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Iraqi communications: We have reached an advanced stage with the Telecommunications Authority on the launch of the fourth license to run the phone Altqal
The Federal Communications Minister, said on Saturday that his ministry has reached advanced stages and new understandings with the Communications and Media Authority on the Iraqi government launch license from the fourth mobile phone operating licenses in the country.
Said Communications Minister Mohammed Allawi told the Kurdish news agency (Rn) that "the talks between the Ministry and the Communications and Government Information on the release of license-fourth of the operating licenses mobile phone and reached an advanced stage and new understandings according to what passed in the Cabinet."
Allawi said that "understandings of new focused on three items the President summed up not to exploit the company's winning of the technical infrastructure of the Ministry, and the payment of the cost of the license granted is also in place with the rest of the companies operating in this area, as well as the use of the gates of power (AC power supplies) of their own."
Between Allawi and that "the law did not enter the fourth license in the details, and remained in the general framework to ensure justice and equality in dealing with all telephone companies without exception or discrimination."
Confirmed the Communications and Media Authority last week that the granting of the license-fourth of the mobile phone to the Ministry of Communications is not the validity of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, as is illegal because it comes out the ministry of fair competition with mobile phone companies.
Allawi said that "This effort is part of the endeavors made by the Ministry to provide a competitive investment climate in this area."
Iraq's government announced on May 23 last, that the Council of Ministers approved the recommendations of the committee formed under the Council of Ministers Resolution No. (243) for the year 2009 on the draft license-fourth of the mobile phone. While noting the Iraqi Ministry of Communications to the existence of real problems with the Communications and Media Authority on the approval of the granting of frequencies for the fourth license for the operation of the mobile phone.
And raised between the Ministry of Communications and Communications and Media Authority from time to time differences, because of some legal effects between them.
http://www.aknews.com/ar/aknews/2/212531/
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Anbar signs MoU with U.S. firms
A delegation from al-Anbar province on Saturday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with U.S. companies in the Lebanese capital Beirut to set up service and industrial projects in al-Anbar cities, according to the provincial council’s investment committee chief.
“We signed the MoU during a meeting held in Beirut. The Anbar investment delegation selected several U.S. companies to establish industrial projects by making good use of the province’s mineral wealth,” Mozher Hassan told Aswat al-Iraq news agency over the phone from Beirut.
http://en.aswataliraq.info/Default1....&id=140648&l=1
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Iraqi government to purchase armored limousines worth $75 million for members of parliament
The Iraqi government has decided to spend nearly $75 million from the country’s oil revenues to purchase armored limousines, one for each of the 325 members of parliament.
The government says the vehicles are needed because the parliamentarians are targets of attack by insurgents and ‘terrorists.’
The high salaries and perks senior Iraqi officials get are fueling anger in Iraq and there has been a storm of protest from local media.
The benefits have turned them into a special class with body guards, armored vehicles and specially imported power generators to light, heat and cool their homes.
The roads leading to their houses are normally blocked and when driving in Baghdad their armored vehicles are part of a large convoy of cars carrying their contingents of bodyguards.
Lack of transparency is leading to wild guesses about the monthly salaries and other benefits senior officials get in the country.
The government which claims to be democratically elected has no transparency system in place where ordinary Iraqis can have access to the perks, salaries and benefits of senior officials.
http://www.azzaman.com/english/index...01-21\kurd.htm
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Saudi Arabia will participate in the Baghdad summit at the highest levels
Neighborhood: told the Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani that Riyadh will participate at the highest levels in the Arab Summit in Baghdad at the end of next March.
According to a statement issued by the Office of the President of Iraq, yesterday, said that Prince Al-Faisal met with Talabani on the sidelines of the Arab Economic Summit held in Sharm el-Sheikh last Wednesday. He pointed out that they «reviewed the current Arab situation and the relations between the two brotherly countries and the progress of preparations for the Arab summit in Baghdad».
The statement added, «Prince talked about Saudi Arabia's desire to actively participate in the summit of Baghdad and at the highest levels, thereby contributing to the success of the summit and push the joint Arab action».
http://www.aljewar.org/news-30498.aspx
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Iraqi government and Kurds solve differences over oil exports
The Ministry of Oil has reached an agreement with the Kurdish regional government which, if implemented, is bound to solve differences over the export of oil from fields in Kurdish areas, according to the ministry’s spokesman.
The spokesman, Isam Jihad, said the ministry has agreed to pay for the costs international firms have incurred in their exploration and development of oil fields in the Kurdish region.
“SOMO, Iraq’s oil export arm, will be in charge of paying (the companies) through the Kurdish ministry of natural resources,” Jihad said.
The agreement follows negotiations between the sides in which Kurdish regional prime minister Burham Saleh took part.
Saleh, one of the most prominent Kurdish politicians, is known for his desire to work closely with the central government in Baghdad and solve outstanding issues particularly those related to the sharing of natural resources.
A statement by his office, faxed to the newspaper, said the meetings Saleh had in Baghdad resulted in central government’s agreement to resume oil exports from the Kurdish region.
The exports have been halted due to differences over collecting the royalties and paying of expenses incurred by foreign firms.
The Kurds have signed several deals with foreign companies to develop oil fields in their areas. They say they have the capacity to export about 100,000 barrels a day with the possibility of raising the volume to 250,000 barrels daily in two years.
http://www.azzaman.com/english/index...01-22\kurd.htm
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Barham Salih discusses with Rafie al-Issawi in Arbil, the outstanding financial issues between the province and the federal government
Search Barham Saleh, President of the Kurdistan Regional Government, with Rafie al-Issawi and Minister of Finance, the outstanding financial issues between the KRG and the federal government.
