Thread: Iraq/Dinar News until 5/23/07 Midnight CST

Iraq leaders discuss political process

Wednesday, May 16, 2007 12:01 GMT

The Presidency Council held a common meeting with Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki in the residence of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani. In a joint statement with the Council’s members, President Talabani stressed the necessity of pursuing regular meetings in order to solve the country’s pending issues, noting that the national security political council will convene on Wednesday to discuss issues of cooperation.






For his part, Al Maliki affirmed that the political process needs more coordination, emphasizing the importance of finding a national tied front capable of enduring this phase’s difficulties. Iraqi Vice President Tarek Al Hashemi stressed the necessity of amending disputed articles of the Constitution, hoping that the parliamentarian committee appointed of reconsidering the Constitution’s articles would soon issue its final recommendations.
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© 2007 Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite Network

Talabani unveils Iraq secret talks

Wednesday, May 16, 2007 07:07 GMT

In an interview with the British Newspaper Daily Telegraph, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani revealed that there are resistance movements that are now meeting with Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki, British military officers and US ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker for reconciliation talks. “The biggest step forward would be to have the full participation of all the main groups in Iraq. We must convince the Sunni Arabs they are a real partner to reach national unity”, he added. He also noted that there is a big change in the mentality of the Sunni Arab. “They are now considering Iran is the danger and no longer considering America the danger”, he said. In another context, Iraqi President affirmed Coalition Forces are still need in Iraq till the end of the year untl Iraqi National Army is ready to take command.






Following his visit to Britain, President Talabani toured some political authorities including Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki and Iraqi Islamic Supreme Council Abdel Aziz Al Hakim to brief them on his visit to the UK. Talabani congratulated Abdel Aziz on the success of the Supreme Council’s meeting. Al Hakim stressed the necessity of opening doors to all parties to engage in the political process. Talabani congratulated as well Al Maliki for his election as Al Daawa Party Secretary General while the Prime Minister asserted that candidates for vacant positions are independent, experts and academics.
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© 2007 Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite Network

Iraq extends constitution review deadline
By Steve Negus, Iraq Correspondent

Published: May 16 2007 12:13 | Last updated: May 16 2007 12:13

The committee in charge of reviewing Iraq’s constitution has asked for a weeklong extension to complete its work - an indication that the legislature is having difficulty meeting self-imposed deadlines set in May.

Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani said on Tuesday he had been informed that the ”the Constitutional Amendments Committee had reached some results and finished a lot of issues in dispute but other issues [were] still under research,” a statement from the speaker’s office said.

The committee had been scheduled to present its recommendations on Tuesday. The statement from Mr Mashhadani’s office said that the committee was planning to present its report next Monday, but in Iraqi politics one postponement of key decisions is frequently followed by many more.

Iraqi politicians have said that the Sunni, Shia, and Kurdish MPs on the committee had been unable to reach agreement on the status of Kirkuk, a disputed province which the Kurds say should be the subject of a referendum later this year on joining northern Iraq’s Kurdistan autonomous zone.

Many Sunni and Shia Arabs as well as ethnic Turcoman living in the province say that they do not want to join the Kurdistan region, but Kurdish leaders have insisted that the timetable on the referendum to determine Kurdistan’s status, endorsed by the constitution, must move forward.

Sunnis also want Iraq described as an Arab country, and have questioned a system of federalism which they fear will leave their oil-poor heartland in central Iraq starved of resources.

The constitutional review, along with an oil law and a rollback of the purge of former members of the ruling Baath party from public life, is part of a political ”national reconciliation” package that US officials hope will reduce tensions between the Shia, Sunni Arab and Kurdish political blocs.

The Americans have said that they will take this progress into consideration when they weigh in September whether the surge in US troops into Iraq has been able to stabilize the country.

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2007

Originally Posted by Mike5200

Intellectuals launch Iraq cultural council


16 May 2007
AMMAN (AP) -- Iraqi intellectuals gathered here on Monday to launch a cultural council to protect their country's heritage destroyed after the US-led war and the eruption of sectarian fighting.


The Iraqi Cultural Council of poets, writers, musicians, journalists and other professionals opened a three-day conference to help "spread culture, tolerance and democracy" and abandon sectarianism, said founding member Ali Shebo.


In his speech to about 180 intellectuals, Shebo said the council "also seeks to end the occupation and rid the Iraqi people of its repercussions."


The group, which also includes some members of the disbanded Baath party, will be temporarily based outside Iraq, probably in Amman, and will also have branches in the UK, the Netherlands, US, Jordan, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.


"The council aims to protect Iraqi art and fight the forces of darkness, which are targeting Iraq's educated and intellectual elite, including doctors, pharmacists, scientists, journalists and others," Shebo said.


Members plan to rally others to join, including those who fled their country following the 2003 US-led war and those who escaped hardships under the former Iraqi regime.


