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

Papan said the Iraqi minister of planning and that the Iraqi government has approved a draft budget for 2007 that provided space is not good for investment operations in Iraq.

.He said in an interview with "Radio Sawa", the draft new budget includes allocation of $ 10 billion to be invested in projects on the agenda to be implemented by ministries and provinces to reflect positively on the Iraqi economy.

2007.The following is the text of the interview conducted with him on January 8, 2007.

س- -rule minister Can you give us an idea of your projects development and investment in this new year of 2007 and what are the amounts allocated to these projects?

ج- .C - As you know, the Council of Ministers approved the draft budget of the Iraqi state in 2007 and was due for approval by the House of Representatives in the next few days, and the fact that the budget allocated for investment for a reasonable space. It has allocated funds to the tune of $ 10 billion of investment any of the projects included on the agenda of the ministries, governorates and hope from God to be successful in the implementation of these projects, reflecting on the march Iraqi economy promising.

س- -rule minister What is the nature of these projects, Is this all there is service or strategic projects?

ج-.C-in fact, a variety of projects, including those for the service and those for other productive sectors, as is the case in the past year has been to focus on the oil and electricity as well as reconstruction, housing and hope, the creation of God, if full implementation of these projects will be a change in the lives of citizens.

س- كاوغيرها؟O - frankly, despite all the security conditions, whether Iraq began receiving bids from foreign companies, both to work on this project which I have referred, or in the area of investment for oil and other others?

ج- التنمية.C-investment law has been enacted which offers a lot of opportunities and facilities for a variety of domestic and foreign investment for any capital Iraqi and foreign, we hope this year that there is demand for work in Iraq and that there should be a flow of investments to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the investment law, which provided everything possible for foreign investment to come to Iraq and to contribute to moving forward the development process.

س-- If the 2007 plan will be approved as a decree, to any level would renaissance in Iraq or turn at the service, at the very least?

ج.C-truth is that some of these projects do not yield results immediately, but it is a project comes in the context of large integrated strategic plans, but we expect that there be a clear improvement in the level of services provided to the public also expect that there will be more job opportunities for the Iraqi citizens to shrink the unemployment rate significantly.

س-ن؟O-in an earlier meeting you, the Iraqis promised that the salary increases will be starting from this year, 2007, is the Ministry of Finance has started work already on the increase in addition to their salaries, "Is there a simple numbers can be learned by that possible?

ج-.C-of course, this increase became effective now and we expect to receive staff salaries, the new amendments at the end of January, and there will be increases significantly for the salaries of class five and above, the truth is the budget allocated reserves and the amounts required to cover these increases and we hope that is reflected on the lives of a significant segment of the citizens who staff the Iraqi state, so all specialties needed by these increases were monitored and taken into account in the draft new budget for 2007.

علىات؟O-level appointments of new graduates, whether graduates of this year or the preceding, will witness the 2007 appointment of graduates at all levels?

ج- فيC-in fact there is a lot of new jobs in the 2007 budget, both in the security services, which include the army, police, and there are also a lot of civilian posts within the State apparatus and its various ministries, but, in reality, we count on the Iraqi economy, a whole movement in the right direction so that the private sector can create more opportunities and jobs, and this is what we hope.

س- -Is there a theme of a new era in Iraq Are there positives Asked whether there was any foreign participations close Is there a process for moving from the era of Iraq or not is still Kmaho it in the past?

ج- تليها.C-in fact, we believe that States are still on its obligations and commitments in helping Iraq economically either through the era of Iraq or outside of this project. It removed the obligation era Iraq still exists and international attention by the great and we hope that this will translate into concrete steps at the level of the economy over the next year and in the years that followed

Translated version of http://www.radiosawa.com/

Rate just changed to Wednesday 1263.2 started at 1258.3 last night for today's rate so up 5 according to market.

Maybe if neno can pin this image it would be good as the rate/date changes in the image posted.

Senior Iraqi officials are still wrangling over the country's oil and gas law that would set out the legal framework for the Baghdad government to sign production-sharing agreement contracts with foreign companies to develop its vast oil reserves, officials said.

They said that there were still differences among federal government officials and those of regions, particularly the Kurdistan Regional Government on some provisions that could delay the issuance of the law for months.



