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

U.S. troops : We will not leave a security vacuum in Iraq

The Foreign Ministry of the U.S. today expressed its satisfaction with the progress of the Iraqi army taking charge of security affairs, confirmed that the United States will not allow a security vacuum in the country. And The spokesman said Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Turner told reporters that the United States believes that "the security situation in Iraq is complex but we believe that the Iraqi armed forces increase their capabilities every day and we have made considerable progress , although there is more to be done."

Turner's comments come in response to the announcement of the Iraqi Army Chief of Staff Babacar Zebari said yesterday that Iraqi forces will not be able to completely take over the security file by the year 2020 and it will need U.S. support until then.

It is due to end of U.S. troops from combat operations by the end of this month, and new toner emphasis on the role of U.S. forces will be to provide "advice and training" the Iraqi army.

He stressed that the United States will not allow the existence of a "security vacuum" in Iraq, pointing at the same time to positive developments in building the capacity of the Iraqi army

http://www.babnews.com/inp/view.asp?ID=26160

Oil pumping to Turkey’s Ceyhan resumes

Oil pumping to the Turkish port of Ceyhan resumed on Thursday via the Iraqi-Turkish pipeline after a hiatus caused by an explosion inside the Turkish territories, according to a source win the North Oil Company in Kirkuk province.

“Iraq resumed pumping oil to Ceyhan port at a capacity of 350,000-400,000 barrels per day (bpd) on Thursday (Aug. 12),” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

“The pipeline had come under an act of sabotage in southern Turkey, 100 km from the Iraqi borders, disrupting Iraqi oil supplies to the Turkish port,” he added.

The Kirkuk oilfields’ production is up to 640,000 bpd, of which 300,000-400,000 bpd is exported to Ceyhan while the rest is refined in Baiji.

http://en.aswataliraq.info/?p=135581

Deadlock in Baghdad as rivals stand firm

Inside Iraq's heavily fortified parliament, where the US has clung to hopes of incubating democracy since its 2003 invasion, offices lie empty and secretaries sit idly waiting in case their bosses decide to show up.

Where officials are at their desks, the mood is bleak as the protracted process to form the next government enters its sixth month. There are few expectations that a resolution is near, even as Washington ramps up the pressure on Nouri al-Maliki, the prime minister, and Iyad Allawi, his arch rival, to reach a power-sharing agreement.

Asked who will form the next government, a parliamentary official says "go and ask Paul", referring to the octopus that predicted winners and losers at the football World Cup.

"Ten per cent of parliamentarians [those involved in political negotiations] are active, the other 90 per cent have nothing to do," he adds. "The whole of Iraq is a vacuum, for God's sake. You know when you get a black hole in the universe? It's exactly the same now."

The political standoff has gripped Iraq since inconclusive March 7 elections saw Iraqiya, a secular coalition led by Iyad Allawi, win two more seats than State of Law, a predominantly Shia alliance, headed by Nouri al-Maliki, the prime minister. With no bloc near to a majority in the 325-member parliament, the groups need to form alliances with rivals to lead the next government - something they have not come close to achieving.

Frustrated US officials have intensified efforts to find a solution as the clock ticks down on an August 31 deadline for Washington to declare the end of combat missions in Iraq and reduce its troop numbers in the fragile country to 50,000.

The pressure is being directed primarily at Mr Maliki and Mr Allawi, with US officials believing that an alliance between their two movements is the most feasible scenario, particularly as an earlier agreement between State of Law and other Shia Islamist groups has fallen apart.

But there is deep mistrust between Mr Allawi and Mr Maliki, and both insist they have the right to be prime minister.

In a bid to break the deadlock, the US is pinning its hopes on an initiative that would devolve prime ministerial powers through the establishment of a new political council for national strategy. The inference is that Mr Maliki could then remain as prime minister with watered-down powers, while Mr Allawi heads what, in theory, would be an influential body.

"This is a way to address the criticisms that have been made of Maliki about his style of government, if you believe Iraqiya, that he was behaving extra-constitutionally, and this is a way to dilute some of his powers if he serves a second term," says a senior US official.

The details of the powers and composition of the council are still being discussed, but it would include senior ministers, such as defence and interior, as well as the president and prime minister, and would have an executive role.

