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

Iraq-Currency
Posted by: nadioshka on Monday, January 08, 2007 - 05:44 PM

Iraq-Currency
Iraqi Cenbank sells more than $9 million
By Dergham Mohammed Ali
Baghdad, Jan 8, (VOI) – Dollar demand picked up in the Iraqi central bank daily auction on Monday to $9.305 million from $6.665 million on the last auction on December 28.
Monday’s was the first working day for the Cenbank after a 10-day break for the Moslem Eid al-Adha (Bairam) and also the first in 2007.
The bank said in its daily statement it covered all bids which were $3.655 million in cash and $5.650 in foreign transfers at an exchange rate of 1,320 dinars per dollar.
Nine banks participated in Monday’s auction and offered to sell $1.200 which the central bank bought all at 1,318 dinars per dollar.
Economist Abdul-Razzaq al-Abaiji told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI) the 10-day break has led to relative stability in exchange rates and encouraged wide-scale and flexible buying and selling by traders.

Official : Iraqi Al-Ahdab field first on the list of development


Source : Reuters

21 / 09 / 06
An official of a prominent Iraqi oil that Iraq will develop Al-Ahdab oil field, which cost $ 700 million, a first step towards the development of its vast resources.
May Ahdab field pumps located in the south-central Iraq around 90 thousand barrels a day.
The granting of the field in the era of deposed President Saddam Hussein to the National Oil Company of China and the company Norenko manufacturing arm of the Chinese government.
But the Iraqi official said that the contract was re-negotiated.
He added : "We attach priority to the Al-Ahdab field to its proximity to power plants and refineries new ... We want to maximize the supply source. "
The field-producer for the time being but it includes a number of wells.
He continued, "that small field complex in Iraq."
The official went on to say that Iraqi Oil Minister Hussein Shahrastani is scheduled to visit China next month is expected to examine the Al-Ahdab field.

Translated version of http://www.alzawraa.net/home/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4880&Ite mid=73

Posted by: nadioshka on Monday, January 08, 2007 - 05:44 PM

Iraq-Currency
Iraqi Cenbank sells more than $9 million
By Dergham Mohammed Ali
Baghdad, Jan 8, (VOI) – Dollar demand picked up in the Iraqi central bank daily auction on Monday to $9.305 million from $6.665 million on the last auction on December 28.
Monday’s was the first working day for the Cenbank after a 10-day break for the Moslem Eid al-Adha (Bairam) and also the first in 2007.
The bank said in its daily statement it covered all bids which were $3.655 million in cash and $5.650 in foreign transfers at an exchange rate of 1,320 dinars per dollar.
Nine banks participated in Monday’s auction and offered to sell $1.200 which the central bank bought all at 1,318 dinars per dollar.
Economist Abdul-Razzaq al-Abaiji told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI) the 10-day break has led to relative stability in exchange rates and encouraged wide-scale and flexible buying and selling by traders.

Iraqi News
Monday, January 08, 2007 Iraq: Maintenance of oil meters in southern ports delayed to February
(MENAFN) The Inspector General in the Iraqi Oil Ministry Stated that the delays in completing the processes of maintaining and replacing the meters used in southern ports still cause difficulties in calculating the quantities of exported oil, Iraq directory reported. He indicated that the two American companies responsible for the maintenance have postponed the deadline formerly set by September 2006, to the end of February 2007. However, the official stressed on the fact that a scientific, internationally recognized method is being used temporarily in measuring exported oil instead of meter readings in the southern ports presently. He pointed out that the measuring processes are strictly controlled by committees especially formed for this purpose.
Copyright ©2000 MENAFN All Rights Reserved

Disclaimer: Trade Bank of Iraq and MENAFN are not responsible or liable for the accuracy of all information including but not limited to financial market data, news, stock quotes, energy rates, currency rates obtained from MENAFN modules and shall not be responsible for trading and investment decisions made based on such information. Therefore the accuracy of this information and its applicability to your needs are not guaranteed

