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Al-Qaeda bombing, financial networks degraded

PUKmedia 28-09-2008 17:32:24

mnf-iraq.com

Al-Qaeda in Iraq’s car bomb and financial networks were further debilitated by the capture of seven suspected terrorists during Coalition force operations Saturday and Sunday.

An operation in Baghdad Saturday netted one wanted man who is believed to be a key player in AQI’s improvised explosive device network. Another suspect was also detained during the operation.

Coalition forces, acting on a tip from a suspected terrorist already in custody, targeted a wanted man assessed to be one of AQI's financial bookkeepers in eastern Mosul early Sunday. When forces arrived at the location, the man was taken into custody without incident.

Then the detained man, who is believed to oversee AQI's terrorist payroll, led Coalition forces to a second location where they arrested four more men believed to be his associates.

"Attacking the innocent children and citizens must stop and Coalition forces will continue to seek out terrorists that threaten the safety and security of the people of Iraq.," Said Navy Lt. Cmdr. David Russell, MNF-I spokesman.

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House Speaker receives President of Kuwait Engineering Society, Iraqi tribeman

Population 10/13/2008 6:31:00 PM


KUWAIT, Oct 13 (KUNA) -- National Assembly Speaker Jassem Al-Kharafi on Monday received President of the Kuwaiti Society of Engineers Talal Al-Qahtani and Assembly members who gave a brief explanation about the society's accomplishments.
They also presented Al-Kharafi with a souvenir.

A statement issued by the parliament Information Department that one of the most important services offered by the society during the summer season was the power rationing project which had highly contributed in reducing electrical consumption.

Al-Kharafi also received Sheikh Talib Harbi Al-Mizel, Sheikh of Beni Rekab tribe in Iraq. (end) msh.tg KUNA 131831 Oct 08NNNN

http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=1944001&Language=en

Source: Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

Date: 03 Oct 2008

JICA says it will open new office in Iraq soon

Helping Iraq

As Japan enters a new era of development assistance, the country's top aid official said Thursday (October 2) her agency will shortly open its first office in Iraq to help that battered nation try to recover from years of war.

Mrs. Sadako Ogata, the president of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), addressed the Foreign Correspondents Club in Tokyo one day after her agency merged with the overseas economic cooperation section of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) to form the world's largest bilateral cooperation agency.

'New JICA's' operational volume will be an estimated $10.3 billion in fiscal year 2008 and for the first time one organization will be able to offer three schemes of help all 'under one roof' including technical assistance, soft loans and grant aid.

Mrs. Ogata said these combined schemes will be particularly helpful in Iraq where JICA will open a field office in the northern city of Erbil in this winter or spring. Millions of people have been uprooted after several years of war and much of the country's infrastructure has been destroyed. In addition to helping to train thousands of Iraqis in various skills JICA will also provide some $5 billion in soft loans and grant aid to rehabilitate hospitals and power plants and complete power, water and infrastructure projects, Mrs. Ogata said.

Main challenges

One of the organization's main challenges, the JICA President told journalists, "will be how skillfully and effectively we will be able to combine all of these three schemes" to meet the real needs of millions of the world's poorest people.

Japanese foreign assistance helped create the so-called Asian economic miracle in recent decades and Mrs. Ogata said her agency was now devoting more resources to the world's poorest continent, Africa. The percentage of JICA's technical assistance budget to Africa has increased from 14% to 24% in the last five years, the JICA president said and overall Japan has pledged to double development assistance to the continent by 2012.

The merger also comes at what Mrs. Ogata called a 'crossroads' in Japan's development assistance.

She also highlighted Japanese assistance to Afghanistan in the years following the fall of the Taliban regime and said that though it had gone largely unnoticed in the outside world, Japan had launched a series of ambitious programs in health, education, rural development and infrastructure including a new international airport in the capital, Kabul.

Japan needs to play a strong role

Japan's Official Development Assistance (ODA) has dropped 40% in the last decade and the country has slipped from being the world's largest donor overall, to No. 5 today.

Mrs. Ogata has repeatedly expressed concern in recent months at this downward trend though under the current fiscal situation she has said she saw little chance of decisively reversing the trend. Thursday, she expressed her frustration with the level of domestic support for foreign assistance.

