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

MPs reject oil bill's current wording
By Monther Mohammed Zahi
Baghdad, May 20, (VOI) -The new draft oil law has sparked heated controversy in Iraqi political circles, with some parliamentarians ruling out the possibility of passing it in its current wording which stipulates that oil revenues should be distributed according to the population of the Iraqi provinces.
"The distribution of Iraq's oil wealth is a point of dispute that prevents the passing of the bill," MP Bassim Sharif from the Fadhila Islamic Party told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
"Iraq's production of oil in 2006 was equal to its production in 2002, after the implementation of the UN's oil-for-food program in the aftermath of the first Gulf War in 1991. However, Iraq is currently suffering from heavy losses from sabotage and oil smuggling," Sharif explained.
"The Iraqi parliament's approval of the draft oil law, after making necessary amendments, will be a significant breakthrough in the political and economic transformation of Iraq," Sharif added.
MP Harith al-Obeidi from the Iraqi Accordance Front (IAF) told VOI that the amendments must be made to some articles of the Iraqi constitution, according to which the controversial draft oil law was formulated.
"The front calls for giving the federal government more authority than the Iraqi provinces, with particular regard to the exportation of Iraqi oil. All suggestions for giving Iraqi provinces the freedom to import and export oil will ultimately prove erroneous," al-Obeidi indicated.
MP Mahmoud Uthman from the Kurdistan Alliance attributed the delay in the oil bill's passing to the "obscurity of some sections of the proposed draft law, the most important of which are those concerning oil imports and the mechanism of their distribution."
In response to the IAF's calls for giving the federal government full authority to export and import Iraqi oil, Uthman said that if put into effect these proposals "will return the country to an era of dictatorship," noting "the Kurdish people suffered a lot from centralization."
Moreover, Uthman claimed that the U.S. administration, represented by former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad, had put pressure on the leaders of Iraqi political blocs to speed up the formulation of the draft oil law, which he said "was made to serve U.S. interests."
An oil expert, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told VOI that the Iraqi parliament will not approve the draft law in its current form. "The bill is full of loopholes that require further reading and thorough revision," he said.

Bill-Parliament :: Aswat al Iraq :: Aswat al Iraq

Who are the real beneficiaries of Iraq’s oil law?
By Emma Sabry



19 May 2007 (Aljazeera)

Iraq’s oil revenue-sharing law, one of the main “benchmarks” set for the Iraqi government by the Bush administration, was introduced as a key step toward uniting Iraq’s religious and ethnic groups. But now some analysts say the law could further escalate sectarian tensions in the war-torn country.

The law, drafted by Iraqi and U.S. officials, is strongly backed by the Bush administration, the Congress and the Iraq Study Group, whose 2006 report said such a law was needed to “create a fiscal and legal framework for investment" in the oil industry, where Iraq is considered a key player as it holds the world's second-largest proven oil reserves after Saudi Arabia. But the oil law’s status as a benchmark for progress in Iraq is stirring debate in Baghdad and Washington, according to an article on the Christian Science Monitor.

The Bush administration is angered by the Iraqi government’s perceived foot-dragging in passing the oil law. But the oil legislation is being closely examined in the United States as the Democrat-controlled Senate inches closer to drafting a new war-funding bill that includes benchmarks for progress in Iraq. Some American officials started to question the substance of the oil bill, particularly whether it really aims at easing Iraq’s sectarian tensions or granting international firms a substantial role in the country’s vast oil fields.

"While we can't confirm it, there are enough reports out there that appear to indicate that undue, unfair preference and the influence of our oil companies are part of the Iraqi hydrocarbon law, and if that is true, that is not correct," says Rep. Joe Sestak, a former admiral and defense adviser to the Clinton administration. "The aim of benchmarks is to help the process along, but we need benchmarks that are appropriate for the Iraqis and the Americans – not just our economy but our ideals."

Many in the U.S. and Baghdad express fears that the draft oil law says little about sharing oil revenues among Iraqi Shias, Sunnis and Kurds, and a lot about setting up a framework for investment that would benefit foreign companies and harm the Iraqis over the long term. Opposition intensified this week after a coalition of oil industry watchdog groups and peace activists called on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Harry Reid to dismiss the Iraqi oil law as a benchmark for progress in Iraq. "If Democrats are perceived to be advocating withdrawal [of U.S. troops] only after access to Iraqi oil has been assured, this will do little to reassure critics," says Steve Kretzmann, executive director of Oil Change International, a watchdog group.

