Sara Johnson

Opposition forces boycott parliament over disagreements with speaker Monday, April 11th 2011 3:13 PM Erbil, April 11 (AKnews) – Opposition forces in Kurdistan have boycotted Monday’s parliamentary session, pressing on the parliament speaker to reconsider the agenda to prioritize the protests that have continued for nearly 2 months. The three opposition groups Gorran, the Kurdistan Islamic Group (KIG) and the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) have boycotted many parliamentary sessions over the past two months over differences with the ruling parties. The ruling parties want parliament to continue its ordinary sessions while the opposition groups want parliament to hold emergency meetings to deal with the demands of the protesters. “We have handed over a communiqué to the parliament speaker to prioritize the demands of the protesters on the agenda of the parliament,” said Kardo Mohammed, a member of the Gorran faction. Protesters have been calling for political reforms in the region for nearly 2 months now. A temporary council of the protesters in Sulaimaniyah on Sunday announced a “roadmap” to solve the current “political crisis” in Kurdistan. The roadmap called for the regional government to be reformed and the current cabinet to act as caretaker to ensure the peaceful transition of power to a transitional government to prepare for early elections. The opposition factions are expected to hold a meeting with the parliament speaker this afternoon, according to Mohamed. “We had earlier announced that we would not take part in meetings if the parliamentary presidency refuses to take into account the demands of the demonstrators,” sid Sargul Raza, an MP from the KIG. Raza refused to give any details about what specific points the meeting would discuss “until we have the meeting… and learn their views,” he said. The opposition forces were especially angered by a vote of no confidence against the minister of Peshmarga affairs who was summoned to parliament for interrogation over violence against demonstrators during the early days of the protests in Sulaimaniyah. The minister survived the vote. The majority of the Kurdish parliament is formed by the ruling parties, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). The minister in question is affiliated with the PUK. The opposition boycotted the vote because they found it illegal for the parliament speaker to put the issue to vote in the same meeting. Reported by Fryad Mohammed, edited by Raber Y. Aziz http://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/4/231214/

NC demanded Maliki to expel Mojahedin, says sourceMonday, April 11th 2011 5:07 PM Erbil, April 11 (AKnews)- An Iranian agency said the largest Iraqi parliamentary bloc has demanded Nouri al- Maliki the Prime Minister to expel the anti-Iranian group of Mojahedin-e-Khalq-e- Iran from Iraq. The state-run Iranian Fars News Agency said the National Coalition has asked Maliki to force out Mojahedin from Iraq immediately. The group which aided former Iraqi regime in quenching Iraqi Shia and Kurdish uprisings was consolidated in Camp Ashraf after Saddam Hussein regime was toppled down by the U.S. led forces in 2003. The camp was attacked by the Iraqi army Thursday, leaving 35 people dead and over 200 wounded. Iran labels the group as a ‘terrorist organization’ responsible for the assassination of 12,000 Iranians. Some Iraqi officials have always stressed the presence of the group in Iraq is in breach of the Iraqi constitution. Seyed Yahya Safavi, an aid and the senior advisor for the chief of Iranian armed forces expressed his satisfaction with the recent incursion on Camp Ashraf by the Iraqi Army. “Mr. Maliki with his order to the Iraqi Army, struck a relatively good a attack on the Monafeqin (hypocrites- Mojahedin) camp and we hope such attempts continue until the country is purged from the dirt of the Monafeqin,” he said. Reported by Leila Hameed http://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/4/231266/

Talabani asserts preparations for Arab summit 4/11/2011 4:21 PM BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq: Iraqi President Jalal Talabani received on Monday ambassadors of the European Union countries to Iraq, to whom he underlined the finalization of all preparations for holding the coming Arab summit in Baghdad, according to a presidential statement. "The meeting tackled the latest local and regional developments," said the statement received by Aswat al-Iraq news agency. The coming Arab summit is scheduled to be held in the Iraqi capital on May 11. The president reviewed with the EU diplomats Iraq's stance regarding the Iranian opposition Mujahideen Khalq and its presence in the country. At least one person was killed and 18 others were wounded on Friday morning in clashes between Iraqi forces and Mujahideen Khalq elements in Diala, according to an army source. The Iranian opposition organization of Mujahideen-e-Khalq has been based in Camp Ashraf in Diala province, 57 km northeast of Baghdad, since 1980s during the eight-year-long Iran-Iraq war. SH (TP) http://en.aswataliraq.info/Default1.aspx?page=article_page&id=141919&l=1

