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

What banks in the Phoenix, AZ area sell dinar?
I am new to the website as of today and am looking for info.
Thanks Very Much

Iraqi Kurdish PM says breakthrough made in talks with Baghdad
20 December 2006 (BBC Monitoring)


Speaking at a news conference in Arbil on 19 December, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani said a breakthrough had been made in talks with the central government on the Region's budget and oil law. Regarding the implementation of Article 140 on normalization of Kirkuk, Barzani said, "What I have seen in Baghdad shows their insistence to implement the article". Following is an excerpt from a report by Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) satellite TV on 20 December; subheadings inserted editorially.]

[Presenter] After conducting a series of talks with Iraqi Prime Minister [Nuri al-Maliki] and other senior officials about the Kurdistan Regional Government [KRG] and central Iraqi government relationship, KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani and his accompanying delegation arrived in the capital [of Iraqi Kurdistan Region], Arbil, yesterday [19 December] evening .

Later, during a news conference held in the airport, the prime minister shed light on the outcome of the visit to Baghdad, talks with the central government about the political, security and administration situation in Iraq, as well the Kurdistan Region budget.

[Passage omitted: reporter's comments]

Kurdistan Region budget

[Nechirvan Barzani] The first point is that we have agreed with the Iraqi government that Kurdistan Region's budget will comprise 17 per cent of Iraq's budget for 2007. It will be based on the expenditure of the Iraqi government. It is expected that it [this agreement] will be submitted to the Council of Ministers on Thursday [21 December] for approval. We expect this problem to be solved easily.

Regarding the sum of money we said was missing in the Kurdistan Region's 2006 budget, this was the case. Following a lengthy meeting with Baghdad, they understood that a calculation mistake had been made. That mistake cost the KRG 364m dollars. We previously mentioned a sum of 480m dollars. The difference between the two figures is because the Iraqi ministries spent money in the KRG ministries and have cut that from that sum [presumably 480m dollars]. Therefore, we reached an agreement that the KRG is entitled to a sum of 364m dollars. They have agreed to pay the KRG that sum in three instalments before the end of the year.

[Passage omitted: reporter's comments]

Oil law

[Nechirvan Barzani] The Kurdistan Region's member in the committee tasked with drafting an oil law for Iraq has been very active. After a series of meetings with Baghdad and following our last meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister [Nuri] al-Maliki, I am pleased to say we reached a very good conclusion on the oil law. The Council of Ministers in Baghdad is expected to discuss the law in the next few days before it is submitted to the parliament. We hope the parliament will approve the law, God willing.

[Passage omitted: reporter's comments]

Article 140 on normalization of Kirkuk, other areas

[Nechirvan Barzani] The implementation of the constitutional Article 140 about Kirkuk and other places and their annexation to Kurdistan Region [as heard]. I am very pleased with the attitude of Prime Minister [Nuri al-Maliki] and the head of the commission [Commission on Implementing Article 140], the justice minister [Hashim al-Shibli]. They all emphasize that that is a constitutional article that needs to be implemented.

Iraqi Kurdish PM says breakthrough made in talks with Baghdad | Iraq Updates

They have formed committees for it. Committees have been formed everywhere in the contested areas. The committees need guidelines on how to carry out their work. The guidelines of the commission are being drafted at the moment. A proportion of the commission's budget is allocated for the initial steps. In fact, what I have seen in Baghdad shows their insistence to implement the article.

[Article 140 calls for normalization of Kirkuk and other contested areas mainly through the relocation of settlers and the return of the internally displaced people].

[Passage omitted: reporter's comments]

Defence budget

[Nechirvan Barzani] As you all know, a huge budget is being allocated for defence for next year. Our argument with Baghdad is this: the Kurdistan peshmerga force, described in the constitution as the Region's guard, is part of Iraq's defence policy. The Kurdistan Region should not be deprived of the huge budget allocated for the Defence Ministry. We have formed a committee. The committee comprises myself, [Kurdish MP in Iraqi parliament] Dr Rozh [Nuri Shaways] and [Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister] Dr Barham [Salih]. We have had a lot of talks on this issue. In fact, we have not yet reached a final agreement on this issue. However, we insist that the Kurdistan peshmerga force has a share in the huge budget allocated by Baghdad for the defence. We will continue our talks with Baghdad to solve this problem.

