Moses1234

Iranian elephant in the Iraqi room The disqualification of over 500 candidates - many of them Sunni - from Iraq's March parliamentary elections has enraged Sunnis and even spurred the United States to intervene (unsuccessfully). Given the involvement in the decision of an extremist Shi'ite friend-turned-foe of the Americans, the circumstantial evidence points to Iran orchestrating the move. - Sreeram Chaulia (Jan 22, '10) http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/LA23Ak02.html

How an Inflammatory Term, Baathist, Bars Candidates in Iraq - Anthony Shadid, New York Times. Seven years after the United States-led invasion, and three years after the leader it overthrew was executed, a question in Iraq remains unanswered: Who is a Baathist? The term is as malleable as it is incendiary, and the quandary it represents has underlined the growing dispute over the credibility of Iraq

Iraq says oil firms OK changes to oilfield deals Iraq says oil firms OK changes to oilfield deals Thu Dec 31, 2009 2:43pm GMT * Changes will not affect investor interests, govt says * Cabinet to discuss, approve deals next week BAGHDAD, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Global oil firms negotiating multi-billion-dollar oilfield deals with Iraq have agreed to legal and technical changes to their contracts, the Iraqi government said on Thursday. "The ministry discussed the amendments with the companies yesterday and all the winning companies from the first and second rounds have agreed to the changes," an Oil Ministry official said in a statement from the national media centre. The statement said the cabinet would vote on the amended contracts -- which already have been initialled by the firms -- next week. Once approved, the deals will mark a milestone for Iraq as it seeks to transform its moribund oil sector and catapult itself to major producer status. Iraq has the world's third largest oil reserves but is only the 11th largest producer. The deals include some of the nation's biggest fields, including the Majnoon and West Qurna fields, each of which contain reserves of more than 5 billion barrels. Nine deals for fields offered in two bidding rounds must still be finalised, including with major energy firms like Exxon Mobil ( XOM.N), Royal Dutch Shell ( RDSa.L) and Lukoil ( LKOH.MM). In the last two weeks, Iraq has signed initial agreements for seven of the nine pending deals. In a statement issued on its website on Wednesday, the cabinet said the changes to the draft contracts included "legal, operational, administrative and sovereignty issues." "They will advance the interests of Iraq and harmonize (the contracts) with Iraqi laws and legislation. They will not damage investor interests, and reaching a model contract will help the companies comply with the principles of justice, transparency and objectivity," the statement said. Ali al-Alaq, secretary general of the cabinet, said one of the proposed changes would give the Oil Ministry the right to impose ceilings on oil production based on size of fields. The national media centre statement said another change would subject companies to customs fees. Only one oilfield deal Iraq awarded in two auctions this year has been finalised, a development contract for the Rumaila oilfield won by China's CNPC and Britain's BP ( BP.L). (Reporting by Aseel Kami and Missy Ryan; editing by Jim Loney) http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLD...BrandChannel=0

Iraqi Central Bank is keen to the flow of investments and the introduction of foreign currencies has significant economic implications are reflected on the price of Iraqi curr BAGHDAD - Hassan al-Rubaie . Bankers back, the hardline policy of the Central Bank and the reluctance of citizens to save for the lack of banking culture and the survival of the traditions of administrative and technical reasons in the banks enemy directly contribute to the decline in the contributions of the banks in the development processes, activities and economic activities. م 2010 Although steps have been witnessed by the banking arena during the past six years and the contributions of some of the banks at the level of simple lending operations, they are limited to Aitoukon a quantum leap in the banking, both at the level of civil government or banks only rumors about the introduction of new technical means and systems technology Kalmastr and ATM card and some Operations in 2010 . It is one of the requirements and modern banking, but it is not the means required or that is a priority direction to activate the participatory processes in development and investment. . Map of Iraq resides in the bank of the 42 banks, including 7-governmental organizations and 35 civil and 7 foreign Islamic and 6, back to the founding of some of the forties of the last century and has distributed networks and branches in most provinces. . These banks (however limited compared to the population according to the rules of the World Bank arrived to set up every ten thousand people do not exercise banking business but still required a cabinets to save money yet to be launched towards the horizons of economic work is the broad entry investments and the funding and production sharing and loans long, medium and short-and contribute to higher growth rates, prices and other such events is still lacking, unfortunately, of the needs of the accelerated introduction of modern banking services and deepening of banking culture and a thorough understanding of the directives of the Central Bank of the determinants of development, and believed the appearance of financial expert, Mohamed Saleh, the Iraqi Central Bank is keen to the flow of investments and the introduction of foreign currencies has significant economic implications are reflected on the price of Iraqi currency and bank reserves, but what is going on flows of foreign currency abroad and be subject to the principles and laws of the International Monetary Fund indicates how to exploit the situation extensively and techniques may be smuggling and money laundering. . The expert and the depositary bank Handal, it points to the need for collective responsibility for promoting the banking culture that is dispelling the fear among citizens in order to move towards the filing, shares and other start that banks are still far from contributing to development, but it is calculated that the steps to simulate the mechanisms of global technology began in the country registered a new way to go would react toward the restoration of confidence to banks and banks for the return of some banking work, correct and direct responsibility for moving sectors and draws people toward saving money instead of hoarding in the home, especially if liquidity in the market are very high and a large volume. . When we talk about the reality of banks and their role in the development process should not lose sight of the roles of specialized banks Kalakari and encase the housing, agricultural, industrial, commercial and others in her new reading of the reality of economic mobility in the country and devise ways and means of modern reduce red tape and consistent with the size of orientations required for investment and contribute to raising growth rates we are not talking here or encourage to leave the financial controls but to call for high performance and overcome the traditional boundaries as long as it has the financial capacity to be used to promote economic realities. http://translate.google.com/translat...3Dv1P%26sa%3DG

