Thread: Iraq/Dinar News. 09/05 to 01/14/07

وکالة ال�رات العراقية للانباء

11 / 20 / 2006 10:56:44 PM

Baghdad Secretariat is preparing to implement the project of Baghdad Metro Source : Euphrates / Sabah


Intends to technical and engineering capabilities of the secretariat of Baghdad in the implementation of the draft technical specifications according to the Baghdad Metro Professional universally valid. The spokesman said the media on behalf of the Secretariat to implement the project would be in three stages as they are in the first stage where the two lines extending along the line the first 18 meters
And start from the direction of Sadr City Square Khalani and ends in Antar Square and will be distributed along the line 20th station spokesman added : The second line will have a length of 14 km and Ibdamn arena opening in Swimming Pool passage Square Khalani main station and continue the joint route Mara in the Mansour then Alochach He pointed out that the design speed of the metro will be 90 km / h and operational capacity stands at 80 km / h and thus Seko n the number of passengers who absorbed the trailers Metro in the first phase of around one million passengers per day and explained that the method of construction will be fully under the ground to a depth of up to 18 m and with no damage to the buildings and roads that pass underneath the subway.
He pointed out that the drilling be Boistahmadat machines to be used for the first time in Iraq and said : the building will be central to the subway, in the garden of the nation cinema near Granada, where central control over the movement and control, consists of seven floors and a large basement. The project will transport system is balanced global system employed by the States which suffer from a city credit momentum Baghdad addition, it includes areas to be T. high population density and commercial centers in the capital and quick service model and pointed out that the first and second phases are an extension of the two lines I and II will be implemented after the completion of the first phase states that the Council of Ministers referred the project to the secretariat of the Baghdad Metro Baghdad Badmoafqah Committee ECONOMIC acquitted preferring Barham Salih Deputy Prime Minister for

The activities of the economy, investment and reconstruction for the week ending 15 / 11 / 2006
Sunday, 11-19-2006
- The Committee for the economy, investment and reconstruction on 12 / 11 / 2006 and the topics discussed privatization of companies in the Ministry of Industry and Minerals and is the subject of ration and import of the private sector to discuss the issue itemized and services related to the Ministry of Trade and also set to host the ministers of industry and trade and reconstruction M. Hafiz, the Central Bank and head of the Intelligence for questioning on the funds smuggled abroad by groups of the former regime.
- Met Dr. Haidar Abadi, Chairman of the economy, investment and reconstruction with the political adviser at the British embassy Mr. Mohammed Shawkat at the request has been addressed to the current political process and security situation in the country and stressed the British side on the the British government support for the government and its support Maliki and the democratic political process now under way, Dr. Abadi keenness of the Chamber of Deputies and the government of national reconciliation and national unity government and accommodate all segments of the Iraqi people and the need for the international community's support for the efforts of the Iraqi government and the democratic e in Iraq, especially with the existence of the conspiracies being plotted against the Iraqi people and restore dictatorship. - The Commission on the economy, investment and reconstruction now study proposal Communications Act of Iraq, as well as the proposal of the law of Communication and Information and the Law of the Ministry of Communications. - The Commission on the economy, investment and reconstruction and a workshop with the (National Democratic Institute) on the legislation of laws in the House of Representatives on 12 / 11 / 2006 attended by members of the Committee. - The Committee for the economy, investment and reconstruction headed by Dr. Haidar Abbadi with Dr. Sinan Shabibi governor of the Central Bank of Iraq, and discussed with him the areas of the Central Bank of Iraq and the follow-up funds of the Iraqi Central Bank and the Iraqi government in foreign banks and those groups looted a remnants of the system during the wisdom and after the fall. - The Committee for the economy, investment and reconstruction headed by Dr. Haidar Abadi, with the Minister of Trade and discussed with him the reality of ration and getting complaints from citizens and ways of developing them. The reasons for the delay and access to citizens and what are the basic problems in the field ration.

Translated version of http://www.coriraq.net/

Originally Posted by Offshore-Wealth.com

As I see it talking to my contacts, there is only one solution, and it is not what the west or neighbors want to hear, but it is the only way it will work. You need separation, for just as you stated, these people never forgive, nor do the forget, so separation of sects is only solution. Yes, you have the same constitution, the same laws, shared oil wealth, etc., but it is time to get real and institute regions where people have a choice which side of the road they want to live and work on. This is what the people in Iraq want, I know the Kurd's do, and the Shiites do, so it is the Sunni power which is why Baghdad is such a disaster, as Tony Blair let slip out the other day. The first thing that should be done is payoff everyone on the first installment from oil, and hang the carrot out there that if anyone is caught supporting killing and bombings. they and there families lose this oil share income. Money talks, always has always will, so give everyone enough to move to wherever they want, and then warn each faction to honor their borders, and the majority of problems and killing will end.

