Thread: Archive News - Iraqi Dinar Think Tank - 06/10/2010 - 24/01/2011

Maliki's adviser: investment opportunities in Iraq began to attract the Arab States and the World

The media advisor to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Thursday that the investment opportunities in Iraq, began to attract the Arab States and the world, forcing officials to visit Iraq.

Ali al-Moussawi, told the Kurdish news agency (Rn) that "recently experienced a significant increase in visits to a number of State officials to Iraq, which reveals the orientation of these countries, especially Arab ones, that Iraq has become a future political and economic."

Al-Moussawi said that "Iraq is entering a renaissance of major development, through increased oil revenues and contracts that have been implemented with large companies, which will bring great economic stability in the country."

He said, "it stimulated states that aspire to have a work of economic and investment activity to come to Iraq," noting that "the opportunities available in the country, are promising for these countries, especially those she visited him recently."

He pointed out that "political stability experienced by Iraq, argues that the political process and reached an advanced stage, where countries have become understands the path that runs it."

Iraq has seen after the formation of the new government, the end of last year, a move international diplomat representing the visit of the foreign ministers of Egypt, Syria, Iran and Turkey and the Secretary General of the League of Arab States and the prime ministers of Jordan, Syria and Kuwait.

http://www.aknews.com/ar/aknews/2/212046/

Communications Commission: Grant license-fourth of the mobile phone is not the prerogative of the Council of Ministers

The President of the Trustees of Communications and Media Authority said Thursday that the granting of the license-fourth of the mobile phone to the Ministry of Communications is not the validity of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, and is illegal because it comes out the ministry of fair competition with mobile phone companies.

Safa al-Din and said spring for a Kurdish news agency (Rn) that "granting a license to set up a fourth mobile network of the Ministry of Communications is not the prerogative of the presidency of the Council of Ministers that the Communications and Media Authority the only body authorized to grant licenses for mobile phone in the country."

He said the spring that "granting a license for a fourth of the Ministry of Communications without entering into fair competition with the three companies operating in the area of mobile services is illegal and varies with the principles of the provisions of the Constitution and the Law Commission in 102 No. 65 of 2004."

He continued that "the ministry if they want a law license-fourth have to meet the legal requirements and related technical at the license, which is supposed to be at least the prices for the three companies operating in the country," pointing out that "the body has an objection on the mechanism of granting the license-fourth, which is supposed to be taken opinion of the Authority prior to approval by the government on this law. "

On May 23 the Iraqi government announced that the Council of Ministers approved the recommendations of the committee formed under the Council of Ministers Resolution No. (243) for the year 2009 on the draft license for the fourth mobile phone.

The telecommunications ministry said Iraqi and there are real problems with the Communications and Media Authority on the approval of the granting of frequencies for the fourth license for the operation of the mobile phone.

The Communications and Media Commission of Iraq was established in June 2004, an independent body not associated with any governmental entity.

And raised between the Ministry of Communications and the occasional wide differences between them because of their legal effects.

http://www.aknews.com/ar/aknews/2/212065/

Abdul-Mahdi: Iraq needs to address to file the economy, investment and public services

Vice President Adel Abdul-Mahdi said that the country needs to address the file economy, investment and public services the existence of good progress in the political and security situation.

"Abdel Mahdi during a meeting with U.S. congressional delegation that the political and security situation in the country is moving towards better, especially after the political forces agreement to form a government of national partnership.

During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations and political and security situation in Iraq and the strengthening of bilateral cooperation between the two countries in various fields. .

The delegation congratulated the U.S. Congress to form a new Iraqi government, stressing the importance of enhancing cooperation relations between Baghdad and Washington to serve the national interests of both countries.

And Alakriki delegation includes Sen. Carl Levin and Sen. Jack Reed and Sen. John Tesir also accompanied by U.S. ambassador in Baghdad James Jeffrey and the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, Gen. Lloyd Austin.

http://www.ipairaq.com/index.php?nam...onomy&id=34755

Wild card in Iraq's political life

The return to Iraq of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada Sadr has both strengthened the Shiite-Kurdish coalition established by Prime Minister Nouri Maliki and put it on notice.
Sadr's presence in Iraq makes the coalition a fait accompli. As long as he was outside the country, it appeared to be a slender construct cobbled together by Iran under pressure of the December 25 deadline. But Sadr made it quite clear in his first address to his followers that to ensure his support, the government would have to deliver electricity, water, jobs and security to Iraqis and insist that the last US soldier must leave Iraq by the end of the year.

Maliki - who has ignored pleas from the US to carry out various reforms - is likely to listen to Sadr.He showed he meant business by withdrawing his ministers from Maliki's first Cabinet, in 2007, because the premier would not demand from the US a timeline for troop withdrawal. Sadr could very well stage another pullout if Maliki tries to extend the mandate of US forces.

Sadr's faction - with 40 seats in the 325-member national assembly - holds eight of 43 posts in the new government, but his followers are not satisfied with the jobs allocated by Maliki.They were given labour, water resources, tourism and antiquities, housing, construction, and public works and planning, as well as the position of minister without portfolio. The Sadrists were also granted senior posts in southern provinces, where the movement remains strong. As kingmakers, they did expect a senior Cabinet post, such as defence, interior, security or finance.

