the Iraqi government and that the Iraqi government welcomes the support of the United States continues to make progress with projects of national reconciliation and economic revival and to promote the building of the Iraqi security forces.
The statement said the Iraqi government has clearly expressed the issues that solutions should be found within the framework of schedules and take positive steps forward as a government representing the Iraqis. The statement pointed out that the United States supports these efforts and will fully support to help make it succeed.
The Iraqi statement announcing the American pledge joint Iraqi government having a good relationship and ties with the government of the United States to work together for a stable democratic Iraq, and face the challenges of terrorism in the light of a strategic alliance between the two countries. according to the statement.

Iraqi American joint statement issued after the meeting held on Friday, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, the American ambassador to Baghdad, Zalmay Khalilzad, who expressed in the statement are glad about the meeting to discuss their continuing efforts to "peace and security in Iraq and to build a better future for all Iraqis."

In this context, reported Agence France-Presse quoted Hassan Al-Sunaid member of the Committee on Defense and Security in the House and the Adviser to the Prime Minister that Al-Maliki told the American ambassador saying : "I consider myself a friend of the United States but I am not a man of the United States in Iraq."
Al-Sunaid attributed to the Prime Minister to inform him of Khalil added : "I am elected by the people and Parliament, The Security Council must coordinate with me, and the decisions must not be unilateral. "
It was Khalilzad had announced in a press conference last Tuesday that Iraqi leaders had agreed on a time frame for making the difficult decisions required to be taken on specific issues that the United States and its coalition partners would support al-Maliki and other Iraqi leaders in their efforts to implement these standards. The impact statement Khalil increased speculation that the United States wants to impose a timetable for resolving a number of issues of disagreement between the Iraqi political forces. On Wednesday, a day after a statement Khalilzad, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki expressed confidence that the ongoing talk about timetables is not the official position of the American government saying that the case fell in the political calculations before the mid-term elections of the American Congress.

The Premier pointed out that it was the right of the American government to review its policies to suit its interests, but an elected government in Iraq and the people that elected it is the right to raise demands expected from the government in the implementation of this matter or the other.
In Washington with President George Bush and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, the agreement with al-Maliki in the rejection of any attempts to dictate to his government from the outside. Bush explained in a press conference on Wednesday that American officials are working with the Iraqi government to reach agreement on the criteria in making the difficult decisions to achieve peace. But the American President announced that the Al-Maliki was right in his insistence on the right of Iraq to take whatever decisions.
The day after Bush's statements, Rumsfeld stressed that the idea of an agreement on the criteria do not involve the dates fixed or penalties for failure to meet them.

In the meantime, said Vice-President Adel Abdel Mahdi, that the focus on the Americans to dissolve the militias is misplaced. It was Abdel Mahdi visited Friday religious authority Al-Sistani in the city of Najaf. He said in a statement to journalists following the meeting that there are attempts to make the battle against the militias and to delay the battle against terrorism and the armed actions. The newspaper quoted the New York Times as Vice President of the Republic, saying : "We warn of the dangers of such attempts."

** ** **

The United Nations has expressed concern over the continuation of sectarian violence in Iraq. He warned the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the United Nations, Jan Egeland that the killings identity has become "out of control", according to the source. He pointed to the deaths of about one hundred people every day and displacement of civilians from their neighborhoods and towns because of attacks and counter-attacks on the basis of belief.
The official pointed out that the international United Nations estimates that three hundred and twenty thousand citizens at least have left their homes in Iraq since the 2003 war, some shops to temporary housing in other areas of Iraq and left others to Syria, Jordan and other countries.
He said the Humanitarian Coordinator for the United Nations in an interview with the Associated Press : "This situation is not a permanent and irreversible, but the longer the time the stronger." He noted that in this context to what happened in the Balkans, Lebanon and other areas of ethnic and religious conflict.
Egeland pointed out that the figure of a hundred who are killed daily in acts of violence based on the audit and review the records Morgues by the United Nations and other humanitarian organizations.
The official said that violence has become international breakdown completely out of control revenge killings in many areas of Iraq. He added that the figures tell the magnitude of the suffering of the civilian population and the importance of going now appeal to all who can stop it.