Indicators: Measuring the independence of the Central Bank of Iraq د Falah Hassan Thuwaini أ First: the concept of independence قد (Independence)هو (dependence) May be more controversial things and then the conflict in economic policies in various countries of the world, including in Iraq is the question of autonomy enjoyed by the monetary authorities represented by the Central Bank of the Government, that is, excluding the effects of government intervention or monetary policy decisions, and considering that the concept of independence ( Independence) is the antithesis of the concept of dependence (dependence) ف It has raised questions about the independence of central banks from? And accepted their subordination to it? وما ه ؟ What is the degree or level of such independence or dependence? وبالتأك . And certainly Alijabpaly such questions lies in the nature of the prevailing economic systems and existing legislative rules that define the relationship between monetary policy and the government, despite the (extreme) some supporters of the independence of the Central Bank as described Monetary Institute President in any country, which include its control of other institutions, as well as creating coordination should be the subject of central bank complete independence, as well as opponents of the independence of those who assert that because the government represents the people who chose them, they sometimes set targets general priority of its economic policy may not comply with the policy of the central bank to achieve price stability, and supports This view of what happened in Germany during the period of German unification in the early nineties when he succeeded the political decision of the Government's proposal to achieve unity between the two halves of the immediate cash to Germany, despite fierce opposition to the President of the German Central Bank for that matter, where he was concerned that this process will lead to negative economic consequences . إلا أن . However, more moderate economic views see that the central bank to act as a government exercise its functions within the overall framework of the State, but the specificity of this institution to make independent decisions with regard to monetary policy, which must be consistent with the general economic policy of the State. Second: the independence of the Central Bank of Iraq . In Iraq, the Iraqi Constitution (Article 100) is the Iraqi Central Bank, which manages monetary policy, an independent body financially and administratively, the Bank is accountable to the House of Representatives, meaning that the central bank would be accountable to the House of Representatives and not the government. هذ )) . In addition, the Central Bank Law No. (56) for the year 2004 (Article II, paragraph 2) confirms this ((In order to achieve the objectives of the Iraqi Central Bank and carried out his duties Iraqi central bank is independent and responsible as provided for in this Law, except that determines contrary to the Act, will not receive the CBI instructions from any entity or person or institution, including government institutions. and will respect the independence of the Central Bank of Iraq and anyone can influence and improper for any member in the decision-making body of the Central Bank of Iraq during the performance of his duties at the bank or interference in the activities of the Central Bank of Iraq)). في . In the light of the foregoing, the CBI seeks to achieve its objectives set by (Article III) of the Act, which is: to seek to achieve and maintain domestic price stability. تعزيز ق. Promote and maintain a stable financial system is competitive and based on the market. . Accordingly, the Central Bank also promote sustainable growth, employment and prosperity in Iraq. و . In the light of the foregoing it is inferred that the goal of addressing inflation is a priority at the expense of the rest of the other goals, and the market mechanism that will govern the economic philosophy of the state. ثالثا : آليات إقراض الحكومة III: mechanisms of government borrowing . : What are the constraints and conditions by which government funding, and this represents the more elements that arise around the controversy and debate between the financial and critical and which are identified on the extent of acquiescence or subordination of monetary policy to fiscal policy, but that many of the stakeholders assert that the degree of independence Central Bank can be measured as soon recognize the limits of central bank lending to the government. وح : According to the legislation of monetary policy in Iraq (article 26), the nature of this relationship is determined by: * لا يجو . * Is not permissible for the