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

Australian program aids Iraq reconstruction

The Australian Government released a report on Australia's aid program to Iraq from 2007 to 2010.

The goal of the program is to support the Iraq reconstruction effort by improving the quality of life of the Iraqi people and strengthening governance systems and security. Australia has an interest in a secure and democratic Iraq.

In the face of challenges, Iraq continues to make progress in important areas. Significant achievements include the adoption of the new Iraqi Constitution, national elections in 2005 and the formation of a national unity government in 2006. Economic reforms are opening up market opportunities in many areas in Iraq. Service delivery is improving as reforms and investments occur.

Iraq's Development Priorities

The Iraqi Government is working with the international community to address the many challenges facing the country. It is focusing on meeting basic needs, such as ensuring access to adequate food, water and power, protecting the rights of its citizens and ensuring the optimal use of resources.

Iraq has prepared a National Development Strategy for 2005 to 2007, outlining its plans to develop a peaceful, democratic and prosperous nation that is fully integrated into the global economy. The strategy lists four reconstruction priorities: strengthening the foundations of economic growth; revitalizing the private sector; improving the quality of life for Iraqi people; and strengthening good governance and security.

In July 2006 the Iraqi Government and the United Nations launched the International Compact for Iraq, which aims to reform Iraq's economic, political, security and social sectors with the support of the international community.

Helping to Rebuild Services and Systems

Australia's assistance to Iraq supports the development objectives of the Iraqi Government. During 2007 to 2010, Australia will continue to support programs to improve basic services and build Iraq's capacity in key sectors such as economic management; law and justice, human rights and public sector reform.

Australia is maximizing the impact of its aid by focusing on specific opportunities and sectors which could benefit most from its expertise, such as agriculture.

From March 2003 until June 2007, Australia has committed over A$173 million to reconstruction, rehabilitation and humanitarian projects in Iraq through the aid program. In 2004, Australia agreed to forgive 80 percent of Iraq's debt, totaling about US$850 million.

Australian program aids Iraq reconstruction | Iraq Updates

Temporary closure of Najaf's cement plants

Najaf, Nov 8, (VOI) – Najaf's cement factories will be temporarily closed down for 20 days for violating environmental conditions, an official source from the province said on Thursday.

"Najaf's Council for Environment Protection has unanimously agreed on Thursday morning to close down two cement factories in Najaf and Kufa affiliated with the Southern General Company for Cement from September 10-30, 2007," the media director in Najaf, Ahmed Dubeil, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).

"The decision was taken in the light of the great damage caused by these factories and the spread of respiratory and skin diseases among local residents because of the lack of dust filters," Dubeil indicated.

According to Dubeil, the factories may face the same fate in the future if no adequate guarantees are offered by the Ministry of Industry and the representative of the cement company.

Najaf, Iraq's most sacred Shiite city, lies 160 km southwest of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.


Aswat Aliraq

Statement by Spokesman on Behalf of Kurdistan Region Presidency about Mutaki’ Statement on Kirkuk

Spokesman on Behalf of Kurdistan Region Presidency said the following statement about the statement of the Iranian FM, Manuchahir Mutaki concerning Kirkuk: News channels announced news about a statement by the Iranian FM, Manuchahir Mutaki, which is an idea of postponing the implementation of article 140 of the Iraqi permanent constitution till 2 years.

These statements, from any side, are not acceptable and they are against the Iraqi constitution and a clear interference in the internal affaires of Iraq and they lead to complication of the situation, not their solution. Kurdistan Region Presidency asks that the Iraqi people will and its constitution to be respected and interference in Iraq’s own affairs to be stopped.

Spokesman on Behalf of Kurdistan Region Presidency

PUKmedia :: English - Statement by Spokesman on Behalf of Kurdistan Region Presidency about Mutaki’ Statement on Kirkuk

Sulaimani – Arbat High Way was opened

In attendance of KRG Minister of Housing and Reconstruction, Emad Ahmed, and several high officials, KRG deputy PM, Omar Fattah opened Sulaimani -Arbat high way today.

KRG deputy PM pointed out the importance of the project and said: “Such a project has its own importance, since it is the main road between Kurdistan region and Iran, clarifying that KRG has paid a great importance to thee KRG Ministry of Housing and Reconstruction and allocated complete budget for the ministry.

Sulaimani -Arbat high way is about 14 km length, 8 m width, and cost 26 billions and 296 millions ID which was allocated by KRG.

PUKmedia :: English - Sulaimani – Arbat High Way was opened

Another article on the contacts

Iraq: New Oil Contracts approved for global firms in Kurdistan

Erbil, 8 Nov. (AKI) - The regional government of Kurdistan in Iraq has signed a number of multimillion dollar agreements with international companies for oil exploration and development, de****e opposition from Baghdad.

In a media statement released on an official website, the Kurdish government's minister of natural resources, Ashti Hawrami, said: "Erbil had signed seven new oil contracts with several international companies, bringing to 20 the total number of accords to now."

"With these new contracts, the regional government can develop a production capacity of a million barrels a day within the next five years," the statement said.

The minister said: "There are many requests from international oil companies that want to add to their drilling development in Kurdistan and we are happy to satisfy these requests. "

Among the oil companies that have won these new contracts are the European company Aktiengesellschaft that operates in the province of Erbil, Kalegran Limited and Reliance Energy Limited, which work in Dahuk as well as another company that was not named in the statement.

"New oil discoveries under these contracts will bring large amounts of new revenues for sharing throughout Iraq, and locally refined petroleum products will help the people of the Kurdistan Region and the whole of Iraq, who now suffer from costly black market imports," the minister said.