"Japan has become a very comfortable country and people are more and more looking inward." she said. "I feel very frustrated." While acknowledging that people today "have a lot to be worried about" she said there was a lack of understanding at home that the world had become inter-dependent and Japan needed to play a strong role internationally.

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/EDIS-7KDKZ9?OpenDocument

Roads to Iraq


Oct 13, 2008

Rice to visit Iraq soon, SOFA process changed

Maliki’s interview with the < TIMES > shifted all the attentions away from this report published on the Green Zone newspaper < Al-Sabaah > . The “not very” interesting part is that Condoleezza Rice will visit Iraq in the coming days to put the “final touches” on SOFA agreement.

The interesting part is that SOFA’s Iraqi process is changed.

Maliki’s government turned the political procedures around, instead of passing the final document to the Presidential Council to approve the final document and then passing it to the parliament, a political decision issued today that the parliament should approves the final document before passing it to the Presidential Council.

What this change means?

By default, the approval of the Presidential Council means that the final document id valid and passing it to the parliament is a symbolic procedures.

Turning this process around means more delay since the parliament is divided on SOFA’s approval and that can takes months before the parl. Members can reach “something” and all that time SOFA is still on halt and invalid. This allows Maliki to buy more time.

http://www.roadstoiraq.com/2008/10/13/rice-to-visit-iraq-soon-sofa-process-changed/

News

Talabani and Maliki emphasized the constitutional authority and commitment to the agreements signed

October 13, 2008

Met with President Jalal Talabani, 13-10-2008 Monday afternoon at the Peace Palace in Baghdad, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and discussed with him Msaralamlip political and security issues and ways to address the current challenges in Iraq.

During the meeting, and agreement on the need to rely on the constitution in resolving all outstanding issues and establish the principle of partnership and implementation of agreements signed between the parties in the government.

The two sides also called for a meeting of the Executive Board to discuss important matters articulated in the country, particularly the conduct of ongoing negotiations to sign a treaty between Iraq and the United States.

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News

President receives British Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth

October 13, 2008

Met with President Jalal Talabani on Monday 13-10-2008 at his office in Baghdad, Bill Rammell British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and the British ambassador to Iraq Christopher Prentice.

And during the meeting, which was attended by Dr. Barham Ahmad Saleh Deputy Prime Minister and Naseer Ani, head of the Secretariat of the Presidency and a number of other officials, discussed prospects for cooperation and promote bilateral relations between Iraq and the United Kingdom and find appropriate mechanisms to expand these relations to ensure the common interests of both countries.

The two sides also exchanged views on the overall situation in the country and ways to develop the political process and to address contentious issues.

Abbarwazzer and thanked the British and gratitude to President Talabani, the good reception valuing its ongoing efforts to promote national unity and cohesion among all the fateful spectrum of the Iraqi people.

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News

Presidential Council discuss the current situation

October 13, 2008

Chaired by President Jalal Talabani, the era of today, Monday, 13-10-2008, at the Peace Palace in Baghdad meeting of the Presidency, which was attended by Vice President Adel Abdul Mahdi and Tariq al-Hashemi professor, and discussed a range of issues concerning the current situation and ways to address issues Outstanding.

After the end of the meeting, the Chief of Staff to the President of the Republic Nasirani meeting was held because of a number of outstanding issues and the need to decide quickly, including a number of laws and the Convention Strategy to be signed between Iraq and the United States of America and the work of the Committee in charge of constitutional amendments

.. Alani added, saying: the advent of Kurdistan's president to Baghdad, there is a need to hold intensive meetings in addition to holding the meeting of the Executive Council and the Political Council for National Security and a program for these meetings and find a common vision and close more, and particularly that the country needs to develop a consensus and clear.

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Saadi: the Prime Minister received a grant of migrants cross the status of returnees



The spokesman for the Ministry of Displacement and Migration Karim Saadi that the sum of 150 thousand Iraqi dinars given to migrants returning to Iraq is a paid transfer from the airport to places of residence.