Hasan Jum'a Awwad, head of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions, reiterated this view last week in an open letter to Democrats in which he urged U.S. Senators “not to link withdrawal [of U.S. troops] with the oil law, especially since the U.S. claimed that it came to Iraq as a liberator and not in order to control Iraq's resources."

In Baghdad, many Iraqi lawmakers say the oil law is too complex and they shouldn’t be rushed to finish it. It should be last issue, not the first, to be resolved, they argue. The Iraqi cabinet passed the draft law on Feb. 26 and was expected to submit it to parliament by March 15. The Bush administration wanted Iraqi MPs to approve the entire oil package by the end of this month, but the draft law hasn’t even been sent to parliament yet.

Iraqi opponents of the oil bill say it doesn’t address the issues that Washington claims it does. "The actual draft law has nothing to do with sharing the oil revenue," says former Iraqi oil minister Issam Al Chalabi. It aims at setting a framework for investment by foreign oil companies, including favorable production-sharing agreements that are typically used to reward companies for taking on risk, he says.

"We know the oil is there. Geological studies have been made for decades on these oil fields, so why would we let them [international firms] have a share of the oil?" Chalabi wonders. "Iraqis will say this is solid proof that Americans have staged the war ... because of this law."

Oil industry analyst Fadel Gheit of Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., who reviewed the official Arabic version of the draft law and the unofficial English translation, says that both drafts are ambiguous and seem to be written in a hurry. He also raised concerns over a condition that stipulates that the Iraqi government should create a new Federal Oil and Gas Council that must include foreign partners, saying that the stipulation did "raise a red flag.”

Under the draft law, the council should carry out Iraqi oil policies and set criteria for foreign companies working in the industry. "Why shouldn't Iraq use Iraqi nationals to decide how the contracts will be awarded? They have oil engineers. Use the best brains in the country and, hopefully, they will do what is in the best interest of the country," Gheit says. "Otherwise, there's an impression that American companies are telling Iraqis what to do."

While acknowledging that Iraq needs foreign investment to help modernize its oil industry, Gheit said the oil law won’t ease the concerns of international companies who are reluctant to send their engineers into a nation in turmoil. "It's very difficult for oil companies to recruit people willing to work in the Iraqi oil fields. It's mayhem," he says.

Mohammed al-Dynee, an Iraqi MP representing the Iraqi Front for National Dialogue, a Sunni group, is currently in Washington in an attempt to persuade Congress to drop calls for the oil law. “The U.S. talks about the sovereignty of Iraq, but why are they getting involved in this oil law?" he says. "Even if this law can pass, which I doubt, it will remain ink on paper and will not be implemented on the ground."

Talks begin today between Baghdad and Kurdistan on the Law of Oil
Date : Sunday, May 20
Topic : latest news

It is expected to begin today, Sunday, in Baghdad, talks between the central government and the government of Kurdistan on the Law of Oil, which is still political leaders are hoping to pass when it was presented to Parliament during this May.

Sources government in Kurdistan there any differences between the territorial government and the central government with regard to some issues related to oil and natural wealth. He said natural sources in the territorial government Ahti seminar in press statements before heading to Baghdad with the head of the territorial government, "The topic of shared natural wealth and the oil that had not been agreed upon so far does not mean there is disagreement between the two sides." He explained that "all of the matter is that the government of Kurdistan region have their legitimate demands of the oil resources and enshrined in the Constitution," He pointed out that "the president of the territorial government Nigervan Barzani will attend all meetings and discussions to be held between the two sides this week in Arbil and talks Irbil and Baghdad seeks to develop other formulas to be more realistic, serious and safeguard the rights of all parties."
The statement of the Council of Ministers in the government of Iraq's Kurdistan region Nigervan Barzani said that the Chief Minister arrived in Baghdad on Saturday evening, heading a delegation of political and administrative territorial government.
The statement, which was broadcast on the web site of the government of Kurdistan on the Internet, that it is "expected to begin Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the region for meetings and meetings with officials in the federal government Sunday."
According to the statement, the talks will exchange views and opinions on a number of files such as oil and natural wealth and territorial budget and Public Peshmargas and military relations between the province and the federal government and the issue of permanent Iraqi constitution.
Accompanying Najirfan Barzani in his Sarkis Aga Jan, Minister of Finance and Minister of Waste seminar natural wealth in the government of Kurdistan region and a number of political and administrative assistants to the President of the Council of Ministers of the region and military officials in the province.

