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

Iranian Consul in Erbil will be opened tomorrow

“The Iranian consul in Erbil will be opened Tomorrow, November the 5th”Hassan Kazimi Qumi, the Iranian ambassador in Iraq said today.

Concerning a new round of the Iranian- US talks about the situation in Iraq, the Iranian state-run ESNA news agency has quoted Qumi as saying that Iraq should ask US and Iran to resume a new round of talks about the situation in Iraq and that till now Iraq has not asked such a plea, and if Iraq to ask such a plea, after analyzing it, Iran will make its decision.

PUKmedia :: English - Iranian Consul in Erbil will be opened tomorrow

Demand for dollar sharply drops in daily auction

Baghdad, Nov 4, (VOI) - Demand for the dollar was sharply lower in the Iraqi Central Bank’s auction on Sunday, reaching $37.615 million compared to $69.745 million on Thursday, as traders apparently attempted to press the exchange rate down.

In its daily statement the bank said it had covered all bids, including $7.955 million in cash and $29.660 in foreign transfers, at an exchange rate of 1,232 dinars per dollar, unchanged for the 17th session in a row.
None of the 13 banks that participated in Sunday's session offered to sell dollars.

In statements to the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI), Ali al-Yasseri, a trader, attributed the lower demand for the dollar in Sunday's session to the stable exchange rate for the 17th session running.

"Traders are trying to press the exchange rate at the auction down after it was stable for the last 17 sessions, the longest stable rate at an auction for over a year," al-Yasseri said.

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

Aswat Aliraq

British forces destroy missile firing base in Basra

Basra, Nov 4, (VOI) – British forces destroyed a base used to fire missiles in western Basra on Saturday night, the Multi-National Force (MNF) in southern Iraq said.

"British forces spotted a missile-launching base in a non-residential area near the al-Shoala neighborhood, (9 km) western Basra," Maj. Matthew Bird, the media spokesman for the MNF in southern Iraq, said.

"The British soldiers opened artillery fire at the base, destroying it and three missiles without any casualties reported," Bird said.

The British troops are stationed in one base in the Basra International Airport, 25 km northwest of the city, after withdrawal from the former presidential palaces base last month to hand them over to the Iraqi authorities.

The Britons keep a force of 5,250 soldiers within the MNF in Iraq. A total 1,850 troops were withdrawn during the past few months. Britain is the United States' prime ally in the occupation of Iraq in March 2003.

Basra is 590 km south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

Aswat Aliraq

130 million for reconstruction and compensating victims and to ensure the ration items supply

The Cabinet has allocated another 130 million to compensate the victims and reconstruct the province of Anbar, as confirmed by Finance Minister, Baqir Jabr Zubaidi, during his meeting with former Defense Minister, Saadoun Dulaimi, as well as chairman and members of the Council of Supporting the Province; while Trade Minister, Dr. Abdul Falah Al-Sudani, stressed in a similar meeting yesterday that one of the top priorities of the ministry is to provide food security for all citizens of the province in coordination with the members of the Council.

The Finance Minister said the Cabinet allocated $50 million to compensate the victims and $80 million for the reconstruction campaign of Al-Anbar; the province's quotas in the amounts of both 2006 and 2007 were launched to reach a total of more than $250 million aimed at the advancement of services provided to citizens, along with compensation for the victims of terrorism and subversion which the province have suffered from throughout the recent years. Instructions were also given to open two governmental banks, in response to the request of the Council's members, for the purpose of providing banking services for the people of Al Anbar.

Minister of Trade confirmed at a similar meeting yesterday included the sheikh of Al-Duleim tribes, Ali Hatem Al-Suleiman, and chairman of Al-Anbar Support Council, Sheikh Hameed Alhais and members of the Council that one of the top priorities of the ministry is to ensure food for the population in the province through forming committees to check inventory and prepare a plan to provide food for the coming months, including the provision of all components of the ration card.