Good luck to all, Mike

I have to disagree with the idea of separation. As of right now it sounds like a good idea to many Iraqi's as they see it as the only way out of the current situation(as long as everyone gets there fair share of the oil revenues). However I believe that in the long run this is a bad idea as it will lead to a further segregation of each group, weakening the central government of Iraq and allowing an influence, if not control of certain regions by Iran and Syria. I've heard a lot of talk about the tribal mentality of the Iraqi people and it has been said that due to such tribal allegiances Iraq can never be united. The one factor that can end the violence and bring the Iraqis together(or at least stop the violence is wealth. If you look at other countries in the M.E. you can see that the problems tend to arise in those countries with no economy or corrupt dictators. If you look at countries such as Saudi, the U.A.E., and Kuwait you will see Islamic States that have many different religious sects and yet little or no violence, all do to a strong government, strong economy, and most importantly individual wealth.

Barham Saleh met with officials of the European Union in Brussels

Baghdad-East : arrived in Brussels today, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih at the head of an official delegation to hold talks with officials of the European Union. The correspondent said that Eastern Utilities delegation, which comprises conciliator spring National Security Advisor and Abdalvalah Sudanese Minister of Trade, will meet with Javier Solana, coordinator of external affairs to the European Union, Joaquim Alominia of Economic Affairs and Finance Union. The delegation's visit comes to the headquarters of the European Union in which the regional and international movement to support Iraq economically and financially and to enable it to complete the reconstruction operations, and construction and repair of infrastructure and service productivity.

AlSharqiya TV

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Iraq calls for the European Union to drop the rest of the debt owed by

Political / EUROPEAN / Iraq / negotiations Iraq calls for the European Union to drop the rest of the debt owed by Brussels-11-20 (KUNA) -- The Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih European Union here today for the overthrow of the country's remaining debt amounting to 20% of the total Iraqi debt after the original already to the Paris Club creditors of Iraq to topple top 80% out of this debt. This came in a joint press conference with European Union Commissioner for Foreign Affairs and Neighborhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner after the conclusion of the first meeting of negotiations to conclude a convention to promote trade and cooperation between the European Union and Iraq. Barham said that the remaining debt had "received an extra burden on the Iraqi people, who need at the current stage to all forms of support". He explained that the agreement on cooperation and trade negotiations, which began today opens new vistas for bilateral cooperation and contribute to the strengthening of reforms and the strengthening of democracy and the state of law in the country, pointing out that the coming year will witness a package of economic and social reforms to be implemented by the Iraqi government to develop a structure the basic and higher rates of growth and employment, reduce unemployment and increase investments in the areas of infrastructure and services. For her part, the High-Waldner stressed the importance of deepening trade and economic cooperation between the European Union and Iraq, described the agreement as negotiated will of the European Union's commitment to supporting the Iraqi people in all fields. As the EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandlsson who participated in the talks on the need to trust the Iraqis that the European Union "stands beside them strongly," saying that the field of energy will be important areas of future cooperation between the two sides also noted the importance of investment in Iraq, "which is a fertile ground for investment T. European debentures. " (End) M c / m p u KUNA 202126 GMT Nov 06

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The Oil Ministry confirmed the discovery of 520 oil and gas fields in Iraq Gazia - 20 / 11 / 2006-11:48 | times reading : 384 | Total comments : 0
Oil Ministry confirmed the discovery of 520 oil and gas fields Gazia in different regions of the country and that the ministry had prepared a plan to invest in large part in the next stage, especially now that it invests only about 20 gas fields. An official at the Oil Ministry said that "the ministry has prepared a plan for the investment of large numbers of these fields, which will contribute to increasing Iraqi crude oil production, which will reflect positively on increasing the volume of oil exports in the coming period." He pointed out that "the development of oil fields discovered continue for a period of five years, which prompted the ministry to step up and intensifying provide studies and presentations for the purpose of investment of these fields promising. "