© Jordan Times 2007

Interesting,

Imagine that, they were able to find 180 intellectuals? I guess there is hope after all to find enough intellectuals Iraqi's to replace all the illiterates and crooks now in parliament. I suspect a lot more care will go into this round of appointments for the first ones were based soley on sectarian party lines alone. Not very smart as we have all now seen. With 70% illiteracy rate, I suspect it is not an easy task to find intellectuals.

Good luck and health to all, Mike

The Presidency will hold a meeting attended by Prime Minister and confirms

(Voice of Iraq) - 16-05-2007
Republic of Iraq
Presidential Office
Press Office

News : Presidential Council will hold a meeting attended by Prime Minister and emphasizes the need for cooperation and integration and joint action
May 16, 2007

The full membership of the Presidential Council held a joint meeting with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, at the residence of the President of the Republic in Baghdad on Tuesday, 5-15-2007.

And President Talabani, in a press statement jointly with the members of the Council and the Prime Minister, after the meeting, the need to continue the meetings on a regular basis in order to reach results that would contribute to finding solutions to all issues that concern the country.

His Excellency, explained that "the Prime Minister asked the meeting to discuss all matters relating to audit and cooperation and integration", and said that consensus had been consistent in this regard.

And His Excellency expressed the hope that these meetings are a good sign and a good start for a joint quartet, "adding that" the political council of national security will meet tomorrow to continue the search in these things and move forward towards success. "

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister stressed that "the political process and baskets need for greater coordination, and had set the headlines referred to by His Excellency the President and of the need for cooperation, integration and audit."

Maliki and stressed the importance of cooperation between the presidency and prime minister, and said, "We should cooperate when the need arises, and to integrate with us as a single institution to address important one, and we call for a review of all cases that may have discovered that they need to do this."

And Premier pointed out that "the atmosphere started to feel the real need to create a national front monolithic, meaning a team capable of shouldering the tasks entrusted to us in this difficult phase."

In contrast, stressed Vice President Tariq Al-Hashmi on the need to modify disputed articles in the Constitution. His Excellency in this regard "stress positions principled and moral and legitimate about the importance of amending the Constitution", and expressed his hope said that the 60th parliamentary committee in charge of revising paragraphs of the Constitution and its mandate to make recommendations on making the necessary amendments to the Constitution.

And added : "We also learned the basic issues there is still disagreement within the Commission and therefore I think it will be granted an additional period for the purpose of discussing the core issues during the week of contentious of time or until the end of this month."

Vice-president stressed that this additional period to be granted to the PA, will enable them to conduct further consultations with the heads of political blocs and entities in order to identify their views on these issues.
Hashemi and hoped that the Committee should submit its final recommendations during the time ceiling agreed in the near future.

And in response to a press question on the cabinet reshuffle, the Prime Minister said "we had presented a list to the House, the names of candidates to fill these bags, the Council has objected to two of them, and we are Tbdelham and raise new names to the House next week."


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Wednesday, May 16, 2007 Jordan to receive $18 discount on Iraqi oil
(MENAFN) Iraq's Minister of Planning stated that the central government of Iraq has decided to give Jordan $18 discount on the international price of each barrel of oil, Iraq Directory reported. He also went on to state, during the fourth international exhibition for the reconstruction of Iraq which took place in Amman recently, that a pipeline will need to be constructed between Iraq and Jordan for optimum output. He further concluded that though the current security situation in Iraq is a very complicated one, it will not prevent the construction of the oil pipeline.
Copyright ©2000 MENAFN

Wednesday, May 16, 2007 Iraq to receive an additional 50,000 tons of wheat
(MENAFN) A spokesman for the Iraqi Trade Ministry announced that the country has received fifty thousand tons of American wheat and another twenty-nine thousand of rice from Thailand, Iraq Directory reported. He further said that an additional 150 thousand tons of American and Canadian wheat and 32 thousand tons of Thai rice are expected to be imported by the end of this month. It is worth mentioning that between the months of January and March, Iraq purchased one million tons of American wheat and 400 thousand tons of Canadian wheat and that Iraq requires an approximate 340 thousand tons of wheat monthly.
Copyright ©2000 MENAFN

SEE HIGHLIGHTED....ELECTRONIC TRANSFERS????


Posted by: nakr2004 on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 - 02:18 PM

Iraq-Currency
Higher Demand for dollar in daily auction
By Dergham Mohamed Ali
Baghdad, May 16, (VOI) – Demand for the dollar was higher in the Iraqi Central Bank’s daily auction on Wednesday, reaching $56.830 million compared with $52.135 million on Tuesday.
In its daily statement the bank said it had covered all bids, which included $4.680 million in cash and $53.150 million in foreign transfers, at an exchange rate of 1,260 dinars per dollar, one tick lower than yesterday.
None of the 16 banks that participated in today's auction offered to sell dollars.
Abdul-Razzaq al-Abaiji, an economist, told VOI "the lower demand for cash was accompanied with an increase in transfers due to facilities provided by banks and exchange offices to increase foreign transfers."
The Iraqi Central Bank runs a daily auction from Sunday to Thursday

Hashemi threatens to take a "historic" in the event of non-fulfillment
(Voice of Iraq) - 16-05-2007

Hashemi threatens to take a "historic" in the event of failure to fulfill the obligations

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A Tariq Hashemi Iraqi Vice President on Wednesday to take a "political and historical" in the event of failure by parties involved in the political process regarding their commitment to review the clauses of the Iraqi Constitution.