Iraqi Central Bank credits, directly or indirectly to the Government or any public institution or a governmental entity, except as may be done by the Iraqi Central Bank to provide liquidity support in accordance with Article (31) to commercial banks belonging to the government-controlled Central Bank of Iraq, a condition that is the granting of such assistance in the same materials and conditions in effect upon the granting of commercial banks belonging to the private sector. * يجوز * The Central Bank may buy the Iraqi government securities, provided that such purchases are in the secondary market and only in conjunction with the market operations * لا تفس . * Does not interpret Article (26) prevent the use of government securities in relation to any aspect of open-market operations or as security for facilities. * يقدم 0). * The central bank support and facilities as lender of last resort lending to the bank metaphor or have a license issued by the Central Bank of Iraq in accordance with the Banking Act by granting financial assistance, provided that such assistance is necessary to maintain the stability of the financial system and the issuance of the Minister of Finance a written assurance to the Iraqi Central Bank on behalf of the government believes the repayment of the loan (Article 30). IV: Measuring the degree of independence of Central Bank of Iraq تو . There are many variables that are adopted in most countries of the world, and through which to identify the degree of independence of central banks, are the four key variables relating to the Governor and the formulation of monetary policy and define its objectives and limits of government funding of the important indicators to be measured by which the independence of the central bank, as certain weights are determined for each variable, as well as determine the degree of ordinal indicators for these secondary variables. . In the application of these variables and indicators on the Central Bank of Iraq (according to the attached annex), based on existing legislation (Act No. 56 of 2004), it became clear that the degree of independence of the Central Bank of Iraq's actual (achieved) in the light of variables and indicators mentioned amounted to 78%, which is a clear indication the extent and degree of independence. خ V.: independence and economic policy of the State قد Some may wonder: Is that high indicator of the independence of Central Bank of Iraq is in the interest of the Iraqi economy and economic policy in general? . The answer therefore holds the points of view, I: represent the view of monetary authorities (central bank) and its supporters, namely, that this high level (relatively) independent sets out clear tasks and responsibilities undertaken by the monetary authorities in achieving its fundamental objectives, and then the possibility of accountability for the failures or failures that occur within the scope of its responsibilities, in the sense that monetary policy is not ready to bear the costs of others, or not responsible. ا . The second view: that often the financial parties and their supporters, they consider to not be such a high degree of autonomy at the expense of the general economic policy of the State and Government, in particular that the Iraqi economy is facing the problem of inflation lowers (Stagflation) means that the monetary policy to work within the framework of economic policy as a part of it. . But the big problem facing the Iraqi economy in general, not monetary or fiscal policy alone, is not to shape the features of economic policy in general and clear in the sense of procedures, institutions and legislation are clear and implementation, most Iraqi ministries, blames others and attributed the imbalance to some of them, which confirms that there coordination required between the various different economic policies. فا ... Fiscal policy aims to address the recession and unemployment, which requires an expansion in expenditure that leads to the creation of inflationary trends in the absence of the flexibility of the production base, which is inconsistent with monetary policy, which aims to counter inflation increase unemployment ... وة. And continue a debate and conflict, and consequently does not achieve the objectives of monetary policy and fiscal policy objectives. ولك. But there remains the question of independence of any policy, whether the cash or other indicators are good and important for each policy that gives opportunity to assume their responsibilities to achieve their goals, but more importantly is that this independence and interest in the service of general economic policy, and supportive. http://translate.google.com/translat...3Dv1P%26sa%3DG

