Thread: Iraq/Dinar News. before Febuary 2nd 2006

If Iraq has had observer status for years now do you think they will actually become members of the WTO now? And if they don't now, when will they have the next opportunity to become a member? Can they do this at any time or are there certain terms, conditions and dates involved in joining the WTO?

Voices of Iraq: Iraq-WTO كتب: nakr2004 في يوم الجمعة, 02 فبراير, 2007 - 10:40 AM BT

Iraq-WTO
Conference discusses Iraq's joining of WTO
By Hadi al-Hadi
Amman, Feb 2, (VOI) – A conference in the Jordanian capital Amman discussed on Thursday Iraq's joining of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Held by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in tandem with the Iraqi-U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Industry, under the aegis of Microsoft, the 1st preparatory conference on Iraq's accession to WTO focused on the issue of investment in Iraq, which was approved by the Iraqi parliament."The meeting reviewed new investment opportunities and Iraq's accession to the WTO as member, not as an observer as is the case now," Greg Howell, Global Development Alliance Advisor USAID/Iraq, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
Howell said "by the end of February Iraq will attend its first session with the WTO," noting he had met several times with Iraqi officials and ministers concerned, which is part of the USAID's activities."
"We are now working with Iraqi banks to practice up-to-date banking as well as laying guarantees for loans," said the USAID official.
He pointed out that the USAID's objectives through working with the Iraqi government envisage increasing the number of investment companies, creating jobs for unemployed Iraqis, laying the foundations for an investment climate that would benefit the Iraqi government and making it easy for international companies to come to Iraq.
The meeting was attended by representatives from the Iraqi ministries of trade and foreign affairs as well as Iraqi companies and foreign investors.

Iraq-WTO :: Aswat al Iraq :: Aswat al Iraq

Originally Posted by smcquiller1

If Iraq has had observer status for years now do you think they will actually become members of the WTO now? And if they don't now, when will they have the next opportunity to become a member? Can they do this at any time or are there certain terms, conditions and dates involved in joining the WTO?

They have a Representative seat at every OPEC summit.... it will take awhile before they even see the need to join let alone submit for admission.... too unstable currently...

Oil can still be used as a weapon in exchange.... WTO and the rest of the International Community won't desire experiencing that Middle East threat which took place some time back.... to happen again.... iran would...at any given opportunity....


WTO for Iraq??? lets hope they first reconcile among themselves to prove worthy of actual longlasting trading with the rest of the world, apart from oil and no religious mandates tied to their decisions.... scary if that is allowed or considered!



YB. -

Iraq To Hold Draft Oil Law Public Seminar Feb 10-Official

By Hassan Hafidh, Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

Iraq is planning to hold a public seminar on the country's controversial draft hydrocarbons law Feb. 10, a senior Iraqi oil official said Friday.

He said that the seminar would be attended by Deputy Prime Minister and head of Iraq's Energy Council Barhem Saleh, Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani, the Prime Minister's oil and gas adviser Thamer al-Ghadhban, various Iraqi officials and heads of parliamentary committees.

"The seminar will brief Iraqi officials and lawmakers on the draft law," the official, who is taking part in drafting the law, told Dow Jones Newswires.

It isn't known, however, whether Iraqi officials at the seminar will announce the completion of the long-awaited oil law.

The official said that there were still "minor issues" that needed to be settled before submitting the draft law to the Iraqi government for review. Parliament has to give final approval.

Outstanding issues, according to Iraqi officials drafting the law, include the proposal of a new federal petroleum council, headed by the Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki or his deputy and the ministers of oil, planning and finance, which would have the final say on contracts signed with oil companies.

This is causing prolonged ructions with the Kurdistan Regional Government, which runs northern Iraq and wants control of oil resources in its territory and a share of revenue.

The hydrocarbon law is seen as a crucial basis for international oil companies to begin discussions on investing in the country's under-exploited and run-down oil sector, and to generate much-needed reconstruction revenues.

According to a recent copy of the draft law, seen by Dow Jones Newswires, a new national oil company, or INOC, would control most of the country's most prized oilfields. The INOC would invite international oil companies to carry out investment in these fields to boost output and exports.