Saadi said in an interview with Radio paid by the Tigris that there was a mechanism to receive a grant Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki of million dinars, equivalent to $ 700, calling to follow through reconsidering the status of returnees in the Rusafa.

However, some media quoted a number of returning migrants saying they returned to Iraq for more than a month were received from the Iraqi government only $ 150 thousand dinars, pointing out that the Ministry of Displacement and Migration did not meet requirements, which promised so far, according to the means .

At-Saedi, the statement stressed Maatna denied news of re-coercive working on the Iraqi government to force immigrants to return to the country.
He Saadi said:

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Newspaper "The Times" reveal a U.S. plan to fill any vacuum caused when Britain withdraws all its troops from southern Iraq, troops in 3000



London - The newspaper "The Times" newspaper on Monday quoted a U.S. official that the U.S. was planning to fill any vacuum caused when Britain withdraw all its troops from southern Iraq. The newspaper said that the United States will deploy about 3,000 troops in southern Iraq and establish a command center of the brigade or division at the base Basra air or in the huge logistical camp in Shuaiba south of the city, which contains one of the largest oil refineries.

It is known that since the start of the occupation, the Iraqi oil production is under the U.S. forces, and there are no meters to calculate the amount of production. The same applies to refineries that "protect" U.S. troops.

Basra is a key outlet for oil smuggling, and export times. For this reason, it is of vital importance to both the occupation forces and the Iraqi government.

The spread of a confirmation of the U.S. soldiers said they have started to replace British forces in Basra since April, when for Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to the United States instead of the United Kingdom for assistance in the process launched by his forces against Shiite militias there.

He joined 900 troops from U.S. Marines and 82 mobile brigade to the thousands of Iraqi soldiers to bring the armed militias in Basra as part of the "outreach Knights," led by Maliki.

The newspaper quoted a source saying that the majority of American soldiers remained after the end of military operations in Basra, southern Iraq, working hundreds of U.S. trainers with Iraqi forces in Basra, noting that the United States established an air base in Dhi Qar and deployed in Nasiriyah, "it is Known that the British plan for withdrawal from Iraq. "

The official said the U.S. "We have command centers in the southern regions of Iraq and stressed there would be additional command centers in Basra."

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Iraq to keep crude prices Basra for the month of November for Europe and the United States unchanged and reduce the price devoted to Asia

Dow Jones

Kept the "National Foundation for the marketing of oil," the official selling prices for the month of November crude Basra for the United States of America and Europe without any change, but they had to cut prices for Alharip Asian destinations, according to the senior Iraqi official in the area of oil on Monday.

As the institution has kept Kirkuk crude prices without any change in exports in November for U.S. customers, but reduced the price devoted to Europe, according to the official. The Basra Light crude for points Alharip U.S. in November has been set up to the price The average West Texas the second month minus 7.05 dollars a barrel as it was in October.

The official selling price of Basra Light crude for delivery in November and for European customers, has been set based on the price of Brent minus 4.35 dollars a barrel, as the price fixed last month.

The price of Basra Light crude for Asian customers for the delivery in November, has been set based on the average of Oman / Dubai minus 2.05 dollars a barrel, a reduction of $ 0.50 per barrel, compared to $ 1.55 per barrel in October.

The Kirkuk crude for delivery in November for the United States, has been retained as it was last month when the average price of West Texas the first month minus 4.55 dollars a barrel.

The price of Kirkuk crude oil for the European long-term contracts of Brent minus $ 2.25 a barrel, a reduction of $ 0.15 per barrel, compared to $ 2.10 per barrel in October.

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Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki meets Sheikhs and tribal elders Bani Malik


(Voice of Iraq) - 13-10-2008 | www.sotaliraq.com

Press release

Monday 10-13-2008



Met with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in his office today the official number of sheikhs and tribal elders owner built across Iraq.

The sovereignty of happiness at the meeting and said we want a strong state based on elections and freedom, stressing that Atpla built, but the efforts and participation of tribes, parties and citizens and civil society organizations.

He called Prime Minister clan to cooperate with the government to detect corrupt public funds and manipulators as Taanwa in the face of Alarhabbn and outlaws, and said: We can not build a good home if not spent on the spoilers, and that comes through the cohesion of the family from the clan up to the general Society.