Anbar awakening : political entity to participate in the elections

Date : Sunday, May 20
Topic : latest news
A member in the Anbar awakening to the forces of awakening almost purge the city of Ramadi from terrorists who destroyed the city to their subversive long rights and infrastructure

He stressed that the forces also finished the Heat cleared areas and wetlands, and the Kubaisa Broanh and Baghdadi, but by the direction of Fallujah, modern and Huseibeh, Raweh has been slow because the formations of awakening is still simple.
He added that the drive relies on the basis of the people in the cities themselves how we work to hunt down the terrorists and to their knowledge of the ways used by terrorists and hiding places and other factors that make people much better cities in pursuit of terrorists than others.
He denied the member who is close to Starr Albsig President of the awakening that there be cooperation between the factions, security and organization of insurgents Anbar, pointing out that the task of this reorganization is to take revenge on the criminals who killed people returning almost unrelated to members of the organization.
He stressed that the forces awakening does not operate in a direct assassination or murder, but seeks to establish the rule of law and justice through the deposit arrested while in prison for determining what they deserve according to the rule of law, but did not rule out the possibility that mistakes occurred, some members of the factions, stressing that Congress hold accountable all those who commit mistakes without being no tolerance with them.
The other member of the awakening that the conference is planned to form a political entity with the accession of independent personalities from the intelligentsia and judges, who have the capacity to manage the country's affairs, stating that the conference will participate in the coming elections will be the name of the entity (the awakening Iraq) headed by Sheikh Sattar Albezie followed the rescue of Anbar, which is chaired by Sheikh Hamid Alhays.
He explained that the conference would not participate in any process leading real, but leave it to the personalities of technocrats take leadership, pointing out that the political program is not yet complete and would be announced shortly.

The Oil Ministry : Oil bill preserves the rights of everybody, away from political pressures

Date : Saturday, May 19
Topic : latest news
Asim Jihad said the spokesman for the Oil Ministry said the talks, and serious discussions will be held between the government of the Kurdistan region and the central government in Baghdad on points of disagreement which appeared in some oil supplements existing within the new oil law,

In an attempt to break By be acceptable to all parties, and thus move forward in the application of the provisions of the paragraphs of this law after it was ratified by the Iraqi parliament. He said «The ministry is waiting impatiently for the ratification of the law by parliament to proceed with the application in accordance with the powers conferred upon her so, in order to be communications with global companies, which are awaiting approval by the law formally unconfined ministry, but there will be substantial roles will be distributed to the relevant authorities. since there will be very significant role of the federal oil and the role of the ministry in Baghdad, and the role of the National Oil Company, and the role of the regions and provinces, so as not to exceed any party to the powers and set it within the law, to begin after the conclusion of contracts and direct operations drilling and oil exploration, According to the law oil ».
He explained that his ministry Jihad «put the supreme national interest above every other consideration, in order to achieve the sound management of the oil wealth in the country away from the narrow interests and political pressures exerted by certain parties in order to obtain greater benefits of this wealth through this law», pointing out that the law aims to ensure the rights of all Iraqi parties away from political influence and pressure, which should not have any role or influence on this law, the parliament has the responsibility so great, there must be a thorough study and analysis of the law in all respects to come to a conclusion that satisfies all classes ». Observations on the points at issue, which contained items that law objected to by the different actors, said «all the lapses and controversial points, and some parties have comments on certain paragraphs of the law, the existence of these outstanding points does not necessarily mean that the law was not good.

