Archive Latest News - Think Tank - 01/01/08 - 14/04/08

Iraq oil exports hit three-month high

Iraq's monthly oil exports hit a three-year high of 58.9 million barrels in November, sold at an average price of $83.87 per barrel, the Oil Ministry said on Sunday.

Oil Ministry spokesman Asim Jihad said the exports had raised a total of $4.94 billion in the month, including about 1.6 million barrels per day (bpd) from Basra in the south, and more than 300,000 bpd exported from Kirkuk in the north.

He said his ministry has set a target to raise crude exports to two million bpd at the beginning of 2008 by increasing exports from the northern route.

"The Oil Ministry has set a plan, encouraged by the improvement of security in the north, to increase the export rate from Kirkuk's terminal to reach up to 500,000 bpd at the beginning of 2008," he said.

Iraq oil exports hit three-month high | Iraq Updates

Hike in demand for the dollar, exchange rate down

Demand for the dollar significantly increased in the Iraqi Central Bank's auction on Monday, registering at $119.535 million compared to $55.960 million on Sunday.

In its daily statement, the bank said it had covered all bids, including $22.635 million in cash and $96.900 in foreign transfers, at an exchange rate of 1,215 dinars per dollar, one tick lower than yesterday.

The 15 banks that participated in Monday's session offered to sell $1.200 million, which the bank bought at an exchange rate of 1,213 dinars per dollar.

In statements to the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI), Ali al-Yasseri, a trader, attributed the dramatic increase in the demand for the dollar to the market's "thirst for dollars" and the previous fluctuation in the exchange rate.

"Dealings are most likely to remain high during the coming few weeks if the dinar maintains a stable exchange rate in local markets and central bank's auctions," al-Yasseri noted.

The Iraqi Central Bank runs a daily auction from Sunday to Thursday.

Aswat Aliraq

Plans to implement loans project throughout Iraq in 2008

Iraqi Labor and Social Affairs Minister Mahmoud el-Sheikh Radi said on Wednesday that his ministry intends to implement the small and medium loans project throughout Iraq.

"The project, being implemented now in Baghdad, succeeded in providing 6,157 loans, securing 18,000 jobs in various domains," Radi told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).

"Tries now underway to transfer Baghdad's experiment to other provinces," he noted.

He expressed hope that the ministry could provide more loans in the new year to develop the special projects, which provide 125 jobs.

"Loans will be allocated to on universities' graduates, unemployed people and also to other citizens to support the free enterprise system," Radi said.

Aswat Aliraq

Youth center set up in Karbala

A multi-purpose youth center was established in western Karbala city at a cost of 900 million Iraqi dinars, the head of the city's Youth and Sports Department said on Tuesday.

"A local company set up the project of the Free Youth Center in Karbala's western district of al-Hur at a cost of 900 million Iraqi dinars (nearly 800,000 U.S. dollars)," the department's head, Waleed Turki, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).

Covering an area of 4 donums (1 donum= 1388 square meters), the center includes a multi-purpose hall for basketball, volleyball and table tennis, in addition to a theatre, Turki explained.

Work on the project lasted over six months, he added.

Karbala, a mixed city of Kurds, Turkmen, Christians and Arabs, lies 130 km south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.


Aswat Aliraq

Salah al-Din Awakening Council calls on Bin Laden to stop “targeting Iraqis”

The Sunni Salah al-Din Awakening council on Sunday called al-Qaeda leader Osma Bin Laden to order his followers to stop targeting and killing Iraqis instead of warning against joining the tribal organizations.

“Osama Bin Laden should order al-Qaeda members to stop targeting and killing Iraqi and apologize to the Iraqis for all the horrific crimes committed by the organization members," Salah al-Din awakening council said in a statement issued on Sunday and received by the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).

The announcement came in a reply to audiotape released Saturday purported to be by Osama bin Laden, in which the leader of al-Qaeda warned Iraqi Sunni Muslims against joining awakening council.

The statement pointed out “the crimes committed against Iraqis by those calling him Sheikh Osama was the main motive to establish the awakening councils and was not seeking for money, power or treason for others’ interests”.

The government-backed- Awakening councils were established in Anbar province along with Diala, Ninewa and Salah al-Din provinces in attempt to fight armed groups and al-Qaeda organization. The council is led by a tribal chief or a dignitary.

Branding actions committed by Al-Qaeda operatives as “deplorable” and breaching Islam, The announcement pointed out the actions “got non-Muslims to look Islam as a religion seeking bloodshed and not promoting right, justice and dialogue”.

The Washington Post published the details of an audiotape purported to be al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, which warned Iraq’s Sunnis against joining the tribal awakening or participating in Iraqi unity government.
White House spokesman Tony Fratto said bin Laden's tape shows that al-Qaida's aim is to block democracy and freedom for all Iraqis.

Several hours before the tape was issued, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, said al-Qaida was becoming increasingly fearful of losing the support of Sunni Arabs and had begun targeting the leaders of the Awakening Councils.

The Sunni Salah al-Din Awakening council on Sunday called al-Qaeda leader Osma Bin Laden to order his followers to stop targeting and killing Iraqis instead of warning against joining the tribal organizations.