He added that Iraq is a country clan This does not mean we are calling for tribal abhorrent, but call for the tribes and the association on the basis of brotherhood and unity which are nation-building in accordance with constitutional principles.

The Prime Minister said that God commands us Inhana the Propagation of Virtue and Vice, and is known to work for the rights of his people and his country, and is known as the largest known national political careful when the sovereignty, and building a foundation of law and institutions, while one object, it is denied .

The political sovereignty that is not to be partisan and sectarian people and the nationalists, but must respect those affiliations and not doing the work for which only, and would be the supreme national interest Mansay him, and Marova approach is that each of us is a strength and assist, and clans in the role of The former Chief later.

The Prime Minister We do not want Iraq to be weak and breaking, and do not want one of aggression at the same time do not want to Natdi one, and do not want to pursuing a policy of the former regime, which left us with debt burdens and billions of dollars in losses because of serious human reckless policies, but we are keen on To defend ourselves and our nation and our people.

On the agricultural initiative, Mr. Prime Minister continue to do so but the scale of devastation in the agricultural sector significantly, and we will work to bring all the equipment for the development of modern agricultural sector and to serve farmers.

He added that the construction process needs time in the past, companies refrain from coming to Iraq because of security conditions, but after the successes achieved by our armed forces and our security companies began racing to work in Iraq and participate in the reconstruction and construction projects, and directing the economy, development and become a public life Good citizens and better than before.

The Prime Minister said Iraq is suffering from international sanctions and putting it under Chapter VII "If we are talking about the security agreement that is to get rid of international sanctions and the reservation of this Convention Iraq's sovereignty and security.

The Prime Minister said Iraq at great openness to the world and Arab countries, and this is achieved through the visits of many officials in Baghdad recently, the willingness of these countries to open embassies in Baghdad.

He added: I appreciate all Mattlponh and will be met and to meet the needs of all Iraqis from all religions and nationalities and creeds, because they have the right to live in Iraq even Ierdhana in politics.

He also added that councils in the provinces of backing Atghei parties, but linked to the State, and it should not cooperate with the central government only, but should cooperate with local governments.

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Chinese oil delegation to visit Iraq by the end of this month


14 October, 2008 - 12:17:11

Baghdad / Voices of Iraq: spokesman said the Ministry of Oil, Monday, the delegations of oil a high-level Chinese visit the country late this month to sign the final contract Ahdab.

Said Asim Jihad told (Voices of Iraq) that "the Chinese delegation would visit Iraq to sign the final contract for the development of the Ahdab oil field after it is approved by the Council of Ministers of the contract which was initialed during the month of August last August and approved by the Council of Ministers in the second month in September of last September."

Jihad said that "the contract came into force after formal approval by the Council of Ministers, and that the Chinese side to begin setting up equipment during the two months of the contract and to start practical measures on the ground."

Over the last year they signed an agreement with China to be digging wells for humpback field vertically rather than horizontally so as to not affect oil wells on the field, located near agricultural land.

The Ahdab oil field discovered seven wells are expected to produce about 200 thousand barrels per day are pumped through the pipeline pumping station to the special Nasiriyah, and then to export ports in southern Iraq.

The Oil Ministry has recently started a plan to attract foreign companies to invest in Iraq's oil sector and increase production to reach between 4-4.5 million barrels per day by 2010, if the discovered fields have been developed and the 80 fields.

The Ahdab field, located in hand-Ahrar (25 km west of the province of Wasit, which is about 180 kilometers southeast of Baghdad), is one of Iraq's untapped fields, it is hoped that if the productive capacity of 200 thousand barrels a development day, which includes field Was discovered in 1979, reserve size of 225 million barrels of oil.

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Iraqi minister meets oil companies in London

AFP - 20 mins ago

LONDON (AFP) - Iraq's Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani met officials from 35 oil companies in London Monday to lay out details of its first round of bidding for new contracts since the 2003 US-led invasion.

He said Iraq wants deals to be in place in June, to help the war-torn country get its oil sector back up and running without further delay.

Shahristani said the government would maintain 51 percent control of projects with foreign energy companies to rehabilitate the six oil fields already producing crude, and two natural gas fields yet to be developed.