Foreign: questioning the ability of Iraq to host the summit targeting the national interest 11/04/2011 ad-4: 40 | readers number: 2 ________________________________ Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, Monday, to question the ability of Iraq to host the Arab summit as for the benefit of the Iraqi people, while pointed out that the Arab League is one of the most supporters to hold the summit on time, and has completed all necessary preparations of the summit without apology of any state for the participation. Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said in a press conference held in Baghdad attended "Sumerian News, said that" some political parties and parliamentary work against the national interest and in the interest of the Iraqi people through to question the ability of Iraq to host the Arab Summit ", confirming that" those who سيفاجئون the workload and to prepare for the event is important, " he said. The Iraqi list, led by Iyad Allawi ruled out on the third of April this year, the holding of the Arab summit will be held in time next May in Baghdad as a result of "Iraq's political crisis, the lack of confidence", while expected Iraq's failure to prove his role "and" during the course of the summit لاختلال National Partnership and confusion the security and political situation. Zibari added that "the total value of which were spent on the activities of the Committee on the preparation of the summit amounted to $450 million," he said, adding that "the ministry completed an almost final all the necessary preparations to hold the summit كالقصر, who will host the summit meetings at the level of leaders and ministers for foreign affairs," he said. Zebari said that "the secretariat and the secretary-general of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, one of the strongest supporters to hold an Arab summit in the capital Baghdad on time scheduled,", confirming that " a number of countries have pledged to take part in the summit did not receive any apology to attend." Zibari added that "the task of the Baghdad summit of all Arab countries, not only for Iraq, especially with the crisis and change of regimes that in the Arab region,", pointing out that "the summit will be an important message to discuss common problems between Iraq and the Arab countries, rather than the intervention of European and African to discuss the fate of the people outside their countries," he said. http://www.burathanews.com/news_article_121904.html

Sharp verbal quarrel between the two, Bahaa Al aaraji League maha on the salaries of members of the Interior Ali Abdullah-11/04/2011 ad-4: 28 | readers number: 7 ________________________________ -Iraqi parliamentary sources revealed that Sharp a heated argument took place the day before yesterday (Sunday) between the two deputies of the liberal bloc, Bahaa Al aaraji Al maha, after intercepting Al aargi, to increase the salaries of members of the Ministry of the interior. The sources who preferred to remain anonymous said on condition of anonymity, that al aargi, said that he will be able to come (police) monthly salary of (400 thousand dinars) and intercepted by the league, she said, that it can ببرلمانين is a monthly salary of million dinars. Iraqi parliament had read the members of the Ministry of the Interior in a first reading in the hope to complete this week the second reading in the House of Representatives and the Iraqi people as members with the counterparts in the Ministry of Defence as they claim the legislation for the martyrs of the police and the army. http://www.burathanews.com/news_article_121903.html

Source: Al-Maliki wants to استيزار al obaidi, Defense Ali Abdullah-11/04/2011 ad-3: 40 | readers number: 64 ________________________________ An informed source said The details of the National Alliance meeting day yesterday that Prime Minister nouri Al-Maliki's coalition reported desire to استيزار Abdul Qader Al obaidi, defense minister, and Ibrahim Al-Lami, the Interior Ministry, pointing out that the Ministry of National Security Intelligence Service had not been discussed in the meeting. The source said in a press statement Monday: that Al-Maliki told the National Alliance, that the Iraqi list candidates (sentenced al-jhayshi, وفصيح Al ani) covered by the accountability and justice, and their refusal from the list of candidates, as well as the fact that Al-Maliki reiterated his wish باستيزار Abdul Qader Al obaidi, the ministry of defence, the associate administrator and his office of the armed forces, Major General Ibrahim Al-Lami, the Interior Ministry, and that is not covered by the commission.The source added: the components that satisfied the desire of Al-Maliki, that delay the security ministries impact on political work, pointing out that the Ministry of National Security and Intelligence Service had not been discussed yesterday the meeting of national http://www.burathanews.com/news_article_121886.html

Fouad doraki: National Alliance has chosen ibrahim Al-Lami Interior Minister Ali Abdullah-11/04/2011 ad-4: 20 | readers number: 11 ________________________________ Said fouad doraki, attorney for the coalition the National agreement was within the coalition candidate Ibrahim Al-Lami to occupy the position of the minister of the interior. He said doraki, in a press statement today, Monday, that: " The Ministry of the Interior Ministry and the task of the citizen on contact with the interior, defence, as he said, stressing the necessity to take over the Ministry of the Interior has personal experience and expertise. Promised doraki, vice a coalition of the rule of law Adnan al-assadi, a deputy from the same bloc senior secretary to the minister of the interior is the best for the Ministry of the interior, but because he was member of the Dawa party, was not his nomination as this requirement applies not, " he said. He said doraki, that four or five names put forward to the Ministry of the Interior almost all of them with the military, and they (farouk Al-Araji, director of the office of the commander-in-chief, Ibrahim Al-Lami, the secretary general of the military, muhsin Al-Kaabi, commander of the border guards, a military team وعبود كنبر, who was the commander of Baghdad operations earlier ", He said: " Some of them by comments such as abboud كنبر being covered to uproot baath, and two of them were interviewed by National Alliance, and was selected as Ibrahim Al-Lami http://www.burathanews.com/news_article_121896.html