Iraqi News
Monday, January 08, 2007 Iraq to study possibility of foreign role in oil investments
(MENAFN) The Independent on Sunday weekly newspaper said that a draft law is to be presented to the Iraqi parliament soon to allow foreign companies to exploit Iraqi oil reserves, Gulf Daily News reported. The US government was involved in drafting the law through a consultancy firm, the British weekly said. The newspaper said that the early draft would offer oil companies much better terms, including 30-year contracts for extracting oil, instead of the current industry conditions for investing in the war-torn country. This draft would also offer shares, between 60 and 70 percent, of revenues of the state-owned oil to the companies that invest in infrastructure and in operating the oil wells, pipelines and refineries. After that, the companies could keep 20 percent of profits. It is worth mentioning that Iraqi oil industry was nationalized in 1972.
Copyright ©2000 MENAFN All Rights Reserved

Disclaimer: Trade Bank of Iraq and MENAFN are not responsible or liable for the accuracy of all information including but not limited to financial market data, news, stock quotes, energy rates, currency rates obtained from MENAFN modules and shall not be responsible for trading and investment decisions made based on such information. Therefore the accuracy of this information and its applicability to your needs are not guaranteed

Anger mounts on decision to deploy Kurdish militias in Baghdad



By Nidhal al-Laithi and Marsi abu Tareq



Azzaman, January 8, 2007



Kurdish leaders have decided to deploy their own militias in the current fighting in Baghdad where government troops aided by U.S. forces have launched yet another campaign to secure the restive city.



The move comes as U.S. President George W. Bush is set to announce his much-awaited for new strategy for Iraq in which he is expected to announce a surge in the number of U.S. troops in the country.



Iraqis are skeptical about U.S. plans and experience shows that any fresh initiatives by the U.S. since its 2003 invasion have mostly been counterproductive.



The latest campaign to secure Baghdad comes following the failure of several others in which tens of thousands of U.S. and Iraqi troops took part.



Criticism of the current campaign has come mainly from Sunni leaders who say that the Shiite-dominated government is solely targeting Sunni-dominated quarters in Baghdad.



The current campaign has so far avoided the Sadr City, a stronghold of Mahdi Army, a powerful Shiite militia group said to be behind much of the current sectarian violence.



As government troops and U.S. forces were moving to flush out armed groups from Sunni areas, Madhi Army units were reported to have attacked Sunni villages in Baghdad outskirts killing 10 people, injuring many others and burning 10 houses.



The current campaign is certainly doomed like its predecessors despite the deployment massive forces, including battalions from Kurdish militias, locally known as Peshmerga.



Kurdish militias have not yet arrived in Baghdad but sources said their deployment was expected to coincide with the stationing of at least 20,000 more U.S. troops in the city.



It will be the first time for Kurdish armed groups to fight in Baghdad and specifically against their co-religionists, Arab Muslim Sunnis. The majority Kurds are Sunni Muslims.



Many inside the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, particularly the few Sunni groups who have opted to take part in the political process have come out against the move.



In a sectarian-tainted city like Baghdad it will be hard to see whether the Kurds will put up a fight amid religious decrees from top Iraqi Sunni clerics, many of who are Kurds, banning taking arms against the resistance and denouncing U.S. troops and the Iraqi government.



The Mahdi Army itself is a sworn enemy of the Kurdish Peshmerga militias and is currently spearheading resistance of Kurdish moves to annex the oil-rich city of Kirkuk to their autonomous region.



To order Kurdish militias to fight in Baghdad is seen by many a dangerous step that is bound to further deepen the ethnic divisions and add more fuel to the current sectarian fire.



Mahmoud Othman, a prominent member of the Iraqi Kurdish Coalition, grouping the region’s two main factions of Massoud Barzani and Jalal Talabani, said he was against sending Kurdish militias to fight against Arabs anywhere in Iraq.



“There are fears that a fight like this pitting Kurds against the Arabs is bound to add an ethnic touch to the conflict,” Othman said.