Iraq wants to ramp up output by 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) from the current average production of 2.5 million bpd, about equal to the amount being pumped before the March 2003 invasion.

Exports of 2.11 million bpd currently form the bulk of the country's revenues, and the oil ministry is keen to raise capacity over the next five years to 4.5 million bpd.

At the end of June, the oil ministry threw open six oilfields and two gas fields for international bidding by 41 companies.

The deals, which are service contracts only, pave the way for energy firms based abroad to return to Iraq 36 years after Saddam Hussein threw them out.

The International Energy Agency, in a report released in mid-2006, said only 10 percent of Iraq has been explored for oil and 60 percent of proven reserves are in undeveloped fields.

This report was complied with Dow Jones newswire.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/afp/20081013/twl-iraqi-minister-meets-oil-companies-i-3cd7efd.html

Ankara breaks ice with Barzani in key talks in Iraq

Turkish officials are expected to meet Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani today in Baghdad.

Turkish officials are to meet with Massoud Barzani in Baghdad today, the first public talks with the Iraqi Kurdish leader since the US-led war on Iraq.


Turkey’s special envoy to Iraq, Murat Özçelik, will head a delegation that will meet with Barzani, according to Turkish diplomatic sources. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s chief foreign policy advisor, Ahmet Davutoğlu, is also expected to be in the delegation.

Bahrouz Ghalali, representative to Ankara of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), the political party of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, said the talks are due to take place today. Turkish sources, on the other hand, only said a delegation headed by Özçelik would soon visit Baghdad, declining to provide further details ostensibly for security reasons.

Ankara has been reluctant to talk to the Iraqi Kurds, accusing them of tolerating and even supporting the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which launches attacks on Turkey from its bases in Kurdish-run northern Iraq. That policy changed when Özçelik and Davutoğlu met with Nechirvan Barzani, Massoud Barzani’s nephew and prime minister of the semi-autonomous Kurdish administration, in Baghdad in May.

Massoud Barzani and the Turkish officials are expected to discuss cooperation against the PKK, whose presence in mountainous northern Iraq is a source of friction in relations with the Iraqi Kurdish administration. Ankara is pleased that there has been a change in the rhetoric on the part of Iraqi Kurds since May, but officials admit the Kurds have much to do to meet Turkey’s requests for a joint effort against the PKK. Ankara demands the arrest of PKK leaders, cutting all logistical support for the group and designation of the PKK as a terrorist group in line with Turkish, US and European policy. The Turkish delegation is anticipated to reiterate Turkey’s expectations.

Officials told Today’s Zaman that planned talks with the Iraqi Kurds will be a test for the fate of the newly launched dialogue process with the Kurdish administration. The level and intensity of dialogue is expected to grow if Barzani gives enough assurances that it is on Turkey’s side in the fight against the PKK.

President Abdullah Gül is expected to visit Baghdad soon, and reports in the Turkish media said he has been invited to visit Arbil, the capital of the Kurdish region, during his visit. But the presidency denied the report yesterday, saying no date was set for the visit and that there was no invitation for Gül to visit Arbil.

Although analysts agree that lack of dialogue with Massoud Barzani has done little to secure help from the northern Iraqi administration against the PKK, some highlight concerns that the Kurdish leader could put the government in a difficult position if he repeats his past statements, warning of fighting back against Turkish troops if they attack northern Iraq or refusing to call the PKK a terrorist group. Barzani is a nationalistic leader and it is not easy to predict how he would react to provocative questions on relations with Turkey, say observers. The last time Turkish officials had talks with the Kurdish leader was in 2005 when then undersecretary of the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) met him secretly in northern Iraq. This clandestine meeting was later confirmed by Turkish officials.

Earlier this month, the PKK attacked a military outpost near the border with Iraq, killing 17 soldiers. The attack intensified opposition parties' calls for cross-border attacks on the PKK in northern Iraq, and Parliament subsequently passed a motion to extend the military's mandate to carry out cross-border operations in northern Iraq for another year.