A statement from the presidency of the province that Saleh met with al-Issawi in Erbil and during the meeting which was attended by both drastically and the Minister of Natural Resources and Baez, Talabani and Minister of Finance and Rashid Taher, Deputy Minister of Finance of the Kurdistan Regional Government Research financial issues pending between the KRG and the federal government.
He added: The two sides stressed their keenness to find appropriate solutions to end the financial issues outstanding and review of the budget law is the Iraqi public and abide by the constitution, as the two sides stressed the need to adhere to the minutes between the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Oil in the federal government and begin to export oil province of Kurdistan.
The statement said: The two sides discussed the successful visit of the President of the Kurdistan Regional Government and the delegation accompanying him to Baghdad and his meeting with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and other officials in the federal government, as was done during the meeting emphasized the need for coordination and cooperation between banks in the province of Kurdistan and Baghdad.
The President of the Kurdistan Regional Government and Minister of Finance on the need to strengthen coordination and cooperation to resolve outstanding issues in the framework of the Iraqi Constitution.
http://www.ipairaq.com/index.php?nam...onomy&id=34804
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Joe Biden apologizes for the decision to invade Iraq in two thousand and three
The Deputy President Joe Biden regrets the decision of former President George Bush's invasion of Iraq in two thousand and three, hoping to be a source of natural wealth of Iraq to achieve stability and economic security to the Iraqis.
Biden said in a speech before members of the Democratic Party, that the prospects for success or failure of the political process in Iraq will be equal after the withdrawal of American troops.
The vice president said that if he could re-wheel of history back, the results were better in Iraq if it did not take the initiative of former President Bush to overthrow Saddam Hussein.
http://radionawa.com/ar/NewsDetailN....290&LinkID=158
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FINANCIAL EXPERT: Iranian banks in Iraq supports Iran's nuclear program is prohibited internationally
Detect financial expert goldsmith contrary that there are Iranian banks operating in Iraq supports Iran's nuclear program outlawed internationally.
And goldsmith in a statement to the Agency by news Sunday that the work of Iranian banks in Iraq is not an obstacle, but there are some of them in the black list, because it had the transactions related to Iran's nuclear program, and these banks if they have attempted to work inside Iraq is supposed not to deal with this issue, in order to avoid any problematic political class basis.
He pointed out that foreign banks and its work in Iraq is running normally, because the Central Bank after 2003 allowed her to work in the Iraqi market under the umbrella of the private banks because the work of foreign banks with local banks in Iraq comes in the framework of strengthening relations and the introduction of modern methods and advanced technologies to banks and capabilities financial status of banks and give financial transactions according to methods developed by the regionally and locally.
http://radionawa.com/ar/NewsDetailN....349&LinkID=158
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Dozen Arab Leaders ready to attend Baghdad Arab Summit, newspaper reports:
At least 12 Arab Leaders have agreed to attend the Arab Summit, scheduled to convene in Baghdad next March, an Iraqi newspaper reported on Saturday.
"Iraqi President Jalal Talabani has succeeded to convince a large number of Arab Leaders to attend the forthcoming Arab Summit, scheduled to be held in Baghdad at the end of next March," the semi-official al-Sabah newspaper quoted sources close to the Iraqi Presidency as saying, adding that "President Talabani's meetings during his attendance of the Arab Socio-Economic Summit, held in Egypt's Sharm al-Sheikh Termional last Wednesday, had achieved success to convince the majority of Arab Leaders to attend the Baghdad Arab Summit."
The newspaper reported that "12 Arab Leaders have agreed to attend the Baghdad Summit till now," pointing out that "response for the Iraqi invitations to attend the Summit is taking place gradually and might reach to more than 15 Arab Leaders," but it declined to give the names of the Arab Kings and Presidents, who agreed to attend the Summit.
The next Arab Summit is scheduled to be held in Baghdad next March, with Iraq announcing a broad plan to rehabilitate the streets, buildings and five 5-star hotels in the Iraqi capital.
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani had returned to Baghdad on Thursday, after attending Sharm al-Sheikh's Arab Socio-Economic Summit, where he conferred with Egyptian President, Mohammed Hosni Mubarak, Algerian President Abdel-Aziz Bouteflika, Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh and Qatar's Prince Hamad Bin-Khalifa al-Thani.
http://en.aswataliraq.info/Default1....&id=140645&l=1
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The Iraqi government to restructure government 180 companies
An economic adviser to the prime minister said Sunday that the Iraqi government began the restructuring of the 180 companies to enter the general area of the world market through the road map will continue until the year 2015.
"Abdul Hussein Al-Anbuge of Kurdistan News Agency (Rn) announced today that" the Iraqi government began to re-Hecilp 180 companies including General Government 3000 employees over the next five years in coordination with the United Nations and international organizations. "
He Anbuge that the "road map designed to develop the work of public companies and ratified by the Council of Ministers and came into force to start the work to convert large state-owned companies to market companies and rub the concept of profit and loss."
He said, "the advisers in the prime minister is responsible for the completion of restructuring of these companies in coordination with the ministries and agents and directors of public companies to develop appropriate mechanisms for starting the project reformist," pointing out that "Iraq is looking forward to building the institutions of industrial and commercial subject to the market system the World Economic similar institutions operating in the economically advanced countries of the world and similar to the situation in Iraq. "
The Iraqi prime minister announced earlier that Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki ordered the formation of an executive committee to take it upon themselves to prepare a detailed study about the reality of state-owned factories and the development of an appropriate mechanism for their development.