Iraq needs to award contracts to those countries that will be voting to lift the Chapter 7 restrictions. Russia is one of those countries that will vote.

http://articlesofinterest-kelley.blogspot.com/2009/12/implementation-of-monetary-policy.html Implementation of the Monetary Policy Pursued by the Central Bank. December 30, 2009 Auction currency is contributing to the stability or economic justification for the smuggling of currency? بغداد ـ متابعة القسم الاقتصادي BAGHDAD Follow-up of the Economic Department This is a very long article, so suggest you go to the link to read it.

Russia's Lukoil Has Won Iraq's 'Crown Jewel' Oil Field from Clusterstock by Vincent Fernando Russia's Lukoil has won the rights to develop one of Iraq's largest oilfields -- the 12.9 billion barrel West Qurna Phase 2 field. This upcoming mega-field is seen as the 'crown jewel' of 15 fields offered during the second post-war licensing round. It's just the beginning of what will likely be Iraq's oil renaissance. Canadian Press: The deal was a coup for Lukoil, which had been granted the rights to develop the field in 1997 by Saddam Hussein only to see the dictator rescind the $3.7 billion contract five years later. Lukoil had been trying to revive the deal since 2003 after Moscow wrote off most of Iraq's $12.9 billion in debts. Iraqi officials, however, eager to make sure that the reopening of the country's oil sector to the world was as transparent as possible, shrugged off the Russian calls and insisted on putting the field up for bids. Read more here. http://www.businessinsider.com/russias-lukoil-snags-iraqs-new-huge-oilfield-2009-12?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+clusterstock+%28ClusterStock%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Shell plans to start work in developing the field Majnoon case of signing the final contract Confirmed coalition Shell and Petronas of direct intention in developing the field Majnoon case of signing the contract in final form, as announced is not affected companies invested the political situation and security in the country. The Deputy Minister for oil extraction and export Abdul Karim Laibi through effective initialed a coalition with the "Shell - Petronas," which took place at the Ministry yesterday: that the volume of primary production in the Majnoon field of 175 thousand barrels and up to the peak of production million and 800 thousand barrels per day . He explained that the Majnoon field in the province of Basra, which was run by the Southern Oil Company of the giant oil fields in the world and contains 11 ambush oil, declaring that the current and next two weeks will witness the signing of contracts initiated with the development of coalitions, which won seven oil fields out of ten fields offered within the The second licensing round. The contract was signed on the Iraqi side and the Deputy Director General of the Department contracts and licenses Abdul Mahdi al-Amidi, the Director of the Legal Section in the department, Dr. Sabah al-Saadi, was signed in a winning coalition, representative of the Dutch-British Shell Mounir Bouaziz and the representative of Malaysia's Petronas is the color. The representative of Shell Munir Bouaziz happiness for signing the contract with the ministry, adding that his company is the first international companies in the oil sector, which entered Iraq for about a year and a half in Basra. And on direct work in the field and the impact of security and political situation of the company, said Bouaziz the "morning" that Shell will start its work immediately after signing the final contract, without saying how much money will be invested in the field, saying only that it billions of dollars. Promised the recent tension on the Fakkah field in the Maysan province of Iraq and Iran, it was an internal jurisdiction of the Iraqi government, stressing that the size of the turnout international companies in the second round of licensing and activities of the initial signatures of the contracts is not affected by evidence of corporate political situation and security in the country. For his part, denied the proxy Laibi what he described as "hype" that some of the throughput of the media that Iranian forces occupied the field of loose change, adding that specific problem the well number four from the field. He pointed out that the disagreement between the parties to this well-based for several years, noting that national professional staff began digging the well mentioned in the seventies the last century, and began production in 1979 and until 1980 before stopping by the Iran-Iraq war. He Laibi Maysan Oil Company has operations in 2007 lifting the debris from the well site in order to re-run, but she was harassment from the Iranian side, who claimed that the zone is within its territory, pointing out that the bilateral commission for the demarcation of the border look into this matter to be resolved through diplomatic channels. For his part, said ministry spokesman Assem Jihad, the "morning" that the contract which was signed initialed yesterday will not face obstacles in the way of ratification by the Board of Minister. He noted that the licensing contracts for the first round did not face obstacles because there are technical committees and legal contracts are reviewed prior to submission to the Council of Ministers, adding that after the council approved the contract the ministry will sign the final with the investing companies. And on statements made by some MPs and officials of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and other oil states will not allow Iraq to increase oil exports to 12 million barrels per day, according to Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani, after the conclusion of the second licensing round, "said Jihad to talk about this issue is premature. He hinted that many countries would not welcome an increase of Iraq's exports during the next six years, adding that those countries should take into account the war and the conditions through the country and its citizens for many years. He pointed out that any economic developments taking place in Iraq therefore will be reflected on the countries of the region, explaining It's the right of Iraq to increase its exports to the country's reconstruction and rehabilitation of infrastructure. while Jihad said he and Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani said to Angola to participate in the meetings of the Ministers of Petroleum Exporting Countries OPEC, which will last for two days to review the conditions of the global market and OECD member countries. He expressed his belief that he will keep the production ceiling by the Organization after the stability of world oil prices, especially as they began to increase gradually, indicating that preclude the need to increase or reduce the quantities that OPEC countries have promised to pump to world markets. Separately, said Asim Jihad, said the pipeline pumping oil from Kirkuk to the Turkish port of Ceyhan was the fourth time in the last three months of the acts of sabotage, noting that the line came under a bomb attack near the town of Sharqat north of Salahuddin Province. He explained that the duration of the process reform dating back to the size of the operation was to sabotage the pipeline. http://translate.google.com/translat...2F&sl=ar&tl=en Reply With Quote

