Archive Latest News - Think Tank - 01/01/08 - 14/04/08

Iraq oil exports hit three-month high

Iraq's monthly oil exports hit a three-year high of 58.9 million barrels in November, sold at an average price of $83.87 per barrel, the Oil Ministry said on Sunday.

Oil Ministry spokesman Asim Jihad said the exports had raised a total of $4.94 billion in the month, including about 1.6 million barrels per day (bpd) from Basra in the south, and more than 300,000 bpd exported from Kirkuk in the north.

He said his ministry has set a target to raise crude exports to two million bpd at the beginning of 2008 by increasing exports from the northern route.

"The Oil Ministry has set a plan, encouraged by the improvement of security in the north, to increase the export rate from Kirkuk's terminal to reach up to 500,000 bpd at the beginning of 2008," he said.

Iraq oil exports hit three-month high | Iraq Updates

Hike in demand for the dollar, exchange rate down

Demand for the dollar significantly increased in the Iraqi Central Bank's auction on Monday, registering at $119.535 million compared to $55.960 million on Sunday.

In its daily statement, the bank said it had covered all bids, including $22.635 million in cash and $96.900 in foreign transfers, at an exchange rate of 1,215 dinars per dollar, one tick lower than yesterday.

The 15 banks that participated in Monday's session offered to sell $1.200 million, which the bank bought at an exchange rate of 1,213 dinars per dollar.

In statements to the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI), Ali al-Yasseri, a trader, attributed the dramatic increase in the demand for the dollar to the market's "thirst for dollars" and the previous fluctuation in the exchange rate.

"Dealings are most likely to remain high during the coming few weeks if the dinar maintains a stable exchange rate in local markets and central bank's auctions," al-Yasseri noted.

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

Aswat Aliraq

Plans to implement loans project throughout Iraq in 2008

Iraqi Labor and Social Affairs Minister Mahmoud el-Sheikh Radi said on Wednesday that his ministry intends to implement the small and medium loans project throughout Iraq.

"The project, being implemented now in Baghdad, succeeded in providing 6,157 loans, securing 18,000 jobs in various domains," Radi told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).

"Tries now underway to transfer Baghdad's experiment to other provinces," he noted.

He expressed hope that the ministry could provide more loans in the new year to develop the special projects, which provide 125 jobs.

"Loans will be allocated to on universities' graduates, unemployed people and also to other citizens to support the free enterprise system," Radi said.

Aswat Aliraq

Youth center set up in Karbala

A multi-purpose youth center was established in western Karbala city at a cost of 900 million Iraqi dinars, the head of the city's Youth and Sports Department said on Tuesday.

"A local company set up the project of the Free Youth Center in Karbala's western district of al-Hur at a cost of 900 million Iraqi dinars (nearly 800,000 U.S. dollars)," the department's head, Waleed Turki, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).

Covering an area of 4 donums (1 donum= 1388 square meters), the center includes a multi-purpose hall for basketball, volleyball and table tennis, in addition to a theatre, Turki explained.

Work on the project lasted over six months, he added.

Karbala, a mixed city of Kurds, Turkmen, Christians and Arabs, lies 130 km south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.


Aswat Aliraq

Salah al-Din Awakening Council calls on Bin Laden to stop “targeting Iraqis”

The Sunni Salah al-Din Awakening council on Sunday called al-Qaeda leader Osma Bin Laden to order his followers to stop targeting and killing Iraqis instead of warning against joining the tribal organizations.

“Osama Bin Laden should order al-Qaeda members to stop targeting and killing Iraqi and apologize to the Iraqis for all the horrific crimes committed by the organization members," Salah al-Din awakening council said in a statement issued on Sunday and received by the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).

The announcement came in a reply to audiotape released Saturday purported to be by Osama bin Laden, in which the leader of al-Qaeda warned Iraqi Sunni Muslims against joining awakening council.

The statement pointed out “the crimes committed against Iraqis by those calling him Sheikh Osama was the main motive to establish the awakening councils and was not seeking for money, power or treason for others’ interests”.

The government-backed- Awakening councils were established in Anbar province along with Diala, Ninewa and Salah al-Din provinces in attempt to fight armed groups and al-Qaeda organization. The council is led by a tribal chief or a dignitary.

Branding actions committed by Al-Qaeda operatives as “deplorable” and breaching Islam, The announcement pointed out the actions “got non-Muslims to look Islam as a religion seeking bloodshed and not promoting right, justice and dialogue”.

The Washington Post published the details of an audiotape purported to be al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, which warned Iraq’s Sunnis against joining the tribal awakening or participating in Iraqi unity government.
White House spokesman Tony Fratto said bin Laden's tape shows that al-Qaida's aim is to block democracy and freedom for all Iraqis.

Several hours before the tape was issued, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, said al-Qaida was becoming increasingly fearful of losing the support of Sunni Arabs and had begun targeting the leaders of the Awakening Councils.

The Sunni Salah al-Din Awakening council on Sunday called al-Qaeda leader Osma Bin Laden to order his followers to stop targeting and killing Iraqis instead of warning against joining the tribal organizations.

“Osama Bin Laden should order al-Qaeda members to stop targeting and killing Iraqi and apologize to the Iraqis for all the horrific crimes committed by the organization members," Salah al-Din awakening council said in a statement issued on Sunday and received by the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).

The announcement came in a reply to audiotape released Saturday purported to be by Osama bin Laden, in which the leader of al-Qaeda warned Iraqi Sunni Muslims against joining awakening council.

The statement pointed out “the crimes committed against Iraqis by those calling him Sheikh Osama was the main motive to establish the awakening councils and was not seeking for money, power or treason for others’ interests”.

The government-backed- Awakening councils were established in Anbar province along with Diala, Ninewa and Salah al-Din provinces in attempt to fight armed groups and al-Qaeda organization. The council is led by a tribal chief or a dignitary.

Branding actions committed by Al-Qaeda operatives as “deplorable” and breaching Islam, The announcement pointed out the actions “got non-Muslims to look Islam as a religion seeking bloodshed and not promoting right, justice and dialogue”.