** ** **

Scheduled to restore Iraq and China work to hold oil worth a billion dollars, two hundred million dollars was signed between the two countries in 1997 to develop one oil fields in Iraq. The Minister of Oil Hussein Shahrastani Saturday that officials from both sides would meet next month to renegotiate the agreement to develop the field Alahidb in southern Iraq. The declaration Shahrastani in the conclusion of his visit to China after a three-day visit to Japan to invite the two giant companies to invest in Iraq. The news agency Associated Press of oil minister that in the event of an agreement quickly is expected to begin work immediately.
He explained that the field Shahrastani Alahidb would be the first oil fields that foreign firms will be invited to make presentations to them that these technology companies and financially capable and has a proven track record in oil production.
The Minister of oil that Iraq needs investments of about twenty billion dollars to develop its petroleum industry.

Translated version of http://www.iraqhurr.org/

An expert at the Central Bank of Iraq is banking density in Iraq weak
With the Ministry of Finance seeks to merge banks and curtailed
Source : Al Sabah-28 / 10 / 2006


Banking expert stressed that the development achieved by concrete Iraqi banks and made much progress and an important stage in her openness to the global banking system, however, drew attention to the fact that some phenomena inherent in the banking system for both the public and private sectors need to Tgiergezri for Ttwiradae this system and Alar coats division to the international banks.
The expert, Walid Abdel Nabi Idi assistant general manager of the banking and credit control in the Central Bank of Iraq today, we need to step up to the levels of the Iraqi banks counterparts in the world to play a significant role in the activation of the Iraqi economy, and added that among the most important phenomena of the aforementioned lack of awareness of banking and non-arrival of Alagh caught Iraqi and the Iraqi society to the global level in this area, which demonstrates the great need to raise awareness within the banking community to the Iraqi banks themselves through the development of banking services and dissemination.
Based on its analysis of Hzaaloaga across indicators and statistics relating to banking density in Iraq any preparation banks to the population as information indicates that the banks, one for each 46632 persons compared between the bank and the standard of the same bank for each ten thousand people, which demonstrates a lack of awareness of the banking system.
Idi effects on this side issue of importance in terms of this vision at odds with the decisions of the Ministry of Finance knockout number of banks to merge with each other, which means that the ministry is not committed between the banking standard.
So it Idi that private banks in Iraq, characterized by the primacy of the family nature of any union management with ownership in the bank in order to achieve the narrow interests of the family in addition to the weakness of the banking culture to some of the capital Mmai'di to the loss of these banks between the wishes of the owners of capital and the requirements of Achi graduating and commitment to the laws and regulatory authorities that have been developed for the benefit of the banking system.
The absence of public banking strategies actors and detailed annual plans and contingency plans and the lack of policies provided by the Banking Act and the Law of the Central Bank of Iraq and regulations issued by the Central Bank of negative phenomena as well.
He sees banking that other negative phenomena is the prevailing absence of institutions of the banking system and currency such as insurance companies on deposits and other insurance Aumkateb loans to the study and analysis of banking risks as well as the lack of suitable Khadnat provided by the Iraqi banks in terms of the number, type and procedures and the way the secret Eh presented with the requirements of the development of the Iraqi economy and the requirements of Aghtassadalasuk, The weakness in comparison with the number and type of services provided by banks and the Arab world.
He pointed to a weakness in technology means used by banks and the lack of rapid means of communication required by the new working conditions and the absence of appropriate computer programs to the development of the banks as well as the decision-making structure and the weakness of modern banking expertise and weak specialties and the high volume of non-performing loans Paid owing to the unstable security situation.
He said that private banks and government suffer from other problems permanently, and needed to take decisions on undermining and find solutions for the problems of counterfeit currency and documents damaged and the problem of the transfer of money and pilferage and secondary services provided by banks at the expense of their duties Chairperson of each of these problems is one of the m Haddat banking and non-development.
There are fundamental problems experienced by banks governmental formation boards consisting of the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director-General into by the minister and four people from the bank in addition to other representatives of this structure is considered a banking expert influential in the decisions of all, however, because their general manager, who is president of the Council of management and most of the decisions are administrative in nature predominantly political nature and the individual may be far from the banking system and even the distribution of profits in government banks contributed to the weakening of the capital base and prevented access of the number of government banks to a minimum of capital.
A Idi method of distribution according to Article 11, where profit of only viable distribution than 30% of the cost of doing business, the rest being transferred to the account of the Ministry of Finance of this profit 45% for the public treasury. 33% incentives of the management and staff of the company's research and development 5%. 5% of social services for workers and the remaining 12% goes reserve capital weakened capital base.
The method of distribution for consideration Alaattabarahtiajat nor did the actual work for the development of the banking system. In order to address these phenomena that hinder the evolution of the banking Idi believes in the need for the development of the use of automation in the banking and programs entitle to the occasion and provide the service banking precision, speed and gradually, as well as the reorganization and rehabilitation of the banking owners within a clear organizational structure.
The expert concluded banking and Idi Walid Abdel-Nabi said that the upcoming stage requires hard work to restructure the government according to the requirements of banks present stage of the Iraqi economy and the integration specialist banks and government investment bank with a capital increase.
A review of the Companies Act in the fifth paragraph of the formation of a coalition government banks and the Department of actual independence for the exercise of banking work, and reconsideration of the rate of profits and processing banks Bmcnanh modern equipment for the banking and the development also sees the need to prepare an integrated study to restructure banks and encouraged to make joint loans to reduce credit risks, and tightening control by the banks and insurance on their loans medium and long term as well as the establishment of insurance companies on deposits to ensure the protection of depositors and banks.
We can deduce from the foregoing that the banking expert Asher weakness in the banking density in Iraq as a result of the distribution of rates among the population at bank branches, With the Ministry of Finance is seeking to abolish or merge or downsize some branches of government banks because of the current circumstances in the country and which lead to its loss, however, a banking expert expected in return for increasing the number of private banks, which would replenish those banks that verification of any loss that with the abolition at the present time.
He announced the approval for the Central Bank to leave (6) of new banks out of (15) banks under study for the banks.

