Thread: Archive News - Iraqi Dinar Think Tank - 01/10/09 - 27/03/10

Oil’s biggest Election

Iraq’s March elections are arguably the most significant political event in the upstream calendar, determining not just next year’s activity, but decades of big business. The challenges the domestic security operation will have to deal with are immense, but the opportunity both for Iraq, its people and the oil and gas industry in the Middle East are unparalleled.

The election of Iraq’s second permanent democratic Parliament makes a significant stage in the gestation of the fully functioning state everyone craves so much. The vote will be the fifth time the populous at large has been asked to go to the polls since the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime in 2003. Critically it will mark a turning point for the nation – a step towards greater unity, or down the path of further fragmentation.

For the upstream oil business the election is also a significant milestone. Many of the major field development programmes which have been contracted by the Ministry of Oil included quick-start clauses. Essentially in winning the bid, the international oil companies and, in some cases national oil company led-conglomerates cannot sit on their hands and idly wait to see which way the wind will blow before ploughing in the much needed investment.

This is, of course a practical and seemingly sensible option for Iraq, if a slightly stressful situation for the successful bidders. Security has improved, but the election is likely to bring violence back to the table, if only in an attempt to disrupt the democratic process.

The best result for Iraq and for business will be a timely conclusion to the election. A saga which drags on for weeks, or even months as political factions try to find ways to work together will help no-one, least of the oil firms who need to get on with the job in hand.

The Iraq business guide on ArabianOilandGas.com shows that there is a real desire by parties on both sides to push on and work quickly. The situation in Iraq is unmistakably the best in many years for the formation and successful operation of companies on the ground.

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/58385...ggest-election

Texas Finance Team Provides Support for All of Western Iraq

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq – Soldiers of A Detachment, 15th Financial Management Company, 15th Special Troops Battalion, 15th Sustainment Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) out of Fort Hood, Texas, supply financial assistance to all military personnel and Department of Defense civilians in the western region of Iraq. The unit's main hub is at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, but platoons travel to remote Forward Operating Bases with as few as 20 Soldiers, to provide financial support and assist with any pay problems that may arise during the deployment. Staff Sgt. Tre Porter, a disbursing agent non-commissioned officer and a Detroit native, said they also work with the paying agents to purchase goods and fund projects around western Iraq.

"We run operational missions to Ramadi, Ubaydi and (Camp Korean Village), in order to get those Soldiers paid correctly if they are experiencing any issues," he said.

Porter said their everyday operations of cashing checks and setting up Eagle Cash Cards are mainly aimed at military personnel.

"We are making a big push to try to get all Soldiers to use Eagle Cash, to try to reduce the amount of U.S. currency in Iraq," he said. "Getting rid of the U.S. currency makes the Iraqi dinar and their economy better."

Sgt. Michael A. Mahan, the commercial vendor services noncommissioned officer in charge and an O'Falon, Ill., native, said he helps pay contracts to vendors that provide services in western Iraq.

"They range from life-support contracts all the way to buildings and roads," he said. "We also provide money for contractors to build schools and other off-post projects."

Mahan said these projects are paid through electronic funds transfer directly through the Iraqi banks, thereby utilizing the Iraqi dinar.

"This helps keep our currency out of their banks and it strengthens their economy," he said.

Sgt. 1st Class Darrel L. Baxter, the detachment sergeant for the 15th FMC and a Detroit native, said he oversees operations, making sure all offices are performing correctly. Baxter said aside from their mission at Al Asad, the unit has weekly missions to smaller FOB's and bi-monthly missions to very remote locations in the western Iraq region.

"It's hard for some of those Soldiers that are at a FOB with 20 or 30 people; financial issues come up and we are here to take care of them," he said.

Baxter said the unit recently completed a transfer of authority with the 125th Financial Management Company, and had to shut down the office for a few days to do inventory and count money.

"We are back and it is very busy since we were closed for a few days," he said. "Our mission will stay the same, and that is to provide financial support for all Soldiers and (DOD) civilians."

http://www.dvidshub.net/?script=news...w.php&id=46805

A political movement active in Baghdad and Kurdish alliances in preparation for the unanticipated
Commission today announced the results of the special ballot and abroad

Convergence seems to be showing a sharp initial partial results of the elections between competing lists, push her to seek common ground in the political visions of the future to build alliances based on a national basis and according to the result of which the new form of government and distribution of the sovereign.