He referred to the agreement with the Council to the participation of local suppliers in the province to supply items of the ration card through a contract with them as a direct procurement. The two ministers highly appreciated the role played by the sons of Al-Anbar in the pursuit of the remnants of terrorism and the restoration of security throughout the province. Members of the Council confirmed their readiness to provide protection for the State institutions in the province and secure roads for trucks transporting ration items and protect depots of the ministry's companies that provide agents in the province with foodstuffs, praising the two ministries affinity with the full demands.

http://www.iraqdirectory.com/DisplayNews.aspx?id=4870

Rehabilitating Trebeel and Safwan border compounds

Technical and engineering cadres at the General Office for Premises in the Ministry of Construction and Housing completed the rehabilitation and development of Trebeel compound and 87% of the work in Safwan border compound. An official source in the ministry said in a press statement that the work of rehabilitating and development of Trebeel border compound in the province of Anbar included restoration of the hotel building and the hall attached to it, as well as maintaining three wells, indicating that the total cost of the project amounted to 750 million dinars. As for the accomplished work in rehabilitating and developing Safwan border compound in Basrah, it reached more than 87%, indicating that work continues to complete the project on schedule.

http://www.iraqdirectory.com/DisplayNews.aspx?id=4871

Another similar article to one I posted yesterday about draft laws - this time mentions ratifying them.

Istanbul conference recommendations dominate Baghdad press

Baghdad, Nov 4, (VOI) – Iraqi newspapers on Sunday focused on the recommendations from the Istanbul-based conference for Iraq's neighboring countries which closed yesterday and sideline meetings between the participants.

In its coverage of the conference, the independent daily al-Mada newspaper published a main report in which it said, "The Istanbul conference concluded with calls for government support, a firmer grip on joint border security and a pledge by Baghdad to take prompt measures against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and combat terrorism. The conference's final statement stressed that Iraqi land will not be used as a base to launch terrorist attacks against neighboring countries."

On the sidelines of the conference, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki explained to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that conditions are now more favorable for the ratification of several draft laws, forwarded by the Iraqi government to the parliament, including the draft laws on oil and gas, and accountability and justice, the newspaper said.

The government-funded al-Sabah newspaper published a main headline that read, 'Istanbul conference: Behind closed doors meetings, encouraging final statement.' According to the newspaper, sideline meetings between heads of the delegations overshadowed the conference. "During his meeting with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, al-Maliki stressed the Iraqi armed forces' increased abilities and their readiness to take over security duties in Iraqi provinces and highlighted a major leap in economic growth and a fall in inflation and unemployment rates," the newspaper wrote.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during an inaugural speech in the conference, urged neighboring countries to take firm steps against "groups practicing terrorism in Iraq" in reference to the PKK, considered by Turkey as "terrorist" organization.

Erdogan revealed his country's readiness to realize security and stability and bolster national reconciliation in Iraq. "We have to continue re-building Iraq," Erdogan said in his speech with the Iraqi premier sitting next to him.

Baghdad newspaper, issued by former Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi's al-Wifaq Movement, published the following main headlines: 'Allawi: Iraqis want to remain united,' 'Speaker: Vote on ministers of agriculture, health is void' and 'Government did not clamp down on oil smugglers.'

Al-Bayyina al-Jadida, another independent daily, published an article entitled, 'A certain victory,' by Ghayath Abdul Hamid in which he voiced his optimism about the ability of Iraqi security forces to achieve sweeping victory over al-Qaeda organization and stressed intelligence reports as a main weapon in the fight against al-Qqeda.

Aswat Aliraq

Iran urges Iraq to delay poll on volatile Oil City

Iran has urged Iraq to postpone a divisive referendum to decide the fate of Kirkuk, an ethnically mixed city that sits on giant oil fields, as part of a series of measures Tehran says will stabilise the country.

The plan was presented on Saturday by Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki at a meeting of Iraq's neighbours in Istanbul but was little noticed amid the frantic diplomacy to avert a Turkish incursion into Iraq to hunt down separatist rebels.

Iran's official IRNA news agency said Mottaki proposed a two-year delay for the referendum, due by Dec. 31, which will decide whether the city is incorporated into Iraq's largely autonomous Kurdistan region.

An Iranian official familiar with the plan said Tehran believed Baghdad was already juggling too many divisive political issues, including how to share oil revenues equitably. Kirkuk was seen as one hot potato too many.

Iraqi officials said their delegation listened politely to the Iranian suggestion, part of a package of proposals that also urged Baghdad to begin a withdrawal of foreign troops.