World energy prices and the Iraqi oil industry, tender transfer of Iraqi crude oil to Jordan. to address the problem of inflation

Preparation and submission : Nazim Yasin

This episode of the new (economic report) contains a follow-up to world energy prices and the Iraqi oil industry, a report from Amman on the soundtrack, which is proposed by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Wealth Jordanian transfer of Iraqi crude oil to Jordan in addition to the two economists to address the problem of inflation.

** ** **
World energy prices and the Iraqi oil industry
World oil prices continued declining trend in the standard rates, which recorded a few months ago, it reached 59.15 dollars Tuesday for a barrel of Brent crude on the London Stock Exchange with the sale of a barrel of American crude b $ 58.72 on the New York Stock Exchange in the transactions of futures contracts.
The price of crude oil exceeded the barrier of 78 dollars a barrel in the summer before the start of the decline. No contribute Declaration of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) reduced production by 1.2 million barrels per day last Friday did not contribute to reversing the trend of decline in prices. Informed Saudi Arabia, the largest producer, The major international oil companies and major clients Monday, lowering supplies as of next month, in implementation of the decision (OPEC).
The chairman (OPEC) Edmund sure that it is premature to determine whether the organization will need to cut production again when it meets next in December in the Nigerian capital of Abuja.
With some ministers of oil to the need for further reduction in production by 500 thousand barrels a day.
For his part, warned President George W. Bush Organization (OPEC) that the high crude oil prices had been "destroyed" economies and reduce demand for production if applied planned production cuts.
The observation was made in the context of the American president an interview aired Monday network television (CNBC). This was one of the strongest expressions used by Bush with respect to the (OPEC) since it pledged in his election campaign in 2000 "strongly pressure" on the countries (OPEC) to increase oil production.
It should be noted that the reduction announced by the official (OPEC) Finally, the first since 2004.
The American president had vowed during his annual State of the Union address to Congress last winter to reduce the United States imports oil from the Middle East more than 75 per cent by 2025.
In introducing Bush's recent statements, Reuters quoted him saying : "Whatever the case, what should we do in this country with welcoming oil prices low is to continue to spend money in order to become less dependent on oil." according to the source.
In the meantime, The Iraqi Oil Minister Hussein Shahrastani Japan on Monday to participate in the advancement of the oil industry in Iraq through investment and loans.
Shahrastani quoted as saying to the Minister of Economy and Trade Japanese Akira Amari during their meeting in Tokyo that "the oil industry task of reconstructing Iraq" only "that investment is not enough", pointing to the desire for the institutions and the Japanese government to grant loans to Baghdad. AMARE announced that Japan currently working on the selection of projects to be financed through a loan worth 5.3 billion dollars granted to Iraq in
2003.
The Shahrastani said during his visit to Australia on Thursday that Iraq hoped to complete the first round of the award of contracts for the development of oil fields by the end of next year.
He explained that the Iraqi oil ministry expects to start talks with international companies about developing oil fields upon approval by the House of Representatives of the new law regulates the oil and gas sector.
It should be noted that this draft legislation is now before the Energy Commission of the Iraqi Council of Ministers.

