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Contracts to replace auction in selling Kirkuk crude-ministry
The Iraqi Oil Ministry has changed the process of selling Kirkuk crude via the Turkish Ceyhan port on the Mediterranean from the auction system to term contracts, a spokesman for the ministry said on Saturday.
"The system of selling Kirkuk crude via Ceyhan port will be based on term contracts rather than, up until yesterday, the auction system," Aasem Jihad told Aswat al-Iraq - Voices of Iraq - (VOI).
The spokesman explained "Kirkuk crude until recently was sold on auction system as whenever the Ceyhan oil reservoirs filled with oil pumped from Kirkuk in northern Iraq, an auction is made to sell the quantity –about five to six million barrels each time."
Jihad added "the auction system is no longer in effect after Iraqi oil exports from Kirkuk oilfields have stablized."
"Terms of contracting stipulate that the purchasing companies should have a good international record," he added.
Mostly, Iraqi oil exports from northern oilfields are interrupted as armed groups repeatedly target the pipelines carrying oil from Kirkuk to Ceyhan port in Turkey. The larger quantities of crude are usually exported through ports in the safe city of Basra in southern Iraq.
Aswat Aliraq
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Finance ministry to raise banks' capital
Iraqi Finance Minister Baqer Jabr al-Zubaydi said on Saturday that his ministry would raise the capital of private sector banks by upping allocations from $200 million to $1 billion.
"The government, in line with the market economy policies, has already launched mechanisms for equal opportunities between the public and private banks," Zubaydi said during a press conference after a meeting on promoting private sector banks.
He urged national banks to provide the best services for competition purposes. "Banks that offer more services remain on the competition arena. Any discrepancies might bring them out of competition," he said.
Zubaydi also called for following up money laundering of "terrorist" organizations' finance through the setting up of specialized sections inside banks.
On the repayment of Iraq's debts due for Kuwait, Zubaydi replied "although the Iraqi government is not convinced with these debts, we're still repaying them to show respect for international resolutions."
Iraqi Central Bank Governor Sannan al-Shebeibi said enhancing the private financial sector has become in line with the Iraqi constitution.
"The central bank has worked on maintaining the exchange rate of the Iraqi dinar versus the U.S. dollar and increasing the interest rate," said Shebeibi, adding banks have to turn from sheer financial institutions into commercial establishments.
Meanwhile, Hussein al-Azeri, the director-general of the Iraqi Commercial Bank, said the number of accredited banks has risen from seven to 14 in just six months.
Aswat Aliraq
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Sharp drop in dollar demand in daily auction
Demand for the dollar dropped sharply in the Iraqi Central Bank's auction on Sunday, registering at $25.825 million compared to $91.395 million on Thursday.
"The demand hit $7.625 million in cash and $18.360 million in money transfers outside the country, all covered by the bank at a stable exchange rate of 1,213 Iraqi dinars per dollar, unchanged for the fifth consecutive session," according to the central bank's daily bulletin which was received by Aswat al-Iraq - Voices of Iraq - (VOI).
The 15 banks participating in the auction offered to sell $2 million, which the bank bought at an exchange rate of 1,211 Iraqi dinars per dollar.
In statements to VOI, Ali al-Yasseri, an Iraqi trader, said that banks have delayed their remittances and decreased their cash bids to a minimum in an attempt to force the bank to lower its exchange rate. "However, the bank adopted a consistent policy and did not yield to pressure," he added.
The Iraqi Central Bank runs a daily auction from Sunday to Thursday.
Aswat Aliraq
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Trade ministry considers contracts with international food export companies
The Iraqi Ministry of Trade is studying three options for executing contracts with international food export companies, a ministerial statement said on Sunday.
During a meeting with representatives from companies dealing with the ration card system, Minister of Trade Abdul Fattah al-Sudani said that his ministry considered three options for carrying out contracts with food export companies: long-term tenders, short-term tenders and the constant supply of foodstuffs, according to the statement that was received by Aswat al-Iraq, Voices of Iraq, (VOI).
"Last year's experience in dealing with small traders and middlemen has proved unsuccessful," the statement quoted the minister as saying.
"It is for this reason that we decided to go for further options this year and enter into contracts with international companies," the minister added.
The ministry will put in tenders in developed countries, the statement indicated, revealing an intention to deal with countries, rather than individuals or companies.
Aswat Aliraq
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20,000 detainees to be released under general pardon law - source
The general pardon law introduced by the Iraqi government as part of national reconciliation efforts will include nearly 20,000 detainees in Iraqi custody, an official spokesman for the Supreme Judicial Council said on Saturday.
"The Iraqi government's general amnesty law will include 20,000 detainees in the prisons and d****tion centers of the Iraqi ministries of interior, justice and social affairs," Judge Abdul Sattar Birqordar said in statements to Aswat al-Iraq, Voices of Iraq, (VOI).