US Defense Secretary rebukes Maliki for inaction Written by aliraqnews1 Thursday, 07 April 2011 22:59 Baghdad, INN- US Defense Secretary Robert Gates harshly reprimanded Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki for his inaction to settle critical issues, sources close Maliki told INN Thursday. According to the sources, who asked not to be named, Gates, currently on a visit to Iraq, summoned Maliki for a private meeting at the US embassy in Baghdad on Thursday and Maliki left his office in a hurry without taking any one with him. The Prime Minister was harshly rebuked by Gates because of his inaction to settle standing issues making him a heavy burden on the US occupation forces in Iraq, said the sources. This was clear on Maliki’s face when came out of the meeting wiping sweat on his face with a handkerchief from his pocket, they added noting that Maliki did not say any word, he was just listening to Gates’s words. The Prime Minister left the embassy with a different complexion, they said. The US administration is very much worried about Maliki’s recent remarks when he talked about withdrawing confidence from the current fragile coalition government and plans to work for forming a new government with a sectarian political majority. According to the same sources, Maliki also on Thursday received a phone call from US Vice President Joe Biden expressing Washington worries about Maliki’s plans and his inability to address critical issues in the country. http://www.assafirpress.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=667:us-defense-secretary-rebukes-maliki-for-inaction-&catid=13:politics&Itemid=26

Iraq Breakthrough ~ Signs of a breakthrough between the "National Alliance" and "Iraqi" April 7, 2011 Signs of a breakthrough between the "National Alliance" and "Iraqi" Faris Omar Reports said a coalition of state law, led by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki presented to the Iraqi coalition led by former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, a written commitment to the implementation of an agreement in Irbil within three months. And the transfer of the spokesman for the coalition in Iraq that the Iraqi Mullah Haidar received formal written approval from the National Alliance, a leading role in the signing of a coalition of state law. Mulla said that the coalition in Iraq demanded the implementation of all the terms of agreement of Arbil and initiative of the President of Kurdistan, Massoud Barzani, which resulted in an agreement of the political blocs to form a government after nine months on the recent parliamentary elections. The statements come against the backdrop of protests expressed by the leaders in the coalition in Iraq can see that many of the understandings reached by the block with the Iraqi National Alliance, have not been implemented, including the files as basic as the National Council for strategic policy and rules of procedure of the Council of Ministers and detained without trial, also said a member of the House of Representatives coalition, the Iraqi Ahmed Massari in an exclusive interview with Radio Free Iraq. He noted that the paths of time and set ceilings for the settlement of these files, but missed the timely warning of the consequences of this reluctance on the principle of national partnership. But the House of Representatives member for the National Alliance on Falh considered in a radio interview that Iraq carried out practically all the understandings and directory on the formation of a national partnership of the coalition in Iraq where a large share. Main provisions of agreement Arbil, if not the most important of the entire formation of the national strategic policy for the whole political leaders implicitly entrust his hands Allawi. But disagreements have emerged centered on the powers of this Council and its decision-making mechanism and location within the state institutions. With the continuation of these differences Allawi announced his refusal of the presidency. But a member of the House of Representatives for the coalition Iraqi Ahmed Massari said that the Presidency of the Council remaining share taken up by both the Iraqi Allawi or others, at the same time insisting that Allawi remains the first candidate to the presidency of the Council. Member of Parliament for the National Alliance on Falh For his part, said the coalition, the Iraqi Council to develop strategic policy specification in violation of the Constitution, including the election of the President of the Council vote in parliament. Member of Parliament for the Kurdish coalition blocs Chuan Mohammed attributed the imbalance to the home of the differences between and within political blocs. He stressed the need to expedite the filling of the security ministries, pointing to street pressure. Political analyst Kazem Mikdadi noted in an interview with Radio Free Iraq that the absence of a common vision and integrated program for the government of national partnership has increased the complexity of the political process that began already complex. He Mikdadi that the divisions within the government and the disruption of dialogue between the blocs participating in bringing about the status of national partnership. In the meantime, formed a tripartite committee of representatives from the National Alliance and a coalition of Iraq and the Kurdistan Alliance to follow up the implementation agreement and resolving outstanding issues of Arbil. More details in the audio file , which contributed to the preparation Radio Free Iraq correspondent in Baghdad, Walid Khaled http://www.iraqhurr.org/content/article/3550299.html

