Thread: Archive Latest News - Dinar Think Tank - 27/08/08 - 15/01/09

Baghdad: Iraqi parliament guards scuffle with guards of al-Maliki

US forces early today did not let the reporters to enter the fortified Green Zone in Baghdad as tensions broke out between Iraqi premier’s guards and guards of the Conference Palace inside the Iraqi Parliament, PUKmedia reported at the scene.

The source indicated that a large number of Iraqi premier’s guards wanted to enter the Conference Palace inside the Iraqi Parliament with their arms but guards of the Iraqi parliament did not let them and consequently tensions emerged.

PUKmedia correspondent said that she heard gunshots from distance, indicating that the Iraqi premier until editing this news was in the Green Zone and the US forces sealed off the area.

http://pukmedia.com/english/index.ph...=7931&Itemid=1

Speaker of Kurdistan Region National Assembly flies for UK

Speaker of Kurdistan Region National Assembly, Adnan Mufti, heading a parliament delegation early today left the Kurdistan region through Erbil international airport in a several day official visit to North Ireland and UK.

It is expected that during the visit the delegation to visit the parliament of North Ireland and UK to enhance political and diplomatic relations between the Kurdistan region and both North Ireland and UK.

Stressing the ongoing support by UK to Iraq and particularly the democratic and federal experience of the Kurdistan region and participation of UK companies in rebuilding the Kurdistan region would also be discussed during the visit.

http://pukmedia.com/english/index.ph...=7938&Itemid=1

After the pact

If the time before the pact was very difficult and tough, then the next stage is not going to be an easy one, not because of the agreement with the United States which would undoubtedly take its course in implementation. The difficulty lies in the way the political reform initiative that the Iraqi cabinet has ratified would be implemented and interpreted.

The initiative includes a range of irrefutable issues concerning the upholding of constitution, the legal commitment to the democratic process and the peaceful rotation of authority.

From now on, these irrefutable issues should not be subject to contestation, since these issues would create and sustain the national consensus. Any kind of suspicion towards these irrefutable issues constitutes a contestation in the national consensus and opening a wound in its body that originally suffers from numerous crisis.

The post-pact era for the Iraqis is more difficult than before the pact, because all the factions have built up hopes on the recovery of the government and the political process through the Reform Document, but we should bear in mind that there some people who tend to tense up this opportunity.

The marathon of Iraqi-US pact came to an end, but the marathon of the existing problems has not come to an end. The remaining time of the current government is more than a year and this period is not enough to reach the end point of the marathon race for settling all the problems, but not necessarily for the marathon race of the reforms to end at the final line, rather it could end at the middle line or at the line of contentment, the two lines that seem to be misplaced in the horizon for political and governmental reform.

Joint committees, which have emerged from the forces withdrawal agreement and the strategic framework, may have started to implement the articles of these two agreements by now.

Iraqi committees from all those sides which voted to these two committees should emerge from the reform document since this document includes key issues which are not easy to be quickly settled, rather a long time negotiations and a political will to create the prelude for trust that we have long seeking since the birth of the new Iraq.

The reform document resembles a testing ground for the sides who voted for, including both who voted reluctantly and those who enthusiastically voted. The document could re-establish the balance between the (government) and those who feel (alien) from the government.

This New Year should not be regarded as adding a new number to the calendar year, rather it should an evaluating year for reforms, re-establishing trust and getting rid of suspicions about the intentions of this or the other. A calendar year for our wrongdoings that we all committed and don’t confess them, as doing mistakes in our oriental cultural dictionary deem to be an unwavering victory. The period following the agreement is more difficult and complicated, but if the document interpreted on the ground it will be more feasible and better, will we do that? I doubt it.

* Firyad Rawandzi is an Iraqi MP from the Kurdish Alliance Bloc and Editor in Chief of al- Ittihad Daily

http://pukmedia.com/english/index.ph...=7937&Itemid=1

the government is preparing a program to reform the Iraqi economy

Government is preparing a program to reform the Iraqi economy by strengthening the participation of the private sector in cooperation with the United Nations. This was announced by the "morning," Abdul Hussein Al-Anbuge Adviser to the Prime Minister

For economic affairs, pointing out a vision for activating the private sector which formed one of the tasks which attaches to amend the legislation to make it more effective and integrated into economic life. He noted that the aim of this step is that the private sector commander of the economic process in the country as the Iraqi economy tends to shift towards market economies, noting the existence of studies of the Iraqi banking system reform and market securities, insurance companies, in addition to developing a strategy for investment will provide opportunities Investment comfortable and privileges and guarantees for Iraqi and foreign investors. Saw yesterday held an economic conference in Baghdad with 62 civil society organizations competent economy, and in the presence of representatives of the Council of Ministers and the House of Representatives and a number of businessmen, investors and representatives of the Ministry of Industry and the Central Bank of Iraq and the state council, and the aim of the conference was to discuss ways of activating the partnership between the legislative and ****utive authorities and the private sector The private sector.

