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  1. Central Bank: Annual inflation eased in Iraq, after controlling the levels of liquidity and reduce inflationary expectations On: Sunday 01/02/2011 1:17 Brother - Baghdad The advisor said the central bank in favor of the appearance of the annual inflation fell in Iraq, after controlling the levels of liquidity and reduce inflationary expectations, Pointing at the same time that Iraq has imported its needs from Turkey in Euro. Attributed the appearance of low inflation, monetary policy of the Central Bank, which succeeded in gaining control of the levels of liquidity and reduce inflationary expectations. Saleh said in a press statement: Iraq is importing an important and powerful of Turkey and the euro, which leads falling against the dollar to the licenses and low prices of products entering Iraq. And Saleh said the signs are good for low inflation, which fell to the level of one decimal after it was tied, and continued: »The Central Bank is working to preserve the status to one decimal place in order to achieve stability in the introduction to this development and this makes the development of investor comfortable to the lack of fluctuations in price in exchange rate and the general level of prices. And on why he would not lend the government $ 5 billion shortfall in the budget of 2011, said Saleh refused to Central Bank of the matter, adding that the bank is not an institution for development projects and bank reserves are in order to achieve Alastaqraralaguetsadi and because Alastaqraralaguetsadi is the incubator for development. He said: We are working to lend to the government only in the case of economic disasters or large floods and there are indications we have suggest that we have surpluses sufficient does not require resort to the easy money, but require re-calculation of oil prices by the Ministry of Finance correctly, management and efficiency of resources optimally. And Saleh: that the lending would be within the general budget of the State any of the fiscal policy where it will be the port for the financing of development and as a source for the provision of cash and liquidity. http://www.khabaar.com/news.php?action=view&id=12926
  2. Even with a new government finally in place in Iraq, the country is still on the brink of disaster, writes Salah Hemeid Click to view caption An Iraqi Catholic demonstrating in Detriot against lack of protection for Christians in Iraq Ordinary Iraqis expressed their relief last week at the fact that a new government was finally in place after nine months of gridlock, hoping that this will now be a step towards peace and stability in the beleaguered nation. However, while the breakthrough may have ended the governmental impasse, the crisis has only highlighted the fragility of Iraqi state-building more than seven and a half years after the US-led invasion of the country. The year 2010 did not start off well for Iraq as violence persisted and politicians' bickering raised concerns about the country's ability to get back onto its feet after the US withdrawal next year. Thousands were killed, including civilian bystanders, army and security officers and government officials, and thousands others wounded in a string of suicide bombings and attacks in Iraq throughout the year. The violence proved that the Iraqi security forces are not yet able to protect civilians in terms of numbers, equipment and training, while insurgents tied to Al-Qaeda continue to launch attacks, spreading an air of danger in many Iraqi cities. Critics maintain that the newly trained Iraqi armed forces are incompetent and sharply divided along ethnic and sectarian lines and that they cannot be expected to succeed in ending the violence, raising questions about whether the remaining US troops in Iraq will be able to exit the country as many Iraqis desire. The United States has reiterated that it will stick to plans to withdraw all its troops from Iraq by December next year, but Washington might have second thoughts if the new government fails to restore stability and insurgents continue their campaign to bring it down. In addition to the security problems, the newly formed government has to end the chaos in Iraq and deal with multiple political, social and economic setbacks. One of the biggest problems is the deep schism facing the country, which needs to be bridged by national reconciliation. Reconciliation of Iraq's ethno-religious communities is seen as a necessary precursor to stemming the country's sectarian violence. There are dangers that the country is descending into a situation in which it is becoming less tolerant in terms of religious freedoms and human rights, as the government fails to deal with increasing fundamentalism. An intensifying campaign is putting more pressure on the government to go after religious fundamentalists, operating in Baghdad and other Iraqi cities, who seek to impose their strict interpretation of Islam. There have been widespread reports that these groups have ordered social clubs, bars and alcohol shops to close down and that they are intimidating people who do not follow their version of Islamic values. The crackdown has included shutting music and drama departments in arts institutes, banning arts festivals and circuses, and imposing strict codes of behaviour. The moves have heightened concerns among academics and intellectuals that Iraq, now emerging from foreign occupation and war, is displaying all the tendencies of a Taliban-like Islamic state. The year 2010 was also among the worst for the country's Christians, with thousands fleeing their homes and more leaving the country during 2010 than at any time since the US-led invasion. The latest exodus follows a massacre led by Al-Qaeda at a Christian Catholic Church in central Baghdad on 31 October, which left some 60 people dead, almost 100 maimed and an already apprehensive community terrified. Since then, the terrorist group has targeted Christians in their homes, including family members of those who survived the attack. In Baghdad, as well as in the northern cities of Mosul and Kirkuk, Christmas services have been cancelled for fear of further violence. After more than seven years of war, the Iraqi economy is in tatters, with the country depending largely on imports for nearly everything from cars to tomatoes. Unemployment is among the highest in any country worldwide. The country also still lacks basic services. Electricity is in short supply, medicines are available mainly through the black market, and there are long lines for fuel in a country that has the third largest oil reserves in the world. Another serious problem is corruption, which is spectacular even by world standards. Iraq is ranked fifth from the bottom of the pressure group Transparency International's list of 180 nations. Bribery and outright theft surround virtually every Iraqi government department, with some of the kickbacks being used by rival politicians to cement their power bases in order to perpetuate their hegemony in the country. Some two million Iraqi refugees are either abroad or displaced inside Iraq after being forced to flee their homes to safe havens because of violence and sectarian threats. Today, most of Baghdad's neighbourhoods are shielded by high concrete walls from the rubble-strewn streets and are cordoned off by the security forces as residents are trapped in fear of a renewal of sectarian conflict. However, the good news in 2010 was that Iraq increased its oil exports. New Petroleum Minister Abdel-Karim Luaibi said on Wednesday that Iraq's crude oil production had increased by 100,000 barrels a day to 2.5 million barrels. The ministry had announced earlier that sales from Iraqi crude oil exports during the first 11 months of 2010 had reached $46.9 billion. Last year, Iraq's oil revenues reached $41.3 billion, compared with $60 billion in 2008. Iraq might have made other small advances in 2010, especially in avoiding civil war, but the country still has a long way to go. At the end of a long and exhausting year, it is hard to see a clear end in sight. Strengthening the Iraqi state will be hard, especially after the March elections that produced a government many Iraqis consider to be weak, fragmented and incompetent. According to some scenarios for post-2010 Iraq, next year will be crucial as it will see the withdrawal of the remaining US troops. The pullout will mean that the US will no longer have a large foothold in Iraq, leaving the country to local forces and interests as it absorbs the after- effects of the American-led invasion. One scenario is that the national partnership government will succeed in holding the country together and that a strong central government will emerge. This will be able to prevent violence escalating and erupting into all-out civil war. A second scenario would be that the instability in Iraq continues, with the growing confrontation between the country's Sunnis and Shias over power and resources leading the country into chaos. Neighbouring countries will be fearful of the risk of contagion and will try to keep the chaos contained within Iraq's borders. A proxy war could be the result, along the lines of what is happening in Somalia. Another scenario would be the collapse of the government because of sectarian fighting and the country descending into outright civil war. This would most likely lead to Iraq's disintegration with instability spreading to the entire region. The year 2011 will be pivotal for Iraq's future, and that future will be more than anything else determined by the fortunes of the new government. It is to be hoped that Iraq's politicians will not repeat their previous mistakes and that they will stand together to end the people's misery and start rebuilding the devastated country. http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2010/1029/re6.htm?