Referred to the Finance Ministry warned earlier in the continuation of the "lost" Iraq to the domestic industry, after review the work of factories and laboratories Iraqi state-owned and mixed public and private sectors.
The reports indicate the non-governmental organizations concerned with the economic aspect that Iraq has lost since the last four years more than $ 180 billion because of its reliance on imported goods as a result of the decline in its domestic industry.
The results of the survey conducted recently by the Ministry of Planning and Development Cooperation in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of Iraq, that the unemployment rate among the population aged 15 years and over of 28.1% for both sexes, the survey indicates that the unemployment rate for males stood at 30.2% versus 16% for women.
According to a report on the results of a survey of employment and unemployment rate of unemployment in urban areas, 30% versus 25.4% in rural areas.
http://www.aknews.com/ar/aknews/2/212702/
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Central Bank warns of compromising its independence and calls on the Federal Court to clarify its decision
The adviser to the CBI, Sunday, of jeopardizing the independence of the bank, stressing that he has concerns about the decision to the Federal Court recent decision to link with a number of independent bodies referred to in the Constitution under the chairmanship of the government directly, inviting them to issue a clarification of the resolution about the association and its independence.
http://www.aknews.com/images/cms-image-000001452.gifThe Federal High Court issued a decision on January 18 under, provides a link independent bodies referred to in the Iraqi constitution, prime minister directly, not under the chairmanship of the House of Representatives, and the decision came at the request to show a link bodies of Cabinet Office submitted to the Federal Court in the second the month of December of last year.
He said the appearance of Mohammed Saleh, told the Kurdish news agency (Rn) that "the decision of the Federal Court recently on a link a number of independent bodies and which he addressed the central bank and its association with the premiership, not the House of Representatives ambiguous and not sufficient to affirm the autonomy of the bank."
Saleh added that "it is better that sitting judges of the Federal Court with specialists at the Central Bank to discuss the new resolution of the Court, and affirm the autonomy of the Bank in formulating monetary policy for the country".
And explained that "the decision of the Federal Court, was vague in determining whether the law of the Central Bank of the biggest of the Code of the Council of Ministers on the one hand the monetary authority."
He stressed that "the Bank independent in its monetary policy," noting that "the World Bank and International Monetary Fund and World Bank to give guarantees and protection money for the CBI, because it works to create economic stability in the country."
He warned that "undermining the independence of the Central Bank will lead to opening the door to foreign courts book Iraq's funds, in the case of suits brought against Iraq."
He continued by saying that "Article 103 (paragraph 2) indicates that the central bank answerable to the Iraqi Council of Representatives", warning that "legal argument why he singled out the central bank to do so without the rest of the independent bodies."
And Saleh stressed that "with respect to the decision of the Federal Constitutional Court, but he needs to detail a demonstration, because it is not sufficient to explain all of the Central Bank."
He argued that "Iraq is the founder of the International Monetary Fund and a member of the important and we must preserve the independence of the Central Bank of Iraq in support of Iraq's economy and protect the funds."
The Chapter IV of Part III of the Iraqi Constitution and Article 102, Article 116, it was found that the independent body linked to the Council of Representatives, and there are others linked to the Council of Ministers.
http://www.aknews.com/ar/aknews/2/212640/
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Britain confirms delay to enter the markets of Kurdistan and the organization of a joint economic conference next spring
Prime Contractors Union of Kurdistan, on Saturday, the British Ambassador John Jenkins in Baghdad acknowledged in front of businessmen in response that his country is long overdue to enter the markets of the Kurdistan region of Iraq, pointing out that the embassy will be held next spring, a conference with the participation of businessmen and companies from the region and Britain to activate the relations among them.
The head of the Kurdistan Contractors Association Nowruz pumice in an interview for "Alsumaria News", the British ambassador to continuously follow up the subject of investment in the region, indicating that the next stage will see the new directions of major British companies at work in the region.
http://radionawa.com/Ar/NewsDetailN....278&LinkID=155
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Shell is preparing for the establishment of power plant capacity of 50 megawatts at Khor Al-Zubair
Issued by a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell a competitive tender for the engineering, materials and construction of a new plant for electricity generation capacity of 50 megawatts near the Khawr al-Zubayr plant for gas.
The power plant will release gas plant at Khor Al-Zubair from the public electricity network, thus improving the supply of natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas to the domestic market, while also contributing in creating work opportunities in the region summons, the construction work.
And use the power plant generators Two gas turbo 5 Frame was purchased separately by each of the South Gas Company and Shell.
Khawr al-Zubayr power station will be the property of the project to take advantage of the gas in southern Iraq at the completion of the work and shall be open for operation.
And is about competition on the project to benefit from the gas in southern Iraq to an end. What prompted Shell to issue tender for a new station for electricity generation capacity of 50 MW in the Khor Al-Zubair. That this important event and arthralgia of the draft to take advantage of the gas in southern Iraq, would reduce the amount of electricity derived from the public network in Iraq for the production of gas: "We look forward to continue to apply our experience and our own technology to rebuild the infrastructure of the gas in the country, in cooperation with our partners Iraqis. This was stated by Mounir Bou Aziz, Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa Affairs Business Affairs and liquefied natural gas.
Under the terms of "Convention on the guideline principles" that took place in September 2008 between the Iraqi Oil Ministry and Shell that is setting up a benefit from the gas in southern Iraq as a joint venture for the collection and processing of raw gas that is burned is currently in Basra, that is marketing the gas, initially for use in the market Iraqi local.