** ** **
Tender transfer of Iraqi crude oil to Jordan
Recently announced in Amman that the six transport companies, companies including one Iraqi, purchased the tender documents and the transportation of crude oil from Iraq to Jordan.
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Wealth Jordanian raised bid on the 10th of October, the 9th of next month as the deadline for receiving bids Land Transport Companies interested in participating in the tender.
It is noteworthy that Iraq had agreed to provide Jordan with oil at preferential prices under a memorandum of understanding signed recently between the two countries. Under the agreement, Jordan will get 30% of its daily needs of crude oil, amounting to about 100 thousand barrels a day.
Radio Free Iraq's correspondent in Amman, Hazem wrote and presented in more detail in the context of follow-up the following :
"Said the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to six Jordanian transport companies purchased the tender documents and the transportation of crude oil from Iraq to Jordan. The spokesman said the media on behalf of the Ministry of Petroleum Mahmoud scrub that one Iraqi and Jordanian companies bought five of the tender documents so far.
It is noteworthy that the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources raised bid on the 10th of this month and the 9th of next month the deadline to receive bids from Iraqi and Jordanian companies interested in entering the tender.
The company will start to win the tender to transfer oil from the beginning of next year in case there is appropriate security conditions.
It is noteworthy that the Jordanian-Iraqi Company for Land Transport signed an agreement with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to coordinate and manage the transfer of Iraqi oil to the Kingdom so that the transfer of 165 thousand tons of crude oil in the first phase, four-month period (September until December of this year), at a daily rate of 1370 tons, but the man Why transport did not start because of the lack of security conditions on the road, although the company has contracted with 150 drivers for the transfer of Iraqi oil into the Kingdom and the completion of logistical procedures necessary for the transport of oil have been opened four offices in a distance of the road and 3-point control of the company's personnel in Iraq were equipped with communication and fax, but Nternt.
Iraq had agreed to provide Jordan with oil at preferential prices during the visit of Prime Minister Dr. known Bakhit to Iraq since the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding in the field of crude oil contains supply Jordan with 10% - 30% of its daily needs of crude oil. "

** ** **
To address the problem of inflation
In exclusive statements to Al (economic report) One academics that inflation, which reached record levels in Iraq can be dealt with only through an increase in the quantities of the product of goods and services to match demand with the total achieved for the economy. With this latest economic expert said that some aspects of this problem can be addressed through the continuous support of the ration card in addition to activation of public enterprises, especially housing which they provide new job opportunities that would contribute to solving the unemployment crisis.
With comes listen to the voice of the report, which she made Correspondent Radio Free Iraq in Baghdad Leila Ahmed and includes tests conducted two interviews with two of the economists.
(With the corresponding report - Baghdad)

Translated version of http://www.iraqhurr.org/

ÔÈßÉ ÇáÒæÑÇÁ ÇáÃÚáÇãíÉ - ÇáÔåÑÓÊÇäí æÕá Èßíä æíÃãá Ýí ÒíÇÏÉ ÅäÊÇÌ ÇáäÝØ ÈäÓÈÉ 20%

Shahrastani arrived Beijing hopes to increase oil production by 20%.

