Iraq Reconstruction News 18 March 2007

Iraq Reconstruction News
18 March 2007


1. KRG invitation to a seminar on Iraq's Oil and Revenue Sharing Laws -- An agreement on Iraq's draft oil law was reached by Iraq's main political players at the end of February 2007. This draft oil law includes several companion laws and annexes. KRG would like to invite you to a seminar on Thursday 22nd March from 10:30am to 2pm, in London (programme and a light lunch). http://web.krg.org/articles/article_detail.asp?LangNr=12&RubricNr=94,106,109&ArticleNr=16791&LNNr=28&RNNr=70

2. Syria looks for Iraqi crude import -- Syria is in talks with Iraq on linking their energy networks in a deal that could lead to the country importing Iraqi crude as its own production declines, a senior Syrian official said on Tuesday. Syria produces 400,000 barrels per day of crude, of which half is exported, but its two refineries in Homs and Banias have been unable to cope with domestic demand for fuel for years. http://www.champress.net/english/?page=show_det&id=4346
3. Iraq experts say draft oil industry law fraught with problems -- AMMAN (AFP) - Some Iraqi oil experts and politicians are aghast over their government's approval of a bill that many fear will deliver the country's oil wealth to international firms on a platter. In February, capping months of bitter wrangling, the Baghdad government approved a draft law that aims to distribute revenue from crude oil exports equitably across Iraq's 18 provinces and open the sector to foreign investors
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070318/ts_afp/iraqenergyoilpolitics_070318034607

4. Political comments on the draft of the Iraqi oil law -- Is Iraq in need of such an Oil Law? The International Oil Companies (IOCs), the US and UK administrations, and the IMF have to recognize that they will not be able to enforce an oil law which seems to be no less than the old concessionary model in a new guise. The experience of the past four years has proved that their policies could not be imposed even with the help of over 180,000 occupying forces and whilst the Iraqi state is on its knees. Such policies have instead resulted in the death of over two hundred thousand Iraqi civilians, more destruction to the country's infrastructure, more suffering to millions of Iraqis and complete failure in achieving any of their objectives. http://www.zmag.org/content/Showarticle.cfm?sectionID=15&itemID=12342

5. Poll: Despite violence only 26% preferred life under Saddam -- One in four (26%) Iraqi adults have had a family relative murdered in the last three years, while 23% of those living in Baghdad have had a family/relative kidnapped in the last three years. These are the findings released today from the largest poll into Iraqi opinion ever to be published. Carried out by UK polling firm O.R.B., which has been tracking public opinion in Iraq since 2005, the poll shows that despite the horrendous personal security problems only 26% of the country preferred life under the previous regime of Saddam Hussein, with 49% preferring life under the current political regime of Noori al-Maliki. As one may expect, it is the Sunnis who are most likely to back the previous regime (51%) with the Shias (66%) preferring the current administration. http://www.opinion.co.uk/Newsroom_details.aspx?NewsId=67

6. Iraq: reconstruction plan revealed -- An Iraq reconstruction plan described as "a tool to unlock the potential of the Middle Eastern nation" has been unveiled. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdul-Mahdi revealed the details of the International Compact with Iraq at a key UN conference. The five-year proposal calls for the country to be given international support in return for political, security and economic reforms. http://www.itv.com/news/world_cb7d12f9add3ac5884bff2c18d083847.html

7. Iraqi delegation prepares for opening of formal World Trade Organization accession talks -- Seventeen members of Iraq's National Committee and World Trade Organization (WTO) Unit, which coordinate the country's WTO accession effort at the inter-ministerial level, prepared for the opening of the WTO accession negotiations and the convening of the first WTO Working Party (WP) meeting in Geneva in a four-day workshop organized by the U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID) Izdihar program. http://www.portaliraq.com/news/Iraqi+delegation+prepares+for+opening+of+formal+World+Trade+Organization+accession+talks__1112499.html

8. Iraq presents economic and political plan at U.N. -- Associated Press -- UNITED NATIONS — The Iraqi vice president presented his country's economic and political reform plan at a U.N. conference Friday, pledging to adopt a law to the Iraq's oil riches among its often feuding regions and a program to grant amnesty for insurgents who renounce violence. Adel Abdul-Mahdi urged international support for the Iraq Compact, a five-year plan that requires the government to enact key political and economic reforms during its transition to financial self-sufficiency and integration into the regional and global economy. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070316.wuniraq16/BNStory/Front

9. Mandating the private sector to import oil derivatives and distribute them -- The Iraqi Oil Ministry determined special mechanisms for the import of oil derivatives by the private sector. Minister of Oil, Hussein Shahrastani, said in a symposium held by the ministry with the owners of private companies: “The economic policy of the State tends to stimulate the private sector in order to be able to import oil derivatives and distribute them to citizens”. http://www.iraqdirectory.com/DisplayNews.aspx?id=3394

10. Iranian private sector ready to invest in Iraq, Khamoushi -- Iranian private sector is ready to make investments and create industry on its common borders with Iraq, Head of Iran's Chamber of Commerce, Industries, and Mines Alinaqi Khamoushi said on Thursday. Speaking in the "Iran-Iraq Joint Commercial Meeting", Khamoushi added that Iran is also willing to set up food processing plants and construction materials production plants to produce brick, cement, lime, and gatch (plaster) for reconstruction operations within 50-km depth inside Iranian borders with Iraq. http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20070309071809/SecMain/pagHomepage

11. Gunmen blow up communication tower in Ramadi - Ramadi, March 9, (VOI) - Unidentified gunmen blew up on Friday a communication tower in Ramadi, Anbar province, using explosive charges, a security source said. http://www.aswataliraq.info/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=39037&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

12. Iraqi businessmen ask government to stop flight of capital -- Azzaman, March 11, 2007 -- Wealthy Iraqis are fleeing with their capital to neighboring states, dealing a heavy blow to the country’s war-torn economy. According to Mohammed Majeed, a private entrepreneur, the last few months saw “massive flight” of capital from the country. http://www.azzaman.com/english/index.asp?fname=news\2007-03-11\kurd2.htm

13. IMF extends $715 mln Iraq loan program by 6 months - WASHINGTON, March 13 (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday extended Iraq's $714.7 million loan accord to Sept. 28 at the government's request and said the country faced an important juncture in its economic recovery amid increased violence. Iraq has treated the loan as precautionary finance and has not drawn down on it since its approval in December 2005. "Despite very difficult political and security circumstances, the Iraqi authorities have taken important measures to keep their economic program on track," IMF Deputy managing Director Takatoshi Kato said in a statement.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N134

14. Tehran to host first Iran-Iraq economic meeting in April http://www.mehrnews.ir/en/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=457194

15. Iraqi music a reflection of country's hardships -- SULAIMANIYAH, IRAQ -- Farouk Hassan's eyes well up with tears as he cranks his car's CD player and sings along with the latest hit, a lament to his lost love -- violence-torn Baghdad. But it is not just the song's lyrics that encapsulate the tragedy of Baghdad's bloodshed. http://www.guelphmercury.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=mercury/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1174130602314&call_pageid=1050067726078&col=1050421501457

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