Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Governorate Council’s Conference Held In Nasiriya
Politics
(Badr Newspaper) - 10 SEP - The Second Annual Conference for the Southern Governorate Councils was held at the Cultural Center in Nasiriya. The conference began with the reading of verses of the holy Quran and a few introductory speeches. Dr. Surra Aboud, the Director of the Governorate Council Department, opened the conference with a short speech about governorate councils and their role in the democratic process and in serving the people.
Members of the governorate councils of Basrah, Dhi Qar, Maysan, and Muthana delivered speeches as did Salah Al Shimmari, a member of the Legal Committee in the Dhi Qar Governorate Council. All of the conference attendees put forth their best efforts to come up with ideas based on constitutional principles regarding decentralizing administration, the separation of powers, and the balance of power between the federal and local governments.
A statement was issued at the end of the conference that included many suggestions which the participants had agreed on. The statement was forwarded to the Presidency Council. Salah Al Shimmari told NINA that the statement’s suggestions included addressing many constitutional amendments such as: Local governorate council members should have immunity, including the provision that no one can sue them; that they cannot be arrested for committing any felony or misdemeanor as described in Constitutional Article #9, unless there is a simple majority Parliament vote removing this immunity.
Members of the governorate councils of Basrah, Dhi Qar, Maysan, and Muthana delivered speeches as did Salah Al Shimmari, a member of the Legal Committee in the Dhi Qar Governorate Council. All of the conference attendees put forth their best efforts to come up with ideas based on constitutional principles regarding decentralizing administration, the separation of powers, and the balance of power between the federal and local governments.
A statement was issued at the end of the conference that included many suggestions which the participants had agreed on. The statement was forwarded to the Presidency Council. Salah Al Shimmari told NINA that the statement’s suggestions included addressing many constitutional amendments such as: Local governorate council members should have immunity, including the provision that no one can sue them; that they cannot be arrested for committing any felony or misdemeanor as described in Constitutional Article #9, unless there is a simple majority Parliament vote removing this immunity.
Labels: conference, Southern Governorate Councils
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Jordan to hold conference on Iraqi refugees in July
Humanitarian
(RFE/RL) - A Jordanian Foreign Ministry official said on June 26 that the Hashemite kingdom will host a conference of countries sheltering Iraqi refugees sometime in July, AFP reported. "Regional countries, mainly Jordan, Syria, and Iraq, as well as the United Nations, will take part in the conference that will discuss ways of helping these states cope with burdens caused by Iraqi refugees," the unidentified official said.
The decision on holding the conference was made during a meeting between Jordanian Foreign Minister Abdallah Khatib and his Iraqi counterpart, Hoshyar Zebari, in Amman on June 26. Jordan has repeatedly warned the international community that the influx of Iraqi refugees has created a huge strain on its economy. The Jordanian Interior Ministry says the approximately 750,000 Iraqi refugees are costing Jordan an estimated $1 billion a year.
Labels: Abdallah Khatib, conference, Hoshiyar Zebari, Iraqi refugees, Jordan, Syria, U.N.
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Conference date set for new hydrocarbon law
Conference
On behalf of the Iraqi Government and the Iraqi Ministry of Oil, CWC Associates Limited is delighted to announce the key strategic event: Iraq Petroleum 2007, International Investment in the Iraqi Oil Industry under the New Hydrocarbon Law, 8-10 September, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Dubai. H.E. Dr. Hussain Al Shahristani, Minister of Oil will be leading a delegation from the Ministry. The conference will be the first major international oil conference after the endorsement of the new hydrocarbon law.
The conference will provide a unique opportunity for the international investment community to raise questions on the hydrocarbon law and the new Iraqi Oil policy. Structured to maximise dialogue between Iraqi decision makers and their international counterparts, this conference will explore the risks and the problems as well as the opportunities facing the Iraqi oil industry.
The conference will provide a unique opportunity for the international investment community to raise questions on the hydrocarbon law and the new Iraqi Oil policy. Structured to maximise dialogue between Iraqi decision makers and their international counterparts, this conference will explore the risks and the problems as well as the opportunities facing the Iraqi oil industry.