Ministry of Oil for OPEC to reconsider their collaboration in Iraq's share of oil export Sunday, 27 k 1 2009 20:06 Alsumaria News / Baghdad Called on the Iraqi Oil Ministry on Sunday, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries OPEC to rethink its policies in the quotas of its members, and consistent with the reserve, which is owned by each member, confirmed that Iraq will in the next six years to export 12 million barrels a day. The spokesman of the Iraqi Oil Ministry, Asim Jihad, said in an interview for "Alsumaria News," that "Iraq sought to increase its oil production over the coming years is a natural right for him to possess reserves of crude oil" and urged "the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries OPEC to re-calculations in the quotas of its members and to give Iraq's natural right to export crude oil in line with the reserve which is owned by. " The Jihad that "Iraq will seek during the next six years to reach its production of crude oil to 12 million barrels per day after it was introduced some oil fields for development permits within two rounds of the first and second." The spokesman of the Ministry of Oil that "Iraq has reserves of crude oil did invest very little of it, which is not equal to that produced by the current crude oil", stating that "Iraq has been in previous years to deny because of the circumstances experienced by the siege, wars and neglect of the wells oil that greatly affected not to export its share of assessments of crude oil. " The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which was founded in Baghdad 1960 by agreement between the five countries, namely Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and Venezuela, and is headquartered in Vienna, one of the largest international organizations overseeing the organization of the export of oil and price setting, and its membership includes 12 countries currently oil exporter, has a whole between two thirds and three quarters of global oil reserves, and has been identified in Iraq's four and a half million barrels per day, but it does not make only two million bpd. The export quota is determined by agreement between the States and the Organization is based on certain criteria the most important reserve of each State and Iraq that would increase its share based on what he says is "new oil discoveries," to him. He drew a spokesman for the Ministry of Oil that "there is speculation that some countries will have oil in the near future, to reduce production due to the low level of oil reserves, compared with an increase in oil production from Iraq," stressing that "the Iraqi oil fields are still new and is not an investment, mostly after" . And Iraq that Iraq does not focus its attention at the present time on the export of crude oil only, "There are projects for the liquidation is expected to generate more profit than what is exported from the crude oil," revealing that "there is a plan for the establishment of new oil refineries and modern, with a view that Iraq should be also a source of petroleum products. " He predicted a spokesman for the Ministry of Oil that "witnessing the coming years, according to indicators of current global oil market, an increase in demand for oil, especially that there is an economic renaissance taking place in some big countries such as China and India, and this will certainly reflect positively on the request of the Iraqi oil or the world in general." The Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani announced in the second licensing round for oil investment contracts that took place during this month that Iraq would raise oil production to 12 million barrels per day over the next six years after the contract with international companies to develop oil fields in the two rounds of licensing the first and second. It is noteworthy that Iraq is exporting crude oil from the ports of Basra and Khor al-Amaya in the Gulf Arab, and Turkish port of Ceyhan on the Mediterranean basin and trucked to Jordan, and the percentage of Iraqi exports from the Basra oil 90%, while the remaining issue of Kirkuk. Iraq currently produces about two million and 500 thousand barrels of crude per day . http://translate.google.com/translat...ml&sl=ar&tl=en

Four central banks to halt lending next week The Qatar Central Bank. The monetary union of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain will be commissioned early next year. (AFP) By Staff Writer on Sunday, December 27, 2009 Central banks of four Gulf countries will halt their lending operations next week in line with their landmark agreement to launch the world's second major monetary union, a Saudi newspaper reported yesterday. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain, members of the six-nation Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC), will ask their central bank to completely stop lending from the beginning of 2010, when their monetary union is commissioned, Aleqtisadiah, an Arabic language newspaper said. The move is in line with an agreement by the heads of state of the four signatories at the GCC summit in Kuwait in mid-December. "The four members will begin at the start of 2010 implementing their summit decision, which bans their central bank from lending," the paper said. "The agreement also stipulates liquidation of all debt owed to those central banks before the issuance of the single Gulf currency. It also bans those central banks from directly buying securities and other debt instruments issued in the region but they are allowed to buy such instruments from the secondary market." The UAE and Oman, also GCC members, have pulled out of the monetary union, which those signatories decided to launch gradually in 2010. But officials have said the issuance of a joint currency could take nearly five years. Aleqtisadiah said the four members would focus in 2010 on completing the alignment of their fiscal and monetary policies ahead of the creation of the planned Gulf Central Bank, which will be based in Riyadh. "These measures also include a mechanism to ensure the full implementation of the ban on lending by their central banks." http://www.business24-7.ae/Articles/2009/12/Pages/26122009/12272009_1cb3df2c0efa4c60afd623eb25e8d69b.aspx