Othman added,”The deployment of Kurdish forces in Arab areas is wrong and will create sensitivities and accusations that Kurds are killing the Arabs.



“I am against the move … and there are many in the Iraqi parliament who are against it, too.”

Iraq Army to receive 16 helicopters and 4,000 armored vehicles



Azzaman, January 8, 2007



Iraq has signed contracts for the purchase of armored vehicles and other weapons with European and U.S. weapons companies, a statement by the Defense Ministry said.



The statement did not say how much the contracts were worth but a defense spokesman said the value of Iraqi weapons purchases was conditional to budget allocations which he did not specify.



But the statement said most of the weaponry will come from the United States and will be a gift to the troops as part of U.S. moves to strengthen Iraqi forces.



It said the U.S. has pledged to supply the army with 4,000 armored vehicles and 1,800 Humvees and 16 helicopter gun ships.



The statement said the weapons were to arrive in March.



It said the ministry was doing all in its power to obtain the kind of weapons that will give the army an edge over “the terrorists.”

Bush plan for more troops originated with Maliki(Reuters)

9 January 2007

WASHINGTON - President George W. Bush’s new plan for Iraq had its genesis in proposal from Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki, who pledged more Iraqi efforts to bolster security if the United States would send more troops, a Republican senator said on Monday.
Sen. Gordon Smith, who in December criticized the war in a Senate floor speech, said Bush indicated in a Monday meeting with a group of Republican senators and top administration officials that he was preparing to send roughly 20,000 more US troops to Iraq.
“It was clear to me that a decision has been made for a surge of, I suppose, 20,000 additional troops,” Smith of Oregon told reporters in a telephone conference call after the White House meeting.
The Iraqi commitments from Maliki included providing more military divisions, promising to use certain tactics without regard to religious sects, and a promise not to shield Shi’ite cleric Moqtada Al Sadr, Smith said.
Sadr’s Mehdi Army is blamed by Washington and Sunni Arabs for operating death squads.
The 20,000 was not a definite number for the planned boost in US troops, Smith said. “He (Bush) did not affirm that would be the number but he, as I recall, said roughly an additional amount of that number,” Smith said.
Bush is expected to announce his plan for Iraq in an address on Wednesday evening.
“He (Bush) went at great length to say how impressed he was that Prime Minister Maliki would come to them with a plan as to what was needed to restore the political processes of Iraq,” Smith said. Bush thought that “because this was their (the Iraqis’) proposal, they would come through,” Smith said.
Smith, a former supporter of the war, late last year joined war critics in the Republican party, denouncing US policy in Iraq as “absurd” and “criminal.”
Smith said he did not yet have enough information to decide whether to support Bush’s new plan, but added: “I wish I had more faith in Maliki than I do.”
“The president has that faith and it frankly remains to be seen whether their part of the bargain will be met,” he said.
As for the other senators at Monday’s meeting, Smith said, their reactions ranged from “whole hearted-support” to ”skepticism.” His office said there were about a dozen senators present.
Smith said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley, and White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten also attended the meeting.

Khaleej Times Online - Bush plan for more troops originated with Maliki

Bush paints »« road map for the owners of the strategy

(صوت العراق) - 09-01-2007(Voice of Iraq) - 09-01-2007
ارسل هذا الموضوع لصديقThis issue was sent to a friend