  3. SATURDAY, JANUARY 1, 2011 As Iraq enters 2011 it faces a number of important decisions regarding politics and economics. In the coming weeks and months Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s new cabinet has to be completed. Next the government has to decide how it will deal with the Kurds’ demands, which are directly linked to oil, the country’s most important resource. International energy companies are expected to begin major production increases this year as well. By mid-year Baghdad will have to decide whether it wants to re-negotiate the Status of Forces Agreement to allow American troops to stay in Iraq past the end of 2011. Finally, the new year could give a taste of how Maliki plans on governing this time around. The end of his last term was marked by a turn towards autocracy and confrontation. Will there be check and balances this time around or will the premier continue to concentrate power in his hands? These issues are all too familiar for Iraq, as they are largely the same ones dealt with in the preceding years. 2011 could therefore be déjà vu for Iraq. PM Maliki’s cabinet is yet to be completed (Agence France Presse) Iraq’s first order of business is to complete the formation of Prime Minister Maliki’s new government. When the premier’s cabinet was introduced on December 21, ten ministries were leaderless. Those included Defense, Interior, and National Security. Currently, all three of those are being run by Maliki, but politicians have said that the State of Law-Sadrist led Iraqi National Coalition will get Interior and National Security, while Iyad Allawi’s Iraqi National Movement will receive Defense. The newest twist to those negotiations is that the Kurds are demanding that they receive the National Security Ministry based upon an ethnosectarian quota. The Kurdish Coalition claims that since a Shiite will get Interior, and a Sunni Defense, than a Kurd should be named to the remaining ministry. Arab politicians have countered by saying that the Kurds have gotten their just due already, and that there will be no quota system for the security posts. Another issue is the creation of the National Council for Strategic Policies, which Allawi is supposed to head. Officials have increasingly talked about the bill to create the new office being completed. The Council will include Allawi, Maliki, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, Speaker of parliament Osama Nujafi, and Kurdish President Massoud Barzani, but the other members have not yet been decided. The National Coalition will get 50% of the seats whoever they are, the National Movement 30%, and the Kurds 20%. The Council will require an 80% vote to have its decisions be binding, but recommendations will only need a simple majority. The real issue is whether the Council will have any real power, because Maliki’s allies have said it won’t. If it doesn’t, Allawi will likely be an absentee member, and his list could break apart into its constituent parts. Figuring out who will control what will be the most important issues facing Iraq at the beginning of 2011, dragging out the government formation process for almost an entire year. New Oil Minister Luaibi has claimed a breakthrough over oil with the Kurds, but they dispute that (AP) Afterward determining the relationship with the Kurds could be a problem. The day that Maliki’s cabinet was voted on he signed the Kurds’ 19 demands. Those include allowing Kurdistan to export oil again, and to have Baghdad recognize their petroleum contracts. New Oil Minister Abdul Karim Luaibi claimed that a breakthrough had been achieved on both of those issues, but that’s disputed by the Kurds. Luaibi said that there was a signed agreement between the two sides over exports, which could begin in days, and that the central government would approve the Kurdish deals. The Kurdistan Regional Government however, stated that there was nothing signed, only talks, and that no foreign sales will occur without recognition of their oil contracts, which Baghdad has called illegal. The Kurds have also threatened to hold up passage of the 2010 budget that includes 150,000 barrels a day in Kurdish production unless this matter is solved. If the two sides achieve that it would be an early victory for Maliki. If not, it will be a sign that the government will continue to be deadlocked over the major differences facing the country. 2011 is also supposed to be the year that oil production takes off due to the work of foreign companies. Oil Minister Luaibi has said that Iraqi output will rise from the current 2.4 million barrels a day to 3 million by the end of the year. The country has to overcome its infrastructure and transportation limitations to achieve this goal. New pipelines have to be built, Um Qasr port in Basra has to be repaired and expanded along with another possible access to the Gulf, along with the expansion of roads, storage facilities, and water supplies. So far, the companies have had little affect because the petroleum industry is working at capacity. A lot of construction has to be done before the businesses can move the country forward. Iraq needs to decide whether they want American forces to stay in the country past the end of 2011 (Agence France Presse) By the middle of the year, Iraqi politicians will have to decide whether they want U.S. troops to stay in the country past the December deadline. Maliki recently gave an interview with the Wall Street Journal where he said that there would be no amending or extending the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) that allows American forces to only stay twelve more months in Iraq. That might have just been politicking after the announcement of his cabinet, but if the prime minister does want to change the SOFA it will be difficult because the Sadrists, who were a major player in Maliki returning to office, oppose any stay by the U.S. If he gives into the anti-occupation forces Iraq will be left even more vulnerable to interference by neighboring countries because the Iraqi military will not be able to defend the country from outside threats within a year, nor maintain most of the high-tech equipment its in the process of purchasing such as M1A1 Abrams tanks and F-16 fighters without Washington’s aid. This will be a mid-year test for Maliki to see whether he will bow to political pressure within his own coalition or not. PM Maliki’s actions will be the main concern in the new year (Agence France Presse) That points to the most important topic in the new year, how will Prime Minister Maliki act in his second term. From 2008-2010 the premier assumed more control of the security forces and government offices. He confronted the Kurds in the disputed territories and over oil. He created his own State of Law list, and won a sweeping victory in the 2009 provincial elections. He tried to repeat that success in 2010, but ended up splitting the Shiite vote and came in second to Allawi. All of those were part of Maliki’s turn towards nationalism, in an attempt to break free of the other major parties such as the Sadrists, the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, and the Kurds, that had backed him previously. At the same time, the prime minister continued to follow sectarian policies by cracking down upon and neglecting the Sons of Iraq after they