After failing to get any list on the majority of voters, according to the results of screening 79 percent of the ballots. Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region have witnessed in the last few hours more political movement, and discussions on ways to soften the atmosphere and create a cohesive social fabric consistent with the design of the country.

President Jalal Talabani said during a meeting with Ad Melkert Special Envoy of the Secretary-General Kofi Annan and his entourage in Sulaimaniyah on Tuesday evening, said the election proved that the Iraqi people are thirsty for democracy and to exercise their right to choose their representatives, adding that the next phase is the phase of a concerted effort to pull the country out of crises.

In the meantime, the House of Representatives Prime Minister Iyad al-Samarrai, head of Kurdistan, Massoud Barzani in Arbil, the task of talks yesterday afternoon. The Samurai during the meeting that "the Kurds is a key player in shaping the next federal government and have their weight in the political process in the country."

For his part, Barzani stressed that the position of Kurdish coalitions is associated with a number of parliamentary seats, but the historical relations and approaches to these parties, noting that the Kurds are waiting for final results, and did not take any decision on forming an alliance with any party. either in the capital Baghdad, has discussed the Vice-President Adel Abdul-Mahdi with the Iraqi leadership in a coalition Osama Nujaifi bring them in an interview yesterday, attitudes required of political forces in the coming stage and the importance of consultation in shaping the next government.

A statement of the Office of Vice President Abdul Mahdi, a confirmation Nujaifi "the importance of dialogue with all political blocs to reach the best formula to form the next government. "The National Coalition leaders had discussed at a meeting yesterday evening, in the presence of top al-Hakim and visions of future developments and issues vital to the situation in the country. Mr. Hakim said in a statement after the meeting:

"These meetings are part of unifying vision of the coalition in all the details and steps required," calling to the formation of a national partnership. middle of this picture, the results showed 79 percent of the vote across the country offering a coalition of law in seven provinces and Iraqi troops in five provinces and the national coalition in the three governorates and the Kurdistan Alliance in the three provinces as well.

The Electoral Commission for elections decided today announced the results of voting on the ballot and abroad, according to the Iraqi s.atellite channel Manglth Maoceftha what informed sources. The same sources confirmed that the Commission will announce Thursday the overall results of the initial election, as was planned. As part of the connected, announced the leadership of the coalition of state law, Ali al-Adeeb said the coalition "made a formal request to the Commission for a recount of the vote in Baghdad again, confirming the existence of a kind of manipulation in the outcome of coalition rule of law in the elections", he says.

In the meantime, called on the Iraqi List former MP Hussein al-Falluji to hold a special meeting of the Council of Representatives outgoing file to discuss the elections.

http://www.alsabaah.com/paper.php?so...page&sid=99462

U.S. official: the list of al-Maliki is not the only complaint was filed about the election data

Advisor, Political Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Ambassador Gary Grabo, a commentary on fear a coalition of state law for fraud in the counting of votes, al-Maliki said that the list is not the only complaint was filed on the subject.

In an interview with "Radio Sawa" Grabo said: "The Electoral Commission and established a specific mechanism to review complaints, a fully assume their responsibilities seriously. I am sure that this complaint will be enjoyed by the seriousness with which complaints made by other political parties."

And the role played by the United States in this regard Grabo said: "The United States urges all the political parties who believe they have access to election irregularities in the use of the mechanism established by the Election Commission to decide on such complaints, the Commission takes such complaints seriously, as we have already I said."

In his answer to a question whether he expected unrest in the country after the announcement of final election results, the official said:

"Certainly we do not want to predict anything, but if we look at what happened during the last pre-election period, and what happened on election day itself, and the subsequent announcement of the result of the elections, the violence was very low. Furthermore, when we talk to the Iraqis in various parts of the country is clear to us that they are ready to accept the political process, and that is what we urge him, of course."

http://www.radiosawa.com/arabic_news...8037632&cid=24

Coalition of law to express concern for the possibility of irregularities in vote counting

Said the candidate for the "coalition of the rule of law" on the Keywords list candidates began to worry that the process of counting of votes in the parliamentary elections has been marred by cases of fraud.