Iraq committed to supplying surplus gas to Europe: Shahristani Platts - [4/7/2011] Iraq is committed to exporting natural gas surplus to its domestic requirements to Europe but not necessarily through the proposed Nabucco gas pipeline, Deputy Prime Minister Hussein al-Shahristani said Wednesday. "Iraq is committed to export surplus gas that is not going to be needed in the immediate future," Shahristani said at the International Oil Summit conference in Paris. "We will be needing a lot of gas but in the medium term, Iraq will have surplus gas to export. We have an agreement with the EU where Iraq is going to supply the EU with some gas, not necessarily from Nabucco. Iraq is not committed to that project," he added without providing any volumes. He said Iraq was also looking at potential LNG supplies to Asia. Iraq currently flares nearly all the gas it produces because it lacks the infrastructure to gather and utilize associated gas. The oil ministry last year awarded three long-term service contracts to develop three non-associated gas fields, including Akkas, which has been earmarked as a potential source of gas supply to Europe. A fourth bidding round launched on March 22 offered 12 exploration blocks with a focus on boosting both oil and gas reserves, aimed at finding and developing additional gas fields to meet anticipated higher demand for power generation. Iraqi Oil Minister Abdul Karim Luaibi said at the time that the blocks were likely to add 10 billion barrels of oil reserves to the already revised 143.1 billion barrels of proven reserves and 29 Tcf to the country's 126.7 Tcf of gas reserves. Iraq's gas production is set to rise to 4.5 Bcf/d in 2014 from 1.775 Bcf/d this year. Shahristani said the revised reserve figures did not include reserves in the semi-autonomous Kurdish province because these had not been confirmed. "Unless the ministry of oil checks those figures and sends them to an international consultant to confirm and check with foreign oil companies operating there, we will not declare them," Shahristani said. "The 143 billion [barrels] have gone through all those stages and steps, which is why they have been declared," said Shahristani, referring to the revised reserve figure announced by Iraq's oil ministry late last year, when proven reserves were raised from 115 billion barrels. Kurdish reserves are estimated at 30 billion barrels but these have not been confirmed independently, he explained. If these reserves are added to the Iraqi upwardly revised figures--which were raised from an earlier estimate of 115 billion barrels late last year--Iraq's total reserves would go up to 175 billion barrels, he said. http://www.iraqdirectory.com/DisplayNews.aspx?id=15288

Oil rise has not hit recovery, says Iraq Zawya - [4/7/2011] The latest rise in oil prices has not damaged the global economic recovery or restrained consumer demand, according to Iraq's deputy prime minister. Hussain al-Shahristani, who oversees his country's energy policy, gave a sanguine appraisal of the oil market while addressing a conference in Paris on Wednesday. Along with Mohammed al-Hamli, the oil minister of the United Arab Emirates, he indicated that members of OpecOpec, the oil cartel, saw no need to respond to the latest price rise by increasing their own output. The cost of a barrel of Brent crude climbed above $123 on Wednesday, marking a rise of 4.52 per cent for the most important benchmark since the beginning of March. But Mr Shahristani said: "So far, we have not seen any serious impact on world growth. China is growing strongly, the demand is there, even at these price levels." His view contrasts with the International Energy Agency's assessment that oil prices above $95 place the world economy in a "danger zone". Iraqi output averaged 2.75m barrels per day in February, according to the Centre for Global Energy Studies, making the country the third-biggest producer in OpecOpec. Members of the club with spare capacity, particularly Saudi Arabia, raised production in response to the loss of output from Libya. But Mr Hamli argued that OpecOpec members lacked the ability to influence prices. "There is little we can do in terms of price control, which is set by international markets. However, by keeping the market well supplied, we are making an important contribution towards world economic recovery," he said. "The oil and gas market needs to focus on the fundamental fact that oil and gas supplies are plentiful, rather than on unfounded fears of future shortages." Mr Hamli declined to specify an ideal oil price. Ali Naimi, the Saudi oil minister and de facto leader of OpecOpec, has said he favours $70 - $80 per barrel, a range he once lifted to $90. But Mr Hamli implicitly criticised ministers who talked in these terms. "Oil ministers in the past, from time to time, they keep changing the threshold for the best price of oil, sometimes they say $75 is the best price, sometimes $80." Instead, Mr Hamli said that consumers should be asked: at what price would they begin diverting investment away from fossil fuels and into renewable energy? A senior executive of an international oil company said that even an output increase would not necessarily cool the market. The recent price rise was driven by worries of future supply shocks caused by the Middle East's political turmoil. There was little that OpecOpec members could do to reduce these fears, he said. ? Libyan rebels exported their first oil on Wednesday, potentially opening the door to funding to sustain their uprising against Muammer Gaddafi, writes Javier Blas in London. The Equator oil tanker left the Marsa el Hariga terminal, near Tubruq, said shipbrokers, after loading more than 1m barrels of oil, worth more than $120m. The vessel was chartered by Vitol, the world's largest independent oil trader. The cargo's destination is unknown. Vitol declined to comment. http://www.iraqdirectory.com/DisplayNews.aspx?id=15289

