Thread: Iraq/Dinar News Until 5/3/07 Midnight CST.

Middle East May 4, 2007


ROVING IN THE RED ZONE
What Muqtada wants
By Pepe Escobar

BAGHDAD - Muqtada al-Sadr is not at the conference on Iraq that opened on Thursday in Sharm-al-Sheikh, Egypt, even though he is, hands down, the most popular, and certainly the most charismatic, political leader in Iraq, with his ears finely tuned to the Shi'ite - and even Sunni - street.

Nasr al-Roubaie is the leader of the 32-strong Sadrist bloc in the Iraqi Parliament. As Muqtada's top man in government, Roubaie could not but be one of Iraq's top political players. Between two parliamentary meetings, Roubaie took time to give an exclusive interview to Asia Times Online. Symbolically, we talked on the outer limits of the Green Zone, practically in the Red Zone, outside the first checkpoint, manned by Georgian troops who speak virtually no English and absolutely no Arabic. The Sadrists, it should be remembered, are - literally - both inside and outside the Green Zone government.

Roubaie emphasized the key Sadrist strategy that a timetable must be set for the total withdrawal of US troops - and the US Congress's Madam Speaker Nancy Pelosi, as well as 64% of American voters, according to the latest polls, would certainly agree. "Our fight has developed in many different ways. Some are peaceful. Some are armed. We are engaged in political resistance. We want to get our real freedom through peaceful means," said Roubaie.

So far, peace between the Baghdad surge and Muqtada's Mehdi Army has been a mirage - even considering the fact that the Mehdi Army, on Muqtada's explicit orders, has been lying very low. We spoke to Roubaie the day after US forces attacked the Sadr office in Kadhimiya - which houses a key Shi'ite shrine. Residents confirmed a heavy firefight. Two US Humvees were burned, and nine Iraqi civilians were killed. A large street demonstration took place in Kadhimiya. The result is that now US forces can get no closer than 1 kilometer to any important Shi'ite shrine.

Roubaie had just come from a meeting where a motion signed by 134 Parliament members was being introduced demanding a timetable for US withdrawal. "It's not only us - the parties from Kurdistan, the Sunni parties, are all united." This was a reference to the Kurdistan alliance and the powerful, 44-seat-strong Tawafuq Front Sunni bloc, which groups three parties. Roubaie left implicit that the key religious parties in government, the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) and Da'wa, are against the timetable.

Every year Parliament reviews the presence of US occupation forces. Roubaie revealed that starting in June, the review will occur every six months. "The Americans want to stay in Iraq. They said they wanted to establish an Iraqi force. They did nothing - we still have no army. And they did nothing for the people."

In his latest letter to Parliament, read by Sadrist female member Liqa' al-Yassin, Muqtada characterized the Iraq drama as a fight between the Mehdi against the Dajjal, an evil, one-eyed entity similar to the antichrist in Shi'ite cosmology. US President George W Bush, of course, is the Dajjal. Muqtada also emphasized that Bush "ignores every call for a withdrawal".

So if the Americans want to stay, this must be connected with oil, and the extremely controversial new Iraqi oil law, which should, in theory, be approved by Parliament next month (at least according to the explicit demands of the Bush administration). Roubaie said, "The oil of Iraq should benefit all the people. We cannot hand out our oil wells to foreign companies with these production-sharing agreements. The sovereignty of Iraq will be compromised. This will be only pen on paper, like the last orders of the Abbasid caliphs. Our oil wells should benefit all Iraqis."

The Sadrists want an oil law that "is the symbol of the unity of Iraq, and not good only for the Kurds or for the south". Here we find the Sadrists in essence concurring with Saddam Hussein, who nationalized the Iraqi oil industry in 1972.