RIGZONE - Iraqi Leaders Still Wrangling Over Hydrocarbon Law

Baghdad Haider spring

من المتوقع ان تتصدر اعمال البرلمان اليوم الثلاثاء مناقشة الموازنة العامة لعام 2007، في هذه الاثناء تتباين اراء المختصين في الشأن الاقتصادي بخصوص النفقات الاستثمارية لموازنة هذا العام 2007 والبالغة 41 مليار دولار..
It is expected that the top of the Parliament today, Tuesday, the discussion of the general budget for 2007, in the meantime, views vary specialists in the economic aspect regarding investment expenditure for this year's budget of 2007 and 41 billion dollars.



Will this budget will meet the basic needs of the country? Some regarded it as explosive and will meet all the requirements necessary for the advancement of economic and urban in various fields, while others considered that the budget did not meet in the implementation of the overall ambitious plans to be implemented on the ground.

فقد اشار وزير التخطيط والتعاون الانمائي علي غالب بابان في تصريح صحفي الى ان نسبة العجز في الموازنة الجديدة بلغت (10) تريليونات دينار مؤكدا ان ذلك هو عجز نظري اكثر مما هو واقعي لان للدولة بعض الاحتياطات النقدية في صندوق تنمية العراق.
He was Minister of Planning and Development Cooperation on Ghalib Baban in a press statement that the proportion of the deficit in the new budget amounted to (10) trillion dinars, stressing that the deficit is more theoretical than realistic because the state some cash reserves in the Development Fund for Iraq.

واعرب بابان عن عدم رضاه على الموازنة التي قال عنها (انها ليست بمستوى طموح الوزارة على صعيد التنمية)، مشيرا الى تخصيص ثلاثة تريليونات دينار لمشاريع وزارة النفط اي بمعدل 69.23% من اجمالي التخصيصات، وهي موجهة الى اعادة تأهيل القطاع النفطي وتمكينه من زيادة قدرته على الانتاج والتصدير، فيما بلغت مشاريع وزارة الكهرباء حوالي تريليون و750 بليون دينار وهي اموال مخصصة لمشاريع تحسين وتطوير شبكات توليد ونقل الطاقة الكهربائية اضافة الى تخصيص (425) بليونا لوزارة البلديات والاشغال، و(430) بليون دينار لوزارة الصحة، و(422) بليونا لوزارة الاعمار والاسكان و(336) بليونا لوزارة التربية، وأكد على تخصيص (259) بليون دينار لاعادة تأهيل المدارس القائمة وبناء مدارس جديدة اضافة الى ان مشروع الاقاليم حظيّ بدعم كبير بلغ ترليونين و602 بليون دينار.
And expressed Papan his dissatisfaction for the on the budget, which he (that it is not the level of ambitious the ministry at the level of development), pointing to the allocation of three trillion dinars for projects the Ministry of Oil or the rate of 69.23% of the total specialties was, and is addressed to the rehabilitation of the oil sector and enable it to increase its ability to production and export, whereas the projects the Ministry of Electricity approximately trillion and 750 billion dinars was that these funds were allocated for projects of the modernization and improvement of the generation and transfer of electrical energy in addition to an allocation of (425) billion pounds to the Ministry of municipalities and Works, and (430) one billion dinars to the Ministry of Health, and (422) billion pounds for Ministry of Reconstruction and Housing and (336) billion pounds to the Ministry of Education, and emphasized to allocate (259) one billion dinars for the rehabilitation of existing schools and building of new schools in addition to the that the draft the Territories received considerable support amounted to trillion and 602 one billion dinars.

وبين بابان وجود عدد من الاعتبارات التي فرضت نفسها في الموازنة واهمها النفقات العالية التي خصصت للامن والدفاع والمقدرة بـ(10) تريليونات دينار، والتكاليف الباهظة التي يشكلها تأمين البطاقة التموينية والمقدرة بحوالي ثلاثة تريليونات دينار.
And between the two doors of a number of considerations that have imposed themselves in the budget and the most important high expenditure allocated to security and defense estimated at (10) trillion dinars, and the high costs posed by the ration card insurance, estimated at about three trillion dinars.

