Thread: Archive News - Iraqi Dinar Think Tank - 28/03/10 - 21/06/10

North Oil: the discovery of more than 40 oil wells had not invested in the Hamrin

North Oil Company said that the process of pumping oil from the Kirkuk oilfields to the Turkish port of Ceyhan stable rate of up to 450 thousand barrels per day, below the normal average of approximately 700 barrels by 36%.

An official source at the company that the company "will raise its production to more than one million barrels during the next two years," likely "the cause of the decline in exports to the decline in production in a number of fields in Kirkuk, for technical reasons not yet determined."

He said, adding that the company "is currently working on updating a number of new wells in different areas of Kirkuk, has also initiated the development and increase oil production in the three fields are Bai Hassan, Kirkuk, Ain Zala."

The source said "The discovery of more than 40 oil wells had not invested in the Hamrin estimated production of about 135 thousand barrels per day, while the total number of oil wells under the authority of the North Oil Company 996 oil wells and 18 gas wells."

http://www.radiodijla.com/cgi-bin/ne...-17%2008:02:03

Zamili: the current government was unable to take any decision

A member of the Iraqi National Coalition sincere Zamili, the current government and the House of Representatives since the beginning of the new legislature became the caretaker government not representative as a cover for its future work.

He Zamili told the independent press, that the current government has become without legislators legal for its business and become unable to take any decision and can not act Balmekdrat Special Ministries different, indicating that the selection of the new Government will make legislative and legal owner of any decision of my future and not the current government.

Zamili said, that the period of forming the new government would last longer period of time than other affects a lot of projects that may stop waiting for a new government, indicating that the periphery will depend also active with Iraq awaiting the new government guidelines.

http://radionawa.com/ar/NewsDetailN....963&LinkID=151

Rule of law and national agree to limit the authority of the Prime Minister, making it easier to form a government

Agreed a coalition of law and the National Coalition to limit the authority of the Prime Minister, which could pave the way for a deal on forming a government after more than three months of the elections.

The leader of the Dawa Party, Ali al-Adeeb, who heads the coalition negotiating team, led by the rule of law Dawa party in coalition talks said the two sides, "accepted the conditions and criteria."

The writer added that "this agreement will be coordination between the two coalitions on the basis that it would serve as the party that monitors the movement of the Prime Minister and follow up and support at the same time."

http://www.radiodijla.com/cgi-bin/ne...-17%2007:54:43

DPRK newspaper: U.S. to leave Iraq is not as simple as some think

The daily Korea Times The Korea Times in an article, Wednesday, the U.S. forces leave Iraq "is not a simple matter," as alleged by some.

The newspaper said South Korean English-speaking that the new Iraqi parliament "met this week for 18 minutes," normally "this time is not sufficient for the members to sing the department and postpone indefinitely their agenda and elect somebody to the position of Honorary President."

Even so, the paper said, "saw U.S. officials this meeting shorthand as a victory of some sort," adding that Iraq, after more than three months after the election "is still without a government and perhaps it will last for weeks or even months before forming the government."

The newspaper pointed out that this situation would "hold some great plans for the pullout of American combat troops to any output by all 31 of August with the exception of 50 thousand soldiers will stay for the training of Iraqi security forces and anti-terrorism operations whenever the situation warrants.

The newspaper reported that "the absence of an Iraqi government means that the U.S. military is the only guarantee against the country's slide into chaos and return to sectarian violence," stating that the problem "is that the congressional elections last March did not produce a clear winner but have resulted in multi-limited."

The newspaper said the Korean "as Iyad Allawi, President of the Iraqi List, which they believe must be given time to build a coalition majority and the Kurds in the two main Kurdish parties who have received 43 seats, say they will not organize into a coalition government without the written assurances on the issues of their own, especially the distribution of oil revenues".

The government believes, according to the newspaper, "The danger in all this is that year out of power, who are strongly supported Allawi," warning of the possibility of "flow down to the streets in the worst situation for the Americans who are preparing to leave."

The newspaper article, "Iyad Allawi, recently published in The Washington Post and the claim that the United States is committed to actively in Iraq", noting that this meant that the task is "not yet over in Iraq."

http://radionawa.com/ar/NewsDetailN....935&LinkID=151

Close to Maliki asking for Arab support for his nomination for a second term

Scouring the Leaders of the Dawa Party and advisers to Maliki Arab capitals and regional to persuade them to renew the owners accepted the nomination of the National Alliance merged to head the government at the time told the Cairo Sadiq al-Rikabi Maliki's adviser, political and Tarek Najm office manager that it stands on the distance from all Iraqi factions after requesting them to support the nomination of al-Maliki for the post, where he met senior officials of the Egyptian intelligence.