And South Gas Company will be the largest contributor by 51 percent in the joint venture company, that Shell owns 44 percent and has Mitsuo Baishe 5 percent of the shares of the joint venture. In June 2010, and approved by the Iraqi government to establish a joint venture with Shell and Mitsuo Baishe.
http://www.alsabaah.com/ArticleShow.aspx?ID=1483
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Norwegian company announces its willingness to start exporting oil from northern Iraq
DNO said. That. International or the Norwegian oil facilities and infrastructure in the Kurdistan region of Iraq is ready to start the export of oil field Tauki the province at short notice.
The company confirmed its stated earlier that the export capacity of its facilities in the Tawke of 50 thousand barrels per day at least, indicating that it would announce any new information or material once available to them.
The announcement came after the Norwegian company reported that the Kurdistan Regional Government that it has reached an agreement with Iraq's central government for the resumption of oil exports from the region as of early February next year.
http://radionawa.com/Ar/NewsDetailN....431&LinkID=155
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Iraqi lawmaker defends the Federal Court decisions and reduce the fears of "others"
defended the deputy in the Iraqi Council of Representatives for the National Alliance on Monday, the Iraqi Federal Court decisions about linking some independent bodies of the Cabinet, pointing out they are the sole responsibility of interpreting the constitution.
Faleh al-Ziadi told the Kurdish news agency (Rn), "The Federal Court decisions in the last period is suspended the country on its feet and saved the political process that has been rocked," noting that "the most important of those decisions are selecting the largest bloc and an end to the open meeting and the question of the powers of the House of Representatives" .
He considered that "the decision of the Court recent decision to link with independent bodies under the chairmanship of Minister, a decision in conformity with the Constitution according to Article (80) thereof because the executive bodies and their relation to the prime minister Bcilh and not the Prime Minister personally."
Ziadi and reduced fears of others about the topic, stressing that "the Iraqi Council of Representatives will be able to control those bodies through its oversight of the work of the government, nothing will change."
He stressed that "the Federal Court is the only body responsible for interpreting the provisions of the constitution, and the commitment of all its resolutions and all refused to reject her is political."
The Iraqi Federal Court issued a decision in January 18 of this attachment provides independent bodies referred to in the Iraqi constitution, including the central bank, as prime minister directly, not the House.
According Ziadi, "the resolution of administrative and executive issued by a specialist is technically no problem with it but it is a problematic political and not legally or administratively."
"The House of Representatives is the highest legislative authority in the country and watch the government and its work, and can in accordance with the powers that monitors the work of those bodies be associated with the Council of Ministers."
Indicates Chapter IV on "independent bodies" in the Article (102) that is the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Electoral Commission for elections, and the Integrity Commission, independent bodies under the control of the House of Representatives, and organize their work by law.
While recalling Article (103) of the first section is the same that all of the Iraqi Central Bank, the Office of Financial Control, and Communications and Media Commission and the endowment offices, bodies, financially and administratively independent, and the law regulates the work of each of them.
As indicated in paragraph II of the same article that the Central Bank is accountable to the Iraqi Council of Representatives and the Financial Inspection Office and the Information and Communications House of Representatives, while the third point of the same article that linked Endowment Council of Ministers.
http://www.aknews.com/ar/aknews/4/213158/
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SEC Charges Former Innospec CEO With Bribery
The former chief executive of Innospec Inc. was charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission with foreign bribery violations for approving illegal payments to Iraqi officials.
Paul W. Jennings allegedly learned of the chemical company’s scheme to pay bribes to win orders for sales of tetraethyl lead in 2004 when he was chief financial officer, and continued the practice when he became CEO in 2005. The scheme involved using a third-party agent to pay off officials at the Iraqi Ministry of Oil in order to sell lead to refineries. Jennings, according to the SEC statement, consented to the complaint without admitting or denying the SEC’s allegations and agreed to pay a $116,092 disgorgement plus prejudgment interest of $12,945, and a penalty of $100,000.
“This is the third enforcement action against an individual responsible for the widespread bribery that occurred at Innospec,” said Cheryl J. Scarboro, chief of the SEC’s Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Unit, in the statement.
The company itself last year pleaded guilty to bribing Iraqi officials and violating the U.S. embargo on Cuba as part of a $40.2 million global settlement.
According to the complaint, Innospec paid more than $6.3 million in bribes from 2000 to 2008 in exchange for contracts worth more than $176 million, raking in a profit of $60 million on those deals. Jennings played “a key role” in the scheme in Iraq and Indonesia, the statement says. He was copied on email conversations with the third-party agent in which the Iraqi officials demanded a 2% kickback, which was paid by increasing the agent’s commission, an act approved by Jennings.
He was also aware of a bribe for the Trade Bank of Iraq in exchange for a favorable exchange rate on letters of credit. Another scheme involved a bribe to ensure the failure of a field test of a competitor product.
A long-term purchase agreement that would have caused $850,000 to be shared by Iraqi officials was busted by the revelation of the U.S. regulators’ probe into bribery by Innospec, according to the statement.
Jennings also knew about bribery going on in Indonesia since about 2004, as it was referred to in emails as “the Indonesian Way,” “the Lead Defense Fund,” and “TEL optimization.”
An unnamed Executive B at Innospec is quoted in the complaint telling Jennings “the bribery [in Indonesia] was a small cost to them, but was very beneficial; it was a small amount of money for the government officials, but could have big importance to them. This is the way it was always done.”
The issue was even discussed during Jennings’ performance review in January 2005.
The SEC complaint also alleges that Jennings falsely signed off on annual certifications saying he was complying with the company’s FCPA compliance policy, as well as on annual and quarterly certifications of documents relating to Sarbanes-Oxley books and records accounting compliance.
http://blogs.wsj.com/corruption-curr...-with-bribery/
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Iraqi finance minister vowed to insert Kurdish demands in budget bill
The Iraqi Finance Minister, Rafi' Isawi vowed to incorporate the Kurdish demands in the 2011 Iraqi general budget bill, adding the price for one barrel of oil has been increased to 76.5$.