The Washington Post published the details of an audiotape purported to be al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, which warned Iraq’s Sunnis against joining the tribal awakening or participating in Iraqi unity government.
White House spokesman Tony Fratto said bin Laden's tape shows that al-Qaida's aim is to block democracy and freedom for all Iraqis.

Several hours before the tape was issued, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, said al-Qaida was becoming increasingly fearful of losing the support of Sunni Arabs and had begun targeting the leaders of the Awakening Councils.

KNA Approves Peshmerga Service and Retirement Law

Kurdistan National Assembly held yesterday a session dedicated to discuss Kurdistan Peshmerga Forces Service and Retirement Law which most of its articles were approved after a reading by the Legal Committee and also discussed by the KNA members.

It’s worth mentioning that Kurdistan Peshmerga Forces Service and Retirement Law consists of (51) articles and covers all Peshmerga Forces Members who participated in Kurdistani Liberation Movement since December11th, 1961 till now and those who will join Peshmerga Forces from now on .

PUKmedia :: English - KNA Approves Peshmerga Service and Retirement Law

Security Council: KRG Will Play Crucial Role in Iraq’s Future

Dindar Zebari, KRG Coordinator of UN affairs, paid a visit to New York City, met with Senior Officials of all Five Permanent Members in the Security Council.

During his visit, Dindar Zebari praised the Visions of UN Agencies Projects which will be implemented on regional bases during the next three years in Kurdistan Region.

Through all of his meetings with the officials of the UN’s Five Permanent Members which includes (UK, Russia, China, France and US) Delegations, Dindar Zebari emphasized that according to Iraqi Constitution KRG doesn’t have the authority to use Iraq lands, including Kurdistan Region lands, as a base to threaten the neighbor states, he also asserted that the existing problems must be solved through political and diplomatic means.

The officials of the Five Permanent Members of Security Council stressed that KRG will play a crucial and fruitful role in Iraq’s future. The International Community is looking forward to consolidate its relations with the Federal Iraq and its provinces, Kurdistan Region will remain the most developed area in Iraq.

PUKmedia :: English - Security Council: KRG Will Play Crucial Role in Iraq’s Future

Al-Dabbagh: Fighting Corruption is Our Priority In 2008

During an interview with Radio Sawa, Ali al-Dabbagh, Iraqi Government Spokesperson said that 2007 was a big challenge on both political and security aspects.

Services improvement, fighting Corruption and Political Reform are in the Iraqi Government’s Priority in 2008. Al-Dabbagh asserted Iraqi Government Spokesperson also said that Nuri al-Maliki, Iraqi PM is in London for ordinary Physical checkup and he will return soon to Baghdad to resume his duties.

PUKmedia :: English - Al-Dabbagh: Fighting Corruption is Our Priority In 2008

Khalid Shwani: Iraqi Council of Representatives faces big challenges in 2008

The member in legal committee of the Iraqi Council of Representatives, Khalid Shwani, stated that the council is due to discuss numerous critical issues including gas and oil laws, questioning and justice, and provincial councils’ laws in 2008.

“The discussions of these issues are challenges for the council.” He added. “Gas and oil laws are priorities for Kurdistan alliance bloc.”

On the other side, the head of gas and oil committee of the Iraqi Council of Representatives asserting significance of issuing gas and oil laws in 2008, referring to the daily booming of oil product in Iraq. According to the Iraqi official statistic, the oil product in Iraq reaches 2 million and 500 thousand barrels per day.

PUKmedia :: English - Khalid Shwani: Iraqi Council of Representatives faces big challenges in 2008

KRG Premier chaired Economic Committee Meeting

Today the KRG Economic Committee held a meeting chaired by KRG premier, Nechirvan Barzani, in attendance of his deputy, Omer Fatah.

During the meeting, the development and activating of banking system in Kurdistan region, in addition to further introducing people with banking system were discussed. Several other economic and investment issues in Kurdistan region were focused on.

PUKmedia :: English - KRG Premier chaired Economic Committee Meeting

Update.......

Economic Council in Kurdistan Region Discusses Plans of Banking System Development

Yesterday, Mr. Nechirvan Barzani, KRG Prime Minister headed a meeting of the Economic Council in Kurdistan Region. During the meeting which was also attended by Mr. Omer Fatah, KRG Deputy PM, plans of developing banking system and supporting banks in Kurdistan Region were discussed.

Suggestions to promote, best organizing of banking system and regaining citizen’s trust to the banks were presented in the meeting. The necessity to give more importance to the central Bank of Kurdistan Region was also stressed in the meeting.

The meeting also shed light on insurance companies issue; it was decided to hold a conference with the participation of experts and specialists in insurance companies sector.

PUKmedia :: English - Economic Council in Kurdistan Region Discusses Plans of Banking System Development

Al-Hashimi Discusses Cross Border Operations with Turkish Ambassador

Dr. Tariq al-Hashimi, Iraqi Vice President received in his office, Mr. Darya Qanbai, Turkey Ambassador to Baghdad .During the meeting Dr. Tariq al-Hashimi stressed that the Triple Agreement Memo, which was signed recently between the Iraqi Islamic Party and both PUK and DPK in Dukan is explicit and doesn’t consist of any secret appendixes, the three parties were equivalent gathered through a common vision concerning many political and general patriotic issues asserting that no side presented concessions to another one.

Bilateral relations between Iraq and Turkey, Turkish cross border military operations also discussed in the meeting. Turkish Ambassador emphasized Turkey’s desire to avoid any harm may occur to the innocent people during the military operations against the PKK in the Iraqi mountain areas.

Practical suggestions to remove the misunderstand due to various information concerning the results of the Turkish military operations in the Iraqi land, were presented by Dr. Tariq al-Hashimi who also asserted the necessity of previous coordination with Iraqi Government in Baghdad

PUKmedia :: English - Al-Hashimi Discusses Cross Border Operations with Turkish Ambassador

Northern Iraq building two Refineries with Canadian Firms

The autonomous Kurdish zone in northern Iraq plans to construct two refineries in a $300 million project with foreign oil companies.