Diplomats said the Iraqi Rikabi star and holding meetings with senior officials of the Egyptian intelligence, and high-level diplomats to brief them on efforts to form a new government in Baghdad.

The diplomats said they were transporting as well as a letter from Maliki, who is re-assigned the prime minister to the Egyptian officials, but they denied knowing the contents of the message or the body that are addressed.

Diplomats declined to say whether the visit by the star and Rikabi take any content from the standpoint of Cairo, al-Maliki or support for his efforts. Cairo says it stands on equal distance from the various Iraqi factions but it has repeatedly called to be a comprehensive political process without ignoring or marginalizing any party

http://www.uragency.net/index.php?aa=news&id22=8433

Britain reiterates commitment to Iraq in letter to al-Maliki

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki received on Wednesday a letter from his British counterpart David Cameron, in which he underlined Britain’s commitment to strengthen security and stability in Iraq, according to a cabinet’s statement.

“The premier received a letter from Cameron conveyed by Christian Turner, Director for the Middle East and North Africa in the British Foreign Ministry, in which he asserted Britain’s commitment to Iraq and its desire to develop relations with Iraq,” said the statement received by Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

“During his visit to Iraq, Dr Christian Turner, Director for the Middle East and North Africa in the British Foreign Ministry, handed over a letter from British Prime Minister David Cameron to Acting Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in which Prime Minister Cameron reiterated the United Kingdom’s commitment to Iraq and set out how he saw the UK/Iraq relationship developing,” said a statement released from the British embassy in Baghdad.

Commenting on his visit, Turner said　 “I am delighted to have had the chance to deliver a personal message from my new Prime Minister to the Prime Minister of Iraq. During our meeting we discussed ways of building on our existing positive relationship. I　reaffirmed our long-term　commitment to Iraq. We share strategic interests including prosperity for the peoples of Iraq and the UK and strengthened links between our two countries in trade, education and defence. The precise shape of the new government in Baghdad is a matter for the Iraqi people.　 We hope it will be formed soon through an inclusive process and will be fully empowered to tackle the challenges Iraq faces.　 We　pledge ourselves to working together towards these common goals. I have passed similar messages to the leaders of all the main political blocs in Iraq. They all have an important role to play in building the future.”

Mr Cameron, writing before the first session of Iraq’s new parliament on 14 June, said “I have been following closely the process of government formation in Iraq since your elections. Now that the Supreme Court has certified the results, we await the outcome of the next stage of this historic process with great interest”.

Turning to the future, Mr Cameron went on to say “The next few years will be an equally decisive period for Iraq’s future. I would like to recommit the United Kingdom to building on the work and sacrifices of British forces in Iraq by supporting the government and people of Iraq as democracy, reconciliation and economic development move forward in your country”.

”I see the new Iraq as a cornerstone of stability in the wider Gulf region. We would like to support Iraq as it develops its capacity to provide security and stability within its own borders and more widely. We will be partners with Iraq in promoting global prosperity. Your wealth of natural resources gives you the chance to transform Iraq’s economic future. It is also important for the UK, Europe and the world”.

On the long standing educational links between the UK and Iraq, Mr Cameron said “I would like to see educational links rebuilt. There is a long tradition of Iraqis attending British schools and universities. The British Council is increasingly active in Iraq and I hope to strengthen this. This will give us an excellent platform for the future and help build understanding and cooperation between the British and Iraqi people”.

Mr Cameron ended his letter to Mr Al-Maliki saying ” I am looking forward to working with the new Iraqi government as partners in meeting the global challenges of stability, security and sustainable prosperity that face us all”.

http://en.aswataliraq.info/?p=133327

US senator presses for details on Iraq security

A Democratic senator is demanding that the State Department tell Congress what role contractors will play in a combat-ready force planned to protect diplomats in Iraq after American military forces leave, according to the Associated Press.

The Associated Press reported Monday that the department has asked the Pentagon for Black Hawk helicopters, bomb-resistant vehicles and other heavy gear to outfit its own protection force in Iraq.

Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., wants to know whether the private sector will be doing more than upkeep. In a letter sent Wednesday to Patrick Kennedy, the State Department’s undersecretary for management, McCaskill asks whether contractors will be at the controls of the aircraft and vehicles.

She also asks what measures the department will put in place to ensure that the gear, worth hundreds of millions of dollars, is not misused by hired hands.