were turned over to Iraqi control by the Americans, and supporting the deBaathification bans on candidates before the March 2010 vote. Maliki was able to keep his job through all the arguments and horse trading over forming a new government, but what will the deals he cut to get that far mean for his position is unknown. As the winner in the national election, many fear that he will slowly but surely assume more power around himself and his party at the expense of his rivals as he did before. Others think that the political parties have learned from the first Maliki administration, and will attempt to restrain him, and force the premier into compromises. Politicians like Speaker Nujafi and Allawi, if the National Council is given any real authority, can do that by requiring Maliki to forge a consensus over policy and calling his ministers to account for their actions in front of parliament. On the other hand, if the government ends up weak, divided, and deadlocked like the last one, that will free the prime minister to do what he wants. While Iraq faces many important decisions, 2011 shows how much the country has changed. Since 2009 the major issues have been political and economic rather than about security. While the insurgency and Special Groups still operate and people are killed every day, violence has reached an “irreducible minimum” that’s unlikely to change for some time. Reviving the oil industry from years of neglect and sanctions so that Baghdad has the money necessary to develop and employ the rest of the country is of paramount concern instead. That may require an understanding with the Kurds over their independent energy policy. At the same time, Kurdish petroleum production is so small that the rest of Iraq can progress and profit without its contribution for now. Maliki also needs to complete his government, and his coalition has to assert itself otherwise the prime minister is likely to amass more power, which will inevitably lead to more conflicts. While this is all happening the Americans are on their way out, and even if the SOFA is amended and some military personnel stay to help Iraq with national defense, they will have less and less say in the country. Rather Iraqis will make the final decisions. The problem is that their politicians are immature, selfish, and venal, often choosing the path of least resistance, which is to do nothing or drag things out as long as possible in petty arguments. That’s likely to be the real news of the new year. http://musingsoniraq.blogspot.com/2011/01/what-does-2011-hold-for-iraq.html
  4. Miss Linda 55 you better get well girl ...who am I gonna drink with now .... so get to feeling better and know we all love you and miss your loving personality ... chat and drink with you soon!!!!!!!!!
  5. You are in > Home / Basra, Lead Story, Politics / Iraq’s PM Maliki decides to prevent trade union activity in state institutions, Liberal Ligislature says: Iraq’s PM Maliki decides to prevent trade union activity in state institutions, Liberal Ligislature says: December 29, 2010 - 09:40:19 BASRA / Aswat al-Iraq: Iraq’s Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, has decided to ban trade union activity within the state institions, limiting their activity within the private sector only, a legislature, representing al-Ahrar (Liberals) bloc in the Iraqi Parliament said on Thursday. “The trade unions have been organized through elections and have carried out their continuous activity till Nouri al-Maliki took power in Iraq, when he issued a decision preventing those trade unions to act within state institions, limiting their activity on the private sector only,” Legislature, Uday Awad, told Aswat al-Iraq news agency. Awad described Prime Minister Maliki’s decision to be “a repetition for a similar decision, taken by Iraq’s former President Saddam Hussein, that banned trade union activity within state institutions, allowing their activity in the private sector only.” “Article 22 of the Iraqi Constitution confirms that the State must guarantee the right of the establishment of trade unions and vocational federations, as well as enrolment to those unions and federations, allowing trade union activity within state institutions,” the Iraqi Legislature said. Awad pointed out that he “shall strive to raise the issue of the right to form trade unions and federations to the Parliament’s Chairmanship, in order to vote on it in a Parliament session soon,” reiterating that “the closure of trade unions is considered as a measure rejected by the public opinion and a violence to the Iraqi Constitution http://en.aswataliraq.info/?p=140170
  6. December 28, 2010 - 01:50:15 BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq: Iraq’s oil exports in November this year had reached 57,300 million barrels, that had achieved US$4 billions ( and 618 millions in revenues, the Oil Ministry’s Media Director, Assem Jihad, said on Tuesday. “The Oil Ministry had exported 57,300 million barrels of oil, revenues of which had reached US$4 billions and 618 millions, last November,” Jihad told Aswat al-Iraq news agency, adding that the average price of a barrel of Iraqi oil during October had reached 80.59 dollars. Jihad said that the oil quantities exported last November from southern Iraq had reached 46,000 million barrels, with a revenue that reached US$3 billions ( and 693 millions, whilst the quantities expoerted from northern Iraq’s Kirkuk oil fields had reached 11,300 million barrels, with a total revue of US$925 millions. “The oil exported from southern Iraq’s Basra terminals and its Khor al-Umaya terminal in the Gulf, as well as through Turkey’s Ceyhan Terminal and by mobile tankers through Jordan via 29 Asian and American companies, could have reached more than the above figures by 2 million barrels, but the exports were affected by bad weather,” Jihad concluded. http://en.aswataliraq.info/?p=140150
  7. Palm - The Iraqi Central Bank Governor Sinan al-Shabibi, on the composition of foreign reserves in support of the Iraqi dinar value amounted to fifty billion dollars, noting that the Iraqi dinar is stable currencies in the region. He explained in a speech during a session in the Iraqi parliament, that the CBI has sought Bmlake national and experience high to set monetary policy consistent and rational has achieved financial stability in the country, pointing out that the only party in Iraq, which is unique in the production of a public good directly to maintain the purchasing power of the Iraqi dinar. He Shabibi in a speech to achieve these results in very harsh conditions the Bank's exposure in which to acts of terrorism, and although this did not shake the will of the workers and continued to work to make the bid, saying that the issue of reserves, or the cover of currency comes at the request of the Government and the Ministry of Finance, stressing support the importance of the size of the reserve currency in circulation, because the affected reserves will be reflected on the fiscal balance. Furthermore, Al adviser to the CBI the appearance of Mohammed Saleh, measures to reduce cash sales in its daily auction to sell foreign currencies as of this week, revealing that speculators were behind the high exchange rate locally for quick profit. The CBI stressed its procedures for the sale of cash during the last period, the