Officials said the Kurdistan Regional Government would offer four production-sharing contracts to finance the construction of two 20,000-barrel-per-day refineries. They said the production-sharing contracts were worth $800 million.

The first refinery, located in Miran, was scheduled to be completed by 2010 in a joint venture with Canada's Heritage Oil. The second refinery, located at the Taq Taq oil field, would be constructed by Genel and Canada's Addax Petroleum and completed by early 2009.

The central Iraqi government in Baghdad said the latest contracts violate the nation's new petroleum law. But the Kurdish government has dismissed this amid plans to sign two additional production-sharing contracts worth $500 million with oil majors.

PUKmedia :: English - Northern Iraq building two Refineries with Canadian Firms

Parliament's session adjourned till Thursday

MP from the Kurdistan Coalition Mohsen al-Saadon said on Monday that the parliament's open session was postponed till next Thursday.

"Today's open session was held to discuss the parliament's budget and the second reading of the Japanese loan draft law," al-Saadon told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).

For his part, Lawmaker from the Iraqi Accordance Front (IAF) Abdul Karim al-Sameraei said "the parliament could not approve the 2008 budget because we have not received it from the cabinet so far.":fryingpan

"The accountability and justice law could not be approved due to a lack of a quorum," he noted. :yak:

121 MPs attended toady's session out of the 275-member parliament.:nono:

"Fadhila parliamentary bloc demanded the government to present the 2007 final budget statement to know about the spending and profits this year," head of the bloc Hassan al-Shemri said.

Iraq's 2007 budget was USD 41 billion.

"The 2008 budget could be presented now, while the 2007 final budget statement could be presented four months later for bringing the corruptors to justice," he noted.

The Fadhila (Virtue) party announced last March its withdrawal from the Shiite Unified Iraqi Coalition (UIC).

The withdrawal came as an expression of a desire to end parliamentary blocs based on sectarian affiliation.

Aswat Aliraq

Trilateral MoU doesn't include "concessions", says VP

Iraqi Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi said on Tuesday that the trilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in Dukan by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Iraqi Islamic party does not include concessions.

"This came during al-Hashemi's meeting with the Turkish ambassador in Baghdad," al-Hashemi's office said in a statement received by the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).

"The Iraqi official described the memo as an open book, which does not include any secret attachment," the statement added.

"The three parties treated each other on equal bases," al-Hashemi said, underlining that no one presented any concession.

"The meeting pored over bilateral ties and Turkish military operations in northern Iraq," the statement noted.

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani had said last Monday that the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Iraqi Islamic Party signed a trilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Dukan resort in the city of Sulaimaniya.

President Talabani said "today a tripartite MoU was signed between the two main Kurdish parties and the Iraqi Islamic part to boost ties among them and to foster Iraq's unity."

For his part, Iraqi Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi said the agreement will have important impacts on the political process, underlining "today is a historic day in the ongoing political process."

The Islamic Daawa Party, the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council (SIIC) and the two main Kurdish parties formed a four-way alliance in mid-August that they claim aims at backing the current Iraqi government following the withdrawal of some political blocs from the cabinet.

Aswat Aliraq

Kurdistan speaker says disputes with central government "normal"

Iraq's Kurdistan Speaker Adnan al-Mufti on Tuesday described the region's disputes with the central government as "normal," a step described as an understatement of differences over the budget allocated for the Peshmerga forces.

"I believe disputes with the central government will be resolved in 2008 by means of negotiations…," al-Mufti said in statements to the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).

The budget allocated for Iraq's Kurdistan region represents 17% of the government's overall budget. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) seeks to allocate an extra sum from the Iraqi Defense Ministry's budget for Peshmerga salaries, currently paid through the regional government's share of national oil revenue.

On Sunday, the Kurdistan parliament unanimously approved a Peshmerga forces' service and retirement law submitted by the region's government.
The KRG's Peshmerga minister, Omar Othman, explained that the law was drafted in accordance with the Iraqi Military Service Law. "The Peshmerga forces are entrusted with protecting the region, but at the same time they are part of the Iraqi forces," Othman said.

The Peshmerga is the Kurdish name for a militia that fought the former Iraqi regime. It had turned into paramilitary forces to protect the region after former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein withdrew the Iraqi army from the three Kurdish provinces in 1992.

In 2006, two ministries were established to deal with the Peshmerga affairs in the region's government, one based in Arbil and the other in Sulaimaniya.

Aswat Aliraq

Iraq national unity government looming over

Islamic Party senior official MP Omar Abdul Sattar revealed that President Jalal Talabani will soon announce the formation of a national unity government on new basis determined by the political plan in Iraq, declining to report further details. However, Al Sattar explained that this announcement does not implicate the return of Accordance Front Ministers to the government but the formation of a wider government. He added that the Islamic Party will coordinate its stands with both Kurdish parties inside the Parliament and the government affirming that Kurdistan alliance bloc did not withdraw from the quartet alliance but is facing problems with the current government.

Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network | Iraq News | Iraq national unity government looming over

Work ongoing to build up Iraq refineries

Technical and architectural units in Naser State Company related to the Industry and Minerals Ministry have achieved 95% of the contract concluded with the State Company for central refineries. The contract stipulates to establish 10 fully equipped residences. An official source in the ministry said the company pursues work to complete the final stages of the contract estimated at 500 million Iraqi Dinars while work is ongoing to industrialize and equip the central refinery company at a cost of 144 million Dinars.

Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network | Economics News | Work ongoing to build up Iraq refineries

In a safer Baghdad, Iraqis party for 2008

On New Year's Eve Ridaa al-Azzawi squeezed into his pointy snakeskin boots, his tight black sweater and his snazzy corduroy flared jeans,:eek: hustled down to a Baghdad hotel ballroom and partied for peace.

2008 arrived in a less-violent Baghdad, and residents said it was the first real party they had seen in years.

While the city is still far from peaceful and many of the festive gatherings had a tentative feel, many said it was a happier occasion than they could have dared to hope just a few months ago.