Labels: conference, Dubai, Hussain al-Shahristani, international investment, Iraqi oil industry, new hydrocarbon law
Saturday, May 05, 2007
International Iraq conference ends on mixed note
Conference, International
(Arabian Business) - Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister has described a conference dedicated to stabilising and rebuilding his war-torn country as a major success. At the conclusion of the four day conference in Egypt, he called it "a historic day for Iraq," adding: "We go back to Baghdad with a message of hope, reinvigorated and feeling much more confident about the future. However, hopes that Iraq would secure commitments to write-off billions of dollars of debts were not fully realised.
Saudi Arabia said it is still negotiating with Iraq over writing off billions of dollars owed it by the war-torn country, and major creditors Kuwait and Russia failed to offer immediate debt relief. More than 60 countries and international organisations gathered for the conference, and managed to agree a blueprint for the stabilisation of Iraq that they called the International Compact. The agreement sets benchmarks to achieve a stable, united, democratic Iraq within five years. It defines international help for Iraq - including debt relief - but also sets conditions for the Baghdad government, particularly carrying out reforms aimed at giving Iraq's Sunni Arabs a greater role in the political process.
Saudi Arabia said it is still negotiating with Iraq over writing off billions of dollars owed it by the war-torn country, and major creditors Kuwait and Russia failed to offer immediate debt relief. More than 60 countries and international organisations gathered for the conference, and managed to agree a blueprint for the stabilisation of Iraq that they called the International Compact. The agreement sets benchmarks to achieve a stable, united, democratic Iraq within five years. It defines international help for Iraq - including debt relief - but also sets conditions for the Baghdad government, particularly carrying out reforms aimed at giving Iraq's Sunni Arabs a greater role in the political process.
Although the conference ended on a positive note, it also ended with issue of debt relief largely unconcluded. The Paris Club of affluent lender nations has already written off $100 billion of Iraq's debt, but the government still owes other countries over $50 billion; possibly as much as $62 billion. Saudi Arabia was expected to make a formal announcement to wipe out Iraq's debut, but its Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal said only that his country was in talks with Iraq "to have an appropriate solution to debts in line with rules of the Paris Club." The Paris Club had pledged to write-off only 80 percent of Iraq's debts.
A lack of accurate records could prove a sticking point in the negotiations. Saudi Arabia is reported by the United Nations as believing the debt to be anything between $15 billion and $18 billion. Throughout the final day of the conference, Arab diplomats underlined their demands that al-Maliki do more to embrace Sunni Arabs, including changing the constitution and ending a purge of former members of Saddam's ousted Baath party. Al-Maliki promised Baghdad would fulfill its side of the bargain, acknowledging "the international compact cannot take its natural path" unless the Iraqis do their part to achieve national reconciliation.
Labels: conference, International Compact with Iraq, Iraq, Paris Club, Sharm el-Sheikh
Monday, April 23, 2007
Rice urges Iran to participate in Sharm el-Sheikh Iraq conference
Security, Conference, International
(Financial Times) - Condoleezza Rice is urging Iran to join her at a high-level conference on the future of Iraq next week, signalling that Washington is now ready for a serious exchange of views with Tehran after several months of resisting Iran’s advances in the region. In an interview with the Financial Times, the US secretary of state said it would be a “missed opportunity” if Manouchehr Mottaki, Iran’s foreign minister, did not attend the minister-level meeting to be hosted by Egypt.
Ms Rice denied that the Bush administration’s Iran policy had ever been directed at regime change, insisting that the aim was to “have a change in regime behaviour”. Washington’s need to secure the right regional environment for its eventual withdrawal from Iraq is growing ever more acute as its “surge” of extra troops is failing to contain the violence. Last Wednesday alone nearly 200 people died in bombings, and on Sunday 17 Iraqis were killed.
That “hostile forces” would respond to the US security plan was to be expected, Ms Rice said, blaming al Qaeda, not Iran, for the suicide bombings. She said two more US brigades were still to be deployed, adding the US needed “a little time” to judge the “trend lines”. Ms Rice’s attempts to draw Iran into the conference – which will include Iraq’s neighbours as well as the permanent members of the UN security council and the G8 industrialised nations – contrasted with her previous resistance to such talks.
Since then there had been a “rebalancing”, she said, particularly after President George W. Bush’s speech on January 10 announcing the extra troops and a more aggressive response to Iran’s perceived role in arming and training Iraqi Shia militia. Analysts said it remained to be seen whether the US had achieved what Robert Gates, the defence secretary, said in January was the “leverage” it needed before engaging Iran.