He said Al-Anbuge that the government is seeking to develop feasibility studies and definition of a database used by the Iraqi foreign investor is in the interest of the private sector.

Translated version of http://www.alsabaah.com/

Iraq faces economic crunch- VP

Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdemahdi on Sunday said that Iraq is currently facing an economic crisis as a result of the fall in international oil prices.

“The government has to handle this crisis as early as possible, not wait unit its repercussions affect the lives of people, and reconstruction and development projects,” according to a presidential statement received by Aswat al-Iraq.

The statement was issued following Abdelmahdi’s meeting with President Jalal al-Talabani in Baghdad earlier today

Iraq faces economic crunch- VP : Aswat Al Iraq

Iraq-US push for pact to take effect quickly

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki met top US officials on Saturday to push for the speedy implementation of a landmark security pact allowing US troops to remain until 2011.

Maliki, US ambassador Ryan Crocker and the commander of American forces General Ray Odierno discussed "immediate measures to activate the agreement," the prime minister's office said in a statement.

"They also discussed technical means of disengaging Iraq from Chapter Seven, the issue of detainees, positions held by American troops, the Green Zone and airspace," the statement said.

On Thursday the Iraqi parliament ratified the security pact after months of wrangling. It is now due be sent to the presidential council on Sunday for a final review.

The US-led force is deployed in Iraq in line with the terms of Chapter Seven of the UN charter which stipulates that it can use "coercive measures" if peace is threatened.

According to US estimates 15,800 people are detained in jails run by US-led forces. The Iraq-US security pact stipulates that they will be turned over to Iraqi jurisdiction.

The Green Zone in the centre of Baghdad, also known as the International Zone, houses parliament and a number of government buildings and embassies.

The pact, which was approved despite strong criticism from some hardline Shiite groups, will see all US troops withdraw by the end of 2011, eight years after the US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. It will govern the presence of 150,000 US troops stationed in over 400 bases when their UN mandate expires at the end of the year, giving the Iraqi government veto power over virtually all of their operations.

http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidAN...fect%20quickly

Security services began with signing of Iraqi armament contracts for completion of readiness before 2011

Spokesman of Baghdad Operations Command, Major General Qassim Atta, "The security agencies at the Pentagon and the Iraqi Interior began," the weaponization of signing contracts with a number of countries to complete readiness, before the withdrawal of U.S. forces in 2011. "

Atta said in an interview with "Uzmatik", today, Monday, that "the Iraqi security services are trying, in cooperation with the multinational forces to reach self-sufficiency in armaments, in order to be able to take over security in the country over the next three years."

General Atta said that the Ministries of Defense and the Iraqi Interior "and signed a number of modern armament contracts with a number of countries independent of the U.S. side, to complete preparations to take over security in all Iraqi cities next year," noting that "there is a specific timetable for the arrival of arms and equipment Contracted by the Iraqi security services. "

The spokesman of Baghdad Operations Command that the security services "will be able post all stages of preparation over the next three years to take over all security responsibilities in all Iraqi provinces, as well as to protect the country's borders."

Atta said that the Iraqi security services "have proved their efficiency in the management of the security file in the Iraqi capital Baghdad and other Iraqi provinces," indicating that acts of violence in Baghdad during the recent "does not mean there was something wrong in the efficiency of Iraqi forces, but attempts by armed groups To prove their presence, "as he put it.

http://66.102.9.104/translate_c?hl=e...zabAFnc4J_ciKw

Baghdad Chamber of Commerce: the need to support private sector & organization of privatization

Baghdad Chamber of Commerce stressed the need to support the private sector and privatization as the organization controls the work gradually.

The head of the room, Amjad Al-Juburi told the independent press (Entcha) today, Monday, said any hasty away from the subject of privatization will lead to controls considered obstacles to the development of strategic economic sectors and different.

He oversees the state temporarily industry and agriculture and provide the necessary support to them so that they can take the right track and then the private sector-led operation after having received the reins as in the developed nations of the world.