"The security has changed and it took us by surprise. We're very happy. Especially us young people," said al-Azzawi, a 22-year-old student taking a break from dancing to a traditional Iraqi band in the ballroom of the Palestine Hotel.

"I haven't seen a happy place like this in so long. I wanted to see if I could maybe meet a few girls!":tongue: he said. "I only hope the Iraqi people can enjoy more happy times like this."

Salah al-Lami, 27, the singer who performed at the Palestine ballroom and then for another New Year's Eve crowd at the Sheraton Hotel across the street, said it was the first time he had sung before a live audience in four years.

"This will be the year that we take our freedom!":cheers: he told Reuters after singing through a boisterous set in front of a packed dancefloor.

"When I went up on the stage and started singing I felt like I was performing for my family."

Belly dancers also took the stage, and revellers showered a female singer with dinar notes, the Iraqi audience's ultimate sign of approval.:drinkbudd

Reuters AlertNet - In a safer Baghdad, Iraqis party for 2008

Drug firms told to submit files in Iraq probe

THE Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has ordered the British drug companies GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and AstraZeneca to hand over confidential e-mails and files relating to dealings in Iraq under the UN oil-for-food programme.

The move is the latest in the SFO’s £22mn investigation into alleged corruption involving British firms operating in Iraq during the final years of the Saddam Hussein regime. Other companies targeted with similar disclosure demands include several British infrastructure firms.

In a statement, GSK said it did not believe its “employees or its agents in Iraq knowingly engaged in wrongdoing regarding the oil for food programme”, adding: “In fact, GSK went to considerable lengths to co-operate with UK government authorities responsible for the UK administration of the programme, and to impose anti-corruption measures when dealing with intermediaries in Iraq.”

AstraZeneca confirmed that a disclosure request had been received.
A third ***** firm, the US-based Eli Lilly, which has a British arm, has said that it too had been asked to supply documents to the SFO.

Last January, it was revealed SFO officials had returned from Washington DC with thousands of documents marking the start of a London-based criminal investigation.

This followed a 2005 independent report, commissioned by then-UN secretary-general, Kofi Annan, into the oil-for-food programme.

As well as accusing UN officials presiding over the scheme of involvement in corruption, the report by Paul Volcker, a former chairman of the US Federal Reserve, listed more than 2,200 firms around the world that may have been implicated in bribery payments beneficial to the Iraqi regime.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission launched its own criminal investigation. But the SFO said that it was only monitoring the allegations and that its small specialist investigations unit was expected to play a supportive role in a US-led inquiry.

The decision to launch an independent criminal investigation out of London was made one month after the SFO controversially abandoned its investigation into alleged kickback payments on a contract between the British arms manufacturer BAE Systems and Saudi Arabia.

Shortly afterwards, the attorney-general secured £22mn of additional funding for the SFO, allowing it to pursue

Gulf Times – Qatar’s top-selling English daily newspaper - Britain/Ireland

Iraq limping on peace road

In 2007, the political arena of Iraq witnessed a number of deadlocks. Some of the unresolved issues were borne out of the resigning of three ministers from different blocs, the failure of Iraqi Parliament to complete projects on schedule and delays in amending the constitution and the oil and gas law. Moreover, the parliamentary members' attendance was very poor.

There has also been other conflicts between the Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki and the Cabinet concerning capital punishment and the legal status of the Algiers agreement which was signed by Saddam Hussain and the late Shah of Iran in 1975. The Kurdish oil contracts and the Kirkuk status article 140 in the constitution have also been sticky problem points.

The security situation in Iraq has improved during the second half of this year, due to the US strategy of dispatching more than 20,000 additional troops to Baghdad, and choosing new allies.


This improvement is weak as it did not result from a progress in the political process. National reconciliation efforts did not yield a significant success either. Improvement in security was attributed to two key factors —firstly, the formation of awakening councils in a number of governorates, starting in Al Anbar, and secondly due to security related US-Iranian dialogue.

Three meetings have taken place between the two country's ambassadors. They, however, did not leave clear imprints on Iraq's security issues. The only positive thing that came out of the meetings was Iran's move to cease supplying militias with improvised explosive devices which inflict great damage on US troops. Freezing the activities of Al Mahdi militias for a possibly renewable six months was another result of these meetings.

Important point

The first point is important because it affects the future of the Iraqi political process. It is also an indicator to the receding role of religious groups in Iraq. As a result of the success of the awakening councils, disagreements have emerged from within the government over the future of these forces. One part of the Iraqi government which is backed by the US calls for integrating these forces into the Iraqi security force. The other part distrusts these forces and calls for a partial integration, not to exceed 20 per cent of the Iraqi security forces.

The new US policy in Iraq backs Iraqi tribes and awakening councils, and backing them with weapons and funds. This policy is a replica of the British policy followed in Iraq after the First World War.

Today, the US is seeing that the religious groups in Iraq who have led the country since the downfall of the former regime in 2003 have failed in their role as US allies.

The Shiite elite which heads the majority of the Iraqi parliament is divided, fights for power and gains, and has resorted to use of weapons in disagreements among themselves. Hence, the US may find that the tribes have succeeded where others have failed.

Several Iraqi parties which are a part of the political process in Iraq are not comfortable with the new US policy in Iraq, especially the Iraqi Coalition Bloc.

The political process in Iraq is encountering a new high in the crisis facing the country. This is not in Iraq's benefit, as Iraq has gone through so many hardships and needs a break.

Gulfnews: Iraq limping on peace road

Overstaffing, funding threaten Nassiriya weaving plant

The Nassirya weaving plant director said the antiquated machinery, system of salaries and the self-funding scheme endorsed by industry ministry caused stagnation in domestic production.

"The Nassiriya supplied the local market for thirty years," Eng. Jamil Abdul-Kadhum told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI), adding "yet the factory was burned and looted in the 2003 war and its destruction amounted to 90%."

"The plant departments' production dwindlesd due to the old-fashioned machinery," he said, pointing out "some departments were re-operated by the factory workers and the top management in Baghdad."