Once again the criticism of the top government parties, the SCIRI and Da'wa, is implicit. Abdul Adel Mahdi, the SCIRI's No 2, has been one of the top cheerleaders of the oil law; he has been to Washington to assure Big Oil of the "great opportunities" lying ahead. Oil Minister Husain al-Shahrastani, from Da'wa, is also a top cheerleader, arguing that the oil law "will benefit all Iraqis" and boasting that the country may raise oil production to 4 million barrels a day until 2012, and then to 8 million barrels a day. According to the minister, Iraq currently exports 2.2 million barrels a day - a very dubious figure considering non-stop pipeline sabotage by Sunni guerrillas.

There's a real possibility in the months ahead of an Iraqi shadow cabinet being formed - uniting Sadrists and Sunni nationalists. This poses the striking alternative confronting Iraq's government: What will prevail, Iraqi nationalism - as represented by Muqtada - or a semi-alignment with Iran - represented by the SCIRI and Da'wa? As for Muqtada, he will remain the kingmaker.

"Is he in Iran or Iraq?"

"Of course in Iraq," answered Roubaie with a huge grin, as a column of US Bradleys rumbled back to its cozy abode in the Green Zone. So the White House, once again, has been spinning a lie about the cleric having fled the country.

linky...
Asia Times Online :: Middle East News - What Muqtada wants

Washington confirms Rice Mwalimu meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh

(صوت العراق) - 03-05-2007

(Voice of Iraq) - 03-05-2007

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Started in Sharm el-Sheikh for the international conference on Iraq, attended by representatives of more than 60 countries to discuss issues relating to the security of Iraq and to support its economy.

The meeting discussed the agenda of reconstruction and support Iraq's capability to stabilize its new document known as the International Covenant on Iraq.

The official said the Foreign Ministry prominent American reporters that the American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will meet Syrian Benzirha during the conference.

If this meeting will be the first of its kind during the year.

The American official, who requested anonymity, said that the meeting between the two sides will focus on security affairs of Iraq.

During the opening speech called for Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki unseat Iraqi debt Iraq, which said it did not serve the interest of Iraq, but sent for destruction.

Al-Maliki said he relies on friendly countries to help Iraq rebuild itself as a strong, independent, not only through debt forgiveness, but international support for the political process and democracy, and support in the war against terrorism.

The Ban Ki Mun, Secretary-General of the United Nations, has stressed the role of government in supporting the Iraqi national unity through fair distribution of wealth and power.

He said that it is the collective interest of the countries of the world wants to achieve consistent and able to address the problems.

This conference, which will continue throughout his meetings on Thursday and Friday is devoted to trying to increase economic and diplomatic support for Iraq, and to try to reduce the pace of escalating sectarian violence there.

The conference comes against the backdrop of continued violence in Iraq, the United States said that the missile attack on the Green Zone in Baghdad severe guard resulted in the deaths of four contractors with the American government, from the Philippines.

Stop the violence
Wish Egypt, the host State, to lead the conference to agree on a cease-fire will last for three months between Iraqi forces and the militants, and that according to the draft recommendations of the conference, while the Iraqi government strongly rejected this proposal.

And although the administration of President George W. Bush is expected that this conference will succeed in directing billions of dollars to development assistance in Iraq, or at least exempting Iraq from some of its debts accumulated by the nations gathered, but it is expected to call for Arab states to make Iraq more effort to end the escalating violence between Sunnis and Shiites.

It is noteworthy that the Arab states were late in pumping economic aid to Iraq, as late in delegating diplomatic missions to Baghdad because of a conflict of interest between Arab governments and the government of Iraq, also did not hide many Arab diplomats questioned the ability of the government to prevent a civil war which no one wants to be party.

The challenge remains to supporters of Iraq is to convince Western countries neighboring states of Iraq that they will lose more if the government failed, which will lose if Iraq risked immediate cooperation.

And perhaps that was what Denis American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice when she said before leaving for Sharm el-Sheikh that the entire region is now at stake after it became a center for Iraq stable Middle East or unstable.

Rice and sees the need to unite efforts in order to strengthen the nascent democracy in Iraq.