Ignoring the Iranian and Syrian roles. The media

Washington home :
Attention focused on Washington, these days, anticipating that the American President Bush the details of his plan, or its new strategy, in Iraq, amid opposition advance from the Democrats, and the doubts of the possibility of the success of the plan that was described as an attempt »« years to save »« mission in Iraq, and amid doubts similar in the ability of the Iraqi party, representing the government of Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki, on the completion of the paragraphs related to the plan.
ويجري الاهتمام بالجانب العسكري من الخطة الذي يتمثل في زيادة عديد القوات الامريكية في العراق، باضافة حوالي 20 الف جندي، وفي نوعية المهام التي سوف يقومون بها هناك، اضافة الى زيادة مساهمة القوات العراقية في الخطط الامنية الجديدة، في اطار هدف عام هو: حماية المواطنين، من جهة والعمل على اخماد الاقتتال الطائفي من جهة ثانية، والقضاء على »التمرد السني« من جهة ثالثة.The attention the military side of the plan, which is to raise the number of American forces in Iraq, adding about 20 thousand soldiers, and in the quality of the tasks that will be carried out there, in addition to increasing the participation of Iraqi forces in the plans of new security, in the framework of an overall objective : to protect the citizens, on the one hand and working to quell sectarian fighting on the other hand, the elimination of the rebel »« Sunni from the point of the third.
وتواجه فقرة زيادة عديد القوات مشكلتين: الاولى توفير الاموال اللازمة لتغطية نفقاتها، وهذا يتطلب موافقة الكونغرس الذي يسيطر عليه الديمقراطيون المعارضون لأصل الفكرة، والثانية توفير العدد المطلوب من المجندين، في وقت يرى فيه القادة والخبراء العسكريون ان الجيش الامريكي تمدد بدرجة كبيرة تكاد توصله الى نقطة الانكسار.Faced with a greater number of troops to two problems : the first to provide the necessary funds to cover its expenses, and this requires the approval of Congress, which is controlled by Democrats opposed to the idea, and the second to provide the required number of recruits, at a time when the leaders and military experts that the American army greatly extend almost to the point that they fracture.
ويضع المراقبون آمالا كبيرة على القائد الجديد للقوات الامريكية، الجنرال بيتريوس، الذي سيقلد نجمة رابعة فيصبح جنرالا كاملا، ويثق الكثير من هؤلاء بقدرة القائد الجديد على »انقاذ العراق«.Observers put high hopes on the new commander of the American forces, General Berríos, to be replicated, then the fourth star generals in full, and many of those trusts the ability of the new leader to save Iraq »«.
ولا تمثل الاجراءات العسكرية الوجه الوحيد لخطة بوش، فهناك جوانب سياسية واقتصادية لها.The military action only face of the Bush plan, there is political and economic aspects to it.
في جانبها السياسي، تؤكد خطة بوش الجديدة ضرورة تحريك العملية السياسية التي اصابها الجمود بسبب المقاطعة من قبل الاطراف السنية من الناحية العملية، على الرغم من مشاركتها في العملية عبر الحكومة والبرلمان، لكن دون ان يؤدي ذلك الى تطويق الاقتتال الطائفي، ولا الى الحد من العمليات العسكرية التي تنفذها الجماعات المسلحة، واغلبها تنتمي مذهبيا الى الطائفة السنية، بعنوان »مقاومة الاحتلال«.In the political part, the Bush plan new need to move the political process dormant due to the boycott by the Sunni parties in practical terms, in spite of their participation in the process through the government and Parliament, but without leading to contain the sectarian fighting, not to limit the military operations carried out by armed groups, mostly school of thought belong to the Sunni sect, entitled »resistance to the occupation«.
وسيطلب بوش من المالكي القيام بعدة خطوات اساسية في هذا المجال:Will Bush Maliki several major steps in this area :
الخطوة الاولى: تشكيل حكومة مصالحة وطنية، ما يعني تجاوز مصطلح »حكومة الوحدة الوطنية« الذي عُرفت به حكومة المالكي حتى الآن، وذلك بمشاركة الحزبين الشيعيين الرئيسيين، وهما: المجلس الاعلى (عبدالعزيز الحكيم) وحزب الدعوة (حزب المالكي) مع الحزبين الكرديين الرئيسيين، وهما: الاتحاد الوطني الكردستاني (جلال الطالباني) والحزب الديموقراطي الكردستاني (مسعود البارزاني)، بالاضافة الى الحزب الاسلامي العراقي (طارق الهاشمي). والهدف من حكومة المصالحة الوطنية تهميش التيار الصدري الذي يتهمه السنة بشن الحرب الطائفية ضدهم في بغداد، والذي يحتفظ بثلاثين مقعدا في البرلمان و6 وزراء في الحكومة الحالية.The first step : the formation of a government of national reconciliation, which means beyond the term »government of national unity«, which was known by the government of Maliki so far, with two Shiite key, namely : the Supreme Council (Aziz al-Hakim) and the Al-Dawa (Party Maliki) with the two main Kurdish parties, namely : the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (Jalal Talabani) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (Masoud Barzani), in addition to the Iraqi Islamic Party (Tariq Al-Hashmi). The objective of the government of national reconciliation marginalization of the current year Sadri, which is accused of waging war against sectarianism in Baghdad, which retains thirty seats in parliament and six ministers in the current government.
