Gimme Shelter Radio ~ 11:00 PM. EST., Wednesday, August 31, 2011 ~ "Let the feast Begin" ...

Gimme Shelter Radio is the nightly live radio program of the private "Gimme Shelter" forum hosted by Phoenix. Show topics cover the global current events impacting us all. The live show airs nightly at 11pm EST. All past shows are on-demand.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011 'Let The Feast Begin" ...

@ Gimme Shelter Radio ~ http://www.blogtalkradio.com/phoenix3333

Burma ~ IMF to help Myanmar reform exchange rate

August 31, 2011

IMF to help Myanmar reform exchange rate

IMF economists will visit Myanmar to help modernize its complicated exchange rate system, an official said Wednesday, in a sign that the country's new government is seeking economic reforms.

A technical team from the International Monetary Fund will visit the country also known as Burma in the second half of October, said Gita Bhatt, a spokeswoman for the Washington-based financial institution.

"We have received a request from the authorities in Myanmar to help them prepare to modernize their exchange rate system and lift restrictions on the making of payments and transfers for current international transactions," she said.

She declined further details on the trip. But the state-run New Light of Myanmar newspaper said that authorities had reached out to the IMF and sent trainees overseas to reform the exchange rate, calling it a top priority.

The "problem of exchange rate gap, main barrier to international trade, will be solved along with the proper evolution of market economy," the newspaper quoted Finance Minister Hla Tun as saying.

Myanmar maintains multiple exchange rates, with the kyat currency's official value -- which the public sector is required to use -- set far above the market level. Myanmar restricts its nationals from obtaining foreign currency.

A 2008 working paper by two IMF economists, which does not necessarily represent the views of the fund, found that Myanmar's losses in efficiency due to the exchange rate system were equivalent to 14 to 17 percent of its economy in 2006-2007.

Myanmar is a member of the IMF and economists from the fund generally visit once a year, Bhatt said. The last formal consultation was in February 2010.

The military has ruled Myanmar since 1962, but the country nominally switched to civilian leadership earlier this year after November elections chose a new national assembly.

The opposition, led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, and the United States have voiced disappointment with the pace of reforms and believe the changes are primarily cosmetic, with the military still in charge.

The United States maintains economic sanctions against Myanmar, including its key gem industry, due to human rights concerns including the army's alleged use of forced labor and rape in its campaigns against ethnic minority fighters.

link

Stocks Higher on Specualtion U.S. Fed Will Act and .. Germany Agrees to Overhaul EFSF ...

Snip from below article ~ In a further boost to confidence, proposals were approved yesterday by the cabinet of Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, to overhaul the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF), the fund used to bail out troubled euro-zone countries. Ministers in Berlin agreed to the changes, which include expanding the EFSF to allow sovereign bond-buying powers.

also read ~ The United States Of Europe: A Proposed “Economic Government” Would Integrate Europe To A Degree Not Seen Since The Roman Empire ...

August 31, 2011

Speculation pushes stocks higher

Asian stocks gained for a fifth straight day yesterday as hopes emerged the US Federal Reserve may act this month to stimulate the world's biggest economy.

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index increased 1.12 per cent to close at 123.36.

"The market has priced in most of the negative factors, and now it depends on the response from policymakers," Koichi Kurose, the chief economist in Tokyo at Resona Bank, told Bloomberg News. "While the market won't go down easily, to go up it needs a view that appropriate policies will be implemented."

But the gain was not enough to undo all of the losses from a sell-off across Asian and global markets last month, triggered by concerns the world economy may be cooling.

Fuelling the recent rally has been speculation the Fed may be ready to deploy fresh economic stimulus measures when policymakers gather in September.

Continues ...

Shariah law in America, described as more threatening than Communist subversion during the Cold War.

September 1, 2011

Global con?

Washington, Were the United States, France, Britain, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Qatar and the United Arad Emirates -- the NATO-led coalition that set out to overthrow Col. Moammar Gadhafi's regime -- snookered by al-Qaida? A preposterous scenario with some disturbing factual elements.