Source : Reuters

29 / 10 / 06
He said Iraqi Oil Minister Hussein Shahrastani yesterday that China and Iraq will begin talks next month. to revive the contract was signed during the era of Saddam Hussein to develop the Al-Ahdab oil.
The field, located in southern Iraq. that is expected to produce 90 thousand barrels per day, it may be the first foreign oil contract is likely to give Baghdad under a new law for oil and gas is expected to be published within months.
Shahrastani said to reporters in Beijing, during the visit to China, where there is a growing demand for energy quickly, «will be representatives of the Iraqi Oil Ministry and the oasis company partly owned oil company China National Action now». The meeting Shahrastani, , which had arrived from Japan, with senior officials of the four government oil companies in China, «said the two sides were aware of the importance of cooperation and the need for each other. We expect them to come now. Those arriving now are only those who can be given the opportunity to obtain contracts in Iraq ». The official said the Chinese National Oil Company yesterday. The company is keen to revive the contract, but they remained concerned over the security situation in Iraq. with the new government's attempt to stop attacks by gunmen.
Given the Iraqi government, , which was formed five months ago priority for the draft-Ahdab, because the field near the new stations for electricity and oil lines. The project will effectively be frozen, because of international sanctions, imposed on Iraq. then the overthrow of Saddam's regime in the war led by the United States in 2003.
Shahrastani said. All contracts signed during the era of Saddam will be negotiated in line with the new law on oil and gas. that may also change the volume of investments in the Al-Ahdab field, initially estimated at about $ 700 million.
He added that Iraq is seeking to increase its oil production by 20 per cent to three million barrels per day, by the end of the year from 5.2 million barrels a day currently. He said «want to add half a million barrels a day every year. But this depends on the volume of crude, we can export pipeline from the northern ». And a northern export pipeline, which passes through Turkey, often subjected to sabotage attacks between 400 thousand to 500 thousand barrels per day of crude.
He added that Iraq hoped to increase the total oil production, between four million to 5.4 million barrels a day by 2010, if it succeeds in attracting investments to develop the discovered fields and 80 gas fields, 20 pump oil. Shahrastani said last month. Iraq will need about $ 20 billion to develop its oil sector from the fields to refineries, pipelines and marketing operations.

Audit reveals that the government «» Haliberton hidden information relating to one of its contracts in Iraq

Source : Zawra

29 / 10 / 06

The audit of the accounts by the American government, that is a branch of the company Haliberton, sought to conceal routine reports on the contract for the provision of the American embassy in Iraq Bman. through a special account information «».
The French Press Agency on Stuart Bowen probes public sector projects for the reconstruction of Iraq in his report, The action of the company «subsidiary Kellogg Brown & Root Sorvesis Ink» (so PRI) is «» violation of federal laws relating to provide supplies. He added that the company «not protect their own information, but limit the possibility of the use of government information is supposed b (so PRI) offer ». The company raised Haliberton and branch so PRI «» controversy several times since it was awarded the contract worth $ 4.2 billion outside the framework for a proposal to supply the American army with supplies eve of the United States invasion of Iraq in 2003.

ÔÈßÉ ÇáÒæÑÇÁ ÇáÃÚáÇãíÉ - ÊÏÞíÞ ÍÓÇÈÇÊ Íßæãí íßÔÝ Ãä «åÇáíÈÑÊæä» ÃÎÝÊ ãÚáæãÇÊ ãÊÚáÞÉ ÈÃÍÏ ÚÞæÏåÇ Ýí ÇáÚÑÇÞ

The document Mecca Altkverein isolated from the people

Baghdad / justice : Haydari said Mr. Saleh, Chief of Staff of the Shiite stay close to Mecca, which was signed last night Altkverein isolate terrorists from the country. He added of the National Iraqi News / Nina / yesterday, Saturday, : "

