Thread: Iraq/Dinar News up until March 18th Midnight ctz

Originally Posted by Jola

Source: United Nations Secretary-General

Date: 16 Mar 2007
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'Framework for normalization is required now more than ever', Secretary-General tells meeting on International Compact with Iraq


SG/SM/10912
IK/563

Following is the text of opening remarks by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to today’s meeting in New York on the International Compact with Iraq:

I thank you all for attending this meeting and for your commitment to the International Compact with Iraq.

The preparatory process for the Compact has been under way in Baghdad since July 2006. This process, which included two high-level meetings in Kuwait and Abu Dhabi, has brought together the Government of Iraq and the international community in an effort to develop a mechanism that would help Iraq to realize its national vision.

As you know, a small support group was established to support the preparatory process. But it has always been our intention -- and that of the Government of Iraq -- to expand the group in due course. Today’s meeting offers an opportunity to bring the larger international community together to consider how best to support the people of Iraq under the Compact.

I am pleased that His Excellency, Mr. Adel Abdul Mahdi, Vice-President of Iraq, is here today to inform us about the latest developments in Iraq and, in particular, about the progress that has been made in the preparatory process for the Compact.

We are all aware of the difficult situation in Iraq. It is heart-wrenching to see almost daily attacks on innocent civilians, which have left immense suffering and pain in their wake. Beyond the political violence and sectarian strife, a humanitarian crisis is stretching the patience and ability of ordinary people to cope with everyday life. The United Nations is now strengthening its humanitarian efforts, and working with Iraq’s neighbours and other countries in the region, to address the increasing needs of those who have left Iraq temporarily, those displaced inside the country and those suffering from diminishing access to basic public services.

Given these circumstances, some may question why a Compact would be necessary or appropriate. I understand these concerns. However, a framework for normalization is required now more than ever.

I am also aware of the view that there is a multitude of initiatives on Iraq, which have yet to yield tangible results. Certainly, there is a need to streamline and consolidate these initiatives, and to concentrate on achievable goals. But, unlike the other initiatives, the Compact focuses on Iraq’s long-term economic development, while also stressing progress in the political and security fields, through a mutually reinforcing relationship.

The Compact aims to achieve its objectives in two ways:

First, a “national compact” among Iraqis on the necessary security and political steps would be agreed upon. These steps are prerequisites for the normalization of the situation in Iraq and for the revitalization of the economy.

Second, an “international compact” between Iraq and its partners would set out the Government of Iraq’s agenda for the next five years with regard to economic and social reform. This shared vision and mutual commitment would allow the international community to channel support in accordance with the priorities decided upon by Iraqis themselves.

The Compact should be seen as a tool for unlocking Iraq’s own potential. It seeks to achieve concrete results in the areas of public sector resource management, institution-building and human development, in line with the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. It also emphasizes a more holistic approach to energy management. Towards that end, the Government’s recent efforts to adopt new oil and gas legislation are encouraging. Indeed, a viable arrangement to share the nation’s oil wealth and natural resources can also help build much-needed trust and confidence among Iraqi communities.

There has also been welcome progress in adopting other key legislative acts. But these may not achieve their full and positive impact, unless the same consensus is also expressed in the Iraqi Constitution. This makes a genuine and meaningful constitutional review process all the more important.

Above all, it is essential that all Iraqi communities come together in a spirit of dialogue to find lasting solutions. As they do so, they should be able to count on the active support of Iraq’s neighbours and the international community. The Compact is an important framework for fulfilling precisely those shared responsibilities towards Iraq and its people.

The United Nations is committed to supporting the implementation of the Compact. Through my good offices, and those of my Special Representative in Iraq, Mr. Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, the United Nations will make every effort to ensure that the international community remains engaged in this process.

I have appointed Mr. Ibrahim Gambari, who is well known to you all, as my Special Advisor on the International Compact with Iraq and Other Political Issues, to succeed Mr. Mark Malloch Brown as co-Chair of the Compact. He will be in active contact with all concerned to move this process forward and to ensure its success.

The challenges ahead are immense. I am sure you will all agree that we cannot leave Iraq on its own to cope with them. The International Compact is intended to help the Government to build a secure, unified, federal and democratic nation, founded on the principles of freedom and equality, capable of providing peace and prosperity for all its people.