condition of the banks to bring legal documents at the request of foreign exchange, which hampered its work and importers of goods and commodities in and explained that the Central decided to cut the proceedings at the request of documents during the week of the receipt of cash, as can private banks participating in the auction of foreign currencies foreign exchange request at any time and the exchange rate was over 119 000 dinars per hundred dollars last week, after it had been under the 118 thousand. Salih pointed out that the sale remittances outside Iraq is allowed for commercial purposes, and according to legal documents, citizens can also transfer money to pay fees for university students or outside of Iraq for medical treatment and for other purposes, not inconsistent with the law against money laundering. The stairway to the Iraqi Central Bank held five meetings a week for an auction sale or purchase of foreign currencies, and receive cash from the sale 13 dinars per dollar as commission, and 13 dinars per dollar on the sale of remittances outside Iraq. http://www.nakhelnews.com/pages/news.php?nid=4295
  8. MIDDLE EAST NEWS DECEMBER 27, 2010, 7:13 P.M. ET.Iraq Wants the U.S. Out Prime Minister, in Interview, Says Troops Must Leave Next Year as Planned. Text By SAM DAGHER BAGHDAD—Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki ruled out the presence of any U.S. troops in Iraq after the end of 2011, saying his new government and the country's security forces were capable of confronting any remaining threats to Iraq's security, sovereignty and unity. Mr. Maliki spoke with The Wall Street Journal in a two-hour interview, his first since Iraq ended nine months of stalemate and seated a new government after an inconclusive election, allowing Mr. Maliki to begin a second term as premier. A majority of Iraqis—and some Iraqi and U.S. officials—have assumed the U.S. troop presence would eventually be extended, especially after the long government limbo. But Mr. Maliki was eager to draw a line in his most definitive remarks on the subject. "The last American soldier will leave Iraq" as agreed, he said, speaking at his office in a leafy section of Baghdad's protected Green Zone. "This agreement is not subject to extension, not subject to alteration. It is sealed." He also said that even as Iraq bids farewell to U.S. troops, he wouldn't allow his nation to be pulled into alignment with Iran, despite voices supporting such an alliance within his government. "For Iraq to be dragged into an axis or an orbit, that's impossible, and we reject it whether this comes from Iran, Turkey or the Arabs," he said. He added that a kind of "paranoia" about a Tehran-Baghdad alliance in the U.S. is matched by a fear in Iran about U.S. influence: "An Iranian official visited me in the past and told me, 'I thought the Americans were standing at the door of your office,' " he said. In an interview in Washington, Vice President Joe Biden also said Iran had failed to buy influence during the election or to co-opt Mr. Maliki, who was among the members of the current Iraqi government who briefly took refuge in Iran during the reign of Saddam Hussein. Mr. Maliki's new majority depends partly on followers of anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. But Mr. Biden credited Mr. Maliki for denying Mr. Sadr's bloc any control of Iraqi security, while forming a government with full buy-in from Iraq's main factions of Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds. U.S. military commanders still accuse Iran of funding, training and providing sanctuary to Shiite militias, like Mr. Sadr's Promised Day Brigades, which they say are responsible for attacks against U.S. forces and gangster-style assassinations that continue to plague Baghdad and other areas. Mr. Maliki suggested his government had co-opted militias like the one associated with Mr. Sadr. "The militias are now part of the government and have entered the political process," said Mr. Maliki. The Sadr contingent, he added, "is moving in a satisfactory direction of taking part in the government, renouncing violence and abandoning military activity, and that's why we welcome it." Security is the new government's top priority, Mr. Maliki said, as in his previous term. Sectarian violence and suicide bombings continue to plague the country as the full withdrawal of U.S. soldiers nears. Almost a dozen people were killed in double suicide bombings on Monday outside provincial government offices in the city of Ramadi, west of Baghdad, according to security officials. A resumption of more extreme violence, of course, could alter the thinking in Baghdad and Washington about the U.S. timetable. But Mr. Maliki said the only way for any of the remaining 50,000 or so American soldiers to stay beyond 2011 would be for the two nations to negotiate—with the approval of Iraq's parliament—a new Status of Forces Agreement, or SOFA, similar to the one concluded in 2008. That deal took a year of protracted negotiations in the face of vehement opposition from many among Mr. Maliki's own Shiite constituency, and no repeat is expected. Mr. Maliki and U.S. officials have refrained for the most part from raising the issue publicly during the months of political wrangling in Baghdad, as Mr. Maliki negotiated with potential coalition partners, many of whom have adamantly opposed an extended U.S. stay. A senior official in President Barack Obama's administration said Washington was "on track" to withdraw all its remaining soldiers in Iraq by the end of next year. That's the final milestone in the security agreement, following the reduction in American troop levels to below 50,000 in August and the pullout of U.S. soldiers from most Iraqi inner cities in June 2009. "The prime minister is exactly right," said the senior official. During the interview, Mr. Maliki said he was heartened by America's "commitment" to honoring the agreements it reached with Iraq, and he laughed approvingly when told that U.S. Amb. James F. Jeffrey keeps a frayed copy of the so-called Strategic Framework Agreement in his leather briefcase. That document calls, in broad terms, for long-term cooperation in security, defense, economy, energy and culture, among other areas. In a briefing for Western reporters last week, Mr. Jeffrey said that despite the requirement to pull out all American troops at the end of 2011, the framework document and other agreements between Baghdad and Washington contain "a very robust security agenda." The U.S. embassy in Baghdad will house a "significantly sized" office aimed at security cooperation, Mr. Jeffrey said, comprised of about 80 to 90 military personnel that would take over most of the current functions of the U.S. military in advising, assisting, training and equipping Iraqi forces. That's similar to arrangements with other countries in the region, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. The embassy would also oversee a major Iraqi police-training program. Mr. Maliki played down Iraq's need for any major help from the U.S. military, even while acknowledging serious deficiencies in areas including control of airspace and borders. He said the days when ethnic or sectarian-based militias roamed the streets of Iraq and operated above the law were over. "Not a single militia or gang can confront Iraqi forces