Thread: Archive Latest News - Think Tank - 15/04/08 - 26/08/08

Intelligence Kurdish control of Kirkuk and control of the Kurdish absolute power over the city

The New York Times The New York Times in its issue, Tuesday, Alasaic forces, the Secret Service Kurdish-controlled city of Kirkuk on full control. The newspaper quoted a security leaders Kurds in Kirkuk, a Halo boats, which have talked about the fact PESHMARGA bringing in forces from Kurdish northern Iraq, and whether Kirkuk is now saying that the "Kurdish control of the city basically why should the presence of troops?", In Alasaic reference to the troops. The attached newspaper saying that among all the political problems facing Iraq today, perhaps there is no problem more complicated than the fate of Kirkuk, a city inhabited by 900,000 claimed by Kurds, Arabs and Turkmen possession.

She adds that the explosive conflict around the city a major barrier to establishing a stable political architecture in other regions of Iraq, but the matter further, also follows the newspaper, because it (HALO) showed that despite the decline in the levels of violence recently, the "instability and ethnic differences Regional reflector directives issued by Baghdad and destabilizing large areas of Iraq but even that provides for a civil war. "

The paper said this month collapsed in the statute provides for the development of the foundation stone for the local elections, the reason for this is the bitter conflict in Kirkuk, when asked Arabs and Turkmen, Kurds would not give in on some of their authority over the city. But it does not appear that there is a chance to happen. The newspaper notes that the authority of Kurdish visible anywhere in the city. In addition to local government and police leadership, there Alasaic, a secret security force working with the U.S. Army and with American intelligence agencies, according to Alasaic leaders said in the newspaper.

The newspaper added that officials have admitted that the Kurds are the first elements Alasaic force landing at a given location in the event of a potential attack, and it seems that they have the best intelligence information. The officers Alasaic their reports only of the two Kurdish parties: the Kurdistan Democratic Party and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan.

The newspaper reported that the forces operate under the command of Alasaic glad Barzani, director of intelligence Kurdistan Democratic Party and son of party leader, Massoud Barzani.

The newspaper believes that the accumulation of power in the hands of the Kurds has increased the climate of tension among Arabs and Turkmen. The movement of Mohammad Khalil, the leader of the Arab bloc in the provincial council, as saying that "the right Alasaic say they left the area by force, and this is what Erab people here."

However, the leaders of competitors warned that Kurdish control of the security forces would prevent chaos in the event of an explosion of ethnic fighting.
The paper says that the Kurds want Kirkuk to the annexation of the neighbouring region of Kurdistan, and warn that any plan for nuclear powers will reject them strictly.

It is reported Hassan Nejad, a senior official in the Democratic Party of Kurdistan in Kirkuk, as saying that "the fate of such a plan fail."

The newspaper quoted rose Abdullah, in charge of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan in Kirkuk, as saying that "Alasaic have many sources, and for this reason that Americans rely on them, police rely on them. This explains the availability of a large force." The paper says that thousands of troops Alasaic deployed in the city, but officials say the Kurds, numbering no more than one thousand members.

Translated version of http://www.hewarat.dk/hewarat_data.php?sid=9432

Iraqi banks by allowing them to claim the opening set-off with U.S. banks

The financial adviser told «Bank North» Iraqi Yes Ghanem Jaleel, private Iraqi banks that need the support of the state aimed at promoting its functions. He added: «decision to lift the amounts of funds for private banks to two million dollars encouraging step and good for activating the role».

He pointed out that the private Iraqi banks demanding the Iraqi Central Bank to allow open channels off with U.S. banks.

The «procedures for the granting of bank credits for insurance at 10 percent was merely a paper-based transactions, and can not be development work».

He explained that the method «Central Bank of Iraq» in feeding Iraqi assets in banks abroad, impeding commercial transactions and cause some losses due to the fluctuation of exchange rates, global, suggesting reduced from 4 - 5 days to two days maximum.

