Thread: Archive News - Iraqi Dinar Think Tank - 22/06/2010 - 04/10/2010

Odierno Radio Tigris affirms his country's commitment to withdraw its troops from Iraq in time

New commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, General Ray Odierno, the country's commitment to withdraw its troops from Iraq in a timely manner according to the security agreement signed with Baghdad. The commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, General Raymond Odierno, said that the process of reducing many troops in Iraq to 50 thousand military solutions to the first of next September will go ahead without further delay even if a new Iraqi government. Odierno said U.S. forces have closed military base, 373 out of 505 since January 2008, and will close or recognize the base 34 before the first of September.

He pointed out that in the first of next September will be U.S. troops 50 thousand, to keep these troops without a withdrawal of any element which until March next year, and is being shared calendar with the new Iraqi government to define the mechanisms and several withdrawals coming to be our withdrawal, including late in 2011.

Odierno, expressed his confidence in the capabilities of Iraqi security forces in maintaining security and stability in the implementation of the reduction of forces, noting that these forces have proved its impartiality and its ability to impose security and stability since the election last March so far.

He also revealed that his forces were still concerned about the issue of protection of Iraq's airspace in a slow progress in the capabilities of the Iraqi air force, noting that his country's troops will air their Iraqi counterparts, in the event of an intention by the Iraqi government to develop this sector.

Odierno said Iraqi ground forces will be able to maintain security from external danger after our withdrawal from the country, in addition to the need for naval forces to a lot of work to perform the tasks of the protection of the export of oil.

And the commander of U.S. forces that the Iraqi army will have 140 tanks of Abrams with the end of this year, in addition to some smaller patrol boats and helicopters Asamtiat and transport planes, as well as aircraft from F-16 uses of the Iraqi air force, according to the security agreement. In addition, Pointed commander of U.S. forces in Iraq that Iran was continuing to support armed groups and provide financial support, training, weapons and equipment to different groups inside Iraq, stressing that it still supports the brigade promised day and the Brigades of Hezbollah and headbands people of the truth, although the support is not at the level it was before Year.

And Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno that Iran's continued support of these groups aims to influence Iraq's political one hand, and attacking U.S. forces, on the other, and continued by saying that Iran refuses to be an agreement between Iraq and the United States, as he put it.

He called on Iraqi politicians, the winners of the elections to the need for inclusive dialogues to form a new government, pointing out that the best form of government is to be representative of all Iraqi factions and blocs of winning the election.

The commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, General Ray Odierno, it might be the use of peacekeeping forces of the United Nations in the disputed areas in northern Iraq.

Odierno said that the use of international forces is one of the options if it fails to integrate the efforts of the Peshmerga forces in the Iraqi army next year. The General Odierno said he wished that there is a need to use those forces.

And Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno that any such decision is up to the new Iraqi government, noting that the problem of disputed areas between the Arabs and the Kurds in Kirkuk , Diyala and Nineveh have not been resolved years ago, making it a source of constant tension between the parties.

http://www.radiodijla.com/cgi-bin/ne...?id=2010-07-07

Iraqi trade : we can reach the level of developed countries in terms of strategic stockpiling

An official Iraqi Trade Ministry, said Wednesday that the ministry has been able to take good steps towards the provision of strategic stockpiling, noting that this method will enable the country to reach the ranks of developed nations in this area.

The Minister of Trade and agency, serenity net debt, told the Kurdistan News (Akaniwz), "The Ministry has been able for the first time that it has the strategic stocks of food for three items, rice, flour, oil," .. He pointed out that "the end of this year will be the Ministry's strategic stocks of sugar, too."

He pointed out that "if we continue to provide food in this way , we can say that we have reached into the ranks of developed countries that provide strategic stockpiling."

With regard to procedures to reduce the ration card materials, he explained that the net "This action was based on the decisions issued by the Council of Ministers, and endorsed by the previous parliament."

He added that "the law of the Supreme Committee for the reform of the ration card, which was formed by decision of the Council of Ministers, requires that the distribution of 5 items in the ration card, the company 's general food distribution of 3, and the distribution of articles remaining rests with the General Company for Grain Processing."

As for the delay in the distribution process and slow, the net confirmed that "if there was a delay in the distribution process, the reason is due to the distribution agents" .. He stressed that "citizens they can make complaints to the Ministry on any constraints they face while receiving Mfiradat ration card".