He said al-Iraqi economy is now in transition from a totalitarian to a free market system and began showing change projects have begun to clear the first of the Investment Law No. (13) for the year 2006 and that private sector will have the primary role in a market economy.

He added that the policy is now flooding the market and poor quality goods conform to the specifications of others and the local product could not keep up production for many reasons firstly the lack of energy and lack of fuel as well as the absence of real support by the State of the continuity of work in factories. Considering economic policy is clear that the economy is in transition.

He called al-dependent economy to market competition from the private industrial sector through the provision of support through soft loans and grant benefits of up to 6%.

The room called for the protection of local products through the imposition of customs duties on imported goods.

http://209.85.171.104/translate_c?hl...O7FTlsOJZ6X0lw

Talabani rejects criticism of the Iraqi Kurdish leadership

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani rejected the criticism addressed to the Kurdish Iraqi leadership, and stressed the need for the criticism legitimate way through Parliament and dialogue, but at the same time that the statements made by the President of Iraqi Kurdistan administration of U.S. bases in the region "had been distorted."

President Talabani said in response to a question of "Uzmaitk" during a press conference held after his arrival late today, Monday, the international airport in Sulaymaniyah "I do not agree with every criticism of the Iraqi Kurdish leadership," calling for a "criticism of the Kurdish leadership and then the Iraqi leadership "He stressed that the criticism of the Iraqi leadership is" a legitimate way through Parliament and frameworks alliance, "as he put it.

Talabani added that he "may not move from rhetoric to the criticism," he said, stressing his opposition to "the transfer of existing differences to the media and the press."

Talabani pointed out that "a series of meetings will be held in Sulaymaniyah to reforms within the organizations of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and the armed forces and the government," he said, adding that "We will strengthen the bridges between the Territory and the Center to resolve problems through fraternal dialogue."

And the Convention on the referendum process to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq by the Iraqi parliament recently approved by the Iraqi president said that "the referendum is not against the Constitution and the decision is made by Parliament," hoping that "the referendum is on schedule."

Talabani stressed the strong relationship that links Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said that "there may be negative aspects of the Iraqi prime minister but had positive achievements and enjoyed the confidence of the fundamental forces in Iraq and the confidence of Parliament."

President Talabani said that "mutilation of the President's Iraq's Kurdistan region Massoud Barazani welcome on U.S. forces in the territory of Iraqi Kurdistan" and said that "the intention of Massoud Barzani is that, if the Iraqi government in the establishment of an interim agreement signed to the Americans do not mind that one of the rules in Iraqi Kurdistan. "

Talabani stressed in commenting on the issue of attribution councils that "Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki stood his opinion on the formation of councils of attribution and considered legal, but we Fsnankm to the Constitutional Court to consider the legality of the councils."

Talabani predicted that the Iraqi-US relations flourish under President-elect Barack Obama pointed to "the existence of good friends in the U.S. administration, including Vice President Joseph Biden, Defense Secretary Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the military officer, General Jacques nuts."

At the end of the press conference Talabani stressed that "security and stability in Iraq depends on the unity of political forces and the Iraqi unity government and strong national representative for all and all are involved in the exercise of power."

The head of Iraq's Kurdistan region Massoud Barzani was quoted by press statements on the sidelines of his visit to the American capital, Washington, that "does not rule out allowing the establishment of U.S. military bases within the region, both signed the Security Agreement between Iraq and the United States or in the event of did not sign acceptance of Parliament and the people of Kurdistan so ".

http://66.102.9.104/translate_c?hl=e...uUw361OOsmSyzA

Izz el-Deen State: security plans alone would not achieve security in Baghdad

The independent MP Izz el-Deen state's plan to impose law has resulted in somewhat after the improved security situation in Baghdad.

However, the State told the independent press (Iba) said today, Monday, but certainly not achieved the level of ambition and evidence of violations in all regions of Baghdad.

He expressed the belief that paying attention to the military, security and plans to impose security alone can not achieve security in Baghdad it needs to re-activate the displaced and to the question of national reconciliation on the ground not only on paper very seriously, as there is a need to give salaries to the officers.

The state that Baghdad needed to restore all the marginalized to its natural place, and the people of Baghdad must feel that the preservation of all its people and to all Iraqis without exceptions, stressing that hit the security cordon and commitment to security issues just do not bring security.

He said Iraq and the ongoing political process now need to be partners on all parties the country.

http://209.85.171.104/translate_c?hl...RR4l7aiCuaUv0Q