Kuwait Airways to Pursue Iraqi Assets April 7th, 2011 by Editor According to a report from The National, lawyers for Kuwait Airways have vowed to seize international assets owned by the Iraqi government following a recent court ruling in its long-running dispute with Iraqi Airways. A UK court ruling has granted Kuwait Airways the right to file proceedings against the Iraqi government and ministries of transport and finance as it seeks to recoup assets to satisfy judgments worth almost US$1.3 billion for the theft of planes and engines during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990. “We will very soon be hunting for state of Iraq assets as well as Iraqi Airways assets,” said Christopher Gooding, a lawyer representing Kuwait Airways, who added the judgment “expands the range of assets available for enforcement”. Until recently, a UN mandate has covered Iraq’s financial assets to shield its oil and other revenues from billions of dollars in international claims stemming from the era of Saddam Hussein. The report says that from July 1, the country will no longer be immune from financial claims, including those made by Kuwait Airways. The Kuwaiti airline has also been pursuing the case in Canada, where court judgments cleared the way to seize buildings owned by Iraq as well as an aircraft order for regional jets from Bombardier, which is based in Montreal. Iraq’s international assets are “substantial”, Mr Gooding said. This includes property and assets related to its oil and gas business, including tankers. “We are actively considering immediate options,” he said. The long-running case forced the Iraqi government to announce last year it would dissolve Iraqi Airways to side-step its legal obligations, although the Iraqi carrier continues to operate. Last week, Hoshiar Zibary [Zebari], Iraq’s foreign minister, and ministers of transport and finance went to Kuwait to discuss the airline dispute and other pending issues related to the First Gulf War, hoping to find a resolution, or at least to “lay a road map to settle them”, according to the Kuwait daily Al Watan. Kuwait Airways, which has made a loss for several years, is in the process of converting into a private-sector shareholding company, depending on how fast the country’s sovereign wealth fund organises an auction to offer 26 per cent of the carrier’s shares to a strategic investor, Al Watan reported. The Kuwait Investment Authority will hold a 24 per cent stake in the new company, while the remaining 50 per cent will be offered for public subscription. (Source: The National) http://www.iraq-businessnews.com/2011/04/07/kuwait-airways-to-pursue-iraqi-assets/

Iraq Shortlists 2 Firms for $1bn Power Plant April 7th, 2011 by Editor Iraq’s Electricity Ministry said on Wednesday it had shortlisted two private Kurdish-owned companies to build and operate a power plant costing up to $1 billion in Iraq’s southern Basra province, Reuters reports. The companies concerned are the Jordan-based Mass Global Investment Co and Arbil-based Kar Group. A winner will be selected at the end of April, electricity ministry spokesman Musab al-Mudarres said in a statement. The 1,250 megawatt power plant will be constructed on a build-own-operate basis in the Shatt al-Basra, Iraq’s southern oil hub. The winning company will then sell the power generated by the plant to the government, the statement said. The plant is due to start operating in May 2013. (Source: Reuters) http://www.iraq-businessnews.com/2011/04/07/iraq-shortlists-2-firms-for-1bn-power-plant/

Iraq’s Oil Reserves Even Higher? April 7th, 2011 by Editor Iraq’s proven oil reserves total around 173 billion barrels, Deputy Prime Minister Hussain al-Shahristani (pictured) said on Wednesday, according to a report from Dow Jones Newswires. Only 143 billion barrels of these reserves have been fully audited, he said. Another 30 billion barrels located in the Kurdish region of Iraq are considered proven but haven’t yet been fully audited, he said at the 12th International Oil Summit in Paris. (Source: Dow Jones Newswires) http://www.iraq-businessnews.com/2011/04/07/iraqs-oil-reserves-even-higher/

Al-Nujayfi Is likely to hold early general elections in case the government performance and political Speaker of the House of Representatives said Osama Al-Najafi on Tuesday to hold early general elections in Iraq in the event of the government performance and political the country. Al-Nujayfi Said while receiving a delegation from the United Nations headed by Jose Maria adviser of the elections that Iraq will witness a series of the electoral process because of the unstable political relations in the country. He said that the district and became imminent, as well as governorate council elections, indicating at the same time that there will be early general elections if no progress is made in the at the intergovernmental level. He said that at the centre of all these elections is the election commission, he said that the House of Representatives began to review its performance and will be questioned Commission president and a number of commissioners in the coming days. Al-Najafi Stressed the need for Iraq to the office live up to international standards and with the consent of the Iraqi people and its people are far from partisan politics, he said that the role of the United Nations will be very important to support the democratic process in Iraq. For his part said Maria the readiness of the United Nations to provide all kinds of support to ensure the success of the Democratic process in Iraq, praising al-nujayfi's position on the election commissioners away from partisan politics. Readers number: 119 95 Wednesday, April 06, 2011 http://ar.radionawa.com/(X(1)A(k_1e9-crzAEkAAAAMjdkMWFiMzEtZWVlMC00MTJlLWFlMmUtOTg1N2JkZjY3MmFjMbsu6Pr0oo4x6KZ5w4fFkvg3iiU1))/Detail.aspx?id=2198&LinkID=63

Al-Maliki Confirmed in a meeting, Gates, Iraqi forces now have the ability to confront any attack On al-daragi-07/04/2011 ad-8: 24 | readers number: 34 ________________________________ Nouri Al-Maliki, the prime minister said that the armed forces of the army and the police now have the ability to confront any aggression, and their capacity to security and stability in addition to increase day after another. This came during a meeting with US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, and the delegation accompanying him. Al-Maliki's Office statement said that took place during the meeting discussed the development of the relations between Iraq and the United States in all fields, in particular training and armament under the security agreement signed between the two countries. For his part, praised US Secretary of Defense on developments in Iraq at various levels, and confirmed his country's readiness to support the Iraqi government and its security forces in the area of processing and training. /Ended http://www.burathanews.com/news_article_121521.html