Rashid Tahir, the deputy Kurdistan finance minister told AKnews after meeting with the Kurdish officials in Erbil, Isawi promised to include all the requests of the Kurdish side in the Iraqi budget bill.
The Iraqi senior official met Saturday evening in the Kurdish capital with the Kurdistan Regional Premier Barham Salih, Kurdistan natural resources minister, Ashti Hawrami and the regional minister of finance, Bayeez Talabani. The assembly in Erbil follows a visit by Salih and a high delegation to Baghdad.
Last Monday Salih meet with the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki for a series of issues, most importantly, Kurdish budget share, which reportedly has been decreased from 17% to 11.6% . The two sides agreed on resuming Kurdistan oil and complying with constitution to settle the disputes.
The Iraqi minister has promised the Kurdish side that the agreements between Baghdad and Erbil over Kurdistan oil exports and reimbursing the foreign oil companies in the Kurdistan will be included in the 2011 budget bill after the bill will be returned to the Iraqi Council of Ministers for such amendments.
The Iraqi budget bill passed its first reading, despite the Kurdish lawmakers' boycott of the session, threatening to file a suit against in the Federal Court if their objections are overlooked.
Iswai has also assured the Kurdish officials that after the Iraqi Council of Ministers is done with the amendments, his ministry will consider the viewpoint of the Kurdish government on the modified budget before submitting it for final voting in parliament.
Since June 2009 Kurdistan drilled and exported 100,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) from its fields. The revenues were apparently remitted to the Iraqi development fund. However, since Baghdad declined the recompense the companies (amounting to 42 from 17 countries) the Region suspended the export. This comes while Iraq exported 2,100,000 bpd in 2010.
However, reports after Salih's return from Baghdad state the Iraqi government has agreed to reimburse the foreign companies.
After a visit to Jordan, the Iraqi officials agreed with the International Bank to raise the price from $73 to $76.5 for each barrel of oil, Tahir quoted the Iraqi minister as saying.
In addition to budget and oil contracts, there are some other issues in dispute between Kurdistan and Baghdad. The status of the Kurdistan armed forces (locally known as peshmarga), their budget, and the tenure of some areas are among the other suspended issues.
According to an agreement between Baghdad and Kurdistan Region, the latter is entitled to %17 of the Iraqi total budget until a nationwide population census is held under which the share is amended. However, the population is not conducted but reports indicate the Kurdish share has shrunk to %11.6 in the proposed Iraqi budget for 2011.
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZA...0budget%20bill
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Sorry if already posted
Iraqi lawmaker: Adoption of the 2011 budget law next week
A lawmaker in the Iraqi parliament on Sunday that the 2011 budget law will be approved in next week after it has been "resolved" political differences on it.
Abdel Karim said Hattab, the Kurdish news agency (Rn) that "the draft budget for 2011 be approved by the House of Representatives early next week after it has been to resolve all political differences during the holiday on the contentious issues on the budget items, particularly with regard to the distribution of funds."
He added that "the terms of the budget in 2011 was returned to the federal government was to resolve all the items of contention between the political blocs on their status and to address the deficit and the share of the Kurdistan region and elsewhere."
The Government of the Kurdistan region of Iraq to impose expenses of the sovereign on the financial allocations from the general budget of the country so as to reduce the amounts imposed in the event of about $ 14 billion to 11 billion, while the share of the territory of Iraq's budget 17 percent.
And calls for halving the proportion of the Kurdistan region to export oil from the fields to 100 thousand barrels instead of 150 thousand barrels per day set by the federal government previously as a condition to maintain a ratio of 17% of the Kurdistan region in the general budget.
Hattab said the Iraqi coalition led by Iyad Allawi, "The House of Representatives will continue to closely balance the exchange rate mechanism in 2011, and especially how to deal with the fiscal deficit," which reached more than $ 12 billion.
The Iraqi government has approved the draft federal budget law for fiscal year 2011, so that the budget amounting to about 79.6 billion dollars, so when calculating the oil per barrel to U.S. $ 73, and the rate of export of 2.25 million barrels per day.
It is expected that the budget deficit to reach about $ 12 billion, in what is expected that the rate of spending about 54.7 billion dollars.
Iraq relies He is a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries on oil revenues to finance about 95 percent of its annual budget.
The lumberjack that "the budget was delayed more than the current time would disrupt the process of construction, age and will be followed the movement of government and ministries."
And witness the preparation of budgets, the country's financial and approval delays by the government and the House of Representatives because of the large number of objections and criticisms on some of its paragraphs highlighted aspects of exchange and the financial allocations for some government institutions and the three presidencies.
And announced that the advisers in the Iraqi prime minister that the government decided to raise the investment ratio in the slot in the current year budget to 30% at the expense of the operational aspect in order to support investment projects.
The Central Bank of Iraq that the 2011 budget will raise economic growth to 10% of what it was, noting it was built according to the country's economic policy.
http://www.aknews.com/ar/aknews/2/212849/
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Erbil, Baghdad agree to tackle stalemates
The Kurdistan Region premier stated Sunday that his cabinet and Baghdad government agreed to solve issues hung between both.
"I met Iraq's finance minister Rafih Issawi yesterday in Erbil and talks went very well to solve the problems between both Erbil and Baghdad government," Berham Salim said.
"I see that a legitimate percent from the Iraqi budget would be for Kurdistan Region."