Maliki has retained the first three, while finance has gone to Iraqiya, the party of Maliki's chief rival Iyad Allawi.Iraqiya has, in fact, been treated as a key partner by being given finance, the speakership of parliament and other key positions.

Sadr, apparently, does not expect to gain any of the security ministries. On the vexing issue of allocation of Cabinet seats, the Sadrists have no one to blame but themselves.

First, few Iraqis outside the Sadrist movement would like to see one of its number in any of the security ministries. The undisciplined Sadrist Mehdi Army militia was responsible for some of the most vicious bloodletting, as well as widespread kidnapping and sectarian cleansing during the dark days of 2006-07, when more than 4,000 Iraqis were being slaughtered every month. While the Mehdi Army did battle with US forces in both 2004 and 2007, the Sadrists' struggle against the occupation did not erase what their men did in the wake of the destruction by Al Qaeda of a Shiite shrine in Samarra in February 2006.

Second, Sadrist ministers in Maliki's previous government did not successfully carry out their work.They were just as corrupt and inept as ministers from other parties, although the Sadrists were meant to exemplify a revolutionary populist movement seeking to uplift the poorest of the poor.Finally, the Sadrists have alienated many Sunnis, secularists and moderate Shiites by trying to impose strict social codes on areas under their control and elsewhere.

Whatever the Sadrists do or don't do, Maliki is stuck with them for the present and, perhaps, for the life of his government. Sadr, a firebrand and wild card in his original incarnation, has, according to aides and observers, mellowed during his four years in Iran where he is said to have enhanced his clerical credentials by studying with leading Shiite theologians, including some close to Supreme Guide Ali Khamenei.

The Iranians clearly persuaded him against his will to back Maliki, whom he holds responsible for the 2008 offensive against the Mehdi Army that drove it off the streets and led to the arrest of hundreds of its fighters.

As the price of his support, Sadr secured the release of many of his men from prison and the lifting of an arrest warrant for him, for the April 2003 murder by his followers of a rival Shiite cleric when he returned to Najaf from London. However, Sadr is almost certain, ultimately, to go his own way. This means he remains a wild card if not a firebrand.

While he may have made a tactical decision to support Maliki, Iran's candidate for premier, Sadr does not depend on Tehran for political clout. Indeed, before taking refuge there in 2007, he called for Iran to stay out of Iraq's political affairs. Sadr has a mass constituency among the poor who have not benefitted from the US occupation or Maliki's first term in office. The Sadrists did well in the 2009 local elections, as well as in the 2010 parliamentary poll.


Sadr belongs to the elite of the Iraqi Shiite hierarchy. He is the son of Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Sadiq Al Sadr, a leading Shiite opponent of secular Baath party rule who led a revolt against the government in the Sadr City neighbourhood following the 1991 US war on Iraq. Muhammad Sadr was a cousin of Muhammad Baqir Al Sadr, a religious philosopher and founder of the Shiite religious Dawa party, created in 1958 as a counterweight to the secular nationalist and communist parties which were attracting mass Shiite membership.

Born in 1973, Muqtada Sadr was raised in Najaf under Baathist rule. Unlike Maliki and the other Shiite leaders who took charge of the country, he did not back the US invasion and occupation of Iraq or return to Baghdad "on the backs of US tanks".

http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZA...litical%20life

Oil: a plan for the creation of pipeline export

The Ministry of oil and developed a plan to promote the infrastructure of the oil industry, including parallels the increase in oil production.

According to press sources for the National Media Center, the Ministry of Oil has developed a plan to create a network of new pipelines to transport crude oil, and replacement of dilapidated ones, specifically pipeline oil exports, and the establishment of lines of other export the equivalent of the increase in oil production after the conclusion of contracts for oil licensing rounds.

The source added: that the ministry will contract with international companies to establish a system for the transfer of oil from south to north through the center-aligned, adding that the ministry took into account projected increases for crude oil in the coming years, as well as the preparation of the plan to absorb the increase through contracts licensing rounds.

At the level of relevant port received a stronghold on Wednesday tractors loaded with equipment for the oil company Shell of America.

According to a statement to the General Company for Ports received a copy of the long economic and arriving at the port marine tug (Sekor Mary's) loaded with equipment belonging to oil company Shell's oil field operating in the crazy east of Basra.

http://translate.googleusercontent.c...8KMWGQbRjXENOw

Shell to receive first shipment in Iraqi port

The Media director of the Iraqi ports announced on Wednesday that Maaqel port in Basra province has established all the facilities required to receive the first shipment from oil equipment companies of Shell operating Company in Aqel Majnoon oil field, north of the province.

Anmar al-Safi told AKnews that Iraq's Transport Ministry has approved the provision of facilities to the oil companies that have been applied today on the arriving shipments to ports in Basra so the transporting ship of these equipment didn't have to wait in Shatt al-Arab, but as other commercial ships, it docked directly on Maaqel pavement, "noting that" the company declares its readiness to help the oil companies in transferring equipments through the Iraqi ports.

