Thread: Archive Latest News - Think Tank - 03/11/07 - 31/12/07

Governor of Maysan: 60% of 2007 budget for sanitation projects

The governor of Maysan, Adel Mohawdar Al-Maliki, has said that 60% of the provinces' developement and projects reconstruction budget for 2007, which estimates at 96 billion dinars, was spent on sanitation and sewage systems covering all parts of the governorate.

These projects are hoped to be completed in mid 2008, and he added that the reconstruction projects executed within this budget included other sectors.

Engineer Al-Maliki, who was hosted by Maysan's governorate council, said "The spending process on reconstruction projects exceeded 40% which is a good proportion given the quality of the projects implemented in the governorate" pointing out that these projects included other sectors rather than sanitation projects.

The governor stated that projects in other sectors included housing projects, where a new complex of 504 apartments is being built in addition to electricity projects such as Al-Kahla district transmission station (18km south of Amara).

He added that work to build a second power generation station by an Iranian company will start soon, the station will be located near the transmission station in al-Kahla.

He added that many other projects in the health sector are being carried out including a maternity and university ho****al with a capacity of 400 beds, the work will also include building a residential complex for medical staff working in these ho****als.

Engineer Mohamed Shia'a Sabbar, member of reconstruction and development committee in the governorate council, has said that more than 500 sanitation and sewage projects have been executed within the budget of 2007.

Iraq Development Program - Governor of Maysan: 60% of 2007 budget for sanitation projects

Bill: Security firms answerable under Iraqi law

The Iraqi Ministry of Interior submitted to the government a draft law that makes foreign security contractors operating in the country liable under Iraqi law, a ministerial source said on Tuesday.

"The new bill cancels private security firms' immunity and overturns a measure known as Order 17, issued by the former civil administrator of Iraq, Paul Bremer," the head of the ministry's National Command Centre, Staff Maj. Gen. Abdul Kareem Khalaf al-Kanani, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).

The new legislation will punish security companies and personnel if they commit crimes against Iraqi civilians in accordance with law No. 11 of the year 1969, al-Kanani added.

The draft law was drawn up by the ministry in mid-November 2007 and sent to the cabinet and the state's Shura (Consultative) Council, which passed it on to the Iraqi parliament for approval. The bill is expected to come into force after a formal ratification from the parliament and the presidency council.

On September 16, personnel from the private U.S. security company Blackwater allegedly opened random fire after two mortar shells fell near a U.S. embassy motorcade that was passing in Sahat al-Nosur area, western Baghdad, killing 17 Iraqi civilians.

Media reports said that U.S. federal agents investigating the incident have found that at least 14 of the shootings were unjustified and violated deadly-force rules in effect for security contractors in Iraq.

The incident drew extreme indignation on the Iraqi streets as the Iraqi parliament called to restrict the work of private security companies in Iraq and to end a provision that protects the security companies from prosecution.

In another incident, employees from the Unity Resources Group, an Australian security company operating in Iraq, opened fire on two Iraqi women in central Baghdad's al-Karada neighborhood on October 9, 2007.

Aswat Aliraq

Presidency debates legislative process, objection to Bills

Iraq's presidency office held a seminar at a Baghdad hotel on recent developments in the legislative process and the presidency council's objections to draft laws, a presidential statement said on Tuesday.

"The seminar was attended by several representatives of parliamentary committees; an advisor to the Iraqi prime minister, Fadil Muhammad Jawad; a Supreme Criminal Council representative, Judge Hassan Aziz; and a Shura (Consultative) Council representative, Mustafa Hobi," read the statement that was received by the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).

"The participants agreed on several recommendations that aim at speeding up the passage of laws," according to the statement.

"A coordinating committee of presidency council and parliament members will be set up to discuss all objections and remarks made by the council's members on draft laws," the statement added.

Activating the role of the state's Shura Council in reviewing and drafting bills that are to be send to the parliament was one of the main issues raised during the seminar.

Aswat Aliraq

Parliament discusses inquisition draft law

The Iraqi parliament on Tuesday continued discussions on the Inquisition and Justice draft law as well as the extension of the Multinational Forces' presence in Iraq.

The session also witnessed the second reading of several draft laws on Iraq's joining a UNESCO agreement to protect its cultural heritage and the smuggled funds prohibited in local markets.

The opening session, chaired by Sheikh Khaled al-Attiya, deputy speaker, witnessed discussions on different items, as MP Safiya al-Suhail spoke about the sit-in staged by more than 100 chieftains from Diala in Baghdad's al-Rasheed hotel, noting that these chieftains have demands and want to present them to the parliament and the cabinet.

"The chieftains began a hunger strike this morning," she said, urging to form a parliamentary committee to listen to their demands.

Sheikh Khaled approved her demand and invited a representative from the demonstrators to meet with the parliament's presidency.

For his part, the legislator from the Unified Iraqi Coalition (UIC), Abbas al-Bayati called on the parliament to continue discussing draft laws de****e the absence of some members.

The Iraqi List's member Wael Abdul Latief criticized the performance of (Iraqna) mobile phone company in Iraq, urging to discuss this issue during the session, but Sheikh Khaled said that this issue is very important and has to be tackled in a separate session.

The deputy speaker announced the beginning of the 34th opened session to discuss the Inquisition and Justice bill.

"The parliament has to follow up the complaint raised against Baathists by a special committee," said MP Laila Kazem, suggesting toughening punishments against those who hide their affiliation to the Baath party.
The UIC's MP, Shaheed al-Jaberi, described Baathists as Saddam's slaves, asserting that "we can not describe the Baath as a party."