"No maintenance was carried out in the facility's production lines and no new machines were brought that most of the old machines remained out of order," he explained.

Abdul-Kadhum also referred to a problem in the funding plan set by the U.S. civil administrator Paul Bremer in 2003.

"In addition the number of workers has increased from 600 under the former regime (of Saddam Hussein) to 2,200 after the return of workers sacked for political reasons and relocated in volatile areas."

He called for "conducting a case study, upgrading machines and supporting the domestic production through levying duty on imports."

Workers called for changing finding and salary system. The factory law endorsed by Paul Bremer stipulated that 60% of salaries would be disbursed by the industry ministry, while the remaining 40% was self-funded by the factory production.

Hundreds of workers staged a strike to improve their payments by canceling the self-funding policy and improving the workers' living conditions.

Nassiriya, the capital of Thi Qar province, lies 380 km south of Baghdad.

Aswat Aliraq

Increasing Iraq employees salaries on the go

Wednesday, January 02, 2008 08:11 GMT

Iraqi Cabinet official spokesman Ali Al Dabbagh stated to Alsumaria that after constant demands the implementation of the decision to increase employees’ salaries has started on Tuesday with retroaction effect. Meanwhile, 2008 budget passed to parliament is subject to several disputes and objections.

Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network | Iraq News | Increasing Iraq employees salaries on the go

South Korea to continue oil project in Kurdistan despite Baghdad threat
State-run Korea National Oil Corp. stated that it would not abandon an exploration project in Kurdistan

State-run Korea National Oil Corp. stated that it would not abandon an exploration project in Iraqi Kurdistan despite threats by the central Iraqi government to cut off oil supplies to South Korea.

"There is no change in our position to go ahead with the project," said Jang Soo-Bum, an official in charge of exploration projects.

The corporation is part of a South Korean consortium that last month signed a deal with the Kurdistan government to explore the Bazian field, which is estimated to hold 500 million barrels of crude oil.

Aasim Jihad, the official spokesman for the Iraqi oil ministry, threatened on December 26 to stop exporting Iraqi crude oil exports to South Korea if Seoul ratified an agreement concluded with the regional government of Iraq's Kurdistan.

Local newspapers have said Britain's BP and an Austrian state energy developer received similar warnings over their deals with the semi-autonomous region.

Meanwhile, Kurdistan Region criticized the Iraqi Oil Ministry's threats to stop oil exports to South Korea.

"I believe these statements would complicate matters now that the negotiations between the central government and the Iraqi Kurdistan government are still going on," a prominent Kurdish lawmaker in Baghdad Parliament, Mahmoud Othman, said in a statement.

Othman urged for recourse in Iraq's Supreme Court to settle the problem.

"Even if we presumed that the Oil Ministry's procedures were constitutional, they should not be carried out in such a speed," he added.

Regarding South Korean troops in Kurdistan Region, South Korean Parliament on December 28 voted to extend troop deployment in Kurdistan by one year.

Seoul now has about 600 troops stationed in the Kurdish region for reconstruction projects.


South Korea to continue oil project in Kurdistan despite Baghdad threat | Iraq Updates

Oil prices rise amid geopolitical tension
Prices heading towards $100 per barrel again due to instability in Pakistan, on Turkish border with Iraq.

Oil prices rose Monday due to instability in Pakistan and on the Turkish border with Iraq, heading towards 100 dollars per barrel again on the last trading day of the year, dealers said.

In afternoon trade, New York's main contract, light sweet crude for February delivery, was 28 cents higher at 96.28 dollars per barrel.

The contract had briefly approached 98 dollars on Friday, a one-month high, after the assassination of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, before falling back due to profit-taking.

Oil prices have roughly doubled in 2007 from a low point of just below 50 dollars in January, with some analysts predicting a price of 100 dollars or higher during 2008.

Dealers said a US report last week showing a higher-than-expected drop in US crude stockpiles had also supported prices, which are still within sight of the all-time record of 99.29 dollars per barrel reached in November.

Brent North Sea crude for February delivery was 27 cents higher at 94.15 dollars per barrel. It hit a one-month peak, 95.86 dollars, in London on Friday before easing, and achieved its all-time high of 96.53 dollars in November.

Dealers said Bhutto's killing, which plunged Pakistan into crisis and sparked global condemnation, would have a psychological impact on the market even though the country is not an oil producer.

"Political unrest around the world has once again become a major factor," said David Johnson, an oil analyst with Macquarie Securities in Hong Kong.

Tension along Turkey's border with northern Iraq has added to concerns about geopolitical instability, Johnson said.

Turkey said Friday it would continue its military operations against members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The army says it has launched three cross-border bombing raids and killed more than 160 rebels since December 16.

Johnson said trading would be light, with dealers unwilling to make major decisions ahead of the New Year holiday on Tuesday.

Oil prices rise amid geopolitical tension | Iraq Updates

The most important economic events in Iraq in 2007

Economic experts and analysts' opinions of the most important economic events in Iraq in 2007 differed; some thought that the rise in oil prices, the high value of the Iraqi dinar, the increase of Iraqi exports and lower inflation indexes were the most important events, while others were mostly interested in raising the prices of fuels.

Dr. Madhar Mohammad Salih, the expert at the Iraqi Central Bank and member of the supervising committee of the Bank's auction, said that the most important economic events for 2007 were, "the massive developments in the exchange rate of the Iraqi dinar and the rise in its value which hit %20 from its value in 2006; it is noteworthy that the price of the dollar today hit 1225 Iraqi dinar. There were also the inflation indexes which dropped from 66% in November of 2006 to 15% for the same month of 2007." Salih said that oil prices, during 2007, increased to three times what they were during the previous two years, contributing to a significant increase in Iraq's revenues from the sale of Iraqi oil and advancing the development in Iraq, as well as creating job opportunities for half a million jobless people; thus, absorbing %40 of the unemployment rate in Iraq, and led to a growth in the labor market. Another important event during 2007 is the International Covenant which provides international grants to Iraq to help Iraqi economy to grow, in return for a pledge from the Iraqi government to achieve national reconciliation and establish security.