"It will spell the beginning of the end of the wasteful fuel subsidies of the federal government, and the corruption and crime that goes with them."

The combined initial exploration investments on a number of projects announced this week will be approximately 500 million dollars.

The endorsement of the petrol contracts with foreign firms has provoked a serious crisis between Erbil and Baghdad, where the oil minister had declared void every agreement signed before the release of a federal law on oil and gas, actually stalled in the parliament.

The law threatens sanctions against oil companies that launch investment oil projects in the autonomous region of Kurdistan.

AKI - Adnkronos international Iraq: New oil contracts approved for global firms in Kurdistan

President, U.S. delegates: Contentious issues to be resolved by end of this year

Iraqi President Jalal al-Talabani and a visiting U.S. delegation in Baghdad stressed the need for settling controversial issues in Iraq by the end of 2007, a presidential statement said on Thursday.

Al-Talabani received at his Baghdad-based residence a U.S. delegation, which included U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker and Ambassador David Satterfield, the senior adviser on Iraq to the US Secretary of State.

"The meeting tackled the Iraqi political process, current challenges and ways to deal with unresolved issues," according to the statement.

The Iraqi president and U.S. delegates highlighted the importance of putting the recent statement signed by five Iraqi political blocs into effect and encouraged cooperation and coordination between the presidency council and the prime minister to achieve national reconciliation and pass key draft laws, the statement indicated.

A joint statement promoting national reconciliation was signed in late August 2007 by representatives from the four-way alliance, including the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council (SIIC), the Shiite Daawa Islamic Party, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), in addition to the Sunni Iraqi Islamic Party.

http://www.iraqupdates.com/p_articles.php/article/23790

Personal Security for Government Officials reduced next year

The Iraqi Ministry of Interior said on Thursday it will cut back on security guards assigned to protect senior Iraqi government officials starting next year, in response to a request from the Iraqi cabinet.

"The ministry will largely reduce the number of personal security guards assigned to protect government and local officials," Major General Abdul Kareem Khalaf al-Kanani, the head of the ministry's National Command Center, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).

"The procedure will also include a reduction in arms and walkie-talkies used by security personnel," al-Kannani added, explaining that the decision was made in the light of the improved security situation in Baghdad and other Iraqi provinces.

The decision was made in response to instructions given by the Iraqi cabinet, he indicated.

Personal security for government official reduced next year | Iraq Updates

Demand for dollar stable in daily auction

Baghdad, Nov 8, (VOI) - Demand for the dollar was almost stable in the Iraqi Central Bank’s auction on Thursday, reaching $ 87.550 million compared to $87.895 million on Wednesday.

In its daily statement, the bank said it had covered all bids, including $10.250 million in cash and $77.300 in foreign transfers, at an exchange rate of 1,229 dinars per dollar, unchanged from yesterday.

None of the 17 banks that participated in Thursday's session offered to sell dollars.

The Iraqi Central Bank runs a daily auction from Sunday to Thursday.

Aswat Aliraq

Iraq oil Cities see more violence

A new round of violence in and around Iraq’s two oil capitals, Basra and Kirkuk, highlights the threat of internal discord, not external threats.

Around 11 billion of Iraq’s 115 billion barrels of Iraq’s proven oil reserves are in the Kirkuk area; 80 percent of the reserves are in and around Basra.

Tensions are mounting in Kirkuk as the city, which is claimed by Kurds as historically theirs, faces a controversial referendum. Voters in it and other disputed territories are to decide whether to join the Kurdistan Regional Government’s jurisdiction.

Iraq’s Sunni Arabs are the leading opponents of this.

In Basra, the area is controlled by Iraqi Shiites. Exactly which group will rule the area is not decided by election so much as it is decided by militias affiliated with political and religious groups.

McClatchy Newspapers reports 13 people were injured Thursday when a suicide bomber attacked the Kirkuk headquarters of the Kurdistan Democratic Party. The KDP is one of two major Kurdish parties that run the KRG and make up the ruling coalition in Baghdad.

In Basra, the head of education’s motorcade was hit by an improvised explosive device, though he was not traveling in the caravan, and a roadside bomb injured four of the Basra police chief and commander of Basra's operation center’s caravan.

International Security - Energy - Briefing - UPI.com

Report: 14 percent of Iraqis now displaced

The Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction offered a generally optimistic picture of security developments in Iraq in his quarterly report to Congress on Tuesday, but noted that while violence was down, one of every seven Iraqis — 14 percent of Iraq's population — is now displaced by the war.

The report said that electricity production in Iraq reached its highest level since early 2003, in part because insurgent attacks on power-lines and repair crews have declined. Corruption, however, remains a major problem, the report said.

The deaths of 72 civilian contractors working on U.S.-funded projects in Iraq were reported to the U.S. Department of Labor during the third quarter of the year, a 22 percent increase over the average of previous quarters, the report said.

The deaths brought to 1,073 the number of civilians working on U.S.-funded projects who've died in Iraq since the war there began, the report said. The report did not say how the 72 died.

Private companies with U.S. contracts are required to report any deaths to the Department of Labor under U.S. regulations.

The report, which was released on the same day Special Inspector General Stuart Bowen testified before a congressional subcommittee, also said that the number of mortar and rocket attacks on the Green Zone in Baghdad during the quarter had declined to the lowest levels in a year. But mortar and rocket attacks on Camp Victory, where the U.S. military is headquarters, increased during the same period. Attacks there killed one person on Sept. 11 and two people on October 11, the report said.

McClatchy Washington Bureau | 11/06/2007 | Report: 14 percent of Iraqis now displaced