His appearance Mohamed Saleh, Head of the Department of Statistics and Research in the Central Bank, said that the new budget will exchange allocations to the dollar, pointing out that the rise in the value of the dinar positively impacted by limiting expenditures to alleviate inflationary pressures in the Iraqi economy and reduce costs on prices.

واوضح صالح الى ان (95) في المائة من ايرادات الموازنة العامة تعتمد على عائدات النفط، كونه موردا اساسيا للبلاد.. لافتا الى ان الظروف المقبلة ستكون مشجعة لرفع قيمة الدينار مقابل الدولار لكن لا يمكن تحديد سعر صرفه الا بعد الشروع الحقيقي في الموازنة العامة.
Saleh pointed out that the (95)% of the income of public budget depends on oil revenues, as a basic resource for the country. He pointed out that the future will be encouraging the conditions for lifting the value of the dinar against the dollar, but could not determine the rate of exchange to proceed only after the real budget.



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Originally Posted by moneyhunter

Actually, come to think about it, that is a good question. SGS, WmK,Mike, OSW, any rebuttle?

Hunter

Good point,

Technically any money which comes into country as aid is good, no matter what the revalue will be. One does not really have much to do with the other. Even if the revalue is one dinar to dollar, a billion dollars is still a lot of money. I just don't see any connection.

Good luck to all, MIke

Originally Posted by Offshore-Wealth.com

Good point,

Technically any money which comes into country as aid is good, no matter what the revalue will be. One does not really have much to do with the other. Even if the revalue is one dinar to dollar, a billion dollars is still a lot of money. I just don't see any connection.

Good luck to all, MIke

Mike,

Could you comment on why we see conflicting articles daily on the HCL, one says it's done and before parl. the other saiys there are things still not agreed on and could take months.

Thanx in advance
John

Originally Posted by Offshore-Wealth.com

Good point,

Technically any money which comes into country as aid is good, no matter what the revalue will be. One does not really have much to do with the other. Even if the revalue is one dinar to dollar, a billion dollars is still a lot of money. I just don't see any connection.

Good luck to all, MIke

Most will go to grease the Wheels! Foreign aid is a payoff to the Big Boyz to make sure the right things happen!

Originally Posted by jsfletcher

Mike,

Could you comment on why we see conflicting articles daily on the HCL, one says it's done and before parl. the other saiys there are things still not agreed on and could take months.

Thanx in advance
John

Interesting,

Yes, we have heard it is done deal, then again, another article states there are still issues, which makes it all so confusing for everyone, but the deal is done, and has been for months, but not officially announced. What we are seeing is issues revolving around the constitution which is about distribution of funds to people of Iraq, but not the law itself which is separate document, and this is what makes it sound like the articles are all being referenced to one thing, the HCL.

This is a very complicated law which is referenced to the constitution, so not to worry, it has been done even since the Kurd's wrote it and implemented it for themselves, so it is indeed done. I expect we will hear about it being confirmed shortly, but it has to happen immediately, if not sooner as this is the only weapon which will accomplish a chance at peace as I see it.

Good luck to all, Mike

Sport and youth ministry launches second international appeal

1/9/2007 KRG.org
Erbil, Kurdistan - The Kurdistan Region in Iraq has enjoyed a period of relative peace and economic progress, particularly since the removal of the previous regime. And yet the youth of the Region are beset with challenges that they often feel are insurmountable. The Ministry for Sport and Youth (MOSY) is making its second appeal to the international community for urgent assistance with capacity building for the youth of Kurdistan.

Young people isolated by lack of skills

Iraq and the Kurdistan Region have suffered from conflicts, dictatorships, torture, persecution and isolation. This, combined with a shortfall in basic skills, has left a generation of youths feeling passive and directionless within our society. Our initial field observations indicate the following:

Young people are inactive in society and feel little hope about their future

Levels of unemployment are high among adolescents

The quality of education is not meeting international standards

Young people lack language skills, particularly English

They lack basic IT skills

There is a particular shortage of skilled and educated adolescents in rural areas

There is a lack of infrastructure designed specifically for young people's lives and activities.

The very low level of language and IT skills in particular prevents them from engaging with the outside world in a productive manner. As global communications become ever more available, this group needs to establish strong relations internationally to break the cycle of isolation.