The Keywords in an interview with "Radio Sawa" that the coalition of the state of law which are concerned in the commission and a special invitee Hazem al-Badri, "noting that the resurgence of votes contrary to the Iraqi list" numbers are available from all observers in all polling stations.

Keywords and questioned the honesty of some UNHCR staff.

In his interpretation of the request "coalition of the rule of law" in the audit results of the election after that has been hailed by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki recently, he said: that turned the scales in overnight, and added.

In contrast, candidate, said the list of "Iraq," Haidar al-Mulla said the list had swept to a count rate of nearly eighty percent of the vote, calling the prime minister to accept the principle of rotation of power. Al Mulla explained in an interview with "Radio Sawa.

http://www.radiosawa.com/arabic_news.aspx?id=2202137

Government demanding return of the election & audit data "Iraqi" is a request is not justified

Announced the list of coalition rule of law to exclude the formation of a coalition government of all the lists in the House of Representatives President next year.

The government spokesman and member of the coalition rule of law, Ali al-Dabbagh said in an interview to "Radio Sawa" on the belief that "the formation of the government is a slouch large chunks that would weaken the government," and that "the rule of law" to avoid going into "a large number of blocks to form a government".

Al-Dabbagh said the government had asked the Electoral Commission for re-election audit and reconciliation of data on the votes of the voters, pointing out that the government is not accused of "any political bloc of fraud."

For its part, questioned the mouthpiece of the Iraqi List, Maysoon al-request to the UNHCR, said in a phone conversation with "Radio Sawa" from the Jordanian capital Amman on Thursday that "this is not justified," expressing the sense of existing "injustice of the UNHCR."

The Damluji that negotiations continued with the political blocs and "are rapidly increasing and the coming days will witness the emergence of a cluster."

It is expected to announce the Electoral Commission for elections election results within the next few days.

http://www.radiosawa.com/arabic_news...2201948&cid=24

Commission: You will be re-enter the data from each new provinces

Electoral Commission announced, Wednesday, that the National Center will introduce new data from all governorates, where the process of ratification is called optical.

Qasim al-Aboudi, told a news conference late on Wednesday that "the National Center for data entry work to re-review all forms and incorporating the results of any new results (the voting public, private and overseas), called the visual check." The slave said: "The Commission has received all the forms for the vote abroad."

http://www.irqnta.com/news/2010/03/18/2010-03-18-03.htm

Iraq’s governor asks for international tribunal to investigate minority violations

The Governor of the Province of Nineveh has asked the United Nations and the European Union to undertake an international investigation into attacks targeting Iraqi minorities in his province.

Atheel al-Nujaifi said violence against minorities in Nineveh, of which the northern city of Mosul is the capital, has surged recently. He said Christians were being forced to flee and some of them have been killed.

Other minorities like the Shebek and Yazidis are under immense pressure and targets of mounting violence, he said.

In a letter which he also address to Prime Minister Noori al-Maliki and commander of U.S. occupation troops in Iraq, Nujaifi said: “I would like to present before you the suffering of my people in the Province of Nineveh and particularly members of Iraqi minorities which started in the past few years and in the aftermath of 2003.”

Nujaifi pointed the finger at Kurdish militias and the political factions they belong to.

He said the armed Kurdish militias were in control of large swathes of his province, including the left bank of its capital, Mosul.

“Kurdish factions have turned the minorities into pawns in their agendas,” he said. “They (the Kurds) pay no attention to the desire of these minorities to live in peace.”

He said members of these minorities were being forced to alter their ethnic belonging so that their areas would be annexed to the Kurdish semi-independent enclave.

“Those opposing the Kurdish agenda are persecuted, threatened, arrested and even liquidated," he said.