It is noteworthy that the ministries of oil and transportation held a joint conference in the twelfth of this month, as they have taken several decisions which require the cooperation of both ministries to increase the Iraqi oil production during the next phase.

Iraq has five ports in Basra province, 550 km south of Baghdad, which are Umm Qasr, port which is one of the most important ports as well as Abu Flus , Khor al-Zubair, Faw, Khor Abdullah and al-Amaya oil ports.

http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZA...20Iraqi%20port

Parliament recesses for two weeks for Husseini processions

A lawmaker said due to the commemoration of the fortieth day of Ashura, parliament has canceled sessions for two weeks while another lawmaker said the delay will last only 12 days.

Ashura marks the martyrdom date of Imam Hussein, revered by Shias across the world. The Shia leader was beheaded in the battle of Karbala against Umayyad caliphate in 680 in Iraq.

Ala Talabani told AKnews Tuesday since the Shia lawmakers are engaged in commemoration ceremonials for the day, the sessions will be canceled for two weeks.

Mohammed Abubakir, the media secretary for parliament said the suspension is from Jan.18-30, i.e. 12 days. He believed the recess will not be of any negative consequences for impeding the discussions in parliament because parliament assembled three times before the suspension whereas two sessions were stipulated under the internal policy of parliament.

http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZA...%20processions

Iraq’s security contractors head to Dubai for plastic surgery

Increasing numbers of ageing security contractors based in Iraq are making the short trip to Dubai to undergo plastic surgery, a clinic in the emirate has said. The London Centre for Aesthetic Surgery (LCAS), in Dubai Healthcare City, has seen a flow of former American and British soldiers troop through the clinic in recent months.

“These guys used to be professional soldiers, and as such their bodies reflected the intense exercise that comes with that,” Edwina Viel, who runs the LCAS clinic alongside husband Dr Maurizio Viel, told Arabian Business.

“Now, in some cases, they have moved into management and are stuck behind a desk, while at the same time being surrounded by younger, fitter men – and it’s not easy for them.”

The practice has also seen a general increase in the number of men requesting treatment, although the ratio of men is apparently not as high as it is in the UK. Around 20 percent of LCAS’s current clients are male, and Viel pointed out that the clinic was seeing more clients affected by what she referred to as ‘the CEO body’.

“Guys get to 40 or 50, they have bigger incomes, and they are eating more and richer food,” she said. “In no time at all, the belly pops out. What many people fail to understand is that men can get really depressed about this.”

Viel said that local plastic surgery practitioners had generally been adversely affected by the downturn, although a new wave of professionals in Dubai had kept business on an even keel.

“It’s far to say a lot of the ‘easy’ money for plastic surgeons has now gone, but there are still people with money coming in,” Viel added.

“Of course Dubai has had some issues from an economic perspective, but what part of the world hasn’t? What we’re seeing is more ‘real’ money from new bankers and new lawyers in the region, as opposed to what I would call ‘hot’ money, which was the case previously.”

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/iraq-...ry-374833.html

«Central» Iraqi calls for the role of banks, to do

Called on the Iraqi Central Bank Consultant appearance of Mohammed Saleh to provide more support to the Association of Iraqi private banks, in order to provide the requirements of having to play a role in the banking market do in Iraq. He said in a statement to «life», the urgent need to turn the Association of Iraqi private banks with the new phase that passes by the Iraqi economy, the banking sector, which constitutes the basic funding base.

He noted that the benefit to the chairmen and members of the Iraqi private banks of 35 banks that play a role at the head of the regulatory body of the Association, in the implementation of policies that affect the banking sector. He noted that the «Central» make the necessary arrangements to help the Association to the transition to a banking institution actors, reinforced by new rules and regulations and legislation that take into account the importance of its role in enhancing the banking market with advice and training opportunities, and concern to address gaps facing the sector today.

He pointed out that everyone is looking forward to be of the association more space to express an opinion and decision in the banking sector, and have a representative background in the areas of negotiating the future, especially that the proposed increases to the capital of private banks to 250 billion Iraqi Dinars for each bank by the end of next year , imposed on the Association and new duties that could play a role in which more Tothira in the banking arena of Iraq, and benefit from the experience of «Union of Arab Banks» in Lebanon in the policy-making is required.

http://translate.googleusercontent.c...eXrk0p_KLHf1Zw

Ministry of Oil and develop a plan for the establishment of export pipeline

Announced that the Iraqi Oil Ministry plan to promote the infrastructure of the oil industry, including parallels the increase in oil production.

The sources informed that the oil and developed a plan to create a network of new pipelines to transport crude oil and to replace dilapidated ones, and specifically oil export pipeline, and the establishment of other export lines, including parallels the increase in oil production after the conclusion of contracts for oil licensing rounds.

The source added that the ministry will contract with companies to create a global system of oil transport from south to north, adding that the ministry took into account projected increases the export of crude oil during the coming years

http://radionawa.com/ar/NewsDetailN....163&LinkID=155