Kirkuk petro-dollar budget is 350 billion ID PUKmedia 2011-04-07 19:01:55 A member of Kirkuk provincial council told PUKmedia that the petro-dollar budget allocated to Kirkuk province was 350 billion Iraqi dinars for 2011. Azad Sabir, member of Kirkuk provincial council, said the budget will be used for constructing several strategic projects in the fields of education, road construction and power supply. Petro-dollar budget was passed as the Iraqi government agreed to allocate one dollar from every barrel of oil and one dollar from every 100 cubic meters exported from the Kirkuk province for reconstructing the province itself. http://www.pukmedia.com/english/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7337:kirkuk-petro-dollar-budget-is-350-billion-id&catid=29:kurdistan-region&Itemid=385

Iraq buys electricity from neighbors Thursday, April 7th 2011 8:54 PM Nineveh, April 7 (AKnews) The Chairman of the Electric Committee in Nineveh province said Thursday that 28 billion Iraqi dinars were allocated to buy electricity from neighboring countries, because of the shortages that the government is unable to provide and meet the needs of the city. Mohammed al-Jabbouri told AKnews that the committee approached Turkey and Syria and asked them to provide Nineveh with the electrical stations. "The countries showed their approval to cooperate in this regard, and the coming days will witness significant improvement in providing power of the population of the province to eliminate the shortages that the people of Nineveh suffer from since several years." Nineveh, the second biggest Iraqi provinces, is witnessing severe shortages of electric power, where the hours of power cuts reach in some cases to 10 hours a day, thus causing great problems to some laboratories and factories that have closed causing an increase in unemployment. Hundreds of families of Nineveh came out in several peaceful demonstrations to demand the provincial council of providing electric power that the citizens are suffering from its scarcity. The Federal Government granted powers to the councils to provide electricity through importing from neighboring countries which have common borders with these provinces. Reported by Rizan Ahmed RN\GS AKnews http://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/3/230395/

Iraq seeks merge of industrial and trade ministries Thursday, April 7th 2011 9:30 PM Baghdad, April 7 (AKnews) - The economic commission in the Iraqi parliament proposed on Thursday merging the Ministries of Trade and Industry to support the Iraqi economy through improving the local production and enhance Iraq's abilities infront of the economically developed countries. Ahmed al-Alwani, Chairman of the Committee told AKnews that the integration of the ministries is done in all international economically and commercially developed countries. The Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki didn't rule out in a statement issued at the end of last March merging some ministries if that was necessary. "The Economic Commission also proposes the formation of a ministry concerned in the distribution of card items." The parliamentary Economic Committee received 16 economic laws from the former Economic Commission. The Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki confirmed while he was hosted by the parliament that old problems and laws hinder the improvement of the country's economy. The parliament did not legislate until now except two laws that are the law of the Vice-President of the Republic and the general budget of the state although it held so far more than 50 sessions. Reported by Jaafar al-Wannan RN\GS Aknews http://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/2/230413/

Syria grants citizenship to Kurds after 50 years of deprivation Thursday, April 7th 2011 9:07 PM Erbil, April 7 (AKnews) - The Syrian President Bashar al-Assad issued on Thursday a decree granting the Syrian citizenship to tens of thousands of Kurds who were deprived from getting it for nearly 50 years ago according to a special census. This move comes in an attempt to calm the popular protests that swept most of the provinces of Syria to demand of civil freedoms and political reforms. The Kurds are of the strongest opponents of the Syrian regime since the Baath Party took the power nearly half a century ago and imposed the emergency law, that is still in force, and tens of thousands of Kurds were deprived from their citizenship. The popular protests that were unprecedented in Syria since 50 years took place three weeks ago in a number of Syrian cities, particularly the provinces of Dara in the south and Latakia coastal province, and extended for the first time last Friday to the areas inhabited by Kurds in the far north-eastern Syria. Thousands of Kurdish people in Syria have been denied Syrian nationality since the 1960s. Kurds in Syria have been silent over the past weeks as the rest of the country has been swept by a wave of anti-regime protests. The official Syrian News Agency "SANA" stated that "The Syrian President Bashar al-Assad issued the legislative decree No. (49) to grant those registered in the records of "Hasaka foreigners" the Syrian Arab nationality." According to the Legislative Decree text, the people registered within the records of Hasaka foreigners get the Syrian Arab nationality, and the Interior Minister issue the resolutions that include instructions for implementing this decree which is considered effective from the date of its publication in the official newspaper." The Syrian authorities conducted a population census in 1962 for a period of 24 hours in Hasaka province only, which is inhabited by Kurds, according to the Legislative Decree No. 93 of 1962, said the Syrian government said at that time that the citizens of neighboring countries dropped out to Syria. As a result of the census, about 120,000 Syrian Kurds were deprived from their nationality and therefore lost their rights of ownership of their property, and the Syrian government considered them as foreigners and gave them their own document called "the Syrian foreigner document". The Amnesty International Report issued in 2005 stated that as a result of natural growth of population, the number of Syrian Kurds that are deprived from citizenship is currently ranging between 200,000 to 360,000 people. Among the results of this survey also that the marriages of those who were deprived from the citizenship are not recognized even if one of the couples was Syrian, thus the children won't have the citizenship too. As the result of that, the family members were divided between Syrian citizens and foreigners. The adults were also forbidden to serve in the State, and if they worked within the private sector, then they will have no rights because his contract is not registered within the records of the Social Security since he is originally prohibited from working. Reported by Abdullah Sabri RN\GS AKnews http://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/4/230401/