[Passage omitted: reporter's comments]

Source: Kurdistan Satellite TV, Arbil

Originally Posted by kiko

I read this one before. This one is old I think of last week.

Just read that the oil bill goes to cabinet/parliament next days for approval!

They cannot approve anything.I just read that since al-sadar and his bunch
have boycotted the goverment they have not had enough members to have
a quaoram.

Originally Posted by rkpdwp

They cannot approve anything.I just read that since al-sadar and his bunch
have boycotted the goverment they have not had enough members to have
a quaoram.

i hope they can use the absentee system

Originally Posted by rkpdwp

They cannot approve anything.I just read that since al-sadar and his bunch
have boycotted the goverment they have not had enough members to have
a quaoram.

I thought I had read posts a couple of weeks back during Sadr's "walkout" indicating that Sadr's bunch in government do not number enough to affect a vote one way or the other. I don't recall who posted that though.

I remember thinking back then "if he does not have enough people to affect a vote, what a stupid move then to do a "walkout". Totally useless."

Originally Posted by Vipor

I thought I had read posts a couple of weeks back during Sadr's "walkout" indicating that Sard's bunch in government do not number enough to affect a vote one way or the other. I don't recall who posted that though.

It was 30 Parliment and 5 Minister Position. They walked after Maliki meet with Bush. Good, Bye, See Ya, Dont Come Back You Hear.

Originally Posted by goldraker
So after tomorrow the CBI is closing down until 01/08/2007?


Originally Posted by ErelisLT
I highly doubt it. If you look at CBI's website, you will notice that their auctions carried on during these days in all previous years. It should be as always, only Friday and Saturday off.

Originally Posted by goldraker

Well I do remember reading that on here a couple of days ago.......

And it was not the ISX, that I read. I hope that it was incorrect info!

Could it be a break while they change over for the big R/V?

Boy, This sure could help things along!!!


BAGHDAD, Iraq - Radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who heads a militia feared by Iraq's Sunnis, is considering a one-month unilateral cease-fire and may push his followers to rejoin the political process after a three-week boycott, officials close to him said Wednesday.

The issue is expected to come up at a meeting Thursday in the holy city of Najaf between al-Sadr and a delegation representing the seven Shiite groups that form the largest bloc in Iraq's parliament, the Shiite officials said on condition of anonymity because of the secrecy of the talks.

In perhaps an even more important session, the delegation will also sit down with the country's top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. Officials from several factions confirmed the planned trip to Najaf.

The visit is intended to allow the Shiite bloc, the United Iraqi Alliance, to work out some of Iraq's biggest political obstacles in front of al-Sistani, and to pressure al-Sadr to rein in his fighters and rejoin politics — or face isolation, participants said.

Until the walkout, al-Sadr's faction had been an integral part of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's governing coalition. Cabinet ministers and legislators who belong to al-Sadr's movement called the boycott after al-Maliki met with President Bush in Jordan three weeks ago. Al-Sadr's militia and its offshoots have been increasingly blamed for sectarian attacks.

As violence rages across Baghdad and much of Iraq, a new coalition taking shape among Shiites, Kurds and one Sunni party is seen as a last-ditch effort to form a government across sectarian divisions that have split the country. While al-Sadr's movement would not be part of this coalition, such an alliance — which reportedly is supported by the Bush administration — might pressure the radical cleric to soften his stance.

In Thursday's meeting, the group wants to assure al-Sistani that the new coalition would not break apart the Shiite bloc, said officials from several Shiite parties. Potential members of the coalition said they have been negotiating for two weeks, and now want the blessing of al-Sistani, whose word many Shiites consider binding.

