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

Iraq's Industry Minister opens door to reimbursing US

Iraq's Industry Minister opened the door Wednesday to reimbursing the United States for at least some of the billions of dollars spent for reconstructing the country.

Industry Minister Fawzi Hariri also spoke hopefully of more than doubling Iraqi oil production within two to three years.

Hariri said current production is 2 million to 2.4 million barrels a day, and it should reach 3 million by the end of the year and 5 million barrels in another two to three years depending on the extent of foreign technology from abroad.

Iraqis themselves "don't have the know-how" to expand production that much, he said at a joint news conference with Paul Brinkley, the undersecretary of Defense for Business Transformation in Iraq.

With Iraq expected to reap some $70 billion in oil revenue this year because of ********* record-high fuel prices, some House Democrats have proposed a ban on providing U.S. aid to rebuild towns or equip security forces unless Iraq matches every dollar spent by the United States.

Bush administration-backed legislation calls for devoting about $3 billion to reconstruction and relief programs, half of which would go toward training and equipping Iraqi security.

Asked what he thought of the Democratic proposal, Hariri said Iraq has been able to control its own finances only since 2006 and "the government of Iraq is doing as much as it can to support industry and housing reconstruction."

"We are hoping for help from our friends. We are not looking for handouts," he said, adding, "Iraq can pay the money back."

What the United States spends is for security and completely a U.S. decision, he said.

"The Iraqi government is not involved in any way," the minister said. But "money can be returnable," he said. "We can get to an arrangement to deal with that."

Iraq Development Program - Iraq's Industry Minister opens door to reimbursing US

Iran recalls ambassador to Iraq

Iran recalled its ambassador to Iraq in protest of Baghdad's support for a move by the United Arab Emirates to take ownership of three Persian Gulf islands.

The Emirates News Agency, WAM, said April 28 that the Iraqi government expressed "unconditional support" for the Emirates' sovereignty over the Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa islands, which lie at a key access point to the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran claimed control over the islands following the departure of British forces in 1971. UAE officials say Iran is an illegal occupier of the islands.

The official Emirates news agency said "Iraq supports all procedures" for the UAE to reclaim the islands.

Iran summoned Ambassador Majid al-Shaikh to Tehran in protest, The Tehran Times said.

"The Iraqi government was also asked to correct its position," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini said.

Iran plans to take the matter to the international court at The Hague.

Iran recalls ambassador to Iraq - UPI.com

hmmm - although the title of this link says a truce has occurred the article doesn't fit. I'll look elsewhere and see what I can find.

Iraq Government, Sadr Bloc Agree Truce: Sadr Aide

Militants fired rockets into a British forces base in Iraq's southern oil town of Basra on Thursday, killing two contractors and wounding four other civilians, the U.S. military said on Thursday.

It said British forces had returned fire and U.S. forces killed six militants behind the attack in an air strike. The statement did not give the nationalities of the contractors.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki ordered a crackdown on militiamen in Basra at the end of March, mostly targeting fighters loyal to anti-American Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.

After a bungled beginning to the campaign in which Sadr's Mehdi Army fought back and scores of civilians were killed, Iraqi forces have successfully wrested control of most the city. Basra's formerly lawless streets are now largely quiet.

"This was the first indirect fire (rocket) attack causing casualties in Basra since March 27," the statement said.

Maliki, a Shi'ite, has turned his attention to Sadrist militants in Baghdad, particularly in the cleric's stronghold of Sadr City, where U.S. and Iraqi forces have been fighting daily street battles in the crowded slum of 2 million.

Iraq government, Sadr bloc agree truce: Sadr aide | International | Reuters

That's a bit better.

Iraqi Government, al-Sadr Agree to Stop Fighting in Sadr City

The Iraqi government and the Shiite al-Sadr movement agreed Saturday to quit the intense fighting that continued since March 25 in Baghdad's Shiite Sadr City, media reports said.

However, Al-Arabiya news channel said gunfire was still heard in the Shiite enclave, despite the agreement between the government and Sadrists to stop the armed clashes.

Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has launched a security offensive codenamed Charges of the Knights against militiamen of Mahdi army loyal to radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.

Thousands were killed and wounded during the clashes that lasted for two months in Sadr City, eastern Baghdad.

http://pukmedia.com/english/Daily%20News/2008-05-10/news6.htm

Kirkuk front calls to stop the work of 140 article committee

Kirkuk’s front called to stop the work of 140 article committee office which recommended Kirkuk’s agriculture directorate to cancel agriculture contracts of farmers from the province’s residents. Farmers say this measure will push them to displace calling to form a probe committee.