and take over a street or a house," said Mr. Maliki. "This is finished; we are comfortable about that." He said full withdrawal of U.S. troops also will remove a prime motivator of insurgents—both the Shiite fighters tied to militia groups and Iran, and Sunnis linked to Mr. Hussein's ousted Baath party. Mr. Maliki defended his political horse trading with rival factions, many of which are seen as far apart on several substantial policy issues. He called the post-election process—in which he managed to prevail despite his own party bloc failing to gain the most votes—"very arduous." He acknowledged that he expanded the number of cabinet seats just to placate the squabbling parties that he eventually cobbled together into his governing coalition, arguably the broadest since the fall of Mr. Hussein. "I mean seven to eight ministries are, allow me to say, ministries for appeasement purposes," he said. Mr. Maliki said he agreed to several Kurdish demands, including a referendum in contested northern regions, though he didn't think it was feasible without a constitutional amendment to accompany it. Washington is so concerned about the standoff in the north—where Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen and smaller ethnic groups have faced off—that a large contingent of U.S. soldiers continues to staff joint security checkpoints there, as diplomats work on political solutions. The referendum was one of 19 demands made by Kurdish President Masoud Barzani in exchange for a power-sharing deal that ended the gridlock that followed the March elections. The resulting unity government headed by Mr. Maliki, a Shiite, includes Kurds and a Sunni-dominated bloc headed by the secular Shiite and former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi. Mr. Allawi, whose bloc won the most seats in the election but couldn't form a majority, will chair a new National Council for Higher Policies, but won't be able to implement policies without broad government support. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204685004576045700275218580.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
  9. Vice President Joe Biden had a high-profile seat for last week's most publicized national-security event: He presided over the Senate on Thursday as it ratified a new strategic arms agreement with Russia. View Full Image Getty Images Joe Biden .But the most important national-security moment for the vice president, and the country, actually came with much less fanfare the previous day, when Mr. Biden called the leaders of Iraq's key political factions and congratulated them on having, finally, belatedly, succeeded in forming a new coalition government. Failing to ratify the strategic arms agreement would have been "really bad" Mr. Biden said in an interview, but he added: "I think the really big story is Iraq." A stable Iraq is crucial to what is arguably the paramount requirement for American policy: building up bulwarks that can stop the expansion of Iranian influence in the Middle East. Whether this new Iraqi government—the one that will stand as American forces are withdrawn—will be a long-term bulwark is a question that can only be answered over time, of course. But Mr. Biden says, in essence, so far, so good. "The really untold story here is the Iranians had virtually no influence" in formation of the government, he said in the interview. Iranian agents handed out money to Iraqi supporters in hopes of affecting the new government, he says. "They were trying to buy outcomes." Mr. Biden estimates the Iranian investment in that effort at $100 million. Then, when it became inevitable that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki would get a new term as prime minister, "they tried to make Maliki their own." And Mr. Biden insists, the Iranians failed at that as well. That's a judgment crucial to U.S. policy. It's also important to Mr. Biden personally, for he has grown deeply invested in the Iraq outcome. He was a regular visitor when he was a senator, and has been to the country six times since becoming vice president. It fell to him to make weekly calls to Mr. Maliki and other factional leaders to prod them toward agreement. Mr. Biden gives high marks to the last Bush administration ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker, as well as subsequent Obama ambassadors Christopher Hill and James Jeffrey, for helping midwife the new government. Its creation was an exercise in water torture, taking nine long months after Iraq's national election, punctuated by regular exercises in factional brinksmanship among Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds. Giant problems remain. Some cabinet posts still are unfilled; others were created just to give jobs to factions that needed to be pacified. The Kurdish north remains riven by Kurdish-Arab disagreements. And in a new interview with The Wall Street Journal, Prime Minister Maliki said that American troops can't stay in his country beyond the end of 2011 unless a new security agreement is negotiated by then. "I think we have a stable government," Mr. Biden said. "But they've got a lot of hard decisions coming up now." The good news, the vice president says, is that Mr. Maliki succeeded in forming a government without crossing the three "red lines" that Washington insisted be avoided. The first was that Iraq shouldn't form a government without full buy in from Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds. The second was that the followers of anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr be prevented from controlling any part of Iraq's security apparatus. And the third was that Mr. Sadr's followers not be in a position to bring down the government on their own. The Shiite movement led by Mr. Sadr will still have influence, because he has been a sometime ally of Mr. Maliki. And Iran will have influence as well; Mr. Biden says he isn't under any illusions about that. "Iran has a long border" with Iraq, he said. "They will have a relationship. They should have a relationship." But he argues, in essence, that the formation of this new government means the relationship can be on Iraq's terms. With Iran continuing its fitful move toward nuclear-weapons capability, and probing throughout the Persian Gulf, Syria, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories to expand its influence, an Iraq strong enough to resist Iranian coercion is almost as important to American policy as is the path of Iran's nuclear program. Oh, and Iraq's formation of a new government is important for one other reason: It represents a bipartisan foreign-policy achievement. Mr. Biden continues to maintain that Iraqis' own rejection of extremist violence was at least as important as President George W. Bush's troop surge in tipping the balance toward stability. But never mind: After a contentious campaign debate, the Bush administration handed an Iraq policy to a skeptical Obama administration, which carried it forward without major disruption to this month's important milestone. Which is more than many doubters would have guessed possible. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203568004576044632913086772.html