-By Hassan Hafidh, contributing to Dow Jones Newswires; + 962 777 612 111; [email protected]


(END) Dow Jones Newswires
02-02-070603ET
Copyright (c) 2007 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

Nasdaq 100 Flash Quotes

From Susie's post:"by the end of February Iraq will attend its first session with the WTO"

Do observers attend sessions? Anyone?

Originally Posted by webinvestor

The article is good news to me however Iraq has had "observer" status for a couple years now.

US Dept of State - Iraq Granted Observer Status at the World Trade Organization

Posted by: nakr2004 on Friday, February 02, 2007 - 10:40 AM

Iraq-WTO
Conference discusses Iraq's joining of WTO
By Hadi al-Hadi
Amman, Feb 2, (VOI) – A conference in the Jordanian capital Amman discussed on Thursday Iraq's joining of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Held by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in tandem with the Iraqi-U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Industry, under the aegis of Microsoft, the 1st preparatory conference on Iraq's accession to WTO focused on the issue of investment in Iraq, which was approved by the Iraqi parliament.
"The meeting reviewed new investment opportunities and Iraq's accession to the WTO as member, not as an observer as is the case now," Greg Howell, Global Development Alliance Advisor USAID/Iraq, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
Howell said "by the end of February Iraq will attend its first session with the WTO," noting he had met several times with Iraqi officials and ministers concerned, which is part of the USAID's activities."
"We are now working with Iraqi banks to practice up-to-date banking as well as laying guarantees for loans," said the USAID official.
He pointed out that the USAID's objectives through working with the Iraqi government envisage increasing the number of investment companies, creating jobs for unemployed Iraqis, laying the foundations for an investment climate that would benefit the Iraqi government and making it easy for international companies to come to Iraq.
The meeting was attended by representatives from the Iraqi ministries of trade and foreign affairs as well as Iraqi companies and foreign investors.
__________________
I'm going with 1.44 and that's final!

Have Your Say: For oil, only central government deals with Turkey

2/2/2007 KurdishMedia.com


London (KurdishMedia.com) 02 February 2007: The Iraqi central government and Turkey have agreed that all oil contracts will be dealt with only between these two parties. Contrary to the Iraqi Constitution, Kurdistan Regional Government would not have a say in these contracts. AP stated that Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organization is the only party allowed to grant and renew contracts with Turkish companies.

Such developments mean, that Turkey managed to undermine the Kurdistan Region's authority and refused to recognise that Iraq is a federal republic. The Kurdistani bloc in Iraqi parliament, including the President of Iraq, the Deputy Prime Minister and half a dozen of ministers, has failed to defend Kurdistani rights. This is another blow to the Kurdistan's authority. To avoid highlighting this embarrassing defeat of Kurdistan Regional Government, the "President of Kurdistan" tried to divert public attention to a totally different subject, stating that "no one can change the Kurdistan national anthem, Ayraqib," as if this is an issue.


Have Your Say: For oil, only central government deals with Turkey

, the 1st preparatory conference on Iraq's accession to WTO focused on the issue of investment in Iraq, which was approved by the Iraqi parliament."The meeting reviewed new investment opportunities and Iraq's accession to the WTO as member, not as an observer as is the case now," Greg Howell, Global Development Alliance Advisor USAID/Iraq, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
Howell said "by the end of February Iraq will attend its first session with the WTO,"





looks to me like they will be a member in the next meeting

Originally Posted by Inscrutable

Do observers attend sessions? Anyone?

Iraq's accession to the WTO as member, not as an observer as is the case now,"

Sounds like they will be a member.

Originally Posted by day dreamer

, the 1st preparatory conference on Iraq's accession to WTO focused on the issue of investment in Iraq, which was approved by the Iraqi parliament."The meeting reviewed new investment opportunities and Iraq's accession to the WTO as member, not as an observer as is the case now," Greg Howell, Global Development Alliance Advisor USAID/Iraq, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
Howell said "by the end of February Iraq will attend its first session with the WTO,"





looks to me like they will be a member in the next meeting

ACCESSION TO THE WTO AS MEMBER!!
i concur with your hypothesis.