For important?
The senior official announced the State Department that Rice would meet Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mualem Thursday on the sidelines of the conference on Iraq.

Focus attention on the meeting Rice Mwalimu, as well as the possibility of a meeting between Rice and her Iranian counterpart during the conference.

Rice said she does not exclude a direct dialogue with the two countries, which it conceived as the United States is supportive of terrorism, but said at the same time it does not seek to this dialogue, and said she had simply expressing those who meet with him about her country's policy.

But Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad warned that it would be wrong to Washington believes that negotiations with Iran will lead to a renunciation of its nuclear program at a time when sanctions had not achieved and diplomatic pressures any results.

If talks between Rice and her Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki will be higher since Washington decided to sever its relations with Tehran in 1980.

The decision to break off relations after the siege of the American embassy in Tehran following the Islamic revolution in 1979.

Includes conference, which conducted its activities in Sharm El-Sheikh on the Red Sea coast of officials from the United States, Iran, Russia, China, Europe and Arab countries.

The American officials had pointed out that the international solidarity with Iraq will seek to provide billions of dollars to Iraq in the form of aid and debt reduction, as opposed to democratic progress.

Accuses the administration of President George W. Bush Iran arming Shiite militias in Iraq, which Maxecutih Tehran.

As Washington accuses Syria of allowing foreign fighters to enter Iraq across the border between the two countries.

It will be recalled that despite the invitation of Iran and Syria to attend the Sharm El-Sheikh conference, but there has not been significant parties inviting leaders such as Shiite militias in Iraq.

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The conference includes delegations from the following
United States
Iran
Syria
Saudi Arabia
Russia
China
European Union

BBC Arabic

BBC English

Translated version of http://www.sotaliraq.com/

Sharm el-Sheikh : Al-Maliki called for the recognition of the achievements of his government

(صوت العراق) - 03-05-2007

(Voice of Iraq) - 03-05-2007

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At the opening of the International Covenant : Maliki called for the recognition of the achievements of his government

Sharm el-Sheikh-file Press and agencies

Opened Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit morning today, Thursday, the work of the international community to support Iraq in the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh, which is attended by about (60) Arab and foreign countries, including the G8, the European Union and the Arab League.

The conference was attended by Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, who arrived in (Sharm el-Sheikh) Wednesday evening, accompanied by a delegation comprising a number of ministers and deputies to participate in the two neighboring countries of Iraq and the International Covenant, which hold in (Sharm el-Sheikh).

He called on Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, the need to strive to promote national reconciliation among all Iraqi sects, stressing that Egypt will always "ready" to provide everything it can to help the Iraqi people.

"Aboul Gheit, in his speech opened the "International Covenant Iraq," Egypt considers said that national reconciliation is the "only way" of development and stability in Iraq, pointing out that reconciliation is the "guarantee of unity, and the foundation of stability."

He said that military solutions to the situation deteriorating in Iraq, we must not be alone in isolation from the consensus among all sects of the Iraqi people, and improve the political and security conditions, together with economic conditions.

The Foreign Minister said that the International Covenant Iraq, which is tantamount to a five-year plan, aimed primarily at restoring stability and security to Iraq, which suffers from long security chaos, behind tens of thousands of dead and wounded.

Meanwhile, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki that his government "is progressing and confident about consolidating entity modern democratic state", in spite of all the security conditions and economic transition currently in use in Iraq.

Maliki attacked the former Iraqi president, Saddam Hussein, said that Iraq "has lived 35 years of authoritarian rule, followed by the presentation of a fabric sabotage the country to real dangers."

He called Maliki to "recognizing achievements in the last period," adding that his government was committed to "move forward in the reform of the national economy, since the first day of his assumption of power."

So, the Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki Moon expressed the hope that a "Conference of the International Covenant", the beginning of "a new era" of Iraq, calling on the parties participating in the conference to provide all possible support to assist the Iraqi government.