A positive political progress and a reduction of violence are essential preconditions for the success of this initiative. I call on the parties to work towards this goal. And, to maintain the momentum generated by this meeting itself, I encourage the Government of Iraq to agree on the date and venue for the launch of the International Compact.

Thank you again for attending this meeting. I am hopeful that, through our concerted efforts, we can help to build a country at peace with itself, with its neighbours, and with the wider international community.

For information media • not an official record

yeah, what he said!!

Sus,

One article stated 'Spring'. I reckon we're looking at early to mid April time.

Originally Posted by Adster

Sus,

One article stated 'Spring'. I reckon we're looking at early to mid April time.

want me to find all the quotes on timeline made by these wankers??
i bet i can find every month mentioned since 05 concerning some event or another.

you yourself said you cant trust their articles even. not to mention the fact that each one of these papers are heavily influenced by their sectarian readers/editors. you read everything slanted from some angle or another with this gem.

ive started only trusting news that is in at least 5 different sources

LOL, dead right Sus. Wankers for sure! Someone on another forum reckoned they said before 30 April.......Should be links later confirming it. Hopefully it will be April, strike whilst the iron is hot etc.....

UN Webcast

UN's Ban urges support for plan to "normalize" Iraq
16 Mar 2007 17:37:43 GMT
Source: Reuters
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Background
Iraq in turmoil
More
By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS, March 16 (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appealed for international support on Friday for a five-year Iraq reconstruction plan that he described as a tool to unlock the potential of the Middle Eastern nation.

Ban and Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdul-Mahdi unveiled the International Compact with Iraq, which would see Iraq given international support -- financial, political and technical -- in return for political, security and economic reforms.

The compact, which was discussed by more than 80 countries, outlines targets for Iraq to hit during the next five years, including annual economic goals. It also includes a list of legislation the government hopes to pass by the end of 2007.

"The compact should be seen as a tool for unlocking Iraq's own potential," Ban told the compact meeting. "The challenges ahead are immense. I am sure you will all agree that we cannot leave Iraq on its own to cope with them."

"It is heart-wrenching to see almost daily attacks on innocent civilians, which has left immense suffering and pain," he said. "Beyond the political violence and sectarian strife, a humanitarian crisis is stretching the patience and ability of ordinary people to cope with everyday life."

Ban said that was why the compact, which he described as a "framework for normalization," was much needed by Iraq, which is besieged by sectarian violence that has made rich countries, aside from the United States, reluctant to support.

The compact sees Iraq pledge, among other things, to build up its security forces, establish the rule of law throughout the country's institutions, uphold and protect human rights, tackle corruption and reform oil and agriculture industries.

It shows that Iraq hopes to achieve economic growth of 15.4 percent in 2007, up from 3 percent last year. Growth of 12.9 percent is forecast for 2008 and 2009, 9.8 percent for 2010 and 5.3 percent for 2011.

GET MORE OIL FLOWING

The compact sets a crude oil output target of 3.5 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2011, which would nearly double Iraq's annual crude export revenue to almost $50 billion. It also aims for production of 700,000 bpd of refined products by 2011.

Since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, oil production has been stuck at about 2 million bpd, with exports of 1.5 million bpd. That compares with pre-war output of just under 3 million bpd and exports of around 2 million bpd.

"This framework will enable Iraq to establish an economic foundation built upon good governance, the rule of law, a solid budgetary structure and strong, credible institutions," Robert Kimmitt, the U.S. deputy Treasury secretary who attended the conference, wrote in The Washington Post on Friday.

Decades of economic mismanagement as well as U.N. sanctions under former President Saddam Hussein have bloated inefficient state-owned industries and created a web of government subsidies for food and gasoline which western advisers say hinders growth and fosters corruption.

Reforming state-run industries would inevitably mean throwing thousands of employees out of work and adding to the misery of ordinary Iraqis, while the benefits of reform may take years to appear.

Originally Posted by Pippyman

Not sure how good this translation is but I think this is important....