In the early 1990s, when James Woolsey was the director of the CIA, Gadhafi appealed to his U.S. interlocutors for assistance against "Islamist extremists" in the Benghazi region.

Today, Woolsey is one of the leaders of a campaign to expose a clandestine Islamist plot to bring Shariah law to America, which he describes as more threatening than Communist subversion during the Cold War.

The investigative reporter behind uncovering the gigantic Libyan con is Brazilian-born Emilio (Pepe) Escobar, a reporter for the online Asia Times. From North Africa to the Middle East to Pakistan, he is well known for breaking stories in the Arab and Muslim worlds.

In a piece Escobar wrote for The Maldon Institute, a private investigative organization that publishes "information on matters ignored or misrepresented by the media," he says "the story of how an al-Qaida asset turned out to be the top Libyan military commander in still war-torn Tripoli is bound to shatter -- once again -- that wilderness of mirrors that is the 'war on terror,' as well as deeply compromising the carefully constructed propaganda of NATO's 'humanitarian' intervention in Libya."

His name, says Escobar, is Abdelhakim Belhaj. Few in the West and across the world have ever heard of him. Gadhafi's fortress of Bab-al-Aziziyah, originally his army headquarters when he seized power in 1969, was "essentially invaded and conquered 10 days ago by Belhaj's men -- who were "at the forefront of a militia of Berbers from the mountains southwest of Tripoli."

The militia, this account says, is the so-called Tripoli Brigade, secretly trained for two months by U.S. Special Forces. This turned out to be the rebels' most effective militia in six months of tribal/civil war.

Abdelhakim Belhaj, also known as Abu Abdullah al-Sadek, is a Libyan jihadi, Escobar's account claims. Born in May 1966, he honed his skills with the mujahedin in the 1980s anti-Soviet jihad in Afghanistan.

Belhaj is the founder of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group and its de facto emir -- with Khaled Chrif and Sami Saadi as his deputies. After the Taliban captured Kabul in 1996, the LIFG kept two training camps in Afghanistan, one of them, 19 miles north of Kabul -- run by Abu Yahya (a high-ranking member of al-Qaida) -- was "strictly for al-Qaida-linked jihadis.

After Sept. 11, 2001, Belhaj, still according to this account, moved to Pakistan and then to Iraq, where he befriended Abu Musab al-Zarqawi -- all this before al-Qaida in Iraq pledged allegiance to Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri.

The LIFG, writes Escobar, has been on the CIA's radar since 9/11. And in 2003, Belhaj was arrested in Malaysia and transferred, rendition-style, to a secret Bangkok prison and tortured.

In 2004, according to the same account, U.S. intelligence decided to send him "as a gift to Libyan intelligence -- until he was freed by the Gadhafi regime in March 2010, along with "211 terrorists, in a public relations coup advertised with great fanfare."

"The orchestrator was no less than Saif Islam al-Gadhafi -- the modernizing/London School of Economics face of the regime," says Escobar. LIFG's leaders -- Belhaj and his deputies Chrif and Saadi -- issued a 417-page confession dubbed 'corrective studies' in which they declared the jihad against Gadhafi over (and illegal), before they were finally set free."

In 2007, Zawahiri (bin Laden's deputy) officially announced the merger of LIFG and al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb. "So, for all practical purposes since then," says this version of events, "LIFG/AQIM have been one and the same -- and Belhaj was/is its emir."

Before year's end in 2007, LIFG was calling for jihad against Gadhafi and also against the United States and Western "infidels."

Every intelligence agency in the United States, Europe and the Arab world knows where Belhaj is coming from," writes Escobar. Belhaj has made sure in Libya that he and his militia will only settle for Shariah law.

The assassination of rebel military commander Gen. Abdel Fattah Younis -- by the rebels themselves -- seems to point to Belhaj "or at least people very close to him."

Younis, before he defected from the regime, was in charge of Libya's Special Forces as they battled the LIFG in Cyrenaica near Benghazi between 1990 and 1995. It was in 1993 that Gadhafi asked this reporter to tell the CIA director that he wanted to work with the United States against Islamist extremists in Cyrenaica.