That document, which won the support of religious leaders will voice strong and influential as the number of those authorities of weight in the Iraqi street. " He explained : Haydari. "The document has many positive aspects which will facilitate the activation process on the ground and that the Iraqi street is closely linked to religious Bmarjayath which makes this document binding on all citizens." He continued : "Terrorism and penance will be to isolate them in Iraq and the people of the country will fight these trends SATISFACTION from abroad which may be killed for belonging to the Iraqi doctrine, in particular closer to God," stating : "This segment of the suicide bombers, which had played a significant role in the deteriorating security situation led to the signing of this document." and between Haydari : "intentionally had some of the terrorists to increase its terrorist attacks on citizens in the coming term but they Sizulon this document." He asked : Haydari. "the religious leaders in the Islamic world, all to support and blessing of this document to the dimensions of the ideas that have contributed SATISFACTION deteriorating security situation on Iraq." He pointed out : "The document will greatly motion and positive on the security situation sooner or later." A : Haydari. "The Aloaqvin Sunni and Shiite will work hard for copies of these ideas on the ground, elaborated and clarified for citizens.

ÌÑíÏÉ ÇáÚÏÇáÉ ÇáÚÑÇÞíÉ - æËíÞÉ ãßÉ ÓÊÚÒá ÇáÊßÝíÑííä Úä ÃÈäÇÁ ÇáÔÚÈ

Do you know how many countries Iraq has visited in the last couple of weeks for oil contracts
and/or talking oil with these countries:
Japan, China, Australia, Kuwait, Russia,, Syria, Europe, Africa, (did I miss any)
Ya think there in a hurry for something, I mean visiting all these countries in just the last couple of weeks.
GO IRAQ GET ER DONE

this just posted by bigwave on iif
Iraqi Consulate Coming to Detroit
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted GMT 10-28-2006 23:11:33
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DETROIT -- A new Iraqi consulate will be opened in Detroit, one of several being established across the U.S.

The Iraqi Ambassador to the U.S., Samir al-Sumaidaie, reportedly said during a recent visit with the local Chaldean community that Detroit and California would host the new consulates. The meeting took place at the Shenandoah Country Club in West Bloomfield.

Detroit's Public Radio reported that al-Sumaidaie said the consulates are needed to accommodate the needs of the large Iraqi community living in this country - one embassy in Washington D.C. is not sufficient.

The station also noted that al-Sumaidaie "reportedly suggested that Arabs and Muslims in Dearborn and elsewhere pressure U.S. elected officials to remain committed to the war in Iraq."

"I firmly believe that the Iraqi diaspora, especially in the U.S., is the most qualified to assist in the reconstruction of Iraq and helping achieve the objectives of democracy and peace in that country," said Adhid Miri, a member of the Chaldean Iraqi-American Association of Michigan, who moderated the meeting.

Said Miri, "I think the building of the consulate will be very beneficial to Iraqi Americans as well as other Arab Americans, and create better ties between the two countries. You need to plug in directly into communities that can deliver.

"A consulate is needed so that people can take care of their visa issues, bid on projects, lobby the Iraqi government through our political action groups. It will also help in the transfer of educational and technological knowledge - you just really need this kind of mechanism. It won't work with scattered individuals across this country.

"Iraq, more than any other country, needs these consular services today. Actually Iraq needed it yesterday. The community has been voicing its needs for a long time, at least 10 years.

"It was parallel to the size of the community here, as more people came to the U.S. and Michigan, the needs grew as well.

"This is long overdue, it's really a positive leap forward. The world has changed and we live in a global economy. We as Iraqis need to have the speedy access to services that such a consulate would provide," said Miri.

Calls made to the Iraqi Embassy throughout the week went unanswered and messages left requesting information were not returned as of press time.

I am in NY and it is @ 1:30am - I also have DirecTV (satelite) in a few minutes there is a show coming on CNBW Cn.357 I hope it is not in Arabic.
But if anyone else has Satelite TV and can find the channel.
It is BUSINESS ARABIA maybe there will be some interesting info.