The holding of the International Conference for Iraq, as few of the ministerial conference expanded with the participation of foreign ministers of Iraq's neighboring countries, along with ministers from the permanent members of the Security Council, the Group of Eight, in addition to a number of bodies and other international organizations.

The sharp differences have preempted Ministerial Meeting scheduled for Friday, owing to the objection of the Iraqi government to include in the final statement a Tabulates withdrawal of foreign forces from Iraq, in addition to the criticism by the American Secretary of State to Saudi Arabia, because of its refusal to host Iraqi Prime Minister, during a recent tour of the region.

The preparatory meetings and consultation to discuss the final statement, had concluded its work Wednesday evening, with the participation of senior officials with the neighboring countries of Iraq, together with representatives of the five permanent members of the Security Council and other bodies and other international groups.

Source : Press file

Translated version of http://www.sotaliraq.com/

China declares Astaadaddha to reduce and write off the debt owed to them

(صوت العراق) - 03-05-2007

(Voice of Iraq) - 03-05-2007

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China declares Astaadaddha to reduce and write off the debt owed to it by Iraq

The Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Chi reason that China is willing to reduce and write off the debt owed to it by Iraq in a fundamental way.
Yang Zhi good in a speech before the Conference of the International Covenant Tastier Iraq began in Sharm el-Sheikh earlier today said that the Chinese initiative comes at a time when his country for a grant valued at 50 million yuan (about six million five hundred thousand dollars) this year to promote the public health and education Iraq.

He added Chinese Foreign Minister that Beijing took into account the demand for the reduction of Iraqi debt write-off under the arrangements for the Paris Club is prepared to resolve the issue through friendly consultations continuing with Iraq.

Yang stressed in his speech that the international community needs to increase consultations and coordination in order to help Iraq with the United Nations upholding the cover.

Buratha News

Buratha News

Translated version of http://www.sotaliraq.com/

A press-office of the Prime Minister

(صوت العراق) - 03-05-2007

(Voice of Iraq) - 03-05-2007

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State met Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki at his residence in Sharm El-Sheikh this morning and British Foreign Minister Mrs. Margaret Beckett, during the meeting was to assess the outcome of the International Covenant and preparations participating States to assist Iraq in the case of debt implications. He praised Mr. Prime Minister, the support provided by the countries participating in the conference, which is an important center of Iraq and the world, stressing the importance of a national covenant to deal with the Iraqi document International Covenant.

The sovereignty option to use Alstratigi to consolidate security and stability in the country instead of the option of force, adding that the strength of Iraq tested a democracy and reconstruction can be a factor of stability in the region.

For its part, praised the British Foreign Minister welcomed the positive results of the International Conference and supported Iraq's efforts and participating States to make it a success, and expressed optimism over the future of Iraq through the positive steps taken by the government of national unity and efforts to activate the initiative of reconciliation and national dialogue, which is in the interest of Iraq and the reconstruction.

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Translated version of http://www.sotaliraq.com/

Saud Al Faisal confirmed that his country stands at a distance equal

(صوت العراق) - 03-05-2007

(Voice of Iraq) - 03-05-2007

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Saud Al Faisal confirmed that his country stands "equal distance" from all Iraqi parties

Sharm el-Sheikh (Egypt) (AFP) - The Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal at the opening of the international conference on Iraq in Sharm el-Sheikh on Thursday that his country stands "equal distance from all parties" in Iraq and called for a comprehensive national reconciliation in this country.

He said Prince Saud al-Faisal "for Saudi still stand by our position at the same distance from all parties without discrimination or distinction between them on the basis of religion, race or type and non-interference in the internal affairs of Iraq."

It was alluding to the fact that Saudi Arabia is not biased toward year at the expense of the Shiites in Iraq, which is growing sectarian conflict left nearly 32 thousand people in 2006, according to the United Nations.