The movement is backed by the U.S. government, said Sami al-Askari, a member of the Dawa party and an adviser to al-Maliki.

"I met the American ambassador in Baghdad and he named this front the 'front of the moderates,' and they (the Americans) support it," al-Askari said.

The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad could not comment on the ambassador's meeting or his position on the possible coalition deal.

However, two prominent figures in the proposed coalition went to Washington to meet Bush separately in the past three weeks: Tarek al-Hashemi of the Sunni Iraqi Islamic Party and Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, known as SCIRI. The U.S. supports two other potential members, the Kurdish Democratic Party and President Jalal Talabani's Patriotic Union of Kurdistan.

"The U.S. wants to see an Iraq that is united, stable, democratic and prosperous. We will continue to work with the democratically elected government of Iraq to reach this goal by improving security, promoting national reconciliation and the rule of law and helping the Iraqis deliver essential services," U.S. Embassy spokesman Lou Fintor said.

After meeting al-Sistani, the delegation will visit al-Sadr to try to persuade him to tell his followers to return to politics, and to assure him that the new coalition — still being completed — will not isolate his movement, said officials from several factions, including al-Sadr's movement.

"Tomorrow we will visit Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani and Muqtada al-Sadr, though the (coalition) front has not yet been formed, due to the demands of the Iraqi Islamic Party," al-Askari said.

His and al-Maliki's Dawa faction has expressed willingness to join the coalition, but fears it could weaken the Shiite United Iraqi Alliance, Dawa officials said on condition of anonymity because the deal was not final.

"We will inform al-Sistani about the latest developments and assure Muqtada al-Sadr that he will not be sidelined from the political process. We want him to change his mind and be a part of that process," al-Askari told The Associated Press.

Officials close to al-Sadr said they believe the firebrand cleric and his followers would turn a friendly ear to the coalition, out of fear of being sidelined in the future.

Fearing such political isolation as well as possible attack by U.S. forces, al-Sadr will secretly order his Mahdi Army militia to abide by a one-month halt in fighting, said a Shiite politician, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the delicacy of the negotiations. He did not give further details.

Another official close to al-Sadr did not speak about the planned truce directly, but said when asked about it that "the security situation will improve in the coming month."

Even if al-Sadr commands his militia, the Madhi Army, to halt sectarian attacks for a month, questions remain as to whether violence would decrease. The militia is believed to be increasingly fragmented, with some factions no longer reporting to him, and a call for a truce could further divide it.

In exchange for a halt in fighting, al-Sadr's followers want officials from al-Hakim's Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq to make a promise in front of al-Sistani that they will not sideline al-Sadr's movement, said a member of al-Sadr's group.

The Shiite, Kurdish and Sunni coalition was not a done deal, though. Several Shiites complained about conditions set by the Sunni Iraqi Islamic Party, which they said could jeopardize an agreement.

"The demands of the Iraqi Islamic Party are not logical and it is hard to implement them," said Humam Hamoudi, a SCIRI lawmaker. For example, the Sunni party wants all checkpoints leading to and from Baghdad to have an equal number of Shiite and Sunni guards, he said.

Cleric weighs 1-month cease-fire in Iraq - Yahoo! News

Originally Posted by doreflys

What banks in the Phoenix, AZ area sell dinar?
I am new to the website as of today and am looking for info.
Thanks Very Much

all chase banks nationwide buy and sell dinars.

go in, ask for iraqi dinar ( iqd ), give them the money, and if you buy early enough in the day, you will be able to pick up next business day.

buy rate $791 per million
sell rate ( if you sell to them ) $664 per million

good luck

Originally Posted by Vipor

I thought I had read posts a couple of weeks back during Sadr's "walkout" indicating that Sadr's bunch in government do not number enough to affect a vote one way or the other. I don't recall who posted that though.

I remember thinking back then "if he does not have enough people to affect a vote, what a stupid move then to do a "walkout". Totally useless."

that in addition to Al Sadr and his gang walking out there are some of the law makers going on a haji. When added together they lack the attendance they need for voting.