The Iraqi government ordered the Ministry of Commerce, last year, the implementation of Article 19 approved in the general budget, which provides the so-called "Rationalization of the beneficiaries of the ration card" through the denial of more than income million and 500 thousand dinars per month to obtain the spectrum, which is a Food and washing materials are citizens each month.

http://www.aknews.com/ar/aknews/2/161997/

Maliki urges Jordanian investors, companies to invest in Iraq

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki called on Jordanian investors and companies to take part in the reconstruction operations in the country, according to a statement of his office.

“Al-Maliki received on Wednesday (July 7) the Jordanian Ambassador in Baghdad, Mohammad Taissiyer al-Musaada,” said the statement received by Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

The statement quoted the premier as saying that Iraq looks forward to have best relations with Jordan and with the other Arab countries.

http://en.aswataliraq.info/?p=134196

Bahraini companies seek to invest in Basra energy sector

A delegation from Bahraini investment companies discussed on Thursday with chairman of the Basra council investment projects in the energy sector in the southern city, according to a media statement.

“Chairman of the Basra council Jabar Amin Jaber received on Thursday (July 8) a delegation representing Bahraini investment companies in the energy sector,” said the statement received by Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

“The meeting tackled fostering cooperation in the energy sector to contribute in solving the crisis in the electricity in the city,” it added.

“The council is ready to facilitate the work of these companies and remove all obstacles that could face them,” it said, quoting Jabar as saying.

http://en.aswataliraq.info/?p=134242

Central Bank of Iraq to stop auction currency because of the visit of Imam Kadhim

Central Bank of Iraq, Wednesday, stop its daily auction for the sale and purchase of foreign currency due to the closure the majority of the main streets of the capital to coincide with the commemoration of death of Imam Kadhim, noting that work will commence its work on Sunday, as he emphasized that the auction for the day on Tuesday recorded a big rise in sales Of the dollar.

The adviser said the central bank governor appearance of Mohammed Saleh said in an interview for "Sumerian News," that "the Iraqi Central Bank decided to suspend its daily auction to buy and sell foreign currencies on Wednesday, due to closure of the majority of the main streets in the capital as a precaution, security on the anniversary of the death of Imam Kadhim The influx of millions of visitors to the city of Kadhimiya," noting that "such actions prevented the banks and shareholders have access to the building of the Central Bank to participate in the daily auction."

The majority of the security forces closed off the main streets in the capital, to make room for visitors to the shrine of Imam Kadhim, walk to the city of Kadhimiya, north of Baghdad, to commemorate the anniversary of his death, which falls on Thursday.

Saleh added that "the Bank will begin its work on Sunday after the Iraqi government on Thursday an official holiday," noting that "the central bank held an auction depends on the presence of banks and shareholders."

Saleh pointed out that "buying and selling rates of foreign currencies have risen at an auction in the central bank on Tuesday compared to the day last Monday," noting that "the overall size of the request by the banks participating in the auction on Tuesday a 200 million dollar fixed exchange rate was 1170 Dinars to the dollar compared to 194 million dollars last Monday."

The benefit of that "demand is distributed by 181 million dollars in cash at the exchange rate was 1183 dollars for dinars each, including transactions with the bank amounting to 13 dollars for 19 million dollars in the form of remittances outside Iraq covered by the Central Bank in full at the exchange rate was 1177 dollars for dinars each, including transactions with the bank The amount of seven dollars, with did not make any of the 19 banks participating in the auction offers to sell the dollar."

He noted the benefit that "the high commission rates that are collected from the sale of the Central banks in cash compared commission obtained from the sale of money orders, dating back to the central bank to bring in such funds from the Reserve Bank of American, as it requires them to Iraq to pay the cost of shipping and insurance, while Need only to sell cable transfers went to banks of other countries.

http://www.alsumarianews.com/ar/3/86...-details-.html

France builds Iraq business centre to lure firms

France has taken a leap ahead of its rivals in the race to tap investment opportunities in Iraq by building a heavily fortified business centre and boutique hotel where businessmen can sleep, eat and work in safety.

The complex financed by private companies near its embassy in Baghdad's once glamorous Abu Nawas neighbourhood has room for 20 offices -- half of which have already been claimed by major firms -- and 10 bedrooms for visiting would-be investors.