McCaskill chairs the Senate’s contracting oversight subcommittee. She has been a harsh critic of the federal government’s reliance on companies such as Blackwater Worldwide and KBR Inc. for support work in war zones.

In the letter, she also asks Kennedy if any individuals or companies outside the department contacted State officials about the need for combat equipment.

McCaskill says the answers should be delivered to her subcommittee by July 1.

http://en.aswataliraq.info/?p=133345

Issawi discusses with Jeffrey Feltman forming government

Deputy Prime Minister, Rafia al-Issawi, received on Thursday at his office in Baghdad Jeffrey Feltman, the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, and his accompanying delegation.

“The meeting tackled obstacles facing the formation of the new government and the latest developments in Iraq and the whole region,” said an official statement from his office received by Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

“Issawi stressed during the meeting on the importance of speeding up the formation of the new government and respecting Iraqis’ will,” the statement added.

For his part, the U.S. diplomat underlined his trust on Iraqis’ ability to for a government of national unity, praising al-Issawi’s efforts and his talks to overcome the current stage.

http://en.aswataliraq.info/?p=133347

UAE to increase inv't in Iraqi Kurdistan - official

The UAE will double its current investment in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region to $6bn by 2013, said Abdullah Bin Ahmed Al Saleh, director general in the emirates' Ministry of Foreign Trade.

Kurdistan is a important partner for the UAE, which is keen to “develop and upgrade” ties between them, al-Saleh told delegates on Tuesday at the Kurdish Regional Government’s two-day trade and investment conference in London. Iraq ranks 11th among his country’s trading partners, Al Saleh said.

A delegation of Kurdish cabinet ministers and business owners accompanied the northern Iraqi region’s prime minister, Barham Salih, to the conference with a message that Kurdistan presents an ideal investment opportunity.

More than 1,200 foreign companies work in Iraqi Kurdistan’s non-oil sectors, including banking, housing and agriculture, with projects totaling $3 billion over the past 3.5 years, the regional government said.

HSBC Holdings’ Iraqi unit plans to open a branch in the Kurdish city of Sulaymaniyah and in Zarko, near the region’s border with Turkey, Michael Hodges, the London-based bank’s business development director for the Middle East and North Africa, told the conference.

“It is very likely that the first HSBC-branded bank will open in Kurdistan in a year or so,” Hodges said.

The Kurdish-controlled northern provinces of Sulaymaniyah, Erbil and Dohuk have been ruled by elected officials since 1992. Ethnic Kurds represent 15 to 20 percent of Iraq’s population of 30 million.

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/59064...tan---official

Al Habtoor in talks over $700m Iraq contract

Dubai-based construction firm Al Habtoor Leighton Group is in discussions over a $700m offshore project in Iraq as it seeks more business outside the difficult UAE market, its CEO said on Tuesday.

Al Habtoor, an affiliate of Australia's Leighton Holding, is also eyeing a new infrastructure contract in Saudi Arabia and two in Oman by year-end, the firm's chief executive and managing director Laurie Voyer told Reuters.

"The company is very keen to take on more business outside the UAE," Voyer said at the Reuters Global Real Estate and Infrastructure Summit in Dubai.

Al Habtoor has said it hopes to generate about 50 percent of its revenues by early 2012 from the UAE, down from around 80 percent currently.

He said the firm would also look to slow its expansion plans into Libya in order to establish itself in other Gulf Arab countries.

Al Habtoor is in discussions over an offshore pipeline and SPM (single point mooring) project in Iraq in what would be its first contract there, and hopes to hear whether it is successful by the end of July, Voyer said.

"We're putting together a business case at the moment and (getting) a better understanding what it might take to move into Iraq," he said.

Construction firms have been rapidly expanding operations outside the UAE, where house prices in Dubai, the emirate hardest hit by the financial crisis, plunged some 60 percent from their peaks in 2008, and billions of dollars worth of projects were put on hold or cancelled.

Al Habtoor is eyeing a second contract in Saudi Arabia by year-end and hopes to have its own trading license in the kingdom in September, which Voyer said would help the firm win more business there.

"All of the metrics that you look at say there is a lot of work out there, but 85 percent of the work is given to local companies. It's very difficult for a company like us to get the other 15 percent," he said

It won its first contract in Saudi Arabia last year in a joint venture with Saudi Arabian building firm Al Rajhi Projects.

Al Habtoor's total order book is expected to rise to around 30 billion dirhams ($8.17 billion) over the coming year from around 22 billion dirhams.

Its projects include the $1.8 billion St Regis Hotel and the $1.4 billion Khalifa Port projects in Abu Dhabi.

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/59064...-iraq-contract