Earlier on Tuesday an informed cabinet source said the parliament inaugurated an ordinary session on Tuesday in the absence of Mashhadani, who reportedly had an indisposition and was taken to the Ibn Sina ho****al in Baghdad's heavily-fortified Green Zone.

The draft is an alternative for the debaathification law, enacted by former U.S. civil administrator Paul Bremer, who ruled Iraq after the fall of the former regime in April 2003.

Since it was first announced by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in June 2007, the draft law, dubbed the Inquisition and Justice Law, is facing fierce opposition and several reservations, mostly from the Sadrists, who occupy 30 seats in parliament.

Once the law is passed, about 30,000 Baathists, or members of the former ruling Baath Party, would be allowed to return to their original jobs and receive their retirement rights.

In the middle of the session, the parliament's Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, chaired the session and called on Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zibari to deliver his word.

"I was assigned by Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to attend this session and explain al-Maliki's message to be sent to the chief of the UN Security Council on the extension of the Multinational Forces in Iraq," the minister said.

Zibari also asked the speaker to hold a closed session, because "There are issues that should not be tackled with the media in attendance."
Some members objected holding a closed session, but al-Mashhadani insisted on banning the media from attending it.

Aswat Aliraq

Oil pipelines protection forces attacked

Brigadier Fawzi Mohammed Hassan, one of the advisors at the Interior Ministry was killed and his driver wounded in an armed attack in Jamiaa District. Moreover, four soldiers of oil pipelines protection forces were killed and another one kidnapped after unknown gunmen attacked them today at dawn in southern Kirkuk. In a separate incident, Major Abdul Fattah Al Khafagi of Huwayja police announced that a member of Kirkuk Awakening Council and Al Jibour tribal leader Sheikh Atallah Iskandar was killed with his driver when gunmen attacked their convoy.

Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network | Iraq News | Oil pipelines protection forces attacked

Iraq Cabinet to pay 12,000 district guards

Interior Ministry spokesman Brigadier-General Abdul Karim Khalaf announced that the government has ordered the ministry to take over responsibility of 12,000 guards of Iraqi neighborhoods carrying out patrols in Baghdad and surrounding regions, and to start paying those monthly wages while providing them special uniforms. Khalaf confirmed that these forces will be under the command of Iraqi Army and police while they would be deployed according to each region’s needs.

Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network | Iraq News | Iraq Cabinet to pay 12,000 district guards

Iraq to reopen Russian energy station

Iraqi Government is planning during the coming days to reopen the Russian energy station in which activities were suspended for move than a year on account of the withdrawal of Russian experts due to the security situation in Iraq. The reopening of the energy station will provide productivity estimated at 360 MW while it will offer 5,000 job opportunities.

Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network | Iraq News | Iraq to reopen Russian energy station

Accordance Front attends Parliament session

UN Chief’s envoy to Iraq Stefan De Mistura met with committee of foreign relations in Parliament in order to discuss main problems and hindrances facing Parliament’s work. Head of foreign relations committee Sheikh Humam Hammoudi affirmed that the meeting was successful and fruitful.

On the other hand, Accordance Front resumed its participation in Parliament sessions, ending its boycott, on account of imposing forced stay on its president Adnan Al Dulaimi. During the session, Parliament discussed Justice and accountability Law to which lawmakers observed a series of objections and remarks.

In another context, the office of election affairs related to the United Nations held a conference attended by first deputy speaker Khaled Al Attiye who confirmed the determination of participants to amend the electoral law of provinces council and reform the mechanism of implementation to name directors of provinces.

Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network | Iraq News | Accordance Front attends Parliament session

Kirkuk crisis heading towards compromise

Kirkuk’s province council crisis is heading towards compromise between the city’s Arabs and Kurds after initiatives and proposals have loomed over signs of a bilateral agreement. Head of Kirkuk Province Council Rizkar Ali announced that the agreement could lead to guarantee the return of Arabs to the city’s council and end their boycott after suspending their participation therein for more than a year in protest to the control of Kurdish parties. Ali, leader in Kurdistan Patriotic Union Party, headed by President Jalal Talabani, considered that the agreement is a positive step towards building up Kirkuk and enhancing peaceful coexistence in addition to allowing the participation of all parties in decision-making without discrimination or distinction. For his part, Arabs welcomed the agreement as the Arab member in the local council Racan Said Al Jibouri called to accelerate the implementation of the deal. Al Jibouri affirmed as well that Arabs will be granted for the first time the position of Kirkuk’s deputy governor and District council’s Vice President while positions will be distributed by 32% each to Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen as the rest is granted to the minorities of Chaldeans, Assyrians, Armenians and Sabians.

He added that the agreement guarantees the end of detainees’ issue legally and the end of arrests upon calls of Kirkuk people who have greatly suffered thereof.

In return to the Kurdish-Arabic compromise, Turkmen stand is still as nine members of the provinces’ council for Turkmen seats insist on their previous stands in order to end boycott. In this context, Turkmen Elli Party’s Vice President Ali Mahdi said Turkmen demands call to end arrests and marginalization and stresses the necessity of adopting Turkmen language as the official language in Kirkuk while their demands have not been addressed yet. Mahdi explained that Kirkuk includes three key and essential components, thus the problem is not solved by the return of a party and the neglect of another, noting that Turkmen have suffered fro Arab marginalization since three decades while they are subject to Kurdish injustice since four years.

Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network | Iraq News | Kirkuk crisis heading towards compromise

Muthanna Governor calls to increase province budget

Al Muthanna governor Ahmad Marsouk called on Iraqi government to work on increasing the province’s budget for the year 2008. For his part, Vice President Adel Abdul Mahdi affirmed that increasing the budget is subject to studying.

Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network | Economics News | Muthanna Governor calls to increase province budget