"We say this is the time to come back to Iraq," said Julien Kerdoncuf, deputy head of the embassy's economic department.

The firms say "yes", he said, speaking in English, but note that insecurity, as Sunni Islamist insurgents continue a campaign of suicide bombings and killings, remains a concern.

"And what we say is: 'Listen, we take care of that, we arrange everything, you get offices, you get swimming pools, you get hotel accommodation, you get food over there, and security is everywhere, everything you need, so you do not have an excuse not to come'. It is time to come -- and actually they are coming, that is the big deal."

The companies that have installed themselves in the French business centre include Lafarge, a pioneer of investment in Iraq which already has cement plants in semi-autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan and has just started a $200 million renovation of an Iraqi state-owned cement plant in Kerbala.

Others are oil contractor Technip SA and engineering firm Alstom.

Oil major Total, which has partnered with China's CNPC to develop Iraq's giant Halfaya oilfield, plans to move from Baghdad's Green Zone government and diplomatic enclave to the business centre, French diplomats said.

Emerging from war, Iraq is trying to shake off years of violence, sanctions and economic decline by opening up its vast oil reserves -- the world's third largest -- and attracting foreign investment and expertise to help it rebuild.

But while it has signed 11 deals with global oil companies to develop its richest fields, projects outside the energy sector have rarely gone beyond aspirations. Lingering violence and political uncertainty, four months after an inconclusive election, are keeping most western investors on the sidelines.

Of those brave enough to invest so far, Iranian, Turkish and Gulf companies lead the pack, especially in Shi'ite tourism, housing and banking.

The United Arab Emirates is the biggest investor in large projects, with total pledges of $37.7 billion, while Lebanon tops the list of investment deals below $1 billion, according to a report last year by Dunia Frontier Consultants.

GROUND FLOOR

France opposed former President George W. Bush's 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. Now as a fragile peace returns, it is getting in on the ground floor, said Ambassador Boris Boillon.

In addition to Lafarge, which produces 60 percent of the cement sold in Iraq, car maker Renault has signed an agreement to assemble trucks in two plants, one south of Baghdad and the other in the Kurdish region.

Boillon said apart from the issue of security, Iraq suffered from an excess of red tape and corruption that could undermine profitability. The Iraqi government was also moving too slowly to approve plans and projects and put them in motion.

"I am not exaggerating if I say there are 50 (French) companies now waiting for an Iraqi decision to create a plan, a project. Iraq was considered too dangerous before. Now the question is not of security, it is more about economic profitability," he said.

"Now it is important to send the right messages regarding profitability, the struggle against corruption and bureaucracy."

Eric Noel, international sales director for defence, space and security for Communication & Systemes, used the dining room of the business centre recently to host officials from the Iraqi Communications Ministry with which CS signed a deal a year ago.

"Of course security is a major concern," Noel said. "It has been improving in recent years and months, however it requires a lot of planning ... to move around."

http://www.londonstockexchange.com/e...entId=10564908

Sumaisem : Iraqi individual suffering from a low rate of annual income is estimated up to 2210 dollars

According to an economist Sumaisem peace "that the Iraqi individual suffering from low-income rate compared to the potential and wealth that characterized the country."

The Sumaisem in contact with the agency, the independent press (Iba), "Iraq has oil reserves are significant, but their per capita wealth of the national do not exceed 2210 dollars and which are not commensurate with the amount of oil that we issue a year, or with the amount of 300 billion dollars that monitoring within the annual plans for the four years The past."

The report of the Institute of Statistics of the World Bank released earlier this month indicating that the average income of the Iraqi citizen annually by 2210 dollars, less than two and a half million a year under the low and the reality of services and high living standards and drain the Iraqi family by providing the basic necessities of living water And electricity.

She Sumaisem for "harmonization between the rate of 2200 dollars annualized return of the Iraqi people compared to 300 billion dollars spent on the annual budgets over the years," indicated "that after hitting this amount in the population of Iraq will not find any proportion and fit in government spending by at Returns for the Iraqi people of interest".

She pointed out that "this number is set by the World Bank study is the rate of the fact that some individuals have an annual income higher than this average and many members of the community earn less than this amount."

She Sumaisem "Any deterioration in the humanitarian situation within the country due to the rate of low-income for the Iraqi people, which entails the consequences and implications of several social. Stressing "the need to reconsider the economic policy of the country to the fact that the Iraqi individual has the right to share in the wealth of national security."