Church hit and election candidate killed in Iraq attacks Mosul, Iraq (AFP) Dec 23, 2009 A pre-Christmas attack on a church killed two people in the Iraqi city of Mosul Wednesday while a Sunni Arab candidate died in a bombing in Fallujah, the first such murder ahead of March polls. They were among 13 people killed in violence across the country, despite security forces ramping up their presence ahead of Christmas and the Shiite commemoration ceremonies of Ashura. In Mosul, t ... more http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Church_hit_and_election_candidate_killed_in_Iraq_attacks_999.html

Holiday Violence in Iraq Claims 26 - Ben Lando, Wall Street Journal. Attacks in the capital and the southern town of Hilla killed at least 26 in Iraq on Thursday and Friday, with religious-tinged violence ticking up as Christmas coincided this year with one of Shiite Islam's most important observances. Ashura - a 10-day commemoration of the death in the seventh century of the Prophet Muhammad's grandson, one of Shiite Islam's most revered figures - culminates on Sunday. Hundreds of thousands of Shiite pilgrims stream into the Iraqi cities of Karbala and Najaf, providing a convenient target for sect-based violence. Violence in the country is down markedly from its peak in 2006 and 2007. But high-profile bombings in Baghdad on three occasions since August have killed more than 100 people each, stoking security worries as U.S. forces prepare to draw down significantly next year. Iraqis have been bracing for a rough late December, with Christmas and Ashura overlapping. Iraq's small Christian population has long been the target of religious violence. Pope Benedict XVI mentioned the "tiny flock," at times "subject to violence and injustice," in his Christmas Day blessing on Friday, according to the Associated Press. Christian officials in Iraq's southern city of Basra canceled celebrations. Throughout the country, churches observed low-key services amid worry over violence. On Thursday, Christians and Shiite Iraqis clashed north of Mosul, injuring five people. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126176049238105289.html?mod=WSJ_newsreel_world

Violence in Iraq as Muslims, Christians Mark Religious Holidays - Voice of America. Iraqi officials say at least 11 people were killed and several others wounded in violence Friday, as Shi'ite Muslims and Christians observed religious holidays. In the eastern Baghdad district of Sadr City, Iraqi officials say a roadside bomb blast killed six Shi'ite Muslim worshipers as they observed the solemn Ashura holiday. Police have stepped up security in Iraq to prevent attacks against Shi'ites during Ashura, and minority Christians celebrating Christmas. At least four people were wounded during clashes between Christians and ethnic Shabak men in the northern town of Bartala. Security officials say the fighting erupted when young men threw stones at a church. Elsewhere in northern Iraq, police say at least four people were killed in separate acts of violence in Mosul, including three census workers shot and killed by unidentified gunmen. Also, officials say a car bombing killed at least one Kurdish soldier in the town of Rabiyaa near the border with Syria. Iraqi authorities had increased security in areas with significant Christian populations after receiving reports of possible attacks against the minority group during the Christmas holiday. More than 25,000 Iraq police and soldiers have also been deployed to protect Shi'ite pilgrims who are observing Ashura. http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/middle-east/Violence-in-Iraq-as-Muslims-Christians-Mark-Religious-Holidays-80122722.html

Housing Fund and Wasit: Housing Bank loans for the citizens to maintain more than 16 billion dinars / Wasit - Loans - Construction / 24/12/2009 07:53 Wasit December 24 (AKnews) - The director of the Division of Housing Fund in Wasit province, on Thursday, said the housing bank loans for the citizens of Wasit province this year exceeded $ 16 billion Iraqi dinars. The Shamkhi Ibrahim Jabr told Kurdistan News (AKnews) announced today that "the total loans granted by the Housing Bank for the citizens of Wasit province reached since the beginning of this year and so far 16 billion and more than 500 million included approximately 620 treatment." He pointed out that "these loans, the Fund awarded to citizens who have applied to get them to build their homes and build or add to the house where they live with the same person according to specific criteria on how much space the new building." Housing Fund was established in 2005, which is subordinate to the Ministry of Construction and Housing, the aim of existence, helping people to overcome the housing crisis by granting loans of up initially to 20 million dinars. The Director of the Division of the Fund in Wasit that "those loans granted to staff in the ongoing service and retirees, and the mechanism of deductible is set for 20 years to recover and the process of deduction from the salary of the borrower himself." He pointed out that "The Ministry of Construction and Housing recently carried out an amendment to the lending policy has been modified so that the loan to be 30 million, and repaid over 25 years." The Housing Bank provides loan guarantees to guarantee the property in three phases, the first is 20 percent, and gives even the basic stage (Albadlo) and the second phase of 40 percent and be a stage of completion of the Temple (roofing), which gives the third phase of the work of the final and be 40 percent as well. " But the fund manager and Wasit, said that "the Bank's lending policy changed so that the loans were made in two installments after they had paid in three installments of the borrower's loan has been increased to be 30 million dinars in the public areas of the country, in the context of the steps identified by the management of the Fund to assist the borrower". The Ministry of Construction and Housing, the agency overseeing the Housing Loan Fund recently approved a lower interest rate on the loan granted to 2% in case of repayment of the loan within five years, the interest rate to 3% in case of repayment of the loan within ten years, at an interest rate 5% in the case of repay the loan within 20 years, after the interest was 6% during the previous loan is repayable over 20 years. (AKnews c) 24 / 12 / 2009 http://translate.google.com/translat...ate.google.com