Kirkuk front calls to stop the work of 140 article committee | Economics News | Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network

Baghdad International Exhibition continues

For the fourth day in a row, Baghdad’s international exhibition continues hosting visitors from different countries with the participation of 120 Iraqi companies that present different displays in several fields.

Baghdad International Exhibition continues | Economics News | Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network

Iraq Army not ready to take over security

Iraqi Army Chief of Staff Major Babkar Zebari said in a special interview with Alsumaria that Iraqi Army is not yet ready to take over security command without the support of multinational forces noting that Iraqi Forces still need four additional forces.

For his part, Multinational Security Transition Command Major James Dubik clarified that there are upgrading plans to establish Iraqi air weapons capable of taking over security responsibility.

Iraq Army not ready to take over security | Iraq News | Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network

Jay Garner: Few US Officials Have Thorough Understanding of Article 140

On May 9th, The Kurdish Institute in Washington in cooperation with the Pennsylvania University held a special seminar concerning article 140 of the Iraqi permanent constitution. A number of attendees cautioned that the non-implementation of article 140 will harm the security and stability of Iraq.

“Article 140 contains suitable procedures to address the disputes over those areas which were Arabized during the Baath regime. Those problems should be solved according to the constitution, new views, therefore, should not be presented to address them,” Hawar Shally, Head of the Kurdish National Conference said.

Calling on the Iraqi government to implement the article as soon as possible, Shally said the non-implementation of article 140 will negatively affect relations between Kurdish people and central government.

“Unfortunately the article 140 was not implemented on time while, I believe, it can be implemented in the future. Few US officials have a thorough and complete understanding of article 140,” Jay Garner, who was appointed by the US as Director of the Office for Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance for Iraq in 2003 following the Operation Iraqi Freedom, said.

“Baath regime perpetrated as much injustice against Kurds as against Arabs. We, therefore, should be an example of fixing fairness. Kurds are not better than Arabs and Turkmens - we all are created by God. We should not go back to chauvinism and racism,” the Deputy Speaker of Kurdistan Region Parliament, Kamal Kirkuki, said.

“UN came up into the issue following the delay of implementing the article on December, 31st, 2007; we are now waiting for the UN initiatives and suggestions. If their suggestions are in favor of the public interests and enable to bring rights back to those whose rights were confiscated, we will support those suggestions as much as possible, the KRG Minister for Extra-regional Affairs, Muhammad Ihsan, said.

All attendees concluded that the article 140 is a constitutional one and it should be implemented.

PUKmedia :: English - Home

Sharp drop in demand for dollar at daily auction

Demand for the dollar was sharply down in the Iraqi Central Bank's auction on Sunday, registering at $ 35.440 million compared to $164.635 million on Thursday.

"The demand hit $10.850 million in cash and $24.550 million in money transfers outside the country, all covered by the bank at an exchange rate of 1,200 Iraqi dinars per dollar, unchanged for the second session in a row,” according to the central bank's daily bulletin which was received by Aswat al-Iraq- Voices of Iraq- (VOI).

The 13 banks that participated in the auction offered to sell 950,000 dollars, which the bank bought all at a rate of 1,198 dinars per dollar.

Speaking to VOI, Ali al-Yasseri, a trader, attributed the lower demand for the dollar to the small number of the banks that participated in today’s session and to the small size of the remittances.

Al-Yasseri expected a hike in the demand for the dollar at tomorrow’s auction with the possibility that the Central Bank will lower the dollar exchange rate against the dinar at a rate of one tick.

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

Aswat Aliraq

PM says Iraq govt. to further ties with China, Spain

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki expressed his government's wish to bolster relations with China and Spain in all fields to push forward development and economic prosperity.

Maliki issued the statements during separate meetings at his office with the Chinese and Spanish ambassadors on the occasion of the end of their tours of duty in Iraq.

"Maliki expressed appreciation for the two countries' stands supportive of Iraq. He extended thanks to the two ambassadors over their efforts during their tenure to strengthen their countries' ties with the people and government of Iraq," according to a cabinet statement received by Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI).

The statement also quoted the two ambassadors as stressing their countries' wish to cooperate with the Iraqi government to achieve security, stability and economic welfare.

Aswat Aliraq