  10. 23/12/2010 3:10pm Iraqi Parliament concluded its 16th for today postponing read federal budget for 2011 on its agenda. Member of the Iraqi Council of representatives from National Alliance Aziz House resolution announcing that postponing the second reading of the federal budget is due to the absence of the Finance Committee and interim legal on today. " He was announcing told correspondent (Iraqi information news agency/types) "that the Commission should attend meeting today and offers insights and breakdown of members of Parliament about the balancing item, noting that the allocation of funds to the southern provinces specifically was disappointing although southern governorates ’ is the backbone of the country's economy." Stating "the southern provinces Iraqi economy feeds by 80% and Government gives a very small percentage of its budget for these provinces, while giving up 17% to Kurdistan, pointing out that most southern governorates today suffer from a shortage of drinking water and health services, although there are riches in the South". "We will read the budget a second reading in Parliament on Saturday and Sunday and question passed federal budget require political approval to be approved by Parliament http://al-iraqnews.net/new/political-news/40707.html
  11. Types/Baghdad/u. Q 23/12/2010 3:51pm The leading member of the House Kurdistan Alliance in Othman public budget for 2011 not read it today because of temporary financial Committee. The delegation by uthmaan told (information/news and) was to be on second reading of the draft federal law on the general budget for FY 2011 but due to their lack of access of interim Finance Committee decided to postpone until the Committee of the Coalition Alrdstani had no objections at present on the project since the current Government Auadt amending certain paragraphs which his Alliance had objections which formerly of customizations of Kurdistan ". House opened its sixteenth for today chaired by President Osama and his two sons alngivi Al Souhail Arif tayfur, Baghdad presence 212 deputies agenda includes replacement of Deputies and vote to form a truth about offices closed baghdadia and second reading of Bill federal budget for the financial year 2011 and discuss body work pilgrimage and discuss draft thermal energy in heat (Anbar governorate). http://al-iraqnews.net/new/political-news/40721.html
  12. lifted its to Saturday without a second reading of the budget The rack project Font size: Types/Baghdad/u p 23/12/2010 3:33pm Lifting House meetings to next Saturday and not the second reading of the federal budget for failure to arrive from the Finance Committee. An information source in Council reporter (information/news and) that the Board discussed at the 15th meeting of the Thursday a truth about baghdadia that were voted on added to discuss a pilgrimage which will host the proxy Board to clarify some things for the work of the Commission during subsequent meetings http://al-iraqnews.net/new/political-news/14284.html
  13. I agree that is why I posted it ... I could not find a thing but I am not good with budgets just spending ...
  14. Types/Bill general budget for the year 2011 Got information/news andText Bill general budget for the year 2011, approved by Cabinet in its last Tuesday. According to the project are made more than 24 trillion dollars to support the expenses of the ration, security and defence, electricity, medicine. Total budget next year some 93 trillion dinars including 29 trillion dollars earmarked for investment project expenses, while operating expenses rose 64 trillion JD financial deficit of over 14 trillion dollars of cash covers from the federal budget of recycled for 2010 and of internal and external borrowing. Bill to authorize the Minister of Finance Authority to borrow from the IMF by about $ 1 billion (4.5), the World Bank (2) billion dollars, using special drawing rights SDR about b (1.8) billion dollars to cover the deficit projected in the budget, in addition to borrowing under Treasury remittances. With the text of the Bill: Bill general budget for the year 2011 (first semester) income Article-1-1-federal budget revenue estimate for fiscal year 2011/$ (78705237500) dinars (eight and 70 000 kilogrammes, five billion, two hundred and thirty-seven million five hundred thousand dinars) as set out in (table/a-revenue as major accounts) attached to this alkanonb-computation of income from oil exports on the basis of the average price of capacity (73) barrel and rate export capacity (2250000) barrels per day (two and a hundred and fifty thousand barrels per day) (150,000) barrels per day (one hundred and fifty thousand barrels per day) on income from oil exports through Kurdistan region and bind the province by diversion of revenue to Iraq's reconstruction fund after deduction of the dfi (5 percent) of war reparations Kuwait or any other ratio determined by the Security Council and the United Nations to pay and when payment amounts are deducted from the share territory of 17 percent V. seek the consent of the Federal Finance Minister to accept grants or contributions made by Governments and foreign institutions to ministries and bodies are not linked to the Ministry in the form of technical assistance and studies, designs and other measures are being speculative in the intruder or Ministry records associated with the relevant Ministry or County (chapter II) expenditure walagsalmadh-2, the first expenditure Provision of dinars (92980582970) (two thousand nine hundred and ninety eighty billion five hundred and eighty-two million nine hundred and seventy thousand dinars) for the financial year expenditure as distributes/2011 (field/3 total) (table/b expenditures by ministries) of the Act C. provision of dinars (250000000) (hundred and fifty billion dinars) contingency reserve other expenses appropriation of balancing the Federal Ministry of Finance of emergency customizations listed in paragraph (i. expenditures referred to above. Secondly: disability Total planned deficit of the general budget of the Federal fiscal year/2011 (14275345470 dinars) (fourteen thousand and two hundred and seventy-five billion wethlthmaeh and forty-five million, four hundred and seventy thousand dinars) and covers the deficit of amounts recycled cash from federal budget for the year/2010 and from internal and external borrowing. B-Federal Finance Minister gives power to continue to borrow from the IMF, complementing the amount (4.5) billion dollars (four billion five hundred million dollars) and the World Bank, complementing the $ 2 billion (2 billion dollars) in the year/2011 using special drawing rights SDR limits b (1.8) billion (1 billion wethmnmaeh million dollars) to cover the deficit projected in the federal budget in addition to borrowing under Treasury remittances. C-also finances deficit of the loan amount of 500 million dollars (five hundred million) granted to Moo by BP.