Economy - UPDATE: Iraq Has "Master Plan" To Boost Oil Exports - Oil Min 23-Dec-09 [19:2] PNA -LUANDA, Angola -Iraq is working on a "master plan" to construct new infrastructure to boost the country's oil export capacity, after the award earlier this year of 10 large contracts to international oil companies, the country's Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani said Wednesday. Shahristani also said new offshore pipelines would be constructed to replace ones that connect Basra and Khor al-Amaya terminals with crude deposits in Basra. A network of new oil pipelines will be also built in southern and northern Iraq. "We are working on a master plan for new pipelines and export terminals," Shahristani told reporters on the sideline of a meeting of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. Two floating oil terminals are already under construction at the main Basra oil terminal in southern Iraq and work on two others will start soon, Shahristani said, adding the four platforms would be able to handle 2 million barrels a day. Basra and the nearby smaller Khor al-Amaya port currently can handle up to 1.6 million barrels a day. "I expect these [floating] terminals to go through fast-track development to be ready in time when we have increased production," the minister said. Foster Wheeler announced in February that it was awarded a contract by the Iraqi government for the basic engineering of new oil export facilities to supplement the existing Basra terminal. The new offshore facilities would include new single point mooring tanker loading buoys, together with oil pumping, metering and pipelines, to achieve an export capacity of 4.5 million barrels a day, Foster Wheeler said at the time. The state of the southern oil export terminals, and particularly the subsea pipelines feeding them, have been a source of worry in the past decade. Persistent leakages and high levels of corrosion have raised fears of large offshore spillages with disastrous environmental consequences in the already strained upper Gulf region. Iraq has awarded deals to global oil majors that it hopes will skyrocket its crude oil production to 11 million barrels a day in six to seven years from now. Iraq is currently producing 2.5 million barrels a day, well below the level before the U.S.-led invasion in 2003. Iraq exports an average 1.9 million barrels a day. The ministry is planning to build a new pipeline to go with the existing strategic pipeline that connects southern and northern oil fields. The ministry will also build a new pipeline to go with the existing northern export pipelines that links Kirkuk oil fields with the Ceyhan terminal in Turkey, Shahristani said. Dow Jones http://www.peyamner.com/details.aspx?l=4&id=158789

Iraqi lawmaker: Iraq would emerge from Chapter VII of money during the next six month -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- / Iraq - Chapter VII - penalty / 24/12/2009 13:35 24/12/2009 13:35 Baghdad, December 24 (AKnews) - The deputy from the Kurdistan Alliance in the Iraqi Council of Representatives on Thursday that Iraq will emerge from the pain of Chapter VII of the United Nations, which imposed on him since the time of the former regime during the next six months. Mahmoud Othman, a Kurdish news agency (AKnews) that "Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said during a session on hosting, on the issue of money out of Iraq's Chapter VII of the United Nations because Iraq is just around the corner to get out of it" .. pointing out that "Iraq is out soon, no later than the middle of next year. " He pointed out that "Iraq needs a diplomatic mission with the efforts of some Gulf states, especially Kuwait to get out of this item". The Iraqi parliament hosted yesterday, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari on the issue of the field of "small change" the oil and the efforts of the Iraqi government to expel the Iranian ones, and the formation of an ad hoc committee of the valve cover to discuss the issue of demarcation Alhdodalmstrkp. (آكانيوز) و ج 24/12/2009 (AKnews) and c 24/12/2009 http://translate.google.com/translat...%3Den%26sa%3DG

