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

Can't blame the Kurds, they're successful in what they do, it's the other wankers.......


Iraqi Kurds raise secession threat over oil
[10:50 , 29 Sep 2006]
Erbil, Kurdistan-Iraq

PNA- Iraq's Kurdish regional government raised the threat of secession on Wednesday if the Baghdad government did not drop its claims to a say in the development of oil resources in their northern districts.

In a strongly worded response to comments by the Iraqi oil minister, the premier of the autonomous Kurdistan region said he "resented" the remarks by Hussain al-Shahristani and accused him of trying to "sabotage" foreign investment in Kurdish oil.

"The people of Kurdistan chose to be in a voluntary union with Iraq on the basis of the constitution," Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani said in a statement on his official Web site. "If Baghdad ministers refuse to abide by that constitution, the people of Kurdistan reserve the right to reconsider our choice."

Barzani said he was responding to an interview Shahristani gave to a Baghdad newspaper this week in which he restated the view of the Oil Ministry that recent contracts signed by the Kurdish regional government with foreign firms to develop oilfields in the area were subject to the ministry's review.

Shahristani, from the dominant Shi'ite Islamist bloc in the national unity government, has said he favours strengthening central control of Iraq's oil, although a new constitution gives autonomous federal regions a role in developing such resources.

The issue of just how powers are divided between Baghdad and the regions is at the heart of a bitter sectarian and ethnic dispute. The government is drafting legislation to clarify how oil investment and revenues should be shared with a view to encouraging foreign investment to develop its vast resources.

Leaders of the Kurds, about one in five of Iraq's 26 million people, regularly remind Baghdad politicians that they reserve a right to secede. However, they are mindful of hostility to their independence from their U.S. allies as well as from neighbouring Turkey, Iran and Syria, which also have big Kurdish populations.

KURDISH CONTRACTS

The Kurds, effectively independent of Baghdad since breaking from Saddam Hussein's rule in 1991, have struck two oil deals with foreign firms in the past year, while the four-month-old national government in Baghdad has yet to sign new contracts.

In May, Turkey's Genel Enerji and Canada's Addax Petroleum signed a 25-year production-sharing agreement with the Kurdish authority for the Taq Taq oilfield. Norwegian firm DNO signed a deal last November to drill for oil.

Barzani highlighted elements of the Iraqi constitution which provide for joint control of oil and gas fields in production. Kurds argue that new fields fall under regional control.

"I resent Dr. Shahristani's efforts to sabotage foreign investment in Kurdistan's oil sector," he said.

"Dr. Shahristani would better spend his time getting his ministry working rather than tearing down our achievements."

The Oil Ministry could not immediately be reached for comment. Shahristani says he wants to encourage foreign firms to invest in Iraq. Legislation to regulate such investments is in the works and ministers hope parliament can pass it this year.

Competition between Kurds and Arabs for control of Iraq's big northern oilfield around Kirkuk is a major potential source of conflict. The field lies outside the present Kurdish region but Kurds want a referendum to bring Kirkuk into their area.

Many majority Shi'ites are keen to emulate the Kurds' autonomy but Iraq's parliament this week agreed to delay the formation of any new regions until at least 2008 to let passions cool. Formerly dominant Arab Sunnis fear a new federal region in the oil-rich, Shi'ite south, along with Kurdish expansion in the north, could deprive them of the benefits of Iraq's oil.

does anyone else find it very odd that most of the news out today is old? or that there has been NOT ONE WORD about the late meeting last night. meeting earlier in the day was mentioned in the article earlier in this thread but we have found not one single article mentioning the big media event they were making that out to be 'urgent urgent'. so where are the press and media reports???

come one come all to the embargo event!!

President Talabani return to Baghdad after he

(Voice of Iraq) - 29-09-2006 | This issue was sent to a friend

President Talabani return to Baghdad after taking part in United Nations meetings
Baghdad / Nina / returned to Baghdad this evening yesterday, Thursday, President Jalal Talabani from the United States of America, ???then why the satilite Broadcast, what couldn't Wait another day???where he headed the Iraqi delegation to the session (61) of the General Assembly meetings. This Is really really good news!

World Bank Iraq Trust Fund provides $6.6 million for household survey, poverty reduction strategy

29 September 2006 (PortAl Iraq)
The World Bank and Iraq's Ministry of Planning and Development Cooperation have signed two grant agreements to finance a nationwide socioeconomic household survey and to formulate a poverty reduction strategy.