The law does not include those convicted by the Supreme Criminal Court or those charged with terrorism, kidnap, murder, rape, incest, or the smuggling of antiquities, Birqordar indicated.
The parliament returned the law to the government to make slight changes to it before a final vote is taken, the spokesman added.
On Thursday, an Iraqi member of parliament and deputy head of its human rights committee described the draft general pardon law as "unfair," saying it includes a narrow category of detainees. "The law is full of exceptions and serves a narrow category of detainees," MP Harith al-Obeidi from the Sunni Iraqi Accordance Front (IAF) told VOI.
The parliament's presidency adjourned its Wednesday session after the committee had demanded a postponement of the second reading of the draft law until amendments are made to it.
When asked about the number of those released thus far, Birqordar said, "A total of 12,150 detainees have been freed from Iraqi prisons since the implementation of the Fard al-Qanoon (Enforcement of the Rule of Law) security plan in February 2007."
Birqordar further revealed negotiations with the U.S. troops about the possibility of including Iraqi prisoners in U.S. military custody in the release, noting that about 60-70 prisoners are being released everyday from U.S. jails.
Last year, the Iraqi government announced a plan to release detainees who had been cleared of any wrongdoing as part of national reconciliation efforts.
There are an estimated 32,000 detainees in U.S. and Iraqi prisons and d****tion centers, according to official figures released by the Iraqi government. Of this number, 18,000 are in the U.S.-run Bucca d****tion center in Iraq's southern province of Basra while nearly 9,000 are in Krupper prison at Baghdad International Airport.
Aswat Aliraq
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PM receives IAF delegation, stresses reconciliation
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki received a delegation from the Sunni Iraqi Accordance Front (IAF) on Saturday, stressing that reconciliation among all groups of the Iraqi people "has become a fait accompli".
"Reconciliation is not a decision issued by high-level officials. Politicians of all blocs have to realize what is actually taking place on the ground and to contribute seriously and effectively to cementing national reconciliation," the prime minister's office quoted Maliki in a statement received by Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI).
"Iraq's current security stability has helped bringing views closer and achieving more cooperation and coordination among the political blocs, which is per se giving the impression the impression that Iraq is proceeding in the right direction," said Maliki.
The Iraqi premier discussed with the IAF delegation all the "issues and challenges facing Iraq as well as the possibility of the bloc's return to the government and means to create the favorable atmosphere for enhancing national unity."
The IAF, the third largest bloc in the Iraqi parliament with 44 out of a total 275 seats, had quit the Maliki government in August 2007, hinging its return on participation in the decision-making process and the release of Iraqi detainees.
Statements were made by the IAF during the past few days about its possible return to the government after the latter responded to the front's demands.
The IAF is composed of three main Sunni organizations: Vice President Tareq al-Hashimi's Iraqi Islamic Party (IIP), the IAF leader and legislator Adnan al-Dulaimi's Iraq People's Congress and MP Khalaf al-Alyan's National Dialogue Council (NDC).
The front had occupied six ministerial portfolios in the Maliki government, in addition to the vice president post.
Aswat Aliraq
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2008 budget vote on Monday – speaker
Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani on Saturday set next Monday's session to vote over the state budget 2008 and a draft law on provinces.
Mashhadani urged all members of parliament t attend Monday's session.
The speaker's announcement followed criticism by independent legislator Wael Abdul-Latif who said that the session's agenda "was void of the budget debate although the legislative term was extended mainly to debate it."
Iraq's parliament had witnessed debates since December 2007 on the state budget for the year 2008, for which the Iraqi government allocated 48 billion dollars.
Saturday's session is also witnessing the second reading of a draft law on endorsing a memo of understanding for cooperation between Iraq and the United States in the field of agricultural sector reforms as well as the second reading of a draft on rewarding informers.
Aswat Aliraq
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Parliament considers compensation for innocent prisoners
The Iraqi parliament is considering a proposal for a draft law authorizing compensation to detainees who have been cleared of any wrongdoing, the head of the parliamentary human rights committee said on Sunday.
"The parliamentary committees are currently considering a proposal for a bill allowing compensation to all prisoners who are not proven guilty of any crime," MP Muhammad al-Haidari from the Shiite Unified Iraqi Coalition (UIC) told Aswat al-Iraq, Voices of Iraq, (VOI).
"The proposed bill does not only include those released under the general pardon law, but all detainees who have not been proven guilty of any offence," al-Haidari explained, noting that those who had committed a crime and pardoned by the government will be excluded.
"The draft law is still under discussion by the parliamentary committees and will be then submitted to the cabinet for approval," al-Haidari added.
There are an estimated 32,000 detainees in U.S. and Iraqi prisons and d****tion centers, according to official figures released by the Iraqi government. Of this number, 18,000 are in the U.S.-run Bucca d****tion center in Iraq's southern province of Basra while nearly 9,000 are in Krupper prison at Baghdad International Airport.