Iran says it will decide on its attendance at the May 3-4 conference after meeting Hoshyar Zebari, Iraq’s foreign minister, this week. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman on Sunday noted a “softening” in Ms Rice’s rhetoric. But he added that any “shift” should be put into practice.
Ms Rice denied that the Bush administration’s Iran policy had ever been directed at regime change, insisting that the aim was to “have a change in regime behaviour”. Washington’s need to secure the right regional environment for its eventual withdrawal from Iraq is growing ever more acute as its “surge” of extra troops is failing to contain the violence. Last Wednesday alone nearly 200 people died in bombings, and on Sunday 17 Iraqis were killed.
That “hostile forces” would respond to the US security plan was to be expected, Ms Rice said, blaming al Qaeda, not Iran, for the suicide bombings. She said two more US brigades were still to be deployed, adding the US needed “a little time” to judge the “trend lines”. Ms Rice’s attempts to draw Iran into the conference – which will include Iraq’s neighbours as well as the permanent members of the UN security council and the G8 industrialised nations – contrasted with her previous resistance to such talks.
Since then there had been a “rebalancing”, she said, particularly after President George W. Bush’s speech on January 10 announcing the extra troops and a more aggressive response to Iran’s perceived role in arming and training Iraqi Shia militia. Analysts said it remained to be seen whether the US had achieved what Robert Gates, the defence secretary, said in January was the “leverage” it needed before engaging Iran.
Iran says it will decide on its attendance at the May 3-4 conference after meeting Hoshyar Zebari, Iraq’s foreign minister, this week. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman on Sunday noted a “softening” in Ms Rice’s rhetoric. But he added that any “shift” should be put into practice.
Labels: Condoleezza Rice, conference, Iran, Iraq, Manouchehr Mottaki, security, Sharm el-Sheikh
Monday, April 16, 2007
Amnesty warns of humanitarian crisis at start of international conference
Humanitarian
(AP, Reuters) - Amnesty International today warned of a new humanitarian crisis in the Middle East unless governments take urgent measures to help some 4 million displaced Iraqis. The group said Syria and Jordan need direct assistance in order to provide housing, food aid, and health care to some 2 million refugees. Nearly 2 million more Iraqis are displaced within their home country, the report said. The appeal came a day before the start of an international conference in Geneva on Iraqi refugees.
The London-based human rights group called on the United States, the European Union and others to help Jordan and Syria, whose governments are struggling to care for some two million Iraqi refugees who have fled their homeland. Another 1.9 million are displaced within Iraq, many in the past year marked by suicide bombings and sectarian violence.
The appeal came ahead of a two-day international conference in Geneva, opening on Tuesday, called by the United Nations refugee agency to confront massive needs in the region. "The Middle East is on the verge of a new humanitarian crisis unless the European Union, U.S. and other states take urgent and concrete measures," Amnesty said in a statement.
From 40,000 to 50,000 Iraqis flee their homes each month in an exodus linked to pervasive violence, poor basic services, a loss of jobs, and an uncertain future, according to the UNHCR. Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari, U.N. Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes, U.S. Under-Secretary of State Paula Dobriansky and senior European officials are among 450 officials due to attend.
The appeal came ahead of a two-day international conference in Geneva, opening on Tuesday, called by the United Nations refugee agency to confront massive needs in the region. "The Middle East is on the verge of a new humanitarian crisis unless the European Union, U.S. and other states take urgent and concrete measures," Amnesty said in a statement.
From 40,000 to 50,000 Iraqis flee their homes each month in an exodus linked to pervasive violence, poor basic services, a loss of jobs, and an uncertain future, according to the UNHCR. Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari, U.N. Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes, U.S. Under-Secretary of State Paula Dobriansky and senior European officials are among 450 officials due to attend.
Labels: Amnesty International, conference, IDPs, Iraqi refugees, UNHCR
Friday, March 02, 2007
Japan to host conference on Iraq
Politics, Security
(RFE/RL) Foreign Minister Taro Aso announced on March 1 that Japan will host a conference for Iraqi lawmakers and Japanese legal experts in Tokyo later this month, Kyodo World Service reported. Japan wants to assist with the development of Iraq's judicial and administrative capacity, officials said. Aso told reporters at the announcement that Japan is determined to deepen its political and economic commitment to Iraq and the region. He cautioned that sectarian violence and extremism could spread across the region if steps are not taken to stop the bloodshed and build national reconciliation in Iraq.
Labels: conference, Foreign Minister Taro Aso, Japan