The military announced that Turkish warplanes attacked a group of PKK members, including senior leaders, in the Zap region of northern Iraq on Sunday. The warplanes "hit the mark," and all planes returned to their bases safely, according to the military's statement, released late on Sunday. It provided few details and contained no information about PKK casualties. The air strike was the seventh since the Oct. 3 attack on the border military outpost.

Nechirvan Barzani complained last week that the PKK attacks were aimed at hurting ties between Turkey and the Kurdish administration and called for dialogue so that the Kurdish authorities know how they can help. "The Turks don't sit at the same table with us. How are we supposed to know how we can help?" he said last week.

Sources said the Kurdish side wanted that the talks be held in Arbil, but Ankara insisted that the venue should be Baghdad, signaling Ankara's commitment to support the territorial integrity of Iraq. Sources also underlined that the talks with Massound Barzani did not mean Ankara was officially recognizing the regional Kurdish administration as the "Regional Government of Kurdistan." Barzani recently met with Talabani in Baghdad, discussing ties with Turkey and other issues with the Iraqi president, an ethnic Kurd.


14 October 2008, Tuesday
SERVET YANATMA ANKARA

http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=155845&bolum=100

6 Karbala investment projects Oked
October 14, 2008 - 11:07:02

KARBALA / Aswat al-Iraq: Authorization has been given for six investment projects in the holy province of Karbala in the housing, health, industry, and entertainment sectors, according to the province’s mayor. “Today, Karbala’s investment authority gave the go-ahead for six investment projects in the province at a cost of $600 million (1 U.S. dollar= 1,118 Iraqi dinars),” Aqeel Khazaali told Aswat al-Iraq. The projects include the construction of a plastic fiber plant on Ain al-Tamr road (75 km west of Karbala), in addition to a dates farm and factory at a cost of $36.5 million in the desert area of western Karbala.Karbala, with an estimated population of 572,300 people in 2003, is the capital of the province and is considered to be one of Shiite Muslims’ holiest cities.
The city, 110 km south of Baghdad, is one of Iraq’s wealthiest, profiting both from religious visitors and agricultural produce, especially dates.
It is made up of two districts, “Old Karbala,” the religious centre, and “New Karbala,” the residential district containing Islamic schools and government buildings.
At the centre of the old city is Masjid al-Hussein, the tomb of Hussein Ibn Ali, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad by his daughter Fatima al-Zahraa and Ali Ibn Abi Taleb.
Imam Hussein’s tomb is a place of pilgrimage for many Shiite Muslims, especially on the anniversary of the battle, the Day of Ashuraa. Many elderly pilgrims travel there to await death, as they believe the tomb to be one of the gates to paradise. On April 14, 2007, a car bomb exploded about 600 ft (200 m) from the shrine, killing 47 and wounding over 150.

http://en.aswataliraq.info/?p=101169

President Barzani receives VP Abdel Mahdi and Ambassador Croker in Baghdad
PUKmedia 14-10-2008 13:28:37
Kurdistan Region President Massud Barzani received the Iraqi Vice President Dr. Adel Abdel Mahdi, yesterday in his residence in Baghdad.


During the meeting they discussed the general situation in Iraq and the ways of solving the suspended issues between the Kurdistan Region Government (KRG) and the Federal Government.

They also exchanged views on the strategic pact with U.S.

President Barzani also received the U.S Ambassador in Iraq Ryan Croker and Ambassador David Satterfield along with a delegation from the U.S embassy in Baghdad.

They discussed the future of the political process in Iraq and another number of key issues among them: the ongoing discussions on the Iraqi-U.S Pact and the political and government situation in Iraq.
http://pukmedia.com/english/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6978&Itemid=1

President of Kurdistan Region receives supreme Turkish delegation in Baghdad
PUKmedia 14-10-2008 14:15:19
The President of Kurdistan Region Massud Barzani received a supreme Turkish delegation headed by Murat Ozcelik, the Turkish special envoy to Iraq. The delegation also included Ahmed Dawood Oglo, the Turkish PM foreign affairs adviser and other Turkish officials today in his residence in Baghdad.