The first survey of this type to be conducted in Iraq since 1993, it will examine income, expenditures and living standards, yielding valuable data on poverty and complementing other surveys financed by the United Nations, according to the World Bank's Sept. 28 announcement.

The Emergency Household Survey and Policies for Poverty Reduction Project includes a $5.1 million grant to be implemented by to finance the survey and data analysis, and a $1.5 million companion grant to be implemented by the World Bank to provide technical assistance on the latest data collection and analysis techniques. The projects combined total $6.6 million, financed by a multidonor Trust Fund administered by the World Bank.

"This project builds on more than a year of close dialogue with Iraq's statistical agencies," Task Team leader Susan Razzaz said. "Under the Second Capacity Building Project of the Trust Fund, we have already conducted over ten workshops to assess and develop their capacity."

According to the World Bank, a generation ago s income and education and health indicators were high compared to regional averages; in recent years, living standards have declined to among the lowest in the region.

"Modern systems for data collection and dissemination are essential for providing Iraqi's policymakers with reliable information on which to base their decisions," Joseph Saba, Country Director, Middle East Department, said.

"This project will enable s government to establish a poverty line, develop policies to reduce poverty and increase employment, and target social assistance to the neediest. It will also help the government determine how to best sequence reforms to minimize any negative effect on poverty and employment."

The World Bank Iraq Trust Fund, within the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq, has financed 13 projects amounting to nearly $400 million to improve education, health, irrigation and drainage, social protection, telecommunications, urban infrastructure, and water supply and sanitation. The World Bank has also approved $235 million in International Development Association credits for education and road rehabilitation.

World Bank Iraq Trust Fund provides $6.6 million for household survey, poverty reduction strategy | Iraq Updates

Originally Posted by shotgunsusie

does anyone else find it very odd that most of the news out today is old? or that there has been NOT ONE WORD about the late meeting last night. meeting earlier in the day was mentioned in the article earlier in this thread but we have found not one single article mentioning the big media event they were making that out to be 'urgent urgent'. so where are the press and media reports???

True, I'll have a good scout round but there's nothing in print so far, and there should have been, it was last night.....sure IF a r/v had been announced it would have leaked out by now........

Originally Posted by opps50

I only say IF, but what will be the next date IF the reval is not happening before oct 1st

are you reading the same thread i am??

Agree Adster, if a r/v was announced it would have made news across the globe as that is a very positive move for Iraq and a pat on the back for the US and its allies. Me thinks it wasn't announced hence the lack of news. Oh well...we can only hope that it does happen soon cos it's giving me endless hours of stress!

Originally Posted by shotgunsusie

does anyone else find it very odd that most of the news out today is old? or that there has been NOT ONE WORD about the late meeting last night. meeting earlier in the day was mentioned in the article earlier in this thread but we have found not one single article mentioning the big media event they were making that out to be 'urgent urgent'. so where are the press and media reports???

yes, Single dad and i where just chating about that there's nothing really knew just stuff we've heard before. you would think that there would be an artical out there some where. but nothing I've read so many tranlated articals there starting to blend together.

Originally Posted by shotgunsusie

does anyone else find it very odd that most of the news out today is old? or that there has been NOT ONE WORD about the late meeting last night. meeting earlier in the day was mentioned in the article earlier in this thread but we have found not one single article mentioning the big media event they were making that out to be 'urgent urgent'. so where are the press and media reports???

come one come all to the embargo event!!

Good day,

It is odd, isn't it? Really keeping the suspense of it all.

I was up extra early at 5:30 AM just to check for the announcement. Being Friday, 29 Sept, I was sure hoping to see it announced. I could hardly sleep last night thinking today would be the day.

Have you seen anything that looks like a planned press conference for today? I would think that is the way it would go. JMHO

Have a great day.

Kozmar

Originally Posted by postcon

Agree Adster, if a r/v was announced it would have made news across the globe as that is a very positive move for Iraq and a pat on the back for the US and its allies. Me thinks it wasn't announced hence the lack of news. Oh well...we can only hope that it does happen soon cos it's giving me endless hours of stress!

but answer me this. why would they make such a big deal about stressing to the press and media (where is the tape?) the importance of the event, and hold it at 11:00pm at night?? i mean the late night is understandable because they are trying to hurry up doin stuff but to make such a stink about how urgent it is and then not one single word in the press about what happened??

excuse me but thats bloody BIZARRE!!!!