“Osama Bin Laden should order al-Qaeda members to stop targeting and killing Iraqi and apologize to the Iraqis for all the horrific crimes committed by the organization members," Salah al-Din awakening council said in a statement issued on Sunday and received by the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).

The announcement came in a reply to audiotape released Saturday purported to be by Osama bin Laden, in which the leader of al-Qaeda warned Iraqi Sunni Muslims against joining awakening council.

The statement pointed out “the crimes committed against Iraqis by those calling him Sheikh Osama was the main motive to establish the awakening councils and was not seeking for money, power or treason for others’ interests”.

The government-backed- Awakening councils were established in Anbar province along with Diala, Ninewa and Salah al-Din provinces in attempt to fight armed groups and al-Qaeda organization. The council is led by a tribal chief or a dignitary.

Branding actions committed by Al-Qaeda operatives as “deplorable” and breaching Islam, The announcement pointed out the actions “got non-Muslims to look Islam as a religion seeking bloodshed and not promoting right, justice and dialogue”.

The Washington Post published the details of an audiotape purported to be al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, which warned Iraq’s Sunnis against joining the tribal awakening or participating in Iraqi unity government.
White House spokesman Tony Fratto said bin Laden's tape shows that al-Qaida's aim is to block democracy and freedom for all Iraqis.

Several hours before the tape was issued, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, said al-Qaida was becoming increasingly fearful of losing the support of Sunni Arabs and had begun targeting the leaders of the Awakening Councils.

KNA Approves Peshmerga Service and Retirement Law

Kurdistan National Assembly held yesterday a session dedicated to discuss Kurdistan Peshmerga Forces Service and Retirement Law which most of its articles were approved after a reading by the Legal Committee and also discussed by the KNA members.

It’s worth mentioning that Kurdistan Peshmerga Forces Service and Retirement Law consists of (51) articles and covers all Peshmerga Forces Members who participated in Kurdistani Liberation Movement since December11th, 1961 till now and those who will join Peshmerga Forces from now on .

PUKmedia :: English - KNA Approves Peshmerga Service and Retirement Law

Security Council: KRG Will Play Crucial Role in Iraq’s Future

Dindar Zebari, KRG Coordinator of UN affairs, paid a visit to New York City, met with Senior Officials of all Five Permanent Members in the Security Council.

During his visit, Dindar Zebari praised the Visions of UN Agencies Projects which will be implemented on regional bases during the next three years in Kurdistan Region.

Through all of his meetings with the officials of the UN’s Five Permanent Members which includes (UK, Russia, China, France and US) Delegations, Dindar Zebari emphasized that according to Iraqi Constitution KRG doesn’t have the authority to use Iraq lands, including Kurdistan Region lands, as a base to threaten the neighbor states, he also asserted that the existing problems must be solved through political and diplomatic means.

The officials of the Five Permanent Members of Security Council stressed that KRG will play a crucial and fruitful role in Iraq’s future. The International Community is looking forward to consolidate its relations with the Federal Iraq and its provinces, Kurdistan Region will remain the most developed area in Iraq.

PUKmedia :: English - Security Council: KRG Will Play Crucial Role in Iraq’s Future

Al-Dabbagh: Fighting Corruption is Our Priority In 2008

During an interview with Radio Sawa, Ali al-Dabbagh, Iraqi Government Spokesperson said that 2007 was a big challenge on both political and security aspects.

Services improvement, fighting Corruption and Political Reform are in the Iraqi Government’s Priority in 2008. Al-Dabbagh asserted Iraqi Government Spokesperson also said that Nuri al-Maliki, Iraqi PM is in London for ordinary Physical checkup and he will return soon to Baghdad to resume his duties.

PUKmedia :: English - Al-Dabbagh: Fighting Corruption is Our Priority In 2008

Khalid Shwani: Iraqi Council of Representatives faces big challenges in 2008

The member in legal committee of the Iraqi Council of Representatives, Khalid Shwani, stated that the council is due to discuss numerous critical issues including gas and oil laws, questioning and justice, and provincial councils’ laws in 2008.

“The discussions of these issues are challenges for the council.” He added. “Gas and oil laws are priorities for Kurdistan alliance bloc.”

On the other side, the head of gas and oil committee of the Iraqi Council of Representatives asserting significance of issuing gas and oil laws in 2008, referring to the daily booming of oil product in Iraq. According to the Iraqi official statistic, the oil product in Iraq reaches 2 million and 500 thousand barrels per day.

PUKmedia :: English - Khalid Shwani: Iraqi Council of Representatives faces big challenges in 2008

KRG Premier chaired Economic Committee Meeting

Today the KRG Economic Committee held a meeting chaired by KRG premier, Nechirvan Barzani, in attendance of his deputy, Omer Fatah.

During the meeting, the development and activating of banking system in Kurdistan region, in addition to further introducing people with banking system were discussed. Several other economic and investment issues in Kurdistan region were focused on.

PUKmedia :: English - KRG Premier chaired Economic Committee Meeting