(Chapter III) General and final provisions: article 3-limits of exchange of key account funds (grants, subsidies, other expenses and capital expenditure project) adopted under the general budget of the Federal Republic of Iraq by the competent Minister or head and unlinked to Ministry and provincial governorates that are not linked in the light of the annual appropriations within the balance. Article 8-to the competent Federal Minister and chairpersons of non-associated with the Ministry and Governors and heads of provincial power exchange in light of customizations supported within annual mwaznthm heads and authorization of the Ministry or the non-Exchange power Ministry both or part as follows: first, the Exchange is certified in accordance with the provisions in the annual federal budget or supplementary to their designated uses. Second: to use the public budget allocations under federal spending plan endorsed by the Federal Minister of finance. Article 13-i. provincial quotas unsteady territory with a population of expenditure set out in (table/d ruling expenses) to the present law excluding share of Kurdistan (17 percent). IV: when an increase or decrease in the total federal budget expenses added or reduced share proportionately with the Kurdistan spinner on balancing Kurdistan subject to item (ii) of this article including adjustments of the sovereign of transfer expenditures sovereign overhead expenses in the same proportion mentioned above. Fifth: the premier federal agreement with the President of Kurdistan on expenditure (salaries and armament and equipment) to guard territory in conformity with the Constitution and agreed payment advances to cover it until a law regulating and payment of benefits. Article 14-i. a.: the Office of federal financial control coordination and cooperation with the Office of financial control of the Kurdistan region by calculating and selecting federal income obtained in the territory of this year the Ministry of finance in the territory to transfer to the Federal Ministry of finance monthly. b. receivables are settled between the Kurdistan and the Federal Government for years (2004 to 2010) and subsequent years after review by the Court of the Federal financial control coordination and cooperation with the Office of financial supervision to the Kurdistan region. Second: upon non-payment of federal income obtained the federal Treasury Department of finance to withholding of Federal quota under paragraph (a), item (I) of this article shall be the equivalent of planned revenue in the federal budget and mathematical adjustment. third, the Federal Ministry of finance to withholding amounts of damage caused by a county or region not allowing the use of the airspace of the Republic of Iraq for mobile phone companies approved by the Federal Government share territory or maintained when funding specifically from revenue derived from leaves and mobile charges. IV: Federal Ministry of oil by selecting any damage as a result of conduct by crude extracted for export and domestic consumption. Article 15 – revisited Kurdistan regional and provincial share of irregular in federal territory in the general budget for the year 2011 and beyond the statistics and Census 2000/2010 and that amount is in the light of real or keep share territory with territory in irregular. APF//2011 and displays the difference on the Federal Cabinet to settle it. Article 16 first: all centrally funded services revenue revenue for the federal Treasury of the State and are shown in the balance of audit. Secondly: the exception of clause (I) to Federal Finance Minister add amounts of monthly revenue earned by the Federal Health Ministry services to balance this Ministry. Article 17 turning all communication and information Commission income to calculate federal Treasury of the State and Federal Department of finance budget allocation for body of imports that you receive. Article 18 adheres to federal and non-associated with Ministry b (table/c) number of manpower for ministries and departments of centrally funded for years/2011) of the Act and the Federal Minister of finance the power development steps and modify owners resulting from the development of career levels of reinstating politicians and integrate transport corporations and militias or self-funded bodies to centrally-funded services and develop new combinations of degrees. Article 19 into account equitable distribution of loans to the Federal Government and the regions and governorates of Iraq as its population ratios after taking into account strategic projects financed by these loans exclusively. Article 20 first: the ministries and bodies are not linked to the Ministry prior coordination with the provinces and their boards when selecting projects. Second: the Federal Department mandated to implement investment projects in custom drywall and belonging to the province. III: keeping entrust any federal ministries or by jurisdiction for implementation of investment projects in the maintenance expense allocations (reconstruction and development of the territories and provinces). Article 21 the three presidencies (Presidency of the Council of representatives and the President and Prime Minister) social benefits exchange controls in coordination with the Federal Ministry of finance and the Office of the Federal financial control and the Exchange pursuant to article 29 of the law of the federal budget for FY/2008 No. (20) for the year/2008 until issuance of such controls and approved by Cabinet. Article 22 1 of the Federal Finance Minister secure financial allocations to employees in companies and public bodies to be self-funded development career levels are a result of the transfer services to owners of centrally-funded services in accordance with article 18 of this Act to meet staffing needs. Second: the federal ministries all stop assignments within the staff of its profiles of public companies and the funded organizations that receive grant from a federal public coffers of State or Government on loans from banks to delete career levels within their owners question vocabulary when it became vacant due to transport or retirement or resignation or death. Article 23 I deduct a percentage (20 percent) of the salaries of the speaker and his deputies and the President and his deputies and the Prime Minister and his deputies. II deduct a percentage (10%) of salary (President of the Council of the Magistracy and his deputies and deputies, Ministers, from the rank of a Minister's salary and a Deputy Minister owners, consultants and Directors-General and special grades of the rank of staff in the House and the Presidency and the Council of Ministers (Cabinet Office/Cabinet/NSC/Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi national intelligence service//national investment Commission). Article 24 first: the federal ministries and Government departments all monthly accounts (balance review) on a date not more than (10 days) from the end of each month to the Federal Ministry of finance accounting service. II: may make any transfer in customizations (reconstruction and development projects and district) between provinces. Article 25 1 of the Federal Finance Minister to reallocate the amounts approved in the general budget of the year/2010 federal for investment projects of ministries and bodies are not linked to the Ministry and development projects and accelerate the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Marsh and petroleum projects and non-disbursed $ to customizations beneficiary solely for disbursement year/2011 investment project delivery exceptions (IV/1) of the Financial Administration Act and the public debt No./95 of 2004. Second: to Federal Finance Minister allocations on quantities of equation (1) dollars per barrel crude oil producer in conservation or (1) dollars per barrel crude oil refinery maintenance and duplicate (1) per 