Strike : the decision to lift the value of the Iraqi dinar was the result of studies value


Translated version of http://foratnews.com/paper.asp?ID=2819



"He said the Finance Minister Baqir Jabr counterpart that the Iraqi dinar is Melhoudha improvement during the current period.
He added that the strike caused fluctuations in the local market due to some rumors that arise for blocking this improvement
He added that the Iraqi Central Bank's decision to raise the value of the Iraqi dinar against foreign currencies is the correct decision and is the result of studies aimed to raise the value of the purchasing value of the Iraqi citizen before everything else.
He pointed out that the ministry plans absorbed all future programs in the budget for this year in order to stimulate the Iraqi economy properly. "



.

Great find Pippyman....thank you.

Meeting to review progress made through International Compact with Iraq

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16 March 2007 (PortAl Iraq)

In accordance with the United Nations (UN) mandate under Security Council resolution 1546 (of 2004) to assist in Iraq's reconstruction, the Secretary-General will convene a meeting at UN Headquarters on March 16.

According to the UN's Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the meeting will bring the Iraqi government and the international community together to review "the substantive progress" made in the development of the International Compact with Iraq.

Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdul Mahdi will lead Iraq's delegation and brief participants. All Member States and representatives of multilateral institutions have been invited to attend.

Together with the Iraqi government, the UN continues to serve as co-chair of the International Compact with Iraq. The secretary-general recently appointed Ibrahim Gambari to be his special adviser for the Compact, and he will serve as UN co-chair.

The secretary-general "looks forward to the participation of the broader international community at Friday's meeting to help put Iraq on a credible path towards sustainable development and economic prosperity."

Iraqi premier to visit Japan in April for talks on assistance

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16 March 2007 (Kyodo News)

Japan and Iraq are working to schedule a visit to Japan by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in April and Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi in March, a senior Japanese Foreign Ministry official said Thursday.

In his talks with the two leaders, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe intends to convey his strong determination to continue assisting in the reconstruction of Iraq, the official said.

Finance Minister Meets Iraqi Deputy Premier

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DAMASCUS, 16 March 2007 (SANA)

Finance Minister Dr. Mohammad al-Hussein reviewed Thursday with Iraqi Deputy Premier Salama al-Zoba'e means of establishing distinguished economic relations between the two countries in line with ensuring a lot of opportunities for cooperation in this field.

Dr. al-Hussein reviewed the bilateral cooperation in financial sector particularly in domains of customs work, combating smuggling via boarders, clarifying that the government had rehabilitated the border's center in Tanf and Ya'roubiya.

He added: " there is a plan for rehabilitation of albokmal boarder's center."

The minister underscored importance of cooperation and coordination between customs administrations in Syria and Iraq and banking work rfield, indicating that " Syrian banks are ready to cooperate with Iraqi banking apparatus."

He noted to possibility of using Syrian roads and ports for ensuring Iraq's imports making use of the available characteristics whether regarding fees or services to the interests of the Iraqi people.

The Iraqi Deputy Premier, for his part, hailed Syria's stances towards Iraq and its people.

Earlier, al-Zaoba'e visited The Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD) in Damascus.

He was briefed on the administrative organization, structure of the center and its infrastructure and projects in addition to prospects of developing strategy of the center work in the future.

Syria wants to rebuild Iraq pipeline

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16 March 2007 (United Press International)

Syria wants to increase imports of Iraqi oil by rebuilding a pipeline, as well as become a main export route for Iraq to other markets.

Abdallah al-Dardari, Syria's deputy prime minister for economic affairs, said it wants to be Iraq's main exporter via its Mediterranean terminal at Banias and also use the oil to fuel three new refineries, upstreamonline.com reports.

"Linking the two oil and gas networks is in our mutual interest," Dardari said. "We are studying with the Iraqi side how Syria could become an important link to deliver Iraqi output to the world and to the Syrian market."

A pipeline pumped between 100,000 and 200,000 barrels per day of oil from Kirkuk, Iraq, to Banias in the two years before the 2003 invasion. U.S. fighters bombed the pipeline.

Iraq's oil ministry said it plans to rebuild it, but wants the security situation to improve first. The minister also said Syria needs to do more to stop insurgents from crossing into Iraq from Syria.

"Syria is the closest point for Iraq on the Mediterranean and it's in Iraq's interest to export crude efficiently," Dardari said. "We also have a stake in earning transit fees and using Iraqi crude to operate a group of refineries we plan to develop."