Escobar reports that all the top military commanders working with NATO are LIFG, from Belhaj in Tripoli to Ismael as-Salabi in Benghazi and Abdelhakim al-Assadi in Derna. The key asset sitting at the core of the pro-NATO Transitional National Council is, according to this source, Ali Salabi. It was Salabi who negotiated with Gadhafi's son Saif the "end" of LIFG's jihad, "thus assuring the bright future of these born-again 'freedom fighters.'"

Escobar concludes that "it does not require a crystal ball to picture the consequences of LIFG/AQIM -- having conquered military power and being among the war 'winners' -- not remotely interested in relinquishing control just to please NATO. Meanwhile, amid the fog of war, it is unclear whether Gadhafi is planning to trap the Tripoli brigade in urban warfare or to force the bulk of rebel militias to enter the huge Warfalla tribal areas."

Gadhafi's favorite wife belongs to the Warfalla, Libya's largest tribe, with up to one million people and 54 sub-tribes.

"The inside word in Brussels," writes Escobar, "is that NATO expects Gadhafi to fight for months, if not years; thus the bounty on his head and the desperate return to NATO's plan A, which was always to take him out."

Libya, according to this prediction, may now be facing the specter of a twin-headed guerrilla Hydra; Gadhafi forces against a weak TNC central government and NATO boots on the ground; and the LIFG/AQIM nebula in a jihad against NATO."

A harum-scarum scenario of NATO snookered by al-Qaida affiliates that can only please China.

Read more: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Analysis/de-Borchgrave/2011/09/01/Commentary-Global-con/UPI-85911314879713/#ixzz1Wp1ORSw9

Iraq Mining 2011 Announces Conference Dates

Sept. 7-8 ~ Iraq Government plans to announce $billions of investment opportunities at ...


http://www.iraqmining.com/

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Safety First ~ Wouldn't This Apply To Everyone? Loose Clothing Rule ...

“Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it”

ARMAGEDDON READY russian news to predict earthy disaster comet elenin solar flares ...

Link ~ Read Previous Article ~ EMP IS CAPABLE OF CAUSING CATASTROPHE FOR THE NATION

Gimme Shelter Radio ~ 11:00 PM. EST., Tuesday, August 30, 2011 "Are We There Yet" ...

Gimme Shelter Radio is the nightly live radio program of the private "Gimme Shelter" forum hosted by Phoenix. Show topics cover the global current events impacting us all. The live show airs nightly at 11pm EST. All past shows are on-demand.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011 "Are We There Yet" ...

@ Gimme Shelter Radio ~ http://www.blogtalkradio.com/phoenix3333

Due to server overload only part of this show was recorded

Going Global Headline News for Tuesday, August 30, 2011 ...

January 2008 ~ Audio: US President George W. Bush's speech in Abu Dhabi ...

Wednesday, the first day of the Eid al-Fitr in Iraq and the Arab States and Thursday Eid al-Fitr across Europe and the United Kingdom and Scandinavia

Obama "Could" Add 1 Million New Jobs ...

U.S.- Russian Billion Dollar Oil Deal ~ Exxon, Rosneft tie up in Russian Arctic, U.S.

Iraq's Prime Minister Maliki ~ Will Stand firm on Port Mubarak .. And, He stated that U.S. Troop Withdrawal Will Be Implemented On Time ...

Iraqi Dinar Will Strengthen In Value ~ Central Bank Reveals Details of Iraq's New Currency ...

US Iraq pull-out 'to proceed as scheduled' But Post Training Deal has Not yet been announced says PM Maliki ...

Obama picks labor expert Alan Krueger as top economist (Three Times A Charm) ...

Gimme Shelter Radio ~ 11:00 PM, EST., Monday, August 29, 2011 ~ "Right On Course" ...

Going Global Headline News For Monday, August 29, 2011 ...