150 cubic metres of natural gas producer in the preservation of conservation benefits of/2010 and that have not been included in the aforementioned year balance due to delayed sending new projects by County on the planning Ministry as acquired rights payable for maintenance. Article 26 on cabinet law regulates angels and the salaries of members of Congress and the President and Prime Minister. Article 27 prevent aircraft leasing for absolutely at the expense of the State of all except the three presidencies (Presidency of the Council of representatives and the President and Prime Minister). Article 28 no remuneration in cash or in kind granted to workers on million dinars per year per person and is employed for service rendered to the Ministry or who are not linked to the Ministry within the approved budget allocations under instructions issued by the competent Federal Ministry of finance. Article 29 is Chief of the investigation as per unit expenditure rules and instructions which fails to submit the final accounts for the year/2010 after running out of his law on time in the Financial Administration Act and the public debt No. (95) of the year/2004. Article 30 first: served by any decision contrary to the law of the federal Treasury Welatthaml any financial burden of the resolution unless acquires legal legitimacy and validated in house. Secondly: submit bills finance by Cabinet to House and not implemented retroactively. Article 31 is a public company, subject to section 8 of the Financial Administration Act and the public debt No. (95) of the year/2004. Article 32 obliges electricity and communications ministries, municipalities and public works and the Secretariat of the Federal and provincial municipalities in Baghdad by activating the levying charges electricity, telephone, water and sewage from citizens and businesses and manufacturers and Government agencies and the public sector and others to increase their own resources and reducing reliance on the federal budget. Article 33 on all federal ministries and authorities not linked to the Ministry and district public procurement of supplies and manufactured materials in the public sector, taking into account competition on price and quality in addition to dealing with the Department of transportation as a national bus. Article 34 that public corporations funded by federal budget companies mentioned State Bank lending in accordance with General company law No. 22 of 1997 after filing for feasibility studies except directorates of the Ministry of electricity and the Federal Ministry of agriculture companies and mic that companies are appended to the defense and federal industry and railway company under the Ministry of transport Iraqi self-funded. Article 35 uncertainty in any leadership positions (Director and above) unless there is a degree in law of the Ministry or organizational structure based on Ministry or who are not linked to the Ministry. Article 36 of the competent Minister or head to the Ministry of redundant staff assignment with retirement service not less than 15 years nor less than 50 years to retirement. Article 37 obliges ministries and bodies are not linked to the Ministry and all other official bodies not to bear the expenses of sending our members visit see sights and organize testimony to attend conferences, seminars, workshops and meetings under the instructions of the Cabinet of Ministry of finance and the Secretariat of the Council of Ministers. Article 38 first: all goods are exempt from fees, goods imported by State and public services on its behalf for use. Secondly: includes exemption above goods and goods imported for government departments and public sector from Governments or donor institutions. Article 39 the Iraqi Central Bank loan in the amount of 5 billion dollars (five billion dollars) to support federal budget programmes and projects of the year/2011 terms and schedule of the Bank mentioned in coordination with the Council of Ministers for the purpose of payment and to the Council of Ministers shall add corresponding projects and programmes within the federal budget for the year/2011. Article 40 to the Ministers and heads of non-associated with the Ministry and Governors and heads of local councils and municipalities and stakeholders implementing this law. Article 41 to Federal Finance Minister to issue the necessary instructions to facilitate the implementation of this law Article 42 of this Act shall be published in the Official Gazette and implemented as of 1/January 2011 http://al-iraqnews.net/new/economic-news/40674.html
  15. Posted 22/12/2010 09:13 AM Baghdad (aknews) : Adviser in Iraqi Prime Minister, said that the new Government Ministers will assume their duties next Sunday. The legal counsel said Fadel Mohammed "new Government functions will work on Sunday after the handover of the previous government functions. Mohammed said that "the former Government Ministers will by duty to new Ministers", pointing out that "ministries that have not been set her Secretary to moment will remain outstanding to be managed by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki" agency. He was member of the national coalition Abdul Hadi Al-Hassani said earlier today that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on condition that the names are guaranteed to fill bags internal security and defence and the national security versus end their agency. Iraqi Council of representatives voted Tuesday to give confidence to the large majority of the Government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, unilaterally voted on list of Ministers presented by the house owners and which brought together 32 Ministers and three Deputy Prime Ministers. The new line-up is composed by the Ministry, Maliki of 42 webniabh rose Nuri Shaways Trade Minister, Agency and Hussain Al-Shahristani energy, valid Al-mutlaq. Chaired by Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari ministries of State of the SEM Agency, Rafe Al-Issawi, and Abdul Karim to oil, and would Hassan Al shammari justice, Muhammad Allawi communications, and the author of higher education and Minister of State for reconciliation and Mohammed Tamim Agency, educational, and Hadi al Amri transport. Wetsnm Majid Hammad Secretary of health, and Ahmed Nasser deli industry, Azzedine State agriculture, Nassar Al-Rubaie labour and Social Affairs, Saadoun al-dulaimi culture, muhannad Al Saadi, Mohammed Sahib Darraji housing and Minister of municipalities, and agency Jassem Mohammed Jaafar youth and sport, and Abdul Karim Yassin science and technology, and Mohamed Sudanese human rights sheyaa wesrkon õáíæå environment, wedindar Benjamin immigration, migrants and Minister of State for CSOs Agency. And carry on bag alsagri Ministry of State for External Affairs, tourism and Antiquities Smeisim Brigade, purely net debt as Minister of State for the House of representatives, and Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh, Minister of State, wetorhan Musleh good as Minister of State for the provinces, and Hassan applicable as Minister of State, and Hussein was Minister of State, State Secretaries Diya star, Abdul Hassan Mtairi Minister without portfolio, and Salah Mohamed Darwish, Minister of State. http://www.babnews.com/inp/view.asp?ID=32445
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