And the return of the Iraqi capital migrating from neighboring countries into the country, he said that the encouragement possible through the support of Iraqi banks to enable them to give facilities to Iraqi businessmen. He pointed out that banks in neighboring countries benefit from allowing them to open house with American banks, what encourages them to attract those funds.

http://66.102.9.104/translate_c?hl=e...BIUEFY3oI4zQgA

Iraq repudiates oil deal with Russia's LUKOIL

Iraq's oil minister has repudiated a Saddam Hussein-era contract with Russia's largest private oil company LUKOIL, saying the contract was "totally unfair," an Iraqi newspaper reported on Tuesday.

"Relating to the Russian contract, it was signed with the former regime for political reasons and scrapped by the former regime also for political reasons," Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani said in an interview with the an-Noor newspaper.

"It is a totally unfair contract," he said.

Iraq repudiates oil deal with Russia's LUKOIL | Industries | Energy | Reuters

Iraq to import fuel from Iran

Iran has agreed to ferry 1 million liters of fuel to Iraq to meet domestic needs for its rickety power plants, Iraqi ambassador to Tehran said.

Mohammed al-Sheikh said the deal under which Iran will furnish Iraq with fuel was signed during the recent visit by Deputy Prime Minister Burhem Saleh to Iran.

Saleh led a large delegation to Tehran comprising high-ranking officials among them the ministers of electricity, trade and foreign affairs.

Sheikh said “more measures” were taken to boost bilateral ties. However he declined to say whether other major deals were signed.

Iran has emerged as Iraq’s top trading partner in the five years since the U.S. invasion. Iraqi shops and stores brim with Iranian goods.

Iranian firms are currently the most active in Iraq, implementing projects worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

In another development, Electricity Minister Kareem Waheed has flown to Moscow to urge Russian firms to start building power plants in Iraq, a statement said.

The country has drawn up plans for the construction of several electricity plants but foreign firms are reluctant to send their engineers and technicians to Iraq due to mounting violence.

Waheed will ask the Russians to rehabilitate major power plants their companies had built in Iraq and also offer them the possibility of building new ones, the statement said.

The Russians are keen to e.x.e.cute such projects and have agreed to sign a multi-billion contract for the construction of several plants capable of producing 6000 megawatts, said the statement by the Electricity Ministry.

Azzaman in English

Plan to build huge commercial city in central Baghdad-mayor

Baghdad's mayor on Tuesday unveiled a plan to build a huge commercial city in the capital's downtown area.

Witnessing the lowest levels of violence, Iraq considers 2008 as the year for to start investment projects to develop the war-scarred and oil-rich country.

"The plan includes building a huge commercial city to replace the industrial area in Sheikh Omar, central Baghdad," Sabir Issawi, Baghdad's mayor, told Aswat al-Iraq - Voices of Iraq - (VOI).

"The industrial area in Sheikh Omar district will be re-located," the mayor noted.

"A city with glitz commercial buildings, embassies and ministry offices will be built over the area of Sheikh Omar district."

"Sheikh Omar area is polluted and full of ramshackle building that must be demolished," he highlighted.

"An industrial city will build in al-Wahda or al-Suweira, southern Baghdad suburbs to replace Sheikh Omar district," he added.

The local authorities would launch investment program for the industrial city, which will include air-conditioned containers, factories and car repair workshops," he explained.

The mayor expected "building Baghdad's industrial city to begin in 2009."

Aswat Aliraq

Update......

Iraqi bank to open branch in Lebanon

The director of al-Belad Islamic bank on Wednesday announced the initial agreement of the Iraqi Central Bank and the Central Bank of Lebanon to open a branch of the bank in Beirut.

"This came within current expansions in its banking activities as it is working on opening other branches in al-Zaafaraniya in Baghdad and in Basra, Babel, Najaf and Karbala," Ayad Yehiya Salman told Aswat al-Iraq - Voices of Iraq (VOI).

"The move is part of the current public program 2008, as the bank is preparing to increase its capital from 50 to 100 billion Iraqi dinars," Salman explained.