Our appeal to you

We appeal for assistance and support from international NGOs, charities, local organisations, community groups, and various programmes targeting Iraq by international organisations like the UN and EU and all donor countries. Your programmes, if well implemented, will make a great difference here.

We ask the private commercial sector to increase its involvement in community groups. We appeal for businesses to take corporate social responsibility and help us with planning and organising youth assistance programmes in local communities and neighbourhoods.

We will create a four-year campaign to build capacity among young people and youth organisations. One priority is to improve IT and language skills (particularly but not exclusively English). These are basic skills that will allow our youth to engage with the global community.

So please act now and contact us to discuss how to improve the lives and prospects of young people in the Kurdistan Region. We look forward to working together with you.

Source: Kurdistan Regional Government

Troops capture terror suspects in meat-packing plant
Tuesday, 09 January 2007
Story and photo by Spc. Chris McCann
2nd BCT, 10th Mtn. Div.



American and Iraqi soldiers search a warehouse at a meat-packing plant in Baghdad as part of a joint operation Jan. 7. A meat-packing plant was a suspected terrorist meeting place.BAGHDAD — It’s the stuff war movies are made of — breaking in doors, Soldiers moving in, rifles at the ready. But this wasn’t a movie.

Soldiers of the 1st Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI) conducted a nighttime raid on a Baghdad meat-packaging facility suspected of being a terrorist meeting place in the Al Rashid district Jan. 7.

The 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division concurrently assaulted the salt factory next door, also a suspected terrorist planning area. Joining the two U.S. units on the operation were members of the 3rd Battalion, 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division. The two-pronged joint assault netted 32 detainees and more than 20 weapons, including 11 AK-47s, a Kalishnikov assault rifle, two Russian-made carbines, 15 60mm mortar rounds and a submachine gun.

The men detained, some of whom were guards at the building, were held on suspicion that they were allowing the buildings to be used as a terrorist rendezvous point, a suspicion strengthened by the weapons found in the area.

The 1-89 Wolverines staged at Forward Operating Base Falcon, Iraq, with the 1-18, then rolled out under cover of darkness.

“It was our first joint operation,” said Lt. Col. Mark Suich, a native of Greenville, Penn., and commander of 1-89. “It was a very successful operation.”

Sgt. Jess Thurman of Denver, a team leader with Troop C, 1-89, said the Soldiers seemed glad to put their skills to use.

“It’s not often we get to do this,” Thurman said. “It’s fun to do our job as infantrymen and take down the ‘bad guys.’”

The factory was locked up for the night, and Soldiers stormed the building methodically, breaking down doors and clearing each room despite the fact that they had been awake and working for many hours leading up to the raid.

“It’s been a long day,” said Thurman, “But everyone kept their heads up and kept their motivation.”

Pfc. William Salser, an infantryman with Troop C and a native of Calumet City, Ill., enjoyed the mission.

“This mission rocked!” he said. “We got to enter and clear a building. My buddy and I got to kick a door down. It really increased my motivation hearing the word ‘Breach!’”

1st Lt. Andy Kimes, a platoon leader with the troop and a native of Fostoria, Ohio, said he was pleased by the Soldiers’ teamwork, which they’ve trained on extensively.

“I enjoyed it because it’s a pay off of all the training,” he said. “Seeing it all come together was great.”

Troop C’s lead scout, Staff Sgt. Myles Page, a native of Birmingham, Ala., also was pleased by the execution of the mission.

“The motivation the entire platoon had upon entering the objective was high,” he said. “Everyone was pumped about such a large-scale operation. All the drills we’d completed and the skills we’ve acquired gave us the will to accomplish the mission.”

The raid netted 32 people who were detained for questioning. Six of those were kept in custody for further questioning; the others were released.

In addition to the men detained in the operation, Soldiers found money and bonds from various countries in one of the buildings and a cache of 15 mortar rounds nearby.

Spc. Christopher Ray, a native of Waveland, Miss., and a cook with 1-89, guarded and searched the detainees. He summed up the mission in a single sentence.

“We were expecting weapons and bad guys,” Ray said. “We found what we were looking for.”