The Saudi monarch Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz last week refused to meet Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. According to press reports that King Abdullah took this position in protest at the position Maliki Sunnis in Iraq.

The Minister acknowledged American Kondoleezzal Rice Tuesday that the position of the Saudi monarch, reflects "uncertainty" about the Sunni Arab Iraqi government, which is dominated by the Shiite coalition.

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He Saud Al-Faisal expressed hope that the Sharm El-Sheikh conference, "the results fit the delicate situation undergone by Iraq."

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He added that "the tragic scenes us a moral responsibility to Annchal Iraq and the bitter reality and putting it on the path to stability," stressing that his country would "monitor with the deteriorating situation in Iraq."

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He added that "this situation can only be overcome to achieve a comprehensive national reconciliation to ensure the participation of all Iraqi groups."

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The Saudi minister in this context to "eradicate the hotbeds of violence and terrorism solve all militias."

He announced that he is "aware of what Saudi Arabia posed by the debt burden on Iraq showed willingness to reduce the official debt owed by Iraq," but he explained that "the matter is still in the research."

The Iraqi and American officials said that Saudi Arabia will be announced at the Sharm el-Sheikh cancel 80% of the debt owed to them by Iraq, estimated to be between 15 and 18 billion dollars.

Translated version of http://www.sotaliraq.com/

Everything is going great. Exactly as we expected it to go. Iraq is in a better financial position. The Compact is now formally signed. We do not yet know the new rate of the IQD.

D word.

برهم صالح - مؤتمر اطلاق العهد الدولي مع العراق

Barham Salih - launch of the International Conference with Iraq

(صوت العراق) - 03-05-2007

(Voice of Iraq) - 03-05-2007

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Word Dr. Barham Salih

Deputy Prime Minister
The launching of the International Covenant with Iraq
Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt
May 3, 2007

Mr. Secretary General of the United Nations, Messrs. ministers, ambassadors, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
I would like to begin by thanking the newborn State of Egypt and President Hosni Mubarak to host the launching of the International Covenant, I also remember with appreciation the State of Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates and other friendly nations, which has embraced the draft International Covenant and hosted meetings and Azertna to accomplish.
Also, my thanks to the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki Moon for his efforts in expanding this invitation. We have supported the United Nations through its experts all stages of writing the document, and also an expert with the World Bank and our gratitude and, finally, I wish to thank my colleagues from the cabinet and Iraqi experts for their role in the development of the Covenant and Andhajeh axes.
It is a great honor to invite Iraq to the meeting to adopt a document of the International and answered this level at such a critical time in our contemporary history. We hope that this meeting will be a turning point and the beginning steps up to us to a promising future in a democratic, federal and united and prosperous security.
In June, "June" 2006 has been officially launch the Covenant through the issuance of a joint statement by the government of Iraq and the United Nations, and then held a series of discussions and periodical meetings discussing the Covenant and speak, and now offer the fruit of these deliberations document represented the International Covenant which we are gathered today on the offer.

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There is no doubt that Iraq today is a difficult and confronting many challenges and risks. We deal with the terrible legacy of decades of tyranny, and also deal with problems arising from the transitional phase after the fall of the totalitarian regime : problems and internal conflicts and enticements and foreign interventions transformed Iraq into a liquidation international conflicts and regional arena and sacked by international terrorism. The challenges are serious and need radical treatments, serious and critical.

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And certainly Iraq will be the basis and premise of solving our problems, but we need the help of the international community to help Iraq politically and economically and security in the face of existing challenges.

An International Covenant before you represents the Iraqi national vision and set priorities to achieve the required Iraq to reach political stability and economic prosperity, through a package of measures and mutual commitments between Iraq and the international community. The Covenant provides an appropriate mechanism to satisfy our need for assistance in rebuilding our country and support the political reconciliation among the Iraqis.
In order to achieve this vision, we, and also stresses the covenant document, to move forward on three fronts and overlapping : First, political participation and the consensus call, secondly, establishing security and impose the rule of law, and thirdly, the economic reform and reconstruction.