There are, however, disagreements as to whether the council would be able to issue directives, which Iraqiya wants, whether it would only issue guidelines or whether there would be a compromise between the two.

Since coming to power in 2006, Mr Maliki has been accused by critics of being increasingly authoritarian and of concentrating state powers, particularly control of security forces, around his office.

"The problem we are experiencing right now is some who hold power are not willing to let go, and this is the feeling now with Maliki," says Osama Nujaifi, a senior member of Iraqiya who is leading its negotiations with State of Law. "We have got to make sure whoever is prime minister will never turn into a dictator."

He says negotiations are ongoing, but insists Iraqiya would not accept Mr Maliki as prime minister.

But there is a sense that the US has concluded that Mr Maliki is the standout Shia candidate, even though his insistence on retaining office has been a major stumbling block to the formation of a government.

Mr Allawi is also a Shia, but his movement is dominated by Sunni Arabs, causing diplomats to question whether he would be accepted by Shia Islamist groups. "It [the council proposal] is the only game in town but it will need a huge amount of effort from everybody," says another foreign diplomat.

The challenge is getting Mr Maliki and Mr Allawi to agree on an arrangement that suits both parties. Creating a council would also require legislation, which could be difficult to pass.

The senior US official, however, says the only clear alternative would be that "this thing just continues to drag on".

That would "risk elevating the frustrations, even anger, in some areas and misbehaviour on the part of militias or al-Qaeda," the official says. "For the time being, we don't see it happening, but that's not to say that it can't happen."

Back in the lifeless parliament, however, the official has little faith in any quick resolution, noting that the assembly has not sat to discuss serious government business since January.

"The major problem is the lack of trust between the politicians, so you can promise that 'you will get this and I will get that, but I don't believe you'."

http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sid20...20stand%20firm

Gulf of Mexico environmental disaster draws attention to the Iraqi oil fields land cheap production

Oil experts expect Iraq to become the new energy giant in the world due to the proliferation of all fields on the mainland, making it a cheap production.

Expert Oil Taif Sami said that Gulf companies entered the field of competition for investment in Iraq, including the Ras Al Khaimah and UAE energy company Saudi Arabia, stressing at the same time on a quest to find the global markets to buy to accommodate the proposed increase in the production of Iraqi oil.

For his part, Abdul Khaliq oil expert Menem to recent studies expect Iraq to be the most important spots in the investment world, because the fields of heavy production environments all located in the flat ground, especially after the debacle of the Gulf of Mexico, which revealed the seriousness of investing oil fields in deep water

http://radionawa.com/ar/NewsDetailN....556&LinkID=155

Presidency of the Council of Ministers
The office of Dr. Rafie al-Issawi
Deputy Prime Minister,

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M / Press Release
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Dr. Rafie al-Issawi
Meet with Mr. John Jenkins, British ambassador to Iraq
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HE Dr. Rafie al-Issawi Deputy Prime Minister in his office today, Mr. (John Jenkins ) British Ambassador to Iraq.

During the meeting, they discussed cooperation frameworks between Baghdad and London and ways to develop and expand to serve the common interest of both countries.



And discussed during the meeting The course of the political situation in Iraq, and found a file cabinet and the possibility of overcoming obstacles to it.

Issawi, and pointed out that Iraq is ready for dialogue with political parties in order to reach a common formula to form a government based on genuine national partnership , stressing the continuing Efforts to bridge the gap between the views of all political parties , with respect for the will of Iraqi voters in choosing his new government.

British Ambassador in turn, confirmed his country's support for the democratic process in Iraq in the hope that the parliamentary blocs to reach a solution satisfactory to all parties and that the Iraqi people is the government dealing with its requirements and check wanted.

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Public Information Office Sunday, 15/08/2010

http://nahrain.com/d/news/10/08/100815b.htm

Leading the Rule of Law : Maliki is now the most likely candidate to win the prime minister post

He said the leadership of the coalition of the rule of law Abdul Hadi al-Hassani, said Maliki is now the most likely candidate to win the prime minister post after a number of positive attitudes expressed by the political forces recently.