An official spokesman for the Supreme Judicial Council, Judge Abdul Sattar Birqordar, told VOI yesterday that the parliament had returned the law to the government to make slight changes to it before a final vote is taken.
The law does not include those convicted by the Supreme Criminal Court or those charged with terrorism, kidnap, murder, rape, incest, or the smuggling of antiquities, Birqordar indicated.
On Thursday, an Iraqi member of parliament and deputy head of its human rights committee described the draft general pardon law as "unfair," saying it includes a narrow category of detainees. "The law is full of exceptions and serves a narrow category of detainees," MP Harith al-Obeidi from the Sunni Iraqi Accordance Front (IAF) told VOI.
The parliament's presidency adjourned its Wednesday session after the committee had demanded a postponement of the second reading of the draft law until amendments are made to it.
Last year, the Iraqi government announced a plan to release detainees who had been cleared of any wrongdoing as part of national reconciliation efforts.
Aswat Aliraq
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IIP-SIIC talks not for joining 4-way alliance – MP
The Sunni Iraqi Islamic Party (IIP)'s talks with Shiite leader Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim's Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council (SIIC) were for signing a memo similar to that signed with the two key Kurdish parties, not for joining the quadrilateral alliance, an Iraqi legislator said.
"There are dialogues between the IIP and some other political parties to reach common understandings on some issues," Abdul-Karim al-Samarraie, a member of parliament from the Sunni Iraqi Accordance Front (IAF) bloc, told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI).
"These issues include participation of the IIP and the IAF in the political and security decision-making process in the country," said Samarraie, adding the dialogue between the SIIC and Iraqi Vice President Tareq al-Hashimi's IIP was to sign a memo similar to that signed by the IIP with the two Kurdish parties.
The IIP had signed a memo of understanding with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani's Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barazani's Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) in late December 2007.
"These dialogues were not at the level of blocs but rather at the level of parties. The IIP would not get out of the IAF framework and would consult with the bloc before concluding any agreements," Samarraie said.
IAF member Khalaf al-Alyan had told VOI on Saturday that the front had no previous knowledge of this agreement, adding the IIP was working on its own without consulting the other components in the front.
In mid-August 2007 the PUK and the KDP had signed a four-way deal with two main Shiite organizations – the SIIC and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's Dawa Party.
The IAF, the third largest bloc in the Iraqi parliament with 44 out of a total 275 seats, had quit the Maliki government in August 2007, hinging its return on participation in the decision-making process and the release of Iraqi detainees.
Statements were made by the IAF during the past few days about its possible return to the government after the latter responded to the front's demands.
The IAF is composed of three main Sunni organizations: Vice President Tareq al-Hashimi's Iraqi Islamic Party (IIP), the IAF leader and legislator Adnan al-Dulaimi's Iraq People's Congress and MP Khalaf al-Alyan's National Dialogue Council (NDC).
The front had occupied six ministerial portfolios in the Maliki government, in addition to the vice president post.
Aswat Aliraq
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Ex- PM sets on forming new movement
Former Prime Minister Ibrahim al Jaafari on Sunday said he was poised to announce a new pluralist political movement including figures of different ethnicities and sects.
“It is not a front or powerful gathering, but a political entity including all people, irrespective of their sectarian, religious, ethnic or political backgrounds, who meet on mutual aims”, al-Jaafari told Aswat al-Iraq-Voices of Iraq-(VOI) in Cairo.
He added “the movement includes many Arab, Kurdish and Turkomen figures as well as female politicians meeting on common political platform and principles”.
The movement, according to the premier, aims at “building a civil society, and not political quota system, committed to the democratic process in its principles and mechanisms”.
The ex-MP also noted “the name of the movement is still under consideration, but must signify reform, its main aim”.
Visiting Egypt, Al-Jaafari, a United Iraqi Coalition (UIC) lawmaker of the Shiite Dawa party, is meeting different Arab and Iraqi political figures.
On the political front, he pointed out the upholders of “the national reconciliation by addressing different armed groups aspired to shortening time and defining the fine lines of its targets”.
The MP expected “achieving national reconciliation would enable Iraq to overcome many problems, improve security and reduce violence”.
“Those who put up weapons either they opposed the presence of foreign troops in Iraq, or sought political considerations, wanted to have direct political participation”, he highlighted.
He added “there were different targets and we must sit with every group”.
Al-Jaafari also referred to the fact that “the government, leading the political process, and not only the armed groups have demands, required reciprocal commitments from the armed groups and period of time (to achieve them)”.
For the first time, the Shiite Islamist politician, conceded he “met several figures opposing the government and the current political process in Iraq during Egypt’s visits, including Baathists."
Asked whether they had some unified demands, he said “they looked forward to setting free all unconvicted prisoners and replacing debaathification law by the accountability and justice law”.
Aswat Aliraq