During the meeting the addressed the bilateral ties between Iraq and Turkey in general and especially with Kurdistan Region. They also discussed the situation on the Kurdistan Region and Turkish borders and the ways of establishing peace on the borders
http://pukmedia.com/english/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6979&Itemid=1

Presidency Council holds meeting
PUKmedia 14-10-2008 14:44:25
President Jalal Talabani chaired a meeting of the Presidency Council attended by the Vices-President Dr. Adel Abdel Mahdi and Dr. Tariq al-Hashimi, today in Al-Salam Palace in Baghdad.


Dr. Abdel Mahdi said in a press statement after the meeting that the Council discussed the relations among the political parties. He also said that it is a scheduled to hold a series of officials meetings, probably the Political Council of the National Security will hold a meeting to discuss the unresolved issues and to take the appropriate decisions.

Abdel Mahdi stressed the need to take courageous decisions that push the country forward. He clarified that the relations between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Federal Government will also be part of the issue that will be discussed in order to find the best solutions for them.
http://pukmedia.com/english/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6980&Itemid=1

Attiyah: Pope receives representative in Iraq, Jordan

Tuesday, October 14, 2008


Sheikh Khalid al-Attiyah met with First Deputy Speaker of the Pope in Iraq, Archbishop Francis Itolekat in his office this morning.

Attiyah said at a joint news conference with the representative of the Vatican: "The Iraqi parliament and the government condemns and denounces this heinous crime of trying behind the terrorist gangs to divide the Iraqi people.

Attiya also called for the brotherhood of Christians not to be deceived behind this sedition that aims to migration outside Iraq urged the security agencies to provide necessary protection to ensure the protection of Christian brotherhood of these practices.

He stressed that all Iraqis are equal in their rights and freedoms and the exercise of their religious rites and the Iraqi Constitution guarantees these rights.

He added that the terrorist operations over five years, targeting everyone did not distinguish between the Husseiniya mosque and church and they in fact aimed at Iraqis, their cohesion and unity of destiny saying that all the components of Iraq would be given representation at the local and federal level.

Attiyah revealed the proposal to the United Nations fully do justice to the rights of minorities are allowed to compete for more than a seat to represent them in the provincial councils.

For his part, commended the representative of the Pope in Iraq Attiyah proposal submitted to the representative of UN Secretary-General

At the end of the press conference thanked the representative of the Pope in Iraq for the warm reception and the efforts of the House of Representatives to ensure the rights of minorities in provincial councils.

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Arab parliamentary group continue to meet in Switzerland

Tuesday, October 14, 2008


The group of Arab parliamentary meeting yesterday, Sunday, 12/10/2008, headed by Dr. Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, head of the Arab parliament was an agreement on the inclusion of an emergency by the Arab Group of the UAE and Egypt have been voted on and approved in the discussion of the global financial crisis and its implications on the economy of other countries.

The vote was taken on a select support for the post of presidency of the Arab parliament was Iraq's position with the Indonesian candidate of the importance of Indonesia and the size and positions of support for the Arab and Islamic issues while some preferred candidate of Namibia and especially the African and Arab countries, Iraq also requested that a unified Arab voice to be meaningful and rejected The idea of the free vote of the members.

In a related development, delegation of Arab parliament speaker d. Mahmoud al-Mashhadani to negotiate with Iran on its proposal to include an emergency item to discuss the siege of Gaza

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Iraqi parliamentary delegation in the Omani delegation will meet Switzerland

Tuesday, October 14, 2008


The Iraqi delegation met participating in the Inter-Parliamentary Conference in Switzerland, headed by Dr. Jaber Habib Jaber, Vice-Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee in the House of Representatives today, Tuesday, 14/10/2008 Omani Shura Council delegation participating in the conference.

And Dr. Jaber of Iraq's desire to attract global investment, especially to Iraq from the Arab Gulf and in particular.

Jaber called the Sultanate of Oman to make efforts for the return of Iraq back into the system to the Gulf of Oman and important voice in the Gulf Cooperation Council.

For his part, Vice-Chairman of the Shura Council of Oman on his real desire to return to Iraq and the Arab Embrace collection full sovereignty and the willingness of Oman to establish better relations with Iraq.

He also expressed his happiness to receive the Iraqi delegation at the meeting of Arab Parliamentary Union to be held in Muscat in March next year.

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