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With regard to the political process :

We can be proud of many achievements task made at the political level, including the inauguration of a democratic process is unprecedented in the history of our embodied in the elections in which over 12 million Iraqis defied terrorism.
But we must recognize that we still security challenges and serious political, and constitutes Altkeverien terrorists and hardened criminals from the remnants of the former regime, and also the armed militias, the main source of danger to our country. We recognize the need to strengthen the national dimension in the democratic political project and undermine the forces of extremism and sectarian Trenching and national.
And we believe that the exit of the crisis faced by our country passes through support the draft national reconciliation put forward by Mr. Prime Minister and grant new impetus, seriously, through orientation to build a comprehensive national depends on the historic political agreement to solve the problem of power in Iraq. And should include political participation of the deal's real strong national insurers path of peaceful development of the country in national decision, as well as their participation in the stand in terrorists and the forces of evil and darkness and the outlawed armed militias law.
Iraq is today in desperate need of this situation of national consensus devoted to the rule of law and constitutional institutions, and ensure a coalition of moderate sons components. Eloquent and that the lesson to be drawn from the experience of the past four years is the need for political consensus, which is backed Iraqi National by the regional and international levels as a prerequisite for achieving stability and security.

In this context also must recognize that the root causes of the complexity of the security situation and internal political is external interference in our internal affairs and turning Iraq into an arena for the liquidation of its territory and international conflicts overburden transitional political process in the country.

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It required an end to this situation and to respect Iraq's sovereignty and rejected interference in the internal affairs of Iraq.

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Let the stability of Iraq and victory over terrorism and extremism focus unanimous international and regional powers.

And with regard to the task of establishing security and the rule of law,

As you know, has been dissolved the Iraqi army in May, "May" 2003. Since that time, there are efforts being made to rebuild the national army capable of defending the country. We are witnessing today the preliminary results of such endeavors : growing units of the Iraqi armed forces played an important and significant to impose law and order and combat terrorists. And security become stable in many regions of Iraq, for example, in the Kurdistan region, and recently, a number of governorates in the south.

But building the Iraqi armed forces had not yet been completed, and completion of this task will require significant resources over the next few years.
The process of establishing security requires that the state monopoly on Disarmament. For historical reasons, and others, and found several militias and armed groups ... And the government has declared its commitment to addressing this problem .. we found that the solution to this dilemma T_khasaisaata financial needs of the application programs disarming and dismantling the militias and the reintegration, and this is an additional burden on our national resources

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With regard to the course of economic reform :

The Covenant contains an integrated project of economic reform. We need to implement a number of legal and administrative procedures and institutional order to liberate our economy, and without it we will not be able to start the process of economic diversification. For example, the issuance of the Investment Law. , Which will encourage investors, whether Iraqis or foreigners, to invest in Iraq. Well we have a law to allow the private sector to import oil derivatives. The Cabinet also completed more than a month ago the basic framework for the new oil law, we are in the process of completing supplements and other legal contexts required for the law to the House of Representatives. This law will help to attract investments needed to modernize and develop our oil industry and raise the level of our oil exports ... And more importantly, the law on the ownership of the Iraqi people's oil wealth and ensure equitable distribution of oil resources to all Iraqis, without discrimination. Hopefully the law that prevents oil workers to unite Iraqis.

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We must work to eradicate corruption.It drains our resources and reduces effectively deliver services which the government loses credibility in the eyes of the people. We have started actions to improve the implementation of contexts public contracts and financial practices and the application of the requirements of transparency so limit the exercise of corruption.

We are working to activate the banking sector and the application of the Financial Management Information System on a large scale. The private sector will be the most important allies in the Iraqi job creation; We must provide great facilities for this sector to direct economic activities.