Asim Jihad, Director of Information at the Oil Ministry, thought the most important economic event for 2007 is Iraq paying its obligations towards the International Monetary Fund, rescheduling the remaining debt and the cancellation of some of them. The second most important event during in 2007, according to Jihad, was the increase of Iraqi oil production to two million, 300 thousand barrels per day, and the increase of Iraq's oil exports to two million barrels per day.

According to economic expert, Dr. Jum'a Al-Ani, the most important economic achievement of Iraq in 2007 is the validation of the investment law which allows foreign investors to enter Iraq to serve the Iraqi economy, and encourages the operation of labor; however, this law has not been carried out yet, since the investment body has not been formed and the conditions for the entry of foreign investment to Iraq have not been prepared yet. Al-Ani pointed out to the modest entry of foreign investors to the Iraqi market for securities in 2007, considering this entry "a strategic move for the Iraqi stock exchange market, because it is an introduction to a wider circulation, and a greater role of foreign capital in Iraq, especially that a number of Gulf bourses, which are much older than the Iraqi bourse, have not allowed foreigners to circulate in them yet such as the Saudi bourse."

Economic expert, Dr. Abbas Uleiwi, considered raising interest rates by the Iraqi Central Bank "contributed actively to encourage banks to expand the credit grants and encouraged depositors to long-term savings, which absorbed large cash from the local market." But Dr.Uleiwi also recorded some negative repercussions on the Iraqi economy during the year 2007, resulting from raising the prices of fuel twice during the current year, which affected the prices of transportation and energy of all kinds.

The most important economic events in Iraq in 2007 | Iraq Updates

2008 will be a year of eliminating unemployment

Iraqi Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Mahmoud Al-Sheikh Radhi, said, during his meeting with donors of small and medium-sized enterprises in the city of Baghdad, that the loan scheme implemented by the ministry aims to develop local economy in the capital, and pledged to work to apply it in other governorates of Iraq; he revealed that the project has succeeded in providing 6157 loans which helped to provide 18 thousand jobs in various sectors, mainly the productive ones.

He explained that attempts are underway to transfer the Baghdad experience to other provinces which will present in their respective loans for 3 thousands projects, with the exception of Basrah which will present 5 thousand loans, expressing his hope that the new year will be the start of the second year of facilitated loans for the development of private projects which are estimated by 50 thousand and will provide 125 job opportunities. He pointed out that the reason for choosing loans instead of grants is that the latter do not stimulate the project owner to work seriously for the success of the project, while loans do.

He noted that the preference in granting loans will be for the unemployed graduates of universities and institutes, but that will not prevent the project from including ordinary people in support of the free economic business. Radi wished that the year 2008 will be the year of reducing unemployment and the provision of job opportunities for all Iraqis.

2008 will be a year of eliminating unemployment | Iraq Updates

Al-Shara Renews Syria's Commitment to Unity of Iraq

Vice President Farouk al Shara discussed on Monday with head of the Iraqi National Dialogue Front Saleh al-Mutlaq the situation in Iraq and the latest developments in the national reconciliation process.

During the meeting, al-Shara renewed Syria's commitment to strengthening unity among Iraqi parties in order to guarantee Iraq territorial integrity.

For his part, al-Mutlaq expressed appreciation of Syria's national stances and its role in pushing the national reconciliation process forward so that Iraq can regain its freedom and independence and achieve security and stability.

The meeting was attended by Assistant Vice President Mohammad Nasif.

Al-Shara Renews Syria's Commitment to Unity of Iraq | Iraq Updates

Iraq Sunni leaders hit back at bin Laden
Tribal, political leaders say Al-Qaeda leader’s statement carries no weight, accuse him of being un-Islamic

Iraqi Sunni tribal and political leaders singled out as "traitors" by Osama bin Laden hit back on Monday, accusing the Al-Qaeda chief of being un-Islamic and mocking him as being weak.

"Bin Laden's statement doesn't affect us - he is making these threats from a position of weakness," said Sheikh Khalid Shahudh, a senior member of the Awakening Council in western Anbar province which came in for particular censure from the Western world's most wanted man.

Bin Laden, in a 56-minute tape released late Saturday, warned Sunni Muslims in Iraq not to take up arms against the terror network, saying those who did were "traitors."

Those fighting Al-Qaeda, known as "Awakening" councils, have "betrayed the nation and brought shame and scandal, that will be followed by damnation forever unless they repent," he said.

Along with Awakening members, especially those in Anbar where the movement first began, bin Laden also rejected supporters of the Islamic Party of Iraq, a Sunni faction led by Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi, as "traitors to Islam."

Shahudh said bin Laden's threats carried no weight.

"Al-Qaeda has no more power in Anbar province," he said.

"The Awakening is now operating all across Iraq and involving all sects. We will continue chasing Al-Qaeda. We have no enemies except Al-Qaeda. The Americans are not our enemy anymore. Our forces will deal exclusively with Al-Qaeda. We will hunt them until we get rid of the last element."

The Awakening Council in central Salaheddin province, in a statement, accused bin Laden and his followers of being un-Islamic.

"What the loyalists of bin Laden do contradicts Islamic principles and its moral standards," the council said.

"Bin Laden should order his followers to stop targeting Iraqis ... he must apologise to Iraqis that have been harmed by Al-Qaeda's heinous crimes."

Abdul Karim al-Samarraie, a member of parliament for the Islamic Party, said the party did not wish to respond to bin Laden's comments as it would "give him legitimacy."

"The message of Al-Qaeda has collapsed in Iraq because of their terrorist actions. All Iraqi people are turning against them and kicking them out. Iraqis have tasted the pain of their actions," Samarraie said.

Iraq Sunni leaders hit back at bin Laden | Iraq Updates

Al-Mufti Belittles KRG Differences with Baghdad Government

Al-Mufti Belittles KRG Differences with Baghdad Government
Adnan al-Mufti, Head of KNA, belittled KRG differences with the Central Government concerning Kurdistan Peshmerga Forces budget. He considered these differences ordinary ones. “ I think the differences with Baghdad Government can be disregarded in 2008 through the discussions decided to be held between both sides to reach the final solution .” Al-Mufti said in a press statement.

dnan al-Mufti also added “These are ordinary differences about the budget allocated by the Iraqi Government to Kurdistan Region and Peshmerga Forces.”