Kurdish leaders have declined comment on Nujaifi’s accusation, but last year a report by Human Rights Watch charged that the Kurds were partners in the persecution of minorities and not their protectors.

http://www.azzaman.com/english/index.asp?fname=news\2010-03-17\kurd.htm

Iraq signs deal for 250-million-dollar World Bank loan

Iraq has signed an agreement to receive the first of two 250-million-dollar loans from the World Bank to help the country plug its budget deficit, the finance ministry said Thursday.

The announcement came around three weeks after the International Monetary Fund approved a 3.6-billion-dollar loan to the war-torn country.

"An agreement for a loan of 250 million dollars was signed with the World Bank," Finance Minister Baqer Jaber Solagh said in a statement, adding the loan was part of a 500-million-dollar package.

The loan, which is to be issued in cash, would help to "finance the 2010 public deficit," Solagh said.

Iraq projects a budget deficit of 19.6 billion dollars, or 27.1 percent of total expenditure, in 2010.

The IMF approved its loan to Iraq on February 24, saying it was to help the country meet "balance of payments needs" after the economy was hit hard by falling oil prices in 2009.

Oil revenues account for 85 per cent of Iraq's governments revenues.

http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidAN...%20Bank%20loan

Iraq election race neck-and-neck: updated results

(AFP) - Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and main rival Iyad Allawi were neck-and-neck Thursday, with updated results showing their blocs in a tight race to be the largest faction in the Iraqi parliament.

Maliki's State of Law Alliance led Allawi's Iraqiya list by just 40,000 votes nationwide, according to updated results based on 83 percent of ballots counted, as the incumbent's bloc alleged fraud and demanded a recount. But Iraqiya was on pace to garner 90 seats in the 325-member Council of Representatives compared with State of Law's 89, according to an AFP calculation that excluded eight seats reserved for minorities. Ballots cast outside Iraq and during special voting for the security forces, the sick and prisoners have not yet been fully tabulated by Iraq's electoral commission and could still affect the outcome.

The election, the second since Saddam Hussein was ousted in the US-led invasion of 2003, comes less than six months before the United States is set to withdraw all of its combat troops from Iraq. An ally of Maliki charged on Wednesday that the count, which has so far taken 10 days, had been plagued by widespread fraud and demanded a nationwide recount.

"There has been clear manipulation inside the election commission in the interests of a certain or a specific list," said Ali al-Adeeb, a State of Law candidate in the predominantly Shiite central province of Karbala.

"State of Law demands the counting process be repeated to be sure that there has been no manipulation."

Adeeb described Iraqiya's progress as "like a miracle."

His remarks were a sharp departure from Maliki's own just days earlier, when he dismissed allegations of fraud as "very small."

Electoral official Iyad al-Kinaani downplayed any allegations of fraud, telling AFP the commission's work was "transparent and is done with great care because we know the importance of this step."

Overall, Maliki held a slim lead in the count, with 2,260,483 votes against 2,220,443 for Iraqiya. Results released late Tuesday had put Allawi ahead by less than 9,000 votes. State of Law leads in Baghdad, which is the largest province and accounts for more than twice as many seats as any other. It is also ahead in the southern oil province of Basra, the third biggest, as well as five other mostly Shiite central and southern provinces, but has failed to finish in the top three in all but one of Iraq's Sunni-majority provinces.

Iraqiya, on the other hand, was leading in four provinces, including the second biggest, Nineveh. It was also in a virtual tie for the lead in a fifth, Kirkuk, where it was ahead of a Kurdish bloc by about 600 votes. It was placed in the top three in six predominantly Shiite provinces where Maliki was either first or second.

The Iraqi National Alliance, a coalition led by Shiite religious groups, is set to come in third with 69 seats, according to AFP calculations, while Kurdistania, comprised of the autonomous Kurdish region's two long-dominant parties, is likely to have 39. No other group is set to win more than 10 seats.

Both State of Law and Iraqiya have said they have begun talks with rival blocs to form a government, with analysts warning that political groupings could still manoeuvre to form a coalition without either list. Iraq's system of proportional representation makes it unlikely for any single group to clinch the 163 seats required to form a government on its own. Protracted coalition building is expected. Complete election results were expected around Thursday. Final results -- after all complaints have been investigated and ruled upon -- are likely by the end of the month.

http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidAN...ated%20results