Wassit signs MoU with Lebanon to build 5,000 housing units 4/7/2011 6:35 PM WASSIT / Aswat al-Iraq: A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Wassit and Lebanon to build 5,000 housing units in the province, according to a local official on Thursday. “A delegation from the Wassit provincial council signed today (April 7) an MoU with a consortium of Lebanese-French firms to construct 5,000 housing units in the different districts of the province within the framework of the investment law,” Taha al-Rudeini, a member of the council’s information committee, told Aswat al-Iraq news agency. “The agreement, signed in the Lebanese capital Beirut, is part of efforts to work on resolving the housing problem in the province,” he added. Wassit, like the majority of Iraqi provinces, is suffering an immense housing crisis, prompting some to build houses over an area not more than 50 square meters. Wassit lies 180 km southeast of the Iraqi capital Baghdad. AmR (TP) http://en.aswataliraq.info/Default1.aspx?page=article_page&id=141856&l=1

IHEC says not officially notified on Husseini’s resignation 4/7/2011 6:06 PM BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq: Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission’s election department chief Hamdiya al-Husseini did not officially notify the IHEC of her resignation, according to the commission’s chief on Thursday. “We’ve heard that Husseini wanted to resign the IHEC but we were not officially notified on this so far. Today, we will meet with Husseini to know about the validity of this information,” Faraj al-Haydari told Aswat al-Iraq news agency. “Husseini is under immense pressure over social issues as well as her responsibilities towards her children, which could be the reasons behind the resignation if there’s any,” said Haydari. AmR (TP) http://en.aswataliraq.info/Default1.aspx?page=article_page&id=141854&l=1

Mutlaq, Gates discuss U.S. pullout 4/7/2011 7:04 PM BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq: Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq discussed in Baghdad Thursday with U.S. Secretary of Defense vistas of joint cooperation between the two sides and preparations by the United States to withdraw from Iraq by the end of this year, according to a statement by Mutlaq’s office. “Mutlaq’s talks with Gates dealt with the importance of having Iraq restore its strength in the economic, military and security arenas,” read the statement as received by Aswat al-Iraq news agency. The Iraqi deputy premier underlined that his country’s stability mirrors that of the region, stressing the need to complete the ministerial portfolios in the Iraqi government, particularly those related to security. “Delays to settle the issue of security portfolios resemble a stumbling stone on the road to construction and development as well as the aspired democratic foundations,” he said. The statement quoted Gates expressing content over the progress in Iraq at all levels, pledging more support for Iraq’s security forces and commitment to the pullout plans agreed on between the governments of Baghdad and Washington. Gates had arrived in Baghdad late on Wednesday for talks with Iraqi officials over U.S. forces’ withdrawal, scheduled late this year. AmR (TS) http://en.aswataliraq.info/Default1.aspx?page=article_page&id=141858&l=1