الخطوة الثانية: الاسراع بتحديد موعد، ومن ثم اجراء الانتخابات في المحافظات، وذلك لتمكين سكان المحافظات السنية (الموصل، صلاح الدين، الانبار) من تشكيل ادارات محلية في محافظاتهم.Step two : speed up the identification date, and the holding of elections in the provinces, so as to enable the people of the Sunni provinces (Mosul, Salah al-Din, Anbar) of the formation of local administrations in their region.
الخطوة الثالثة: اعادة النظر بسياسة اجتثاث البعث التي كان الحاكم المدني السابق السفير بول بريمر قد سنها، والتي ادت الى طرد الآلاف من البعثيين من مراكز الدولة، واعادة دمجهم في هيكلة الدولة ومرافق الحكومة.Step three : Reconsidering the policy of uprooting the Baath, which was the former civil administrator Paul Bremer had been enacted, and that led to the expulsion of thousands of Baathists from positions of the state, and the reintegration of restructuring of the state and government facilities.
الخطوة الرابعة، الاسراع باجراء التعديلات الدستورية التي كان من المفروض اجراؤها بعد اربعة اشهر من اجتماع البرلمان، وذلك لتهدئة المخاوف السنية، وخلق بيئة للثقة بالنظام الجديد.The fourth step, a speedy constitutional amendments, which were supposed to take place four months after the meeting of the parliament, in order to calm the fears of Sunni, and create an environment of confidence in the new system.
وعلى الجانب الاقتصادي، سوف يطلب من حكومة المالكي القيام بعدة خطوات مماثلة، في مقدمتها:On the economic side, will be requested from the government of Maliki several similar steps, in the forefront :
اولا: الاسراع بسن قانون النفط لحل مشكلة طريقة توزيع الموارد النفطية بطريقة لا تثير مخاوف الافراد من جهة، وتهدئ من مخاوف السنة من جهة ثانية، على ان لا تثير مخاوف جديدة لدى الشيعة. وتقوم لجنة وزارية فرعية في بحث مسودة القانون، لكنها لم تتوصل الى اتفاق لصياغته النهائية بسبب الخلافات بين الكتل الثلاث.First : expedite the enactment of a law to solve the problem of how oil distribution of oil resources manner that does not raise fears of individuals, and allay the fears of a second year, that does not raise new fears among Shiites. The International Committee of the Cabinet subcommittee to consider the draft law, but did not reach a final draft of the agreement because of differences between the three blocs.
ثانيا: اعادة تأهيل المصانع الحكومية التي توقفت عن العمل بعد حرب اسقاط نظام صدام، ما ادى الى ترك مئات الآلاف من الشباب من دون عمل، وكان بريمر اهمل هذه المصانع في مقابل السعي لبناء اقتصاد السوق والخصخصة، الذي لم ينجح هو الآخر.Second : the rehabilitation of government factories, which stopped working after the war topple Saddam Hussein's regime, which led to a left hundreds of thousands of young people without work, Bremer had neglected these plants in return for seeking to build a market economy and privatization, which did not succeed either.
ثالثا: اطلاق مشاريع اقتصادية صغيرة وقريبة المدى، عبر توفير قروض لتشجيع قيام مثل هذه المشاريع.Third : The launch of small, close-range, through the provision of loans to promote such projects.
رابعا: وستقوم الحكومة الامريكية ايضا بتوسيع نطاق عمل وكالة الولايات المتحدة للتنمية الدولية USAID من اجل القيام بمشاريع اخرى، تؤدي الى توفير فرص عمل لليد العاملة العراقية.Fourth : The American government will also expand the scope of the work of the United States Agency for International Development, USAID in order to do other projects, lead to the provision of job opportunities for the Iraqi labor.
خامسا: ايلاء اهتمام اكبر لاقامة مشاريع اقتصادية في المناطق السنية تحديدا من اجل توفير عمل لسكانها، وتلاحظ الادارة الامريكية ان معظم الاموال المخصصة لهذه المناطق لم يتم صرفها حتى الآن، بسبب الاوضاع الامنية فيها، مما ادى الى عدم تطورها وتحسين مستوى الحياة فيها.Fifth : pay greater attention to the establishment of economic projects in Sunni areas specifically in order to provide work for inhabitants, and the American administration notes that most of the funds allocated to these areas have not been disbursed so far, because of the security situation, where, which led to the lack of development and improving the standard of life.
وتتجاهل الخطة امرين، هما:The plan ignores two things, namely :
اولا: الدوران السوري والايراني في حل المعضلة العراقية.First turnover : Syrian and Iranian in solving the Iraqi problem.
ثانيا: الدور الذي يلعبه الاعلام وقطاع الثقافة داخل العراق في انجاحها.Second : the role played by the media and culture sector in Iraq in success.