Observers point out the need to implement economic policies that the process will revive industry and agriculture to supply the state budget and raise the rates of financial income, which will raise therefore the rates of wages and salaries per capita, which contributes to a certain degree of luxury denied to the Iraqi citizens for many years.

http://www.ipairaq.com/index.php?nam...onomy&id=27524

WesternZagros Update on Kurdamir-1 Operations

WesternZagros Resources Ltd has successfully retrieved the upper 450 metres portion of the parted drill string at the Kurdamir-1 well. Following thorough testing of the blow-out preventers, snubbing operations are now underway to recover the remaining 2,400 metres of drill string. This operation is expected to take approximately 20 days.

Total costs of Kurdamir-1 to June 30, 2010 are estimated to be $91 million gross, with $35 million related to the insurance claim. The Company continues to submit interim insurance claims related to the well control and sidetracking efforts at its Kurdamir-1 well.

Kurdamir-1 is a wildcat exploration well, located on the Kalar Bawanoor Block, in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. WesternZagros is drilling the well with its co-venturers, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Talisman.

http://www.iraq-businessnews.com/?p=5403

Shell to Award Deals to Develop Iraq’s Oil Field

Shell and its Iraqi state partner are in the process of awarding a deal to drill new oil wells at the super giant Majnoon oil field in southern Iraq, the head of Iraq’s state-run South Oil Co., Dhiaa Jaafar, said on Tuesday.

Dow Jones reports that Shell, which partnered Malaysia’s state-run Petronas to develop Majnoon, will also award engineering, procurement and construction contracts to build various production installations at the field, an Iraqi oil industry source familiar with the project said.

Jaafar told Dow Jones Newswires that both deals have not yet been awarded but they are “in process.” He gave no further details.

Separately, an Iraqi oil industry source said that firms including Halliburton, Weatherford International, and Petrofac have been invited to submit bids for these two tenders.

A Shell executive contacted by Dow Jones refused to comment.

Shell said earlier that it was planning to drill 15 new wells over the next two years at Majnoon. This would help lift production to 175,000 barrels a day by 2012 from the current level of 45,000 barrels a day.

The Anglo-Dutch giant and Petronas were awarded a contract in December to develop the Majnoon field, which is located in Basra governorate and holds some 12.6 billion barrels of proven oil reserves. Shell owns 45% of the venture and Petronas 30%, with Iraq’s state-run Missan Oil holding 25%.

Halliburton and Weatherford are already involved in oil services projects in southern Iraq. Petrofac said last month that it was establishing a presence in Iraq as it moves to increase its massive order book of projects.

World oil companies are moving ahead with development work at oil fields despite a political vacuum in Iraq after a general election in March produced no outright winner and raised concerns about increased violence in the country. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden concluded a visit to Baghdad on Monday, trying to mediate a solution among the various political blocs.

Shell is still keen to capture and sell gas in Iraq. As we reported last week, the Iraqi cabinet last week ratified a $12.5 billion deal with Shell and Mitsubishi to develop a gas-structure project in southern Iraq, paving the way for a final signature of the deal.

Iraqi officials said that the venture could produce up to 2.5 billion cubic feet a day when the project is developed.

Shell also partnered with ExxonMobil won a deal to develop the prized West Qurna Phase 1 oil field in southern Iraq. ExxonMobil holds the majority stake in that field.

http://www.iraq-businessnews.com/?p=5415

Consensus not to accept al-Maliki as prime minister next

The members of the Iraqi National Coalition Ieido they will not repeat the mistakes of the previous, and I look their categorical rejection of the nomination for Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki for his second term as President of the next government, sources familiar with the That the official data may be released soon from the National Coalition and the Alliance of Kurdistan and the Iraqi List to confirm that the name al-Maliki to accept the nomination again for the post of prime minister.

The leader of the Badr Organization and a member of the House of Representatives of the Iraqi National Coalition of Babel for an inch (weekly) that "the desire of the National Coalition is the non-recurrence of past experience, as the government's performance was weak, especially in the areas of security and services."

He added an inch, "said that according to the Constitution, the time period of the first meeting ending on July 14 At this very moment is not clear features of the political map of the next four years."