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The economic event : the Central Bank address the situation inflationary (2 - 1)
Hossam Alsamuk The emphasis on the priorities of the Central Bank strengthened the exchange rate of the Iraqi dinar against the dollar and work to confront the phenomenon (Dollar), where widening phenomenon dollar deal in the local market out of its keenness to reduce the growing inflationary situation In its quest to meet the challenges of the inflationary situation, The Iraqi Central Bank procedures compelling banks to do eligibility policies already adopted by the increase of interest rates on deposits and savings accounts. as well as the emphasis on the circulation of the new Bhualath (182) days and identified releases bimonthly value each one hundred billion dinars. The emphasis on the priorities of the Central Bank strengthened the exchange rate of the Iraqi dinar against the dollar and work to confront the phenomenon (Dollar), where widening phenomenon dollar deal in the local market out of its keenness to reduce the aggravation of the situation and the inflationary effects of hazardous reflected in the economic cycle. It was the dollar auction, which was adopted by the World Bank two years ago significant factor in the stability of the market value of the Iraqi dinar has strengthened Square actors, which was a potential collapse of the national currency. At the time the record this positive reaction, Undoubtedly, we share those concerned in the management of the Central Bank of factors beyond the control of the bank and may be due to unintentional actions, official sources many played their role in exacerbating the situation of inflation and strengthen the system. The declaration issued by the Central Bank of Iraq on the follow its monetary policy (hard) in this regard, have translated into practice by the large sums went to what was referred doubled through an auction organized by the daily dollar with the start of the second half of November this, It played a role in the fall in the price of the dollar against the Iraqi dinar, gradually, the difference between the price early in the month to mid-fall of 1470 dinars to the dollar to 1454, with the continuous decline in the prospects to reach the goal, which looked forward to the rate of inflation to decline ratios are compatible with the requirements of the awakening of economic efficiency and also provides for the declaration makes the Iraqi dinar means cash more attractive, which reflects the circumstances and encouraging indicators in the economy) but it does not disregard the possibility of a n play policy to reduce inflation played a role in raising levels of employment and reducing unemployment. From this standpoint, our conviction that we already Thbetnaha, the full dimensions of economic interdependence, including available to us in responding to any problem. what enhances our quest to reduce the effects of an economic crisis again, on the one hand, On the other side, It has already been exposed in the agrarian, Through the table long tables for an aggravation of the situation in inflationary apparent reluctance to adopt private banks directed the Central Bank to raise interest rates on deposits and savings while continuing to benefit from the usefulness of the Central Bank, which lifted from 6 to 12% on their savings to him. And the need for the adoption of the Central Bank as the monetary authority administering policies determined in the civil forcing banks to reverse those increases that benefit for their own customers and dealers.

Despite billions spent, Iraq rebuilding incomplete | Iraq Updates

Despite billions spent, Iraq rebuilding incomplete
By Griff Witte

WASHINGTON, 20 November 2006 (The Washington Post)