Standby Agreement

We need to continue the successes required under the Convention ready Standby Agreement with the International Monetary Fund.We have canceled this year, government support, and specifically support for the fuel, which takes an enormous amount of the budget. At the same time, we take appropriate measures for the purpose of protecting the poor and affected by the shortage and the lifting of this support.

Begun work contexts in this new year of the implementation of the state budget and providing financial and administrative facilities to enable ministries and governorates of the implementation of the budget and investment Alersaudh amounting to 10.5 billion dollars-the volume of this allocation is unprecedented in the history of Iraqi budgets.

We expanded health and educational services provided to our people and upgrading, it is young people and the proportion of youth is the prevailing rate.

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We find ways to bridge the shortfall in housing units at the country level. This long list of issues, each of which require large sums of money.

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The above-mentioned objectives and political and economic security will be easily accessible and require the cooperation and interaction seriously by the international community ...

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And from here this ambitious project and the International Covenant marked with Iraq :

We believe that this Covenant is a partnership based on a common vision and mutual interests and obligations. It is in our interest and the international community that we succeed in this endeavor to take Iraq to safety and prosperity.However, it can not be called on to extend a helping hand to us if we did not accomplish what we need done. For mutual obligations : We as Iraqis pledge to make every effort to ensure the success of the task : a national consensus, introduce the necessary reforms and the fight against corruption.

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We will undertake to implement the measures, which also secured the optimal use of financial resources.

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And realize that we must turn these commitments and promises to draft a genuine process and enter into force ...

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I know very well that there will be sufficient undertakings, and more importantly implementation, which requires strengthening the beginning of the Iraqi National contract for the completion of the required reforms and confront terrorists and extremists.

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And this is the basis on which we proceed with the invitation to participate and us in this ambitious endeavor and render aid, serious actor to enable Iraq to meet the challenges and risks ...

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We invite you to cancel debt and reparations imposed on Iraq from the time of the former regime, we call on you to provide economic assistance for reconstruction actors and offer technical assistance for the development of endogenous capacities Iraqi ..

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We call on you to support the will of the Iraqi Free derived from the democratic process and the Iraqi National Accord and Prevention interventions in Iraqi internal affairs and serious cooperation in the fight against terrorism and undermine the extremists.

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The future of Iraq is important and crucial for the Iraqis, but, as each region and the world ... And what this international attention and regional Iraqi affair only indication that ..

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Yes, that serious challenges, but we can not and you can only be successful in our quest to take Iraq to security, stability and prosperity ... No easy task, and it is investigating, but duty investigation ...

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And I am confident that we will succeed to achieve together .... And thank you.

Translated version of http://www.sotaliraq.com/

Conference pledges 30-bln-dollar debt reduction for Iraq
By Lamia Radi
SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, 03 May 2007 (AFP)