He inch "believed that the meeting between al-Maliki, Allawi held for the purpose of clinging to the job by the parties," noting that "the American project may bring a thing of the rapprochement between the state of law and Iraq," stressing that "the agreement between the National Coalition and the State law stipulates that the action would be on the blocks Political participants, and the National Coalition does not accept any action outside the framework of the Alliance, with Trehih encounters and negotiations between the political blocs, but not on the basis of the marginalization that the mass of blocks winner."

He inch "stuck on stream Shahid niche holding the round table, which has become the only exit from the deadlock in the political process in the country."

To this end, the mass of the Liberal MP Jawad Hasnawi for (weekly) that "It is known that there is a big mistake committed by the previous government to manage the country's National Coalition Party and was involved in causing errors."

Hasnawi said, "the National Coalition will benefit from those mistakes and do not recur in the next stage," noting that "the National Coalition Academy not to give al-Maliki as prime minister again."

And noted that the "poor services were taken from the Iraqi people is better than Ada complain to the outbreak of a storm swept much of Iraq's provinces to condemn bad services, especially electricity issue was dark and the people Through marches and protests, the best evidence that this people will reject injustice and false promises by the government because it is really the people of the prophets and guardians, and sad to see the blood that fell in the courtyard of the objection and the grounds of rejection of injustice hailed the God rebelling people and the God is alive and no votes and objectionable and claim services, Our appeal to our people to defend PANA coming to the holy sites and competencies and return services to the people of the oppressed."

For his part, said the director of the Sadr's political Mohamed Bahadli "The reservation on the assumption of the current Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki as prime minister next not based on personal reasons, but substantive."

Noting that it "will not affect the cohesion of the National Alliance."

"The Sadrists refused to give al-Maliki as prime minister was not caused by personal reasons, but objective," pointing out that the current "trying to resolve some of his characters that may be a factor of tension in the political system in Iraq."

He Bahadli that "you do not want to take over al-Maliki for a second term is not the desire of the Sadr movement but also the components of the Iraqi National Coalition all", and added that the National Alliance, "we call on the basis of strong national targets will not affect rejected by the National Coalition Maliki took power, the next government."

He denied that "the fundamental basis for an alliance based on the Maliki took power, the next government, "stressing the need to "nominate a prime minister of the National Alliance as the largest bloc in parliament, a number."

According to the National Alliance Bahadli that "resolving the mechanisms for the selection of the prime minister," and expressed hope that "the parties commit themselves to the constitutional ceiling on the set for the formation of the government, which ends on July 14 of this."

In this Regard, informed sources from the corridors of the Iraqi National Alliance leaderships National Coalition sent a letter to leaders in the state of law stressed, formally and unanimously not to accept Maliki's nomination for prime minister and unequivocally. Sources confirmed that the body of the message sent by the leaders of the National Coalition came to the following : "After the fall of all the mechanisms that have been adopted for the election and the nomination of Prime Minister Vencdd the need to submit the names of new candidates to achieve this position." The message was - as several sources indicated the contents of it.

The consensus adoption of a mechanism for the nomination of official positions, including the mechanism of the 80 % to nominate a prime minister in particular.

Just as the letter also included, "Any former candidate for the post of prime minister did not receive acceptance in advance through the mechanism of the 80% will be excluded from the new list of candidates, as stated in the contents of the message to the continuation of the National Alliance in the search for new mechanisms and new candidates."

The sources close to the dialogues between the components of the National Alliance of the Supreme Council law and virtue, and the Sadrists, that the new names nominated to negotiate them again from the list of coalition rule of law is a straight (Haider Abadi, a candidate for the Dawa Party and the purity of the net and Hussein Shahristani, Riad Ghraib, Jaafar al-Sadr as well as Ibrahim Bahr Science as a candidate settlement (Sources confirmed that the signatories of that letter and its contents were, respectively Nassar Rubaie stream free and Hadi al-Amiri for the Badr Organization, Mohammad Hashemi, the Supreme Council and Hassan Shammari Virtue Party and Amer al-Fayez of the gathering of unity and justice in addition to Ahmad Chalabi from the National Conference and Ibrahim al-Jaafari Reform Movement National).

The The leaders of the National Alliance said the non- acceptance of the absolute name of al-Maliki's nomination again for the post of prime minister, noting that official data may be released soon from the National Coalition and the Alliance of Kurdistan and the Iraqi List to confirm their support to move in that direction .

http://www.alesbuyia.com/inp/view.asp?ID=13812