Stratfor: An Iraqi Oil Renaissance May Destroy OPEC John Carney | Dec. 23, 2009, 1:00 PM | 444 | comment 4 Planned increases in Iraqi oil production pose a major problem for the cartel. http://www.businessinsider.com/stratfor-an-iraqi-oil-rennasaince-may-destroy-opec-2009-12

Canadian firm in 170-million-dollar power deal with Iraq Baghdad (AFP) Dec 22, 2009 - Canadian engineering firm SNC-Lavalin won two contracts worth 170 million dollars to build power stations in Iraqi cities, government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said on Tuesday. The two contracts are for power stations in the mainly Shiite cities of Hilla and Karbala, south of Baghdad, with SNC-Lavalin set to partner Iraqi company Al-Hurra International. "An agreement was reached for a ... more http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/Canadian_firm_in_170-million-dollar_power_deal_with_Iraq_999.html

Chinese-led group initials deal for Iraq oil field: ministry Baghdad (AFP) Dec 22, 2009 - A consortium led by China's top oil producer initialled a deal with Iraq on Tuesday to develop the southern Halfaya oil field, oil ministry spokesman Assem Jihad told AFP. "Yes, they signed the contract today," he said of the group made up of China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC) and which also includes France's Total and Malaysia's Petronas. The three companies are aiming to increase ... more http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/Chinese-led_group_initials_deal_for_Iraq_oil_field_ministry_999.html

Iraq Doubling Its Oil Supply To China from Green Sheet by Graham Winfrey AP Iraq OilIraq will more than double oil supplies to China next year, to over 300,000 barrels per day, Reuters reports. That figure is roughly 30% of the total contractual amount that China agreed to take from Saudi Arabia, the country's primary supplier, and 14% of the 2.1 million barrels per day that Iraq plans to export in 2010. Saudi oil production cuts are partially responsible for the planned increase from Iraq next year. China's average daily imports of approximately 144,000 barrels per day this year has almost tripled over the past 11 months. The country has seen the fastest fuel demand growth in the world in 2009. The four Chinese firms taking in Iraqi crude are Unipec, Chinaoil, Sinochem, and Zhenhua Oil. China's premier energy group, CNPC, won contracts earlier this month to develop two Iraqi oil fields: Rumaila, in consortium with BP, and Halfaya, tied to Total and Malaysia's Petronas. http://www.businessinsider.com/iraq-doubling-its-oil-supply-to-china-2009-12?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+greensheet+%28Green+Sheet%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Economic progress in the banking sector finally.

Tourism expects 30 thousand foreign visitors to Iraq Ashura The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities of Iraq on Sunday, it expects that the number of foreign visitors coming for religious tourism to 30 thousand visitors during the visit of Ashura. The spokesman said the media ministry spokesman Abdel Zahra Talqani that "the expected increase in the number of foreign tourists coming to visit religious shrines to 30 thousand tourists, and has taken all necessary measures to receive them in coordination with various parties including the Ministry of Interior to provide protection for visitors and provide them with protection." And the reasons for the discontinuance European tourist delegations and foreign, which was benefited to see the archaeological sites in the country during the summer Talqani explained that "delegations from Europe and East Asia and the United States for tourism comes in coordination with the travel companies that are foreign and Bastkdamanm in coordination with the Tourism Authority and a special program for tourist tours" .. stating that "these companies have not formally approached the ministry presence of a delegation again. He pointed out that "the ministry's readiness to receive the delegations of foreign tourist, according to a special program prepared by the Ministry in order to preserve their security and safety." The Ministry of Tourism has received three foreign delegations in the last summer, most recently in September in coordination with foreign tourism companies outside the country . http://translate.google.com/translat...95&sl=ar&tl=en

VIDEO - Return To Power? - Upcoming Elections VIDEO LINK-http://english.aljazeera.net/program...442389516.html Ayad Allawi, the former Iraqi interim prime minister has been living in a political wilderness for more than four years. But now he is banking on returning to power in the upcoming parliamentary election next January. Yet so far he has failed to build a powerful political bloc to challenge either the coalition headed by his chief nemesis, Nouri Al-Maliki the current Iraqi PM or the Iraqi National Alliance headed by Amar Al-Hakim. His critics, and even some supporters -say his style of rule is authoritarian and it is bound to harm him and his cause. Ayad Allawi is our guest for this week and he discusses Iraq's upcoming election and other prominent issues.

Council Foreign Relations - The Benefits of the New Iraqi Dinar http://www.cfr.org/publication.html?id=6203 This is an OLD article (2003). But gives good insight. The Benefits of the New Iraqi Dinar Author: Brad W. Setser, Fellow for Geoeconomics August 7, 2003 Iraq Reconstruction Report The Coalition