"We accept the advice, but we refuse to let anyone interfere with Iraq's internal affairs," Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh told Reuters from Istanbul.

Iran says the plan was put forward to help bring stability to Iraq -- although Washington accuses Tehran of promoting violence and backing Shi'ite militias.

Iran has a Kurdish minority and, like Turkey, fears that if Iraqi Kurds control Kirkuk and its oil wealth, this could fuel Kurdish separatism.

Kirkuk, an ancient city 250 km (155 miles) north of Baghdad, is claimed by ethnic Kurds, Arabs and Turkish-speaking Turkmen. Kurds see it as their historical capital, but Arabs who moved there as part of Saddam Hussein's Arabisation plan in the 1970s want to stay under the control of the Baghdad government.

Analysts have warned that the dispute over the city's status could trigger an explosion of violence and possibly draw in neighbouring Turkey unless it is carefully handled. The city has witnessed frequent bombings and shootings in recent months.

MAKING IT OFFICIAL

Under the constitution, the referendum is due to be held by the end of the year, but the government has made no preparations, including holding a census.

While everyone agrees it is now too late to hold the referendum by Dec. 31, the government has yet to make an announcement postponing it and setting a new date.

But, asked whether the referendum would be held on time, Dabbagh said: "I don't expect that. Because of the security situation in Kirkuk we have not done a census, which needs to be done before a referendum."

Joost Hiltermann, an Istanbul-based analyst for the International Crisis Group, said a delay may be a good thing.

"The situation in Kirkuk will get explosive only if the referendum is scheduled and all the non-Kurds oppose it, or if the Kurds try to impose their military control over Kirkuk."

He said the Kurds, who also control the presidency and are a key player in Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's Shi'ite-dominated government, would insist on a new deadline and visible preparations for a referendum.

"But I don't see that happening," Hiltermann said. "The Americans don't care to do it, the Iraqi government certainly doesn't care to do it. The Kurds can take unilateral steps, but if they do that they would have everybody against them."

Senior Kurdish politician Najat Hasan, from the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), said a delay of a month or two was acceptable, but any longer would be a "gross violation" of the constitution. (Additional reporting by Mussab Al-Khairalla in Istanbul and Wisam Mohammed in Baghdad)

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/KHA144536.htm

Significant drop in air raids in Iraq: US

A "significant" fall in US air raids in Iraq has been recorded over the past few weeks, a top US air force officer told reporters on Sunday.

"Yesterday, for the first time in a long time, we dropped no ammunitions," said Major General David Edgington, a coordination director for the US-led multinational forces.

"We were called several times, but we dropped no ammunitions. This is an indication of an improved security situation."

Edgington also reported a drop in air raids in the past few weeks. "For the last three to four weeks, we saw a significant decrease of our interventions," he said.

"We are having less calls for kinetic operations. We are still there, but we have less calls."

US and Iraqi officials say violence across the war-ravaged country has been falling in the past few months since the full deployment of the extra 28,500 troops in a "surge" ordered by President George W. Bush in February.

Significant drop in air raids in Iraq: US - Yahoo! News UK

Foreign ministers meet to stabilize Iraq

Foreign ministers meeting in Turkey say an Iranian proposal to replace U.S. troops in Iraq would do nothing to stabilize the region.

The ministers, meeting in Istanbul Saturday, rejected Iran's proposal to replace the U.S. military with troops from Iran, Syria and other Arab states, The Washington Times reported.

U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan C. Crocker called Iran's proposal a "fantasy," The Times reported. Crocker attended the summit, the second in a series aimed at stabilizing Iraq.

Meanwhile, the Iraqi government Saturday pledged to support Turkey in routing Kurdish rebels from their base camps in northern Iraq.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, a Kurd, promised "visible measures" against the militant Kurdish Workers Party, or PKK, to halt their attacks against Turkey, the Times reported.

Foreign ministers meet to stabilize Iraq - UPI.com

Kurdish security forces close down party HQ in Duhuk

Duhuk, Nov 4, (VOI) – A Kurdish security force in Duhuk closed down the headquarters of the Kurdistan Democratic Solution Party (KDSP) in the city after closing its headquarters in Arbil and Sulaimaniya on Saturday due to its support for the Kurdistan Workers Party.

more.....

Aswat Aliraq