American newspaper : Abdul Aziz al-Hakim infected lung cancer
20/05/200720 / 05 / 2007

Radio Sawa-quoted by the Washington Post newspaper on the American officials did not remember saying that the name Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, head of the Supreme Council and the leader of the Iraqi Islamic Bloc coalition, the largest parliamentary blocs existed since last Thursday in the Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas in Houston to meet with spe******ts in oncology. The officials said that Hakim, who is 57 years old, came to the United States for further tests, and a plan for treatment after the disease has been diagnosed lung cancer. However, officials at the Supreme Council refrained from comment on the matter. The American officials to the Washington Post newspaper that Hakim smoked heavily, which may be behind the illness.

The newspaper quoted the American official as saying the American administration yesterday that President Bush had issued orders immediate transfer Hakim from Iraq to the United States.

The source added that Vice President Dick Cheney played a pivotal role in arranging meetings Hakim doctors in the American Army in Baghdad, where a person that suffers from cancer.

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we are gonna have all of iraq govt. in our hospitals pretty soon.

If and when they pass the HCL. It will not affect the dinar in any way. Until they get all of their debts negotiated! So at the end of the day. We are doing a [edit] ring around the rosy [/edit]-mrQ, or chasing the tail round and round again!

Oil protection force commander wounded, oil pipeline blasted
By Issam Tareq

Kirkuk, May 20, (VOI) – Gunmen attacked the oil protection force commander's patrol while others detonated an oil pipeline in an attack near the northern Iraq city of Kirkuk, an official security source said.

"The attack targeted a patrol of the 1st Infrastructure Brigade (Oil Protection) during the early hours of Sunday near the village of al-Safra on the Kirkuk-Baiji highway, (65 km) southwest of Kirkuk," a source from the Kirkuk police joint operations room told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI) on condition of anonymity.

Oil facilities in Kirkuk, 250 km northeast of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, have been targets for acts of sabotage since 2003, which has resulted in irregular exportation of Iraqi oil from the Kirkuk oilfields to the Turkish port of Ceyhan.

Iraq's oil ministry is has tried, during 2007, to build a new pipeline for export via the provinces of the Iraqi Kurdistan region, which enjoys relative security.

Losses and delays of Kirkuk's oil exports to Ceyhan, Turkey, are estimated at billions of dollars.

linky...
Kirkuk-Attack :: Aswat al Iraq :: Aswat al Iraq

posting this here....check it out...pretty uplifting ! IMO...(mods, move it if it dont belong here)

Troops and Kids

Mottaki : American forces will stay spawns terrorism in the region ... Turki al-Faisal called on the Security Council to adopt a resolution to prevent the division of Iraq
20/05/200720 / 05 / 2007

اBarn (a. P. B) - Prince Turki al-Faisal called on former Saudi Ambassador to the United States yesterday to the UN Security Council adopting a resolution to prevent the division of Iraq and does not acknowledge any part trying to secede from Iraq. Faisal said before the participants at the World Economic Forum here on the shore of the Dead Sea in western Jordan "for Iraq think it is possible to do specific steps." He explained : "First, the Security Council adopting a resolution under Chapter VII declares the territorial integrity of Iraq at any price the sense that no part of Iraq is trying to separate himself from Iraq should not recognize or deal with any method or means or form, and that a State has no territorial ambitions in Iraq must not be allowed to also reach out to these ambitions. " He added Faisal, who is the chairman of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, "When I was ambassador in the United States, I always say that the United States entered Iraq without an invitation to do so and not now receive an invitation to leave or withdraw from Iraq."
Faisal was speaking at the symposium, which was shared by Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and Jordanian Prime Minister known Bakhit and the Crown Prince of Bahrain, Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa.

Turn it to the Iranian foreign minister that the United States withdraw from Iraq because the survival of their cause "terrorist activities" in the region.
Mottaki participants in the World Economic Forum, "We believe said that sooner or later have to decide to withdraw their forces from Iraq because they are the reason for the continuation of terrorist activities."
He explained that "unstable conditions and the continuation of the occupation remain the main problems facing the Iranian neighboring countries," pointing to the need to find "a solution of Understanding" to these issues.
The statements came Mottaki on the sidelines of meetings devoted to discussion of the stability of the borders in the Middle East.
The two sides will be the American and Iranian discussions at the ambassadorial level on May 28 in Baghdad on security conditions in Iraq which is the first contact between the two countries since three decades.
The parties agreed to limit discussions to the issue of the security of Iraq.

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