Issawi arrived in Erbil yesterday and met with Salih, Kurdish oil minister. Issawi promised them to meet all the demands of Kurdish government from the Iraqi national budget, according to Kurdish deputy finance minister Rashid Tahir.
Berham Salih said his visit to Baghdad last week resulted well since his delegation and Iraq's premier agreed to export oil of Kurdistan.
In regard to Kurds to have a security ministry, Salih said Kurdistan has the right to have a security ministry because it is a part from Iraqi constitutionally.
Iraq's 2011 budget is 95 trillion IDs of which Kurdistan has 17 percent according to a political agreement between Erbil and Baghdad until a national census would be conducted in this year.
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZA...e%20stalemates
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Southern Iraq's Badra Oil Field to share in decreasing unemployment, MP says:
A legislature, representing southern Iraq's Wassit Province, has said on Monday that the investment of Southern Iraq's Badra Oil Field by foreign investment companies "is expected to decrease unemployment on the area."
"The investment of Badra Oil Field by the Russian Gaspromneft Company, that won the contract to develop the oil field, shall contribute in the emploment of large numbers of unemployed workers and cut short its level," the Legislature, Iman al-Wa'ily, representing the State of Law Coalition, led by Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, told Aswat al-Iraq.
Wa'ily said that the Iraqi government had decided to allocate 117,000 jobs, to be distributed among different ministries, according to a mechanism, followed by the Iraqi Planning Ministry, as well as the employment of large numbers of works by the foreign investing companies, thing that is expected to put an end for unemployment, not only in Wassit Province, but the whole of Iraq.
The Russian Company, Gaspromneft has decided early this month to grant two sub-contracts for two local Iraqi companies to help in developing the Badra Oil Field, that was granted to the Russian Company for US$2 billion (b), for a period of 20 years.
http://en.aswataliraq.info/Default1....&id=140671&l=1
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Assem Jihad: Iraq's oil reserves of 500 billion barrels :party: :woohoo:
Spokesman for the Iraqi Oil Ministry, Assem Jihad, the Iraqi oil reserves of about 500 billion barrels.
The Jihad at a workshop to exchange experiences press organized by the Italian news agency in Baghdad, that the updated data for the first time in decades on the reserve Iraq to oil wealth, showed that the size of 143 billion barrels, indicating that these data can be increased as it accounted for 64 oil fields only.
He expected the Jihad to reach Iraq's oil production to 3 million barrels per day by the end of this year, hoping to increase the pace of production in the coming years to reach 10 million barrels a day, in the light of decades licensing rounds development signed by the Ministry of Oil with international companies specialized in the field of oil production and the development of industrial oil.
http://radionawa.com/Ar/NewsDetailN....499&LinkID=155
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Update ........
Central Bank's independence compromised by Federal Court ruling says official
The advisor to the Iraqi Central Bank (ICB) warned on Sunday that the Federal Court's recent ruling that places the institution along with a number of parliamentary committees under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister's office raises concerns about the bank's independence.
The Iraqi Federal Court issued a ruling on January 18 that connects a number of independent bodies including the ICB directly to the chairmanship of the prime minister and not to the chairmanship of parliament as stated in the Iraqi constitution.
Muzher Mohammed Saleh told AKnews that the terms of the ruling are "ambiguous and not sufficient to affirm the autonomy of the bank."
"The decision of the Federal Court was vague in determining whether the law of the ICB was more influential than the Code of the Council of Ministers concerning monetary authority."
Saleh warned that compromising the independence of the ICB could allow foreign courts to seize Iraqi funds if law suits were brought against the country.
"Iraq is a founder of the International Monetary Fund," he said, "...we must preserve the independence of the Central Bank in supporting the Iraqi economy and protecting its funds."
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20110124070435/Central%20Bank%27s%20independence%20compromised%20 by%20Federal%20Court%20ruling%20says%20official
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Economists: Iraq has failed to file anti-money laundering
The Iraqi economists said on Monday that Iraq has failed in the fight against money laundering, and the signs point to his failure to deal with the file during the next phase.
A member of the (money) economic Mohammad Reza al-Moussawi, told the Kurdish news agency (Rn) that "the financial institutions of the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank and BSA failed to develop its work for the purpose of combating money laundering in Iraq."
He pointed out that "there are many reasons led to the failure highlighted that the Coalition Provisional Authority under Bremer did not put clear grounds to prevent the flow of money is especially clear in paragraph b of Article VIII in it."
He explained that "to limit the entry money of unknown origin to Iraq would reduce the terrorist operations that hit the country between now and then the other way, and it will activate the circulation of cash in the country."
On the other hand, Chief Economist of the Iraqi and teaching at the University of Mustansiriya Resan Kikhany of Kurdistan News Agency (Rn) that "Iraq from the States are unable to activate the system of money laundering because there are entrances to several economic, as he was unable to also follow the money that came out of it because of corruption financial and administrative to senior officials in the state. "
"The next stage requires the formation of a joint committee of the Central Bank and the Financial Inspection Office and the Ministry of Finance to do the gates monetary system that monitors the mechanisms of entry and exit of funds from the country."
And that "the percentage of Iraq's development according to the latest scientific studies in the follow-up to the money had arrived since 2003 until now to 12%, which makes Iraq the last file in the top money-laundering."
The CBI had announced earlier this month, raised a new law to combat money laundering to the Iraqi Council of Representatives in coordination with other government institutions, in order to provide greater protection for Iraq's economic system and to engage in international assessment.