The branch to be opened in Beirut will be the second branch of an Iraqi bank after the branch of Basra Bank opened two years ago in the Jordanian capital Amman.

Aswat Aliraq

Slight drop in the demand for the dollar on Wed.

Demand for the dollar was slightly down in the Central Bank of Iraq's (CBI) auction on Wednesday, registering at $73.31 million compared to $77.28 million on Tuesday.

"The demand hit $20.77 million in cash and $52.54 million in foreign transfers outside the country, all covered by the bank at a stable exchange rate of 1,187 Iraqi dinars per dollar, unchanged for the 7th session in a row," an official source from the bank told Aswat al-Iraq - Voices of Iraq - (VOI).

The 15 banks that participated in the auction offered to sell $3 million, which the bank bought at an exchange rate of 1.185 Iraqi dinars per dollar.

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

Aswat Aliraq

Currency Market to be Established in Kurdistan Region

Supervised by the KRG Premier, Nechirvan Barzani, and in attendance of the KRG Deputy PM, Omar Fatah, Kurdistan Economic Council convened on Tuesday in Erbil.

Proposals to further promote the Kurdistan region economy; by supporting the private sector as well as state run banks were discussed.

It was been decided that cooperated assurance companies with cooperation with the Iraqi Airways to be established for providing facilitations to the tradesmen and the investors.

The meeting decided that currency market to be established in the Kurdistan region. Paying attention to the agriculture sector through a strategic plan and dealing with the challenging problems was another topic of the meeting.

PUKmedia :: English - Currency Market to be Established in Kurdistan Region

Kirkuk Council Decides to Establish Investment Board

Members of Kirkuk provincial council including Kurds, Arabs and Turkmens decided to establish an investment board. Jawad Janabi, member of Kirkuk provincial council, said that the board would contribute to promoting public services in the province.

Muhammad Khalil, spokesman of Arab gathering list in Kirkuk provincial council said that the decision was ill-timed as Kirkuk currently is passing through a sensitive period. However, he stressed the necessity of rehabilitating the city. The board will be headed by Falah Abdul Rahman, a Kurd, with a deputy of Arab origin.

“The board gives priority to the agricultural and oil sectors and housing in Kirkuk,” Falah Abdul Rahman said.

The board will be run by seven members: three kurds, three Arabs and one Turkmen.

PUKmedia :: English - Kirkuk Council Decides to Establish Investment Board

Shwani: Agreement on Mistura’s Proposal Concerning Kirkuk

In a press statement to al-Hayat newspaper, the Iraqi Parliament member from Kurdistan Alliance Bloc Khalid Shwani said that the Kurds will respond to the positive proposals, which will help in solving the problems of the elections in Kirkuk.

“All the parties have agreed to Di Mistura’s proposal, but differences still exist concerning it. Political blocs have introduced different ideas and we are optimistic about reaching a consensus solution at the end of this month”, Shwani told the newspaper.

He added “Several specialist committees were formed to set the legal terms of the proposals. The committees have not held their meetings yet because of the Parliament’s summer vacation. The political blocs’ meeting, which was to be held this week, was postponed because of the absence of most of the Parliament’s members.”

The newspaper also held an interview with Dr. Iyad al-Samaraie, the member of the Accordance Front Bloc at the Parliament who said “our bloc made contacts with all the parties, including the International envoy. We are ready to discuss the guaranties of the Arab and Turkmen parties to accept article 24 of the Provincial Elections Law. The most important guaranties are to make the elections far from any political influence by the political parties in the province, not to make any changes in the political positions during the elections period and to review the voters’ records in Kirkuk by joint committees.”

Al-Samaraie added “we will resume the negotiations by the end of the Parliament’s vacation. Mutual negotiations are still going on, and we cite serious and flexible stances by all the parties to issue the elections law.”

PUKmedia :: English - Shwani: Agreement on Mistura’s Proposal Concerning Kirkuk