For a little more than $38 billion, the United States and its contractors in Iraq have provided 4.6 million people with access to water. They have distributed seeds to Iraqi farmers, improving wheat harvests. With electricity-generating capacity now above prewar levels, they have given many Iraqis more daily hours of power. They have repaired more than 5,000 schools and vaccinated 4.6 million children against polio.
The list goes on. But as the U.S.-led, U.S.-financed portion of Iraq's reconstruction nears its end, American officials and contractors alike are grappling with a cold reality: Thousands of successes in Iraq may add up to a single failure.
"We accomplished a significant amount of work. But it was just overwhelmed by the overlay of violence," said Clifford Mumm, who has spent much of the past three years in Iraq managing projects for Bechtel. "It's hard to be very optimistic."
U.S.-financed projects have long been a target for sabotage. Many of those that were spared remain unused by a population paralyzed by violence.
Yet those inside the reconstruction effort say security concerns were hardly the only problem. Poor planning and coordination by U.S. officials meant that even successful individual projects failed to do the job; for example, health-care centers were built at great cost but had no water and sewer service. Poor work-site management by contractors meant that some projects went awry. And now that the United States is handing over reconstruction efforts to Iraq, many involved with the process worry that the Iraqis don't have the training or the money to keep U.S.-built facilities running.
Marshall Plan invoked
This was not how the rebuilding of Iraq was supposed to go. In the fall of 2003, six months after the U.S. invasion, President Bush promised Iraq "the greatest financial commitment of its kind since the Marshall Plan." Top administration aides said they considered that plan, which helped rebuild Europe after World War II, to be a model for Iraq. Congress soon passed a spending bill that, while offering less money than the Marshall Plan, was expected to be enough to get Iraq back on its feet.
Riding through the streets of the northern city of Mosul three years later, taxi driver Sattar Khalid Othman has barely noticed.
"What reconstruction?" Othman said. "Today we are drinking untreated water from a plant built decades ago that was never maintained. The electricity only visits us two hours a day. And now we are going backwards. We cook on the firewood we gather from the forests because of the gas shortage."
Othman's view is shared by many across the country. In recent interviews, Iraqis expressed frustration not just with the United States but with Iraqi leaders, too, for pocketing aid money that was supposed to be for everyone.
"When the occupation came and we heard the promises, we said, 'Now the conditions in the city will improve.' But things got worse," said Ahmed Mohammed, 45, a teacher in the central province of Salah al-Din. "We know that large amounts of money have been dedicated to the city, but they were all stolen."
$38 billion for rebuilding
The United States has committed more than $38 billion to reconstructing Iraq, far more than any other nation, according to the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction. Most of that money is now gone. Three-quarters of the primary fund for rebuilding has been spent and the rest has been set aside for finishing key projects.
Overall, 88 percent of planned projects — about 12,000 — have been completed, with just 4 percent yet to begin. Yet tallying finished projects can be a misleading way of measuring success.
"We knew it wasn't a matter of how many projects were completed. It was a matter of: Is the electricity flowing to Baghdad? Is there security on the streets? Is the oil flowing? Those were the things that mattered," said Jon Bowersox, who until this summer was the health attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. "Too often, though, from what I could see, it was all about the process — how many hundreds of millions of dollars you had put under contract — and not the product."
In the transportation sector, for example, the numbers look good. The United States has finished repairs on 86 of 98 railway stations. But few trains run because of security concerns. In the oil sector, while production capacity has nearly returned to prewar levels, the country had a severe fuel shortage this summer because of high demand and sabotage.
Millions of children have received vaccinations and thousands of health-care workers have been trained. But more than 100 health-care facilities that were scheduled to be finished by now instead are empty because the contractors assigned to build them did not get their jobs done.
The problem, Bowersox said, was that the plan to build new facilities across the country was too ambitious. "We could have gone in and done low-cost rehabs, and not tried to transform their health-care system in two years," he said.
Security threats
Bechtel was responsible for one of the facilities that was not finished: a children's hospital in the southern city of Basra that was supposed to provide world-class care and had been championed by first lady Laura Bush.
Mumm, the Bechtel manager, said the project, which is just an empty shell today, could not continue because of security threats. "It was impossible to get people to come to work. They were threatened every which way," Mumm said. Fifty-two people associated with company projects died, most of them Iraqi. Overall, 650 civilian contractors have died working on U.S.-financed reconstruction.
Not every U.S.-backed effort came under assault. CHF International, a Silver Spring, Md., nonprofit, has operated in Iraq since the U.S. invasion, completing hundreds of projects on slim budgets.
The organization's Middle East director, Bruce Parmelee, said CHF has avoided violence because local communities were always involved in the work. "Before we could do anything, the community would have to agree. I would tell them, 'It's for your community. You're the Iraqis. You can pave the way for this to happen.' And they did that," said Parmelee, who spent months at a time living among Iraqis in the areas where CHF worked. "It was never a case of some American saying, 'This is what you need in your country.' People won't attack projects that they feel ownership of."
That community-based approach, he said, wasn't broadly shared by others involved in the reconstruction. "Large contractors didn't necessarily have that mandate," he said. "Security was challenged right from the beginning, so a majority of decisions were made behind a bulletproof shield."
Bringing Iraqis into the process early also made it easier to transfer projects to Iraqi control, Parmelee said. Auditors surveying U.S. efforts have been warning for more than a year that all will be for naught unless Iraqis are trained in how to operate, maintain and pay for their new facilities. Last month, the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction, Stuart W. Bowen Jr., wrote that the process for transferring U.S. assets to the Iraqis "appears to have broken down."
"Many successful projects have been completed," Bowen said. "Whether they are operating within a sustainable Iraqi infrastructure is yet to be answered."
Many Iraqis say they're looking forward to playing a bigger part in their country's rebuilding. But given the security situation, they don't know that they'll have any more success than the Americans did.
"The insurgents targeted the contractors by killing, kidnapping, slaughtering them and forcing them to pay enormous ransoms, till all the work stopped," said Fawzi al-Nieami, who works in construction in Mosul. "Now there are lots of profitable contracts, but no one dares to take them."

Washington Post reporters Sudarsan Raghavan, Khalid Alsaffar, Saad Sarhan and Muhanned Saif Aldin contributed to this report.

