Iraq Reconstruction News 7 March 2007

Iraq Reconstruction News
7 March 2007


1. Brookings Iraq Index 5 March 2007 http://www.brookings.edu/fp/saban/iraq/index.pdf

2. Iraq Oil Contract Framework To Be Set By Mar 15 -Document - Dow Jones Newswires - Iraqi officials must first agree the framework of contracts to be used when negotiating with foreign oil companies by March 15 if the country's draft hydrocarbons law is to be submitted to parliament for its approval, according to a cabinet document seen by Dow Jones Newswires. The draft hydrocarbon law, seen as essential to spur development of the country's ageing and conflict-damaged energy industry, was endorsed by the Iraqi cabinet on Feb. 27 and it referred in general terms to the types of contracts that Baghdad and regional governments could sign with foreign companies. http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidDN20070304002610/SecCountries/pagIraq

3. Iraq seeks to reopen Syria pipeline - Azzaman, March 6, 2007 - The Ministry of Oil is keen to diversify export outlets and is considering the possibility of reopening the pipeline via Syria. Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahrastani said both countries were “keen to reactivate the pipeline for the transfer of crude oil via Syrian territories.” http://www.azzaman.com/english/index.asp?fname=news\2007-03-06\kurd.htm

4. Iraq: Security before Syria pipeline opens -- BAGHDAD, March 6 (UPI) -- Iraq's oil minister said he wants to repair and reopen the pipeline to Syria, but called on Damascus to better monitor their border for insurgents. Though there is no deal yet, Iraq Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani said both Baghdad and Damascus are "keen to reactivate the pipeline for the transfer of crude oil via Syrian territories." http://www.upi.com/Energy/iraq_security_before_syria_pipeline_opens/20070306-031649-7197r/

5. Iraq woos fuel distributors with tax breaks - Reuters - BAGHDAD: Iraq's oil minister on Monday urged private companies to take advantage of a two-year tax break on fuel imports and other government incentives aimed at freeing up the market and relieving shortages. Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani met company representatives in Baghdad to explain the details of a new oil aimed at bringing private companies, both Iraqi and foreign, into oil products distribution. http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/3983548a6026.html

6. Sunni clerics group attacks Iraq's draft oil law - BAGHDAD, March 6 (Reuters) - An influential Sunni Arab group criticised Iraq's long awaited oil investment law on Tuesday, accusing the United States and Britain of invading the country out of greed for its vast oil wealth. http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/PAR649745.htm

7. Iraq Oil Law Details Untouched Fields, Blocks - Document. Iraq's draft hydrocarbon law, the centerpiece in the development of the country's shaky oil industry, details dozens of untouched oil fields loaded with proven reserves and scores of exploration blocks that may prove a magnet to international oil companies, according to a document seen by Dow Jones Newswires. http://www.rigzone.com/news/article.asp?a_id=42120

8. Controlling Investment in Iraq -- The Christian Science Monitor -- With considerable fanfare, Iraq's Cabinet last week announced approval of a draft law that would permit foreign investment in the nation's oil industry and provide for distribution of oil revenues among the regions and thus the country's main sectarian blocs. http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/03/06/10108956.html

9. Iraq sets provincial oil production quotas -- BAGHDAD, March 5 (UPI) -- The Iraq Oil Ministry will set production quotas for provinces to ensure oil revenue sharing, though the effects of war still hamper the vital oil sector. "Each province will be notified of its weekly quota to guarantee fair sharing," Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani was quoted in a ministry statement. http://www.upi.com/Energy/iraq_sets_provincial_oil_production_quotas/20070305-123053-6314r/

10. China oil officials due in Baghdad for Ahdab talks - Reuters, 5 March 2007 - BAGHDAD - Oil officials from China will arrive in Baghdad on Tuesday for negotiations with Iraqi oil ministry officials over a Saddam-era contract to develop the Ahdab oilfield, an Iraqi official said on Monday. http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/focusoniraq/2007/March/focusoniraq_March37.xml&section=focusoniraq

11. A new line for transferring Iraqi oil abroad http://www.iraqdirectory.com/DisplayNews.aspx?id=3358

12. Turkey is receiving help in prospecting for oil in northern Iraq - Turkey said on Thursday that foreign companies expressed an interest in working with the Turkish company T.B.A.O for oil prospect, which is owned by the State, in the search for crude oil and natural gas in northern Iraq. http://www.iraqdirectory.com/DisplayNews.aspx?id=3356

13. Chinese delegation in Iraq for oil search - A Chinese delegation has arrived in Iraq with a mission to resume a US$700 million oil deal signed during Saddam Hussein's time, state media reported. http://www.iraqdevelopmentprogram.org/idp/news/new1518.htm