The Law on anti-money laundering which was released in 2004 on a secure financial institutions, it also emphasizes the punishment of a fine of not more than 40 million Iraqi dinars, or a fine equal to twice the value of the property of being or initiate a financial transaction involving the proceeds of some form of activity Illicit and he knows that, with respect to the subject of the financing of crime and operations (terrorist).
The Central Bank of Iraq to monitor financial institutions and the issuance of a regulation, as well as he issued a list of suspicious financial activities.
The Law on anti-money laundering to authorize the Central Bank to assume control of financial institutions and check the documents and accounts of their own.
http://www.aknews.com/ar/aknews/2/213008/
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Oil Expert: Iraq is losing a lot because of disagreements center and the region for oil
Hamza said oil expert jeweler that the differences between the central government and Kurdistan on oil contracts and attract investment negative impact on the development of the oil sector in full and on the Iraqi economy.
Jeweler said in a statement to the Agency by news Monday that the issue is still controversial and the attraction between the central government and the Kurdistan region, which requires a comprehensive solution to the issues pertaining to oil contracts.
The jeweler said that Iraq is losing a lot because of the differences and failure to provide the province of Kurdistan, the federal government the details of oil contracts, that the region where the central government imposes on the signing of these contracts without the knowledge of their content, not even the details and so far these contracts under secrecy and confidentiality.
http://radionawa.com/Ar/NewsDetailN....467&LinkID=155
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CBI sells $119m on Monday
The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) dollar sales went up slightly on Monday to $119.860 million at an exchange rate of 1170 Iraqi dinars per dollar, compared to the previous session’s $113.546 million.
"The demand hit $900.000 in cash today, covered at an exchange rate of 1,183 Iraqi dinars per dollar, and $118.960 million in foreign transfers outside the country, covered at an exchange rate of 1,183 Iraqi dinars per dollar," according to a CBI news bulletin received by Aswat al-Iraq news agency.
None of the 14 banks that participated in today’s session offered to sell dollars.
http://en.aswataliraq.info/Default1....&id=140678&l=1
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Council of Arab Economic Unity finish preparing a file of private investment in Iraq
The Arab Economic Unity Council of the League of Arab States, on Monday, for the completion of the file private investment in Iraq, which was presented to the Permanent Representative of Iraq to the Council and the representative of Iraq in the League of Arab States.
The Assistant Secretary General of the Council of Economic Unity, Ambassador Mohamed Spring Kurdistan News Agency (Rn) that "will visit Iraq to meet with officials and to identify investment opportunities in the country, especially in the Kurdistan region."
Indicating that he "will be accompanied in the visit, representatives of major Arab Unions and corporate mission that fall under its banner to be to identify investment opportunities in Iraq."
He said the spring that he "intends to broaden the base of the council's membership and revitalize the areas of work of the Secretariat through frequent visits will be conducted by a number of Arab countries are not members of the council." Indicating that Iraq is a founding member of the Council, a member active in ten Arab countries belonging to him.
He stressed that "the coming period will witness a development of the Economic Report of the Secretary-General of the Arab League and activating the role of the economically more so in the Arab world." Explaining that he "will hold a meeting with the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States Amr Moussa, the Secretary-General for Economic Affairs Mohammad Ibrahim Tuwaijri to agree on the role of the Council After developing the structure and the Declaration of his new role."
He revealed the spring that he "will be held three conferences in Syria, Jordan and Yemen during the coming period in this context." Noting that "Intensive contacts are underway with a number of university presidents to prepare for the signing of cooperation protocols with the Council serve the economic development issues and joint Arab economic action."
He pointed out that "the Secretariat of the Council of Arab Economic Unity has completed the preparation of a series of important studies and pivotal to serve the Arab world, particularly the role of agricultural investment in the Arab food security and the role of Arab Economic Unity Council in support of small enterprises in the Arab world, and the mechanism of development of investment in the fisheries sector".
In conclusion, the leaders of the Arab economic summit in the work of the second session of the summit of economic and social development, held in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on January 19 this month.
The new leaders of the Arabs, in the final statement of the economic summit, their full commitment to the strategies of development and economic thought developed, which was adopted at a summit of Kuwait in 2009, confirming to proceed with the development of their human and technology, economically and socially, and develop structures of joint Arab action in the framework of the League of Arab States.
http://www.aknews.com/ar/aknews/2/213090/
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PM Maliki to confer with al-Iraqiya Coalition's Leader, Allawi, within two days:
Iraq's Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, is expected to confer with the Leader of al-Iraqiya Coalition and former Prime Minister, Iyad Allawi, in the forthcoming two days in order to settle the dossier of the remaining ministries, including the security ministries, and the proposed National Council for Strategic Policies (NCSP), al-Iraqiya Spokesman, Shaker Kattab said on Monday.
The Iraqi Parliament had granted trust to the new Iraqi government, led by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, comprising 42 cabinet posts, including 12 ministries of state, whilst Maliki kept the administratin of the Interior, Defense and National Security, under him, on "acting" basis, pending the naming of their ministers.
As regards to the possible Parliament's voting on the NCSP, Kattab told Aswat al-Iraq news agency that "The NCsP will be a high-level Iraqi institution, similar to the Presidency, Council of Ministers and the Parliament, and in the event of the Parliament's non-voting on it, it shall not become such a high-level state institution."
http://en.aswataliraq.info/Default1....&id=140669&l=1
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International experts: Iraq will meet the global demand expected in 2030
Western energy experts say that after the formation of the new Iraqi government must give priority gas projects deferred in order to avoid new crises in the provision of electric power and gas investment, which burns in the air in the absence of industrial projects.
Confirms these experts who participated in the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, that the amount of gas burned per day in the air in southern Iraq, rising at high rates because of high production fields, major oil in Rumaila, Zubair, West Qurna by 10 percent, resulting in quantities of additional gas a huge burn in the air.