It’s worth mentioning that KRG budget including Peshmerga Forces payments represents 17% of Iraq budget.

PUKmedia :: English - Al-Mufti Belittles KRG Differences with Baghdad Government

Al-Maliki from London: 2007 was a Critical Year, Yet Things are Going Better

http://pukmedia.com/english/images/s...p/maliki22.jpg2007 was a hard year to the Iraqis, but signals are obvious that situations are going better. Nuri al-Maliki, Iraqi PM stated to Aliraqia Satellite Channel from London.

Iraqi Government is determined that 2008 must be a year of Reconstruction, Economy situations improvement and fighting Corruption. Al-Maliki added
Iraqi PM also said that his health is excellent following a medical checkup last week in London.

PUKmedia :: English - Al-Maliki from London: 2007 was a Critical Year, Yet Things are Going Better

Kirkuk Fraternity List Issues Statement about Extension of Article 140’s Implementation

Kirkuk Fraternity List in Kirkuk Provisional Council (KPC) issued a statement about extending the implementation of article 140 of the Iraqi permanent constitution concerning normalization of Kirkuk and the disputed areas .

The following is the full text of the statement:

According to a decision by the Kirkuk Provisional Council in 20/11/2007 a meeting was scheduled to be held following passing the deadline of implementation of article 140 to determine the stance of the council towards the Iraqi Federal Government and all the related sides which are responsible for non-implementation.

Due to objective reasons and taking into consideration the political developments related to this issue including the return of Iraqi Republican Gathering List to the Kirkuk Provisional Council, the statement by UNAMI regarding the triple agreement among (Kurdistan Region Presidency, Iraqi Federal Government, and the Iraqi Presidency) about extending the implementation of article 140,the visit of US Secretary of State to the Kirkuk Provisional Council as well as the stances of Kurdistan Political Leadership and the Kurdistan Region Parliament , the special meeting could not been held in its scheduled time .Therefore , the Kirkuk Provisional Council have been asked to postpone the special meeting to 3/1/2008 so that necessary stance and decisions to be made during that meeting concerning this issue and Republican Gathering List to be informed to attend the meeting.

PUKmedia :: English - Kirkuk Fraternity List Issues Statement about Extension of Article 140’s Implementation

Three Power Projects Completed, Turned Over In Basrah Province

U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, GULF REGION DIVISION
Army engineers continued their mission of helping the Government of Iraq jump start its electrical infrastructure by completing three essential power projects in the Gulf Region South district.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently turned the three 132kV electrical substations over to Iraqi authorities in the Basrah Province, according to Tom Eidson, head of engineering and construction at GRS.

The Iraqi people currently are enjoying more electricity than at any time in the past, Eidson said. As more and more electrical projects come to completion, he said, the Iraqi people have more electrical power available for greater lengths of time and, thus, enjoy a higher standard of living.

“These 132kV substation facilities (Al-Toba, Al-Hammar and Al-Gurnah) help correct distribution problems in the system by relieving overload on transformers and switchgears,” said Engineer Firas, the project engineer with the Basrah Area Office.

Eidson said the power is not only being made available for personal use, but also for commercial and industrial use, which will strengthen and broaden the economic foundation of Iraq.

“Al-Toba 132kV substation project will provide the electricity to support the Toba tank oil transfer and storage facility, which is the backbone of the oil conveyance system for the Rumayla oil field,” Eidson said. “The economy of Iraq is based largely on revenues from the marketing of its oil products. This facility is critical to getting Iraq oil to the world oil market.”
The rehabilitation project at Al-Hammar 132kV substation is a critical element of the Al-Hammar and Hammar-Mishrif gas/oil separation facilities and will help provide the Basrah International Airport and the Sweet Water Facility with a more reliable and secure transmission network, Firas said.

Al-Gurnah 132kV substation project will improve reliability and safety standards for the electrical distribution network, reduce electrical outages, and supply electricity to a population of approximately 80,000 people, he added.

“Work consisted at Al-Toba and Al-Hammar substations of general maintenance, replacement of the damaged transformers and switch gears, and cosmetic improvements,” Firas said. “While the equipment used in the Al-Gurnah project includes two, 63 megavolt transformers, a building control room, a high voltage switch gear room, a protection fence and a guard house.

“All the substations were manual and using the 1983 technology. but now they are computerized and using the 2005 technology,” the engineer added.

PUKmedia :: English - Three Power Projects Completed, Turned Over In Basrah Province

Al-Mada: Jalal Talabani is Most Active President in Iraq

According to a research conducted by al-Mada Publishing House for Mass Media Culture and Art, the current Iraqi President, his Excellency Jalal Talabani, is the most active president since the formation of the Iraqi state.

Referring to the history of the successive Iraqi presidents, the research reported that President Jalal Talabani is the only one who has been participating in several academic sessions held in the ********* universities, and touring around many eastern and western countries to spread the mission of forming new Iraq.

Brining the differences among the Iraqi political parties together is attributed to Talabani’s wise policies which are for the interests of all the components of the Iraqi community, as the research concluded.

PUKmedia :: English - Al-Mada: Jalal Talabani is Most Active President in Iraq

President Talabani visits Kirkuk

The Iraqi President his Excellency Mr. Jalal Talabani visited Kirkuk today accompanied by Kurdistan region Vice President ,Mr. Kosrat Rasul Ali ,Speaker of Kurdistan National Assembly ,Mr. Adnan Mufti.

They were received by Kirkuk Governor ,Abdul Rahman Mustafa ,Head of Kirkuk Provincial Council , Rizgar Ali and a number of the Kirkuk Provincial Council members and governmental officials .

President Talabani held a meeting with the Kirkuk Governor, Head of Kirkuk Provincial Council and a number of governmental officials in the city in order to see conditions there closely.