14. Turkey resumes exports from Silopi to Iraq - An energy crisis between Turkey and Iraq was resolved after the foreign ministers of the two countries met on Monday. Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül and Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari signed an agreement resuming energy exports from Silopi to northern Iraq. http://www.todayszaman.com:80/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=104595

15. Iraqi Sunni group warns parliament against passing oil and gas law. Text of report by Association of Muslim Scholars website on 6 March [Statement by the Association of Muslim Scholars, AMS: "Statement No 382 Concerning the Oil and Gas Law, Which Was Approved by the Current Council of Ministers and Which Is Intended to Be Passed Through Parliament"] The Association of Muslim Scholars [AMS] has issued Statement No 382, in which it warned of the endorsement of the Oil and Gas Law at parliament, after approving it by the Council of Ministers. The AMS said that the Iraqi people is watching all these scenes and will not allow anyone to trade in its resources. The Iraqi people will not forgive any person who squanders its resources. If those who seek the issuance of this law think that passing it represents their chance to reap gains at the expense of the Iraqi people, they are entertaining illusions and they should recalculate because the occupation will not last long, and, consequently, justice will be restored, sooner or later. Following is the text of the statement: Statement No 382 concerning the Oil and Gas Law, which was approved by the current Council of Ministers and which is intended to be passed through parliament. Praise be to God, and peace and prayer be upon God's messenger, his household, mujahid companions, and followers. The US occupation forces, followed by the British forces, have started to show their greed for the Iraqi oil wealth, after they sought to hide this over the past years. Today, they are in a hurry to endorse the oil and gas bill. In order to pass this bill, they are seeking the help of those they appointed in [charge of] the political process, in deals that sell the rights of generations and that squander the country's elements of strength. Here, we register the following: First, such serious pieces of legislation should not be passed in exceptional circumstances, like ours. The current constitution is an occupation constitution. The drafting of this constitution was confined to the two Kurdish parties and the two known Shi'i parties, and other components [of Iraqi society] were excluded from drafting it. This was done under the direct supervision of the US ambassador. There are many contestations of this constitution. Besides, those who drafted it have promised to introduce amendments to it. They stated this in a special article, and they have not done anything to this effect. Consequently, enacting a law that harms the greater interests of the Iraqi people in such circumstances, as we mentioned, is invalid and it lacks the legitimacy necessary for passing it. Second, this law comes at a time when Iraq is witnessing the worst security and political conditions, and even a large number of [members of] parliament is now threatening to withdraw [from parliament] because of the failure of the political process in all fields. So what is logic of passing such a law in such circumstances? Third, our Iraqi people is called upon today to work, with all its strength and determination, to preserve a gain, for which it sacrificed a great deal in order to liberate it from the grip of monopolistic companies. Cancelling national investment and adopting mechanisms and formulas, which are subject to exploitation and political pressures, mean returning to this monopolistic grip and squandering the rights of generations in an exposed, conspiratorial manner. Fourth, we caution the parliament that it is faced with a historical responsibility and it will have to choose between: siding by the people in preserving its right and the right of its future generations from squandering and exploitation by the pharaohs of the age, and siding by the occupier and its conspiracies to seize this great national wealth. Using the justification of making observations on the law to correct its articles and clauses will not be the best remedy. Nor will this absolve them [MPs] from the religious, national, and legal responsibility because it ultimately falls within the context of approving the original text of the bill, recognizing the policies that are contained in it, and offering concessions at the expense of the sacrifices of our people. This is meant to benefit from this wealth in favour of their country and their sons. Fifth, we caution the political parties - especially those that are active in pushing for this law, and which are known to the sons of our people - that they are moving in the wrong direction. Those parties were not satisfied with helping in the occupation of Iraq, taking into consideration that this has brought disasters on the Iraqi people that reached the extent of killing hundreds of thousands of innocent people and destroying the infrastructure of their country. Nor were they satisfied with seeking to partition it under the name of federation. In fact, they today seek to strike deals with the occupier that would squander the biggest national wealth possessed by the Iraqis. We caution them that the Iraqi people is watching all these scenes and will not allow anyone to trade in its resources. The Iraqi people will not forgive any person who squanders its resources. If they think that passing this law represents their chance to reap gains at the expense of this people, they are entertaining illusions and they should recalculate because the occupation will not last long, and, consequently, justice will be restored, sooner or later. [Signed] The General Secretariat 16 Safar 1428 hegira, corresponding to 6 March 2007 Source: Association of Muslim Scholars website, in Arabic 6 Mar 07

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