Up to 60% and reflected the benefit of retirees The largest increase in the salaries of staff in Iraq from January next Baghdad-11-20 : the Ministry of Finance as of January next month, the first increase in the 2007 calculation of the salaries of most of the state up to 60% of salary. This is the largest increase in the salaries paid to staff ten degrees based on years of service and educational attainment. A source high in the Office of the Minister of Finance Baqer Jabr Zubaidi : The ministry rose increase proposal to the Cabinet for approval or referral to the House of Representatives, noting that the allocations required by the increase would be included in the 2007 budget. The ministry source believes that the salaries of small grades in dire need of support, this marks the coverage from five to ten by. He explained that the increase would be between 40 to 60%. The degree consists of a staff comprised eleven degrees, but the Ministry of Finance shortened classes in the last two and a one to remain ten degrees. And financial experts say : this ensures that the peace classification just for the staff based on the basis of strict criteria regarding service and the certificate and the social experience. The ministry is working according to the information, especially on fueling the increase in support staff salaries And to make it capable of providing the necessary live for several months. It is noteworthy that the data of inflation and high prices take step but experts say : to start reconstruction would create a refreshing of the Iraqi dinar. He pledged to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki more time to work on providing better means of livelihood for citizens, through control of the oil revenues and interest Social protection programs announced that the budget for next year that exceeds $ 40 billion would be explosive, which means they will be additional opportunities for the work force and other local currency. No apparent whether the new increase in the salaries of the staff will include retired or not, However, the law raising the salaries of retirees to 80% of their peers in the post enough upwards to levels as high as reflected this increase is implicit in the salaries. Rafidain Welcome to AlRafidayn: The Iraqi information service

Welcome to ALrafidayn: The Iraqi information service

Iraq’s Future Depends on More Than Security, Official Says
By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15, 2006 – Political, security and economic development all are critical to the future of Iraq, and all must move forward together to ensure peace in that country and the surrounding region, the State Department’s top advisor on Iraq said here today.

Sectarian violence is the biggest threat to the stability in Iraq, and the Iraqi government, the U.S. and its allies, and the international community must work together to combat this challenge and ensure Iraq can stand on its own in the future, David M. Satterfield, senior advisor to the Secretary of State and coordinator for Iraq, said at a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

“If sectarian violence -- if the increasing presence of armed militias with a sectarian identification -- are not dealt with, then indeed, Iraqi national identity will erode, and hope for a united Iraq, a peaceful, stable Iraq, will over time diminish,” Satterfield said. “This outcome in Iraq is unacceptable. It would undermine U.S. national interests in that country and in the broader region, and it would lead to a humanitarian disaster for the Iraqi people.”

Satterfield stressed that success can be achieved in Iraq, as long as unified, persistent work continues along the political, security and economic tracks. The Iraqi government needs to work with the U.S. to set out measurable, achievable goals on a defined timetable, he said.

The Iraqi government has made significant progress on all three fronts, Satterfield noted. In the realm of security, the coalition has been transitioning more control to capable Iraqi security forces, he said. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki wants his forces to have more responsibility, and the coalition is working with him to create security goals and objectives to ensure the transition is seamless.

The coalition also is working with the Iraqi government on the renewal of the United Nations mandate for coalition forces in Iraq, Satterfield said. In a letter sent yesterday to the president of the U.N. Security Council, the Iraqi government reaffirmed its desire for such a renewal and underscored the transitional nature of that extension, he said.

The Iraqi presidency council agreed in mid-October on a detailed set of political goals and objectives, Satterfield said. The government already has passed an investment law and a privatization law and will soon introduce legislation to reinstate thousands of former Baath party members, he said.

“These are hopeful signs that Iraq’s leaders can find a middle ground on which to proceed,” Satterfield said. “But I want to underscore, much more work remains, and the time for that work is now.”

Maliki has appropriately focused on national reconciliation, Satterfield noted, but that reconciliation depends on several factors. Iraqi security forces must create conditions that allow for reconciliation; the Iraqi government must engage all nonviolent members of society to participate in the process; the government must disarm and integrate militias into society; and the country must pass a new hydrocarbon law, he said.

The Iraqi government also is moving forward in economic development, Satterfield said. The government is working with the U.N. on an international compact that will pave the way for foreign investment and assistance, he said. The compact is expected to be complete by the end of this year.

Political, economic and security progress are inextricably linked, and a failure in one area will hinder efforts in the others, Satterfield said.

Militias cannot be effectively confronted and demobilized in the absence of a larger political reconciliation agreement; political reconciliation cannot survive if the government cannot agree on the distribution of oil revenue; and Iraqis cannot modernize their economy or draw foreign investment if there is violence in the streets, he said.

“We believe that a successful path forward can still be forged in Iraq,” he said. “As the transition continues to full Iraqi government control, we will stand firmly behind the Iraqi government. The fate, the interests of our two countries and, beyond our two countries, of the region and the world are intertwined.

Success is critical; failure is unacceptable.”

DefenseLink News Article: Iraq’s Future Depends on More Than Security, Official Says


Finally the violence is linked to the economy, all the work must be done now and the HCL must pass!!

No discussion, just do it!