On the other hand, Mr. Jalal Talabani, Secretary General of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) met the officials of PUK Organizational Center in Kirkuk where the meeting discussed the activities and works of PUK in the area.

Details will be posted soon.

PUKmedia :: English - President Talabani visits Kirkuk

Iraq increases Oil Exports in 2007, expects higher Production in 2008

Iraq's oil exports shot up in the last quarter of 2007 and the ministry in charge of production forecast Wednesday that it will reach three million barrels per day by the end of the year.

Ministry spokesman Assem Jihad said Iraq's average production was 2.4 million barrels per day in November, nearly a half million more than the post-2003 average. Exports stood at around 1.9 million barrels per day, sold at an average price of US$83.87 per barrel.

Jihad added that the exports, about 1.6 million barrels a day from Basra in the south and more than 300,000 daily barrels from Kirkuk in the north had grossed a total of US$4.94 billion in November, which made up more than 90 per cent of Iraq's revenues.

"The ministry's ambition is to increase the production to more than three million bpd by the end of 2008 and to pass the national oil law which will enable us to draw foreign investment to our oil resources," Jihad told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.

He added that resuming oil shipments through a pipeline from Iraq's Kirkuk oilfields into the Turkish Ceyhan export terminal, which was often halted in past years due to sabotage, had given Iraq more flexibility to increase production.

But the year has had more downs than ups.

Iraq's political factions last February drafted the first version of a bill to regulate the country's oil industry in an effort to share its revenues among Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish communities.

But the effort bogged down in parliament, mostly over delicate power sharing issues involving the central government in Iraq. The Kurds, for example, want a greater say in managing oilfields in their self-ruled area of the north.

Sunni Arabs fear that they will be left out of oil profits as the provinces where they are dominant have few proven reserves. Most of Iraq's oil reserves are in the Kurdish north and the largely Shiite south.

U.S. officials view the oil law as a catalyst for investment and a means of clamping down on sectarian violence.

In August, Iraq's semiautonomous regional government of Kurdistan passed its own oil law and signed more than a dozen production-sharing contracts with international oil companies. The Oil Ministry has said it considers these deals to be illegal and has threatened to blacklist the foreign companies that are involved.

The oil ministry Wednesday also asked international oil companies to submit by Jan. 31 all necessary registration documents to allow them to bid for participation in the development of Iraq's oil fields.

"The Oil Ministry has invited all international petroleum companies willing to work in Iraq to register by submitting required documentation," Jihad said in a statement.

The ministry said only registered and qualified companies would be allowed to bid for oil field development projects.

"Registration of companies in the Republic of Iraq is a necessary step to enable them to take part in any round of production licenses that the ministry is intending to issue," he said.

Iraqi oil officials said recently they hoped to issue tenders to develop the country's vast oilfields at the beginning of 2008. They said the oil ministry was preparing contract models for the first group of oilfields.

PUKmedia :: English - Iraq increases Oil Exports in 2007, expects higher Production in 2008

Forum in Baghdad on administrative corruption

The first forum on combating the administrative corruption will be held on Thursday in al-Rasheed hotel in Baghdad, Deputy Prime Minister Burham Saleh's media office said on Wednesday.

"The meeting will discuss means to combat the administrative corruption during the current year in coordination with the parties concerned to reduce this phenomena," the office said a statement received by the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).

"Deputy Prime Minister Burham Saleh, a number of ministers, MPs, diplomats and businessmen will attend the forum," the statement added.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki had announced during the Basra reconstruction conference last month that 2008 will be the year of reconstruction, services and fight against administrative corruption.

A U.S. report, released last September, strongly criticized ways to combat corruption in the Iraqi institutions.

Aswat Aliraq

Iraq invites international oil companies to expand oil industry


Oil Ministry on Wednesday invited international oil companies willing to work in Iraq to submit their papers, provided that they were officially registered in the country’s concerned offices, a ministry spokesman said.

“Contracts and licensing directory in Oil Ministry on Wednesday called on all qualified and well-known international companies to submit their applications to work in Iraq,” Assem Jihad, from the Oil Ministry, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).

Jihad considered “the registry of companies in Iraq as a standard condition.”

He added “Companies have to fill in application forms and submit the documents before the end of January 2008.”

“A committee will be established to review all applications, and the names of winning companies will be announced in a press conference later,” the spokesman pointed out.

Jihad noted the invitation of companies coincided with a new Iraqi trend to implement a high number of oil projects in Oil Ministry’s long-term plan to improve the oil industry.

Aswat Aliraq

Central bank's auction canceled because of inventory

A source from the Iraqi Central Bank said it canceled its Wednesday session to complete its annual inventory.

"Wednesday's session has been called off because the bank will draw up its annual inventory," an informed source from the bank's relations department told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).

The bank is expected to resume its daily session this Thursday, the source indicated.

Demand for the dollar significantly increased during the bank's latest session on Monday, registering at $119.535 million compared to $55.960 million on Sunday.

In its daily statement on Monday, the bank said it had covered all bids, including $22.635 million in cash and $96.900 in foreign transfers, at an exchange rate of 1,215 dinars per dollar, one tick lower than the previous session.

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

Aswat Aliraq

U.S. troops storm Health Ministry again

U.S. troops barged into the Health Ministry building early this week, seizing several guards, destroying doors and tinkering with official documents.

U.S. officials in Baghdad have declined comment on the reasons that spurred them to storm the building in the heart of Baghdad. They also have given no explanation for their d****tion of the guards.

A health ministry source, refusing to be named, said: “U.S. forces stormed the building of the Health Ministry … and captured several guards assigned to protect it, destroyed several doors and tinkered with its contents.”

The source said the troops have refused to issue a statement with regard to the ‘attack’ or the reasons that led them to do so.

It is the second raid by U.S. troops on the Health Ministry building.

Early in 2007, the troops made an unannounced assault on the building and detained a Deputy Minister Hakem al-Zamili.

Zamili, a member of the political wing of the movement led by Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, is still languishing in a U.S. jail allegedly for fomenting sectarian violence.

Azzaman in English