Hashemi said in a statement that it renews its position and the position of the Islamic Party, which is headed by "firm on the issue of amending the Constitution .. It will have political and historical position in the event of failure to implement what was agreed on the amendment of the Constitution. "

The statement added that the re-Hashemi in a meeting held on Tuesday evening and attended by the Presidency members, including Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki reminded "the leaders of the political blocs about the obligations of article 142."

Article 142 of the Constitution of the commitment of the House of Representatives set up a committee of its members "whose mission is to report to the House within a period not exceeding four months, which includes a recommendation for the necessary amendments that could be made to the Constitution."

The Constitution until 15 of this month to complete its work.

The article 142 has been added to the Iraqi Constitution in 2005 after negotiations led by the Iraqi Islamic Party with the Shiite and Kurdish parties that participated significantly in the drafting of the constitution amid Sunni province.

And the cradle to reach agreement on this article to return the Islamic Party to the political process a step helped a lot in passing the draft constitution in the referendum was the end of 2005.

The participation of the Islamic party then represent only part of the year the Arabs in the political process.

Salim al-Jabouri member of Parliament and member of the Committee, which made amendments to the Constitution said that the Commission submitted its report on a review of the constitution to parliament on Tuesday, although it did not reach a definitive solution to a number of issues.

He added that the committee members agreed on an initial report and they now consult with their political parties on the proposals.

The statement said that parties gathered Hashemi agreed "to continue such meetings to resolve some of the files and issues."

The Iraqi Islamic Party announced yesterday, Tuesday, that he did not find "no objections to granting the Commission more time to study and consultation and consensus so that it can investigate (the Committee) to make recommendations appropriate process nationally agreed."

The statement said the party, "the committee did not complete until today (Tuesday) reviewing several of the key issues contested and thus it is expected to extend the period for a week or more."

And the Republican Party in his key points that are still controversial political parties which "powers relating to the validity Territories (and the law) management of oil, gas and reference and the primacy of the Constitution and federal laws."

He said he remembered the political blocs that participated Islamic Party "at the last minute negotiations in August 2005 (August) that its consent to the addition of Article 142 mean ethical and moral commitment ... In contributing in good faith and fairness in the amendment of the constitution amendment real satisfies all of the Iraqi people. "

He added, "If not done and proved unserious parties concerned and the desire amendment does not exceed the surface things .. And there are some who try to gain and keep the draft amendment through additions are worthless, the Iraqi Islamic Party ... Will not hesitate to say aphorism chapter ... If he felt that entities committed in the amendment have abandoned its commitments. "

The Committee on Constitutional Support of the United Nations had warned two days before the obstacles facing the Commission in writing the constitution in a balanced formula that satisfies all parties.

The committee said that to achieve success "depends on that all political parties not to adhere to its basic red and making compromises."


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Iraq denies the reports of American smuggling huge quantities of oil
16 / 05 / 2007
Radio Sawa-Baghdad

Spokesman denied the Iraqi oil ministry Asem Jihad news reports made by the CAA and the government in Washington from smuggling crude oil, which reports estimated value of $ 15 million daily.

The jihad in an interview with "Radio Sawa" to the export ports in southern Iraq are under the protection of the multinational forces, drawing attention to security and administrative procedures for the export of crude oil :

He said that the report did not distinguish between smuggling crude oil and oil derivatives smuggling, reminding Jan report refers to the smuggling of about 300 thousand barrels per day :

A ministry spokesman Assem Jihad oil absence of measuring devices, "counters" for the calculation of quantities of oil extracted from wells for export :

He explained Jihad mechanism calculating variances month, explaining that the multinational forces did not monitor that smuggling :

Between Ministry spokesman Assem Jihad confirmed that oil exports from Iraq's daily crude oil estimated at about one million, six hundred thousand barrels per day :

The New York Times reported last Saturday that Iraq lost daily in the amount of 5 to 15 million dollars of oil because of corruption or smuggling. The newspaper said according to a report by the American government since four years disappear between 100 to 300 thousand barrels of oil per day of Iraqi production, which nearly 2 million barrels a day.

The report did not refer to the fate of the missing oil, but this strengthens suspicions regarding intervention smugglers or insurgents or corrupt officials in the Iraqi oil sector. The report is likely to be published next week, several explanations, including the possibility that Iraq always exaggerate in assessing the level of production.