He pointed out that among these parties that have expressed positive attitudes towards Maliki's Kurdish coalition and some of the parties in the coalition and even the national parties inside Iraq as well as the Accordance Front.

And his dialogues with the rule of law and the rest of the Iraqi political forces in the Operationalization of the National Security Council and given executive powers Hassani pointed out that the rule of law is Touch powers the Prime Minister a red line that can not be bypassed for the constitutional issues.

He pointed out that talk of withdrawing some of the powers of the prime minister needs to be legislative acts.

http://www.radiodijla.com/cgi-bin/ne...-15%2006:04:56

Baghdadi official : the investment law and the lack of land behind the non- entry of investors

Technical Deputy of the Governor of Baghdad, a full -Saadi said the problem that impede the entry of investors and investment companies to the capital is the lack of available land for investment in addition to the investment law is not effective. Saadi attributed not to enter the investment companies of foreign and Arab capital for the purpose of investment to several constraints and problems during this time the most important Admugod provides custom plots vacant for investment in the capital.

He noted that some items of the investment law is effective and represents an obstacle to entry, investment and most important of these items of land titling to the investor under Admugod of land for investment at all. And MP Technical lack of cooperation by the Iraqi ministries with the Governorate of Baghdad and Investment Commission to maintain in terms of land demarcation and allocation of investment and a lack of some ministries to map investment clear in order to provide a magnet for foreign investors, calling on ministries to provide its territory vacancies in Baghdad to the Investment Commission of Baghdad, by sending lists of And the statements of these lands in order to encourage foreign investors to invest in the capital, adding that the province of Baghdad granted dozens of licenses to investment firms in a number of projects the most important sectors of housing, health, agriculture and recreation.

http://www.uragency.net/index.php?aa=news&id22=10448

Iraq raises the sale price of oil to the United States and reduce it to Europe

Oil Marketing Organisation (Somo) Sunday that Iraq raised the official selling price of Basrah Light crude to buyers in the United States for the month of September, ten cents less than 1.30 for the Argus index, high sulfur crudes.

Iraq has kept the selling price of Kirkuk crude to U.S. refiners in September, unchanged from August, when more than 25 cents on the index Argus.

And determine the selling price of Basrah to European customers at less than 2.95 dollars for the average spot price of North Sea crudes.

http://radionawa.com/ar/NewsDetailN....562&LinkID=155

National Coalition : We have reached an agreement with Iraq, during which we get from the prime minister and Iraq denies the validity of that

Said Liberal leader in a cluster of Karbala Jawad Hasnawi Saturday that negotiations with the Iraqi List, led to the scenario discussed between the parties is under the application, explaining that this scenario provides that the Prime Minister would be the National Coalition.

He noted that the list Hasnawi Iraqi offer flexibility in this aspect is sufficient flexibility, noting that discussions are continuing with Iraq that demonstrated flexibility and adherence to differentiate the intransigence of the existing coalition of state law, in the recipe. For his part, denied the Iraqi spokesman for the Coalition Haider Mulla, denied that his coalition had expressed willingness to cede the premiership to the National Coalition, have returned to a position worthy of the Iraqi public before it is constitutional. Mulla said that the presidency of the next government is a popular benefit of a coalition of Iraq before the constitutional entitlement, noting that anyone in Iraq will not give the position to anyone.

Played down the importance of the Mullah of the leaks that come from this party or that political figure, pointing out that the intended pressure on the Iraqi coalition to abandon its constitutional right, according to his opinion ....

http://www.al-hodaonline.com/radio/index.php?news=3974

Hundreds of schools built and repaired in 6 months in Iraq

The Ministry of Education has built 125 schools in the past six months, an official said.

Sahar Abdulamir, the ministry’s information officer, said 87 schools have been refurbished and repaired in the same period.

“We have also added new annexes to 52 more schools,” she added.

Abdulamir said the ministry also “executed 96 educational projects” throughout the country.

She gave no details about the nature of these projects, but the country faces shortages in school buildings.

The construction of schools falls short of the growth in student population in Iraq.

Many schools are overcrowded offering teaching over three different shifts a day.

http://www.azzaman.com/english/index...08-15\kurd.htm