According to Paddy Badmanathan Company AC W. A. Energy / the new Iraqi government has shown great attention to solve the problem of gas shortage that while there are international companies specialized style / Shell / willing to work in a gas southern Iraq after the signing of final contracts with the Iraqi Oil Ministry.
According to the information available to it so far, no final approval from the Iraqi government contracts that were discussed by the Iraqi Oil Ministry with Shell in the past year on the development of the giant South Pars gas project. Were approved by the Iraqi Council of Ministers in June 2010 formation of Basra Gas Company in partnership with the South Gas Company, Shell, and Mitsubishi on economic fundamentals and trade for this project.
In spite of the formation of the new government and give Mr. Karim Allaibi Ministry of oil, but it is not clear that there is a formally to move forward in approving the contract for the gas south, which is long overdue.
And imposes the challenge of the same gas shortage at the moment and there are fears of renewed problem of various power outages in southern Iraq, as happened for long periods in the summer.
And confirms Michael Yprik, Chief Executive Officer of Bloomberg New Energy Finance that the slowdown in the gas sector to address the power sector, which suffers from a bug since last summer has become the responsibility of the new government, especially that the previous government had agreed on a partnership between the South Gas Company and Shell, but it is not to reach a final contract until now.
It is noted that the Iraqi Oil Ministry had contracted with two world wars, a law firm to review the contracts that have been reached between the ministry and Shell, have been making observations additional to the contract, but until now has not set a timetable and clear by the Iraqi government for the signature of the contracts to begin work on gas project the south.
It is noted that in September 2008, Shell signed a preliminary agreement with the Iraqi Oil Ministry of Commerce sets out the principles for the establishment of a joint venture between Shell, South Gas Company. The agreement provided that the South Gas Company, the largest contributor by 51 percent in a joint venture with Shell by 44 percent and Mitsubishi 5 percent.
Iraq has huge reserves of oil and gas are among the largest in the world, on his way to play the role of the President in meeting the global demand is expected for 2030.
In this way, it is difficult to see the future of Iraqi oil, which is expected without the development of gas industry that will play an important role in meeting the growing demand for Iraqi gas and global energy supplies of natural gas as a cleaner means of energy.
Shell has expressed for a long time commitment to work with the Iraqi government to support its goal of rebuilding the energy infrastructure in Iraq.
Experts point to the objectives of the draft South Gas is to help in the development of infrastructure for the gas industry in Iraq, and the establishment of the gas industry and modern in accordance with international standards based on the latest technologies and allow Iraq to be a major player of the gas in the region and the world.
There are joint ventures between Shell and the Iraqi government has already completed have resulted in the production of 500 tons per day of liquefied petroleum gas that is being collected. And also represents a reduction by 20 percent of the gas currently flared from the oil fields of Iraq, while more than two thirds of Iraq's current needs of liquefied natural gas is imported from abroad.
Agencies estimate of specialized international UN quantities of gas which is flared into the air every day as sufficient to produce 300,000 cylinders per day of liquefied petroleum gas (cooking gas) per day in southern Iraq and the quantities of gas burned is enough to cover the needs of three million homes without electricity.
And also estimated that the gas burned in the air leads to emissions of carbon in sizes up to about 20 million tons annually, equivalent to annual greenhouse gas emissions to more than 3.5 million cars or 90 000 flight from London to America. The value of the gas burnt in the south of Iraq is estimated at 1.8 billion dollars annually. and there is a possibility to export natural gas, which is not sold for use in the local market, for example, as liquefied natural gas, and create a new stream of income for the Iraqi economy and increase the likelihood of reliable infrastructure of domestic energy, which will in turn stimulate local economic development.
Experts believe that the crisis is escalating because the first stage in the fields of oil giant aiming to raise production by 10 percent and said that if the new contracts for the fields / crutch and Mansuriyah and Saybah / As of now, the gas production will not start three years ago will not be enough to cover demand for the electricity sector.
According to experts, the Mr. Hussein al-Shahristani, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister for Energy, gas, oil and water as the Chairman of the Committee on Energy High in the new government, which is supposed to be more motivated to complete the project gas south to provide an adequate supply of electric power generation and coverage of the growing domestic demand and stop the import from abroad particularly as it is coming to build new power plants use gas turbines.
But experts are wondering about the reasons for the delay in approving the projects, such strategy, which would in the event of approval, providing a huge financial return to Iraq and provide a source of energy crisis as power outages as well as protecting the environment from the massive carbon emissions.
The subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell has put forward in mid-2011, January competitive bidding for engineering and procurement for the construction of a new power generation capacity of 50 MW in the Khawr al-Zubayr in southern Iraq.
The objective of the establishment of this station is to reduce the consumption of the national electricity grid and provide electricity to the population and improve the natural gas industry and liquefied petroleum gas to supply the domestic market and add new jobs and stimulate the local market.
Will be used to power five generators from gas turbines that have been purchased independently by the South Gas Company and Shell, but it makes sense that there is no sign of Shell, it seems, the contract to build the plant at Khor Al-Zubair is final only after reaching a final agreement to the gas project south.
It is expected Mr. Michael Yprik, Chief Executive Officer of Bloomberg New Energy Finance to initiate the Iraqi government to approve the bill soon to move forward in the economic development plan and to address shortages of electric power and provide new job opportunities for Iraqis in the coming period, especially in light of the availability of financial institutions, regional and international willing to fund new projects in the energy sector.
http://www.alsabaah.com/ArticleShow.aspx?ID=1484