Troops continue to clear safe haven
Monday, 08 January 2007
American Forces Press Service



A U.S. soldier maintains security while on patrol. U.S. Army photo.WASHINGTON — During ongoing operations south of Balad Ruz, Iraq, soldiers of the 1st Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army, with support from coalition forces, continue to target specific terrorist cells that use the area as a safe haven.

The current operations began Jan. 4, with a combined air and ground assault into the outskirts of Turki village.

Iraqi army and coalition force soldiers established mobile and stationary positions along possible escape routes to isolate the area and facilitate searching the area for weapon supplies, bomb-making material and terrorists.

"The terrorists believe we will not attack them in their safe havens and believe they can use these areas to spread violence throughout the region," Col. David W. Sutherland, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division commander, and senior U.S. Army officer in the Diyala province, said. "The 5th Iraqi Army Division believes that we must continue to take the fight to those individuals that use violence against the Iraqi people for their own personal and financial gain.

“The coalition forces will continue to support this Iraqi force," he added.

During the initial hours of the operation, the Iraqi army, with coalition force soldiers supporting, encountered numerous roadside bombs in an attempt to defend these safe havens and slow down the movement of coalition forces. The insurgent efforts were ineffective and the obstacles were cleared.

Additionally, coalition aircraft engaged a number of insurgents in fighting positions, as well as those who were spotted placing roadside bombs along one of the main roads. Several suspects were detained.

"Although the Iraqi army and coalition forces have not encountered heavy resistance as of yet, this operation remains critical for the establishment of a safe and secure environment for the citizens of Diyala," Sutherland said.

“So far, what we have found, and the actions of the enemy, is consistent with our expectations. There have been no surprises, and operations will continue based on the goals of the Iraq army and the government of Diyala," Army Maj. Robert Cain, the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division executive officer, said. "The Iraqi army and coalition forces are here to capture or kill the terrorists and provide security for the citizens of Diyala.”

Because the Iraqi army will soon take full responsibility for securing the province, it is vital the soldiers conduct these types of operations, Sutherland said.

"The morale of the Iraqi soldiers is high and they are continuously showing discipline and professionalism when dealing with the local civilians; this includes men, women and children," Sutherland added. “Developing a military force with valid leadership skills comes from training. The Iraqi army is training (and) are … doing very well," Sutherland added.