UN chief Ban Ki-moon said that debt reduction of 30 billion dollars had been pledged by countries attending a key conference on Iraq in this Egyptian Red Sea resort on Thursday.
"Specific financial commitments by particular countries are estimated at over 30 billion dollars," Ban told reporters.
"This includes commitments of debt relief terms of the Paris Club from Bulgaria, China, Saudi Arabia and Greece. It also includes new financial commitments from the United Kingdom, Australia, Spain, China, Denmark and Korea and other key participants," he said.
In 2004 the Paris Club, a group of 19 creditor governments from major industrialised nations dealing with debt restructuring, agreed to cancel 32 billion (80 percent) of the 40 billion dollars they were owed by the Saddam regime.
Iraqi officials were in talks with several countries on Thursday to write off billions of dollars in debts, and threatened to block investment opportunities for those who did not.
"Any country that is not scrapping debt or does not respect Paris club recommendations will not be allowed to invest in Iraq," Finance Minister Bayan Jabr Solagh told AFP on the sidelines of the international conference.
Jabr's warning was chiefly aimed at Russia, to which he said Iraq owes around 13 billion dollars.
Moscow has reportedly said it was ready to scrap the debt in exchange for investment in the major southern Iraqi oil field of Rumaila.
"I don't think Russia should link (debt reduction) with investment in oil," Solagh said.
He said 54 out of 65 countries that had granted loans to Saddam Hussein's regime had agreed to write off Iraq's debt, which amounted to around 140 billion dollars.
"We still have 40 to 50 billion dollars," he said.
On Thursday, Saudi Arabia renewed its commitment to reduce Iraqi debt.
"Realising the strains caused by debt and due to the current circumstances in Iraq, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has announced its will to reduce Iraq's official debt," Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal said.
The oil-rich Kingdom is expected to forgive 80 percent of its estimated 20 billion dollars in loans to Iraq, but the process will take place in stages in line with Paris Club procedure, Solagh said.
He said he also expected Egypt to cancel Iraq's 800-million-dollar debt.
China has agreed to strike 80 percent of Iraq's eight billion dollars in loans, while Kuwait is awaiting a decision from its parliament to drop the two-billion-dollar debt it is owed, according to Solagh.
Foreign ministers and top diplomats from more than 50 countries are gathered in Sharm el-Sheikh to launch the the International Compact with Iraq (ICI), a five-year plan aimed at stabilising the war-torn country.
The document includes a raft of measures to inject fresh impetus into Iraq's economy, improve governance and offer financial assistance in a process key players hope will bolster reconciliation between warring communities.

Conference pledges 30-bln-dollar debt reduction for Iraq | Iraq Updates

Key developments in Iraq on Thursday
03 May 2007 (Associated Press)

Key developments in Iraq on Thursday:
• A two-day conference of nearly 50 nations convened in Sharm El-Sheik, an Egyptian Red Sea resort, to discuss the economic and political stability of Iraq. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she raised the issue of foreign fighters crossing from Syria into Iraq during her meeting with the Syrian foreign minister.
• A rocket attack Wednesday on the Green Zone killed four foreign contractors working for the U.S. government, the American embassy said. The embassy said two of the contractors were from India, one was from Nepal and one from the Philippines.
• A senior Iraqi official said Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, the leader of an al-Qaida front group, was killed in a clash with Iraqi security forces north of Baghdad. The U.S. military, however, said the militant killed was Muharib Abdul-Latif al-Jubouri, a senior member of al-Qaida in Iraq responsible for the kidnappings of several Westerners including Christian Science Monitor reporter Jill Carroll.
• Iraq's largest Sunni Arab bloc accused Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's Shiite-led government of failing to honor its promises to give the minority Sunnis a voice in major political and security decisions.
• U.S.-led forces arrested 11 militants suspected of building bombs and helping foreign fighters in a series of raids, military officials said. The troops also found bomb-making material and anti-aircraft weapons, the military said.
• Iraqi lawmakers said they were considering whether to shorten or eliminate their planned two-month summer break. U.S. lawmakers complained Wednesday that Iraqi politicians were considering a vacation before reaching agreements considered key to easing sectarian tensions — and ending the violence that has killed American troops.
• Gunmen stormed the offices of the private, independent Dijlah radio station in a predominantly Sunni area in western Baghdad, killing two employees and wounding five others, then detonating a bomb that set the building on fire, police said.
• Police in Fallujah, 40 miles west of Baghdad, found nine bullet-riddled bodies — four members of a Sunni tribe that recently joined an alliance against al-Qaida in Iraq and five found near the tax office.
• A Sunni cleric, Mohammed Khalil al-Mashhadani, was shot to death in a mosque in northwestern Baghdad, while a mortar attack also struck a residential area in a Shiite enclave in southern Baghdad, killing at least one person and wounding six, police said.
• Gunmen stormed a market in Baqouba, northeast of the capital, killing a plainclothes policeman after a militant read a death sentence issued by al-Qaida and two Shiite men. They then killed a policeman after he arrived at the scene to investigate.

Key developments in Iraq on Thursday | Iraq Updates