The National Conference Party reveals sought Chalabi, Abdul Mahdi, Allawi to form (a shadow government) Palm-revealed the Iraqi National Conference party, led by Ahmad Chalabi, Thursday, efforts to form (a shadow government) against the backdrop of statements, a leader in a coalition of the rule of law, izzat al-shabandar in connection with the formation of a government by a majority of political, saying at the same time, in an interview a person close to the prime minister, Nouri Al-Maliki, confirming the presence of future plans لانسلاخ a coalition of the rule of law for the coalition). He said National Conference spokesman Mohammad Al Mousawi Media in a statement that izzat al-shabandar, which is considered close to Prime Minister nouri Al-Maliki Aroused the anger of the leaders of the political blocs and began to speak of the government of the majority of the political, pointing out that the leaders of the Blocs and prominent personalities in the parliament call to discuss the meaning of the political majority and that the participation of and whether it is a coalition of the rule of law will to secede from the National Alliance for the formation of this government. He was a leader of a coalition of law izzat al-shabandar said, on the twenty eighth of last March, in a press interview that the coalition of the rule of law was of trying to form a parliamentary majority to form a government the majority of governing in the coming period, and confirmed that the coalition of the rule of law and to hold talks and with the national parties in order to the declaration of the new government, saying the government of current national partnership as " a farce) must come to an end. Al-Jalabi's Party spokesman added that the talk of al-shabandar for a majority government paid political blocs leaders to hold bilateral meetings to exchange views and discuss the latest developments in the political arena and find an alternative, pointing out that continuous meetings to be held between the leader of the Conference Ahmad Chalabi of the Iraqi List, Iyad Allawi, leader of the Supreme Council, Adel Abdul Mahdi, within the framework of continuous consultation وحلحلة the outstanding issues, as well as the fact that there is a real intention is to form a shadow government in the House of Representatives. Al Mousawi explained that the shadow government is a government of parliamentary opposition, indicating that these ideas are not new and have now developed a more after the withdrawal of Adel Abdul Mahdi, his nomination for the position of the vice-president of the republic and Allawi's National Council of strategic policy. National Conference spokesman said that the talk of a person close to Al-Maliki, the idea of a majority government confirms the existence of a political future plans للانسلاخ the National Alliance, adding that if there is some intentions to form a majority government political come at the expense of the unity and cohesion of the National Alliance, it would be for every incident in an interview. And whether the shadow government that will be formed by the president of the conference, Ahmad Al-Jalabi, Iraqi leader Iyad Allawi, leader of the Supreme Council, Adel Abdul Mahdi, said Moussaoui that the door to the wide open, as long as al-shabandar speaking about the formation of a majority government political, he pointed out that the talk, which is taking place inside the corridors of political, the WHO would form a government of the political majority. Spokesman said the national conference that al-shabandar wanted the interview with the delivery of the new political elites that there is an intention to form a political majority, which means the Democratic systems of parliamentary opposition, a shadow government, he pointed out that close to Al-Maliki is the first to raise the government of the political majority. Prime Minister nouri Al-Maliki, said, at the end of last March, to talk about the coalition of the rule of law to form a majority government political a personal point of view at the present time, emphasizing to say that in the event of the stabilization of the situation (welcome) the government of the majority and the minority. An informed source was revealed in a previous interview on the twenty seventh of last March, that the prime minister, Nouri Al-Maliki, said during a meeting with a group of academics Iraqi political analysts that he started thinking seriously for no-confidence vote against his government if it continues its partners in the political process to fight it, pointing out that Al-Maliki also considered that the political process can not chance of success under the current constitution As expected, the representative of the Kurdish coalition, Mahmoud uthman, in a previous interview last Tuesday, the collapse of the current Iraqi government, which is headed by nouri Al-Maliki as a result of the disagreements between the political blocs ومطالباتها last, led the security incidents, saying that the formation of the government by a majority of political electoral and parliamentary opposition is the best solution for the time being. Gave Iraqi prime minister, Nouri Al-Maliki, on 27 February, the ministries and the one hundred days to evaluate its work to know how their success or failure, confirming that the ministries will witness major changes according to the results of the evaluation, and pledged to open an investigation into violations that took place in demonstrations on Friday in response to the demands of the demonstrators as soon as possible. Iraq has witnessed since the 25 of last February, demonstrations wandered across the country calling for reform and change and the elimination of corruption prevalent in the joints, organized by young people from university students and intellectuals through independent Social networking sites on the Internet. It is worth mentioning that the Iraqi parliament grants in its session that was held on 21 December, the incomplete vote of confidence for the government headed by nouri Al-Maliki, also witnessed the meeting also taking the constitutional oath by the president and members of the Council of Ministers in accordance with Article 79 of the Iraqi constitution. http://www.nakhelnews.com/pages/news.php?nid=6771

Al-Maliki Will meet with defense chiefs before his meeting with B (Gates) Ali Abdullah-07/04/2011 ad-6: 03 | readers number: 26 ________________________________ Began before noon on Sunday, a meeting between the prime minister, Nouri Al-Maliki, and the leaders of the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, just before the expected meeting, which will be held after today noon between commander-in-chief of the armed forces and Minister of Defense said. A source in the ministry said today (Thursday): that Prime Minister nouri Al-Maliki met with leaders of the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, based on the ability of the security forces to fill the vacuum after the withdrawal of US forces from the country by the end of the year according to an agreement (SOFA). The source added: It is hoped, in the afternoon, to be held Al-Maliki, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates meeting dealing with the possibility of the Iraqi forces to fill the vacuum US counterpart, as well as the impact of the political situation in the country's security. Us Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates arrived yesterday in Baghdad an unannounced visit to meet with a number of Iraqi officials and the Americans, to discuss preparations for the US forces to withdraw from Iraq by the end of this year. He said a source in the prime minister in a previous statement: that Prime Minister nouri Al-Maliki received a telephone call from US Vice President Joe Biden focused dialogue on the developments of the current events in the region and bilateral issues, the two countries. The source added that the two sides discussed the prospects of joint cooperation between Iraq and the United States of America after the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq http://www.burathanews.com/news_article_121493.html