Renminbi may replace dollar in Sino-African trade

August 30, 2011

Renminbi may replace dollar in Sino-African trade

In a sign of China’s growing influence as Africa’s largest trading partner and investor, Standard Bank estimated that up to 40%, or $100bn, of China’s trade would be denominated in renminbi by 2015.

CHINA’s renminbi could replace the dollar as the main currency to finance trade between Chinese and African countries, research by Standard Bank shows.

In a sign of China’s growing influence as Africa’s largest trading partner and investor, Standard Bank estimated that up to 40%, or $100bn, of China’s trade would be denominated in renminbi by 2015.

This amounted to more than the total Sino-African trade last year, the bank’s Beijing-based economist Jeremy Stevens said in a research paper released yesterday .

"In addition, at least $10bn of Chinese investment in Africa will be denominated in renminbi over the same period," he said.

The Chinese currency already accounts for 13% of the South African Reserve Bank’s trade- weighted exchange rate for the rand, making it the third most important currency in the basket. Mr Stevens said China had no intention of "dumping" the dollar, but merely wanted to broaden its currency’s geographical reach and allow the renminbi to be used for investment purposes.

"The change, which will be gradual, is symptomatic of a more multi polar world," he said.

The bulk of China’s estimated $3,2-trillion in official reserves was still dollar-denominated, including $1,1-trillion in US Treasury bonds .

However, the use of the renminbi showed that many companies, including some in SA, were becoming comfortable transacting in the currency, Peter Sun, Standard Chartered Bank’s MD of transactional banking, said last week.

The dollar has traditionally been the historical benchmark currency used by African companies trading or doing business with foreign partners, including China.

The increasing use of the renminbi follows the recent, unusual public criticism by China of US economic policies after the dollar’s drop following the country’s credit rating downgrade by Standards & Poor’s.

But the growing "internationalisation" of the renminbi as a currency for payments in Africa was evident, said Mr Stevens.

Standard Chartered last year opened its first African onshore renminbi trading account for local metals trader Portland Steel, joining Standard Bank, which already offers facilities allowing clients to make or receive payments in renminbi.

"China wants to increase the pairs against which the renminbi can trade, broaden the currency’s geographical reach and allow the renminbi for investment purposes ," Mr Stevens said.

He said the use of the Chinese currency should not be confused with talk about a new global reserve currency.

The clamour has been rising steadily for a global reserve currency, which would give more weight to developing countries, reflecting their growing importance in the world economy.

"Internationalisation is first about transactions: buyers and sellers doing business in the currency. A reserve currency, on the other hand, is about the desire to hold the renminbi as a store of value," Mr Stevens said.

"Renminbi internationalisation is about transactions, intending to add efficiency and resilience to China’s trade and investment flows. China is not about to dump US treasuries in some maligned quest to trigger a financial collapse and depreciation of the dollar. China will embark on a gradual diversification of additional reserves in a manner that prevents instability."

Mr Stevens said that China would start the renminbi internationalisation programme by targeting African partners which are destinations for sizeable Chinese exports, regional heavyweights and countries which had mature financial markets — "first Nigeria and SA, then Kenya, and afterwards Angola and Ghana".

http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx?id=151958

January 2008 ~ Audio: US President George W. Bush's speech in Abu Dhabi ...

January 13, 2008

Audio: US President George W. Bush's speech in Abu Dhabi

Click on the following links to listen to the speech made by George W. Bush in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

Bush speech part 1 (mp3)

Bush speech part 2 (mp3)

Wednesday, the first day of the Eid al-Fitr in Iraq and the Arab States and Thursday Eid al-Fitr across Europe and the United Kingdom and Scandinavia

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Thursday, the first day of Eid al-Fitr across Europe and the United Kingdom and Scandinavian countries the ratio of the imitators of Mr. Sistani

Wednesday, the first day of the Eid al-Fitr in Iraq and the Arab States

Kawthar - Exclusive: The representative of Grand Ayatollah Ali Husseini al-Sistani, "long shadow" Islam and tolerance of argument Mr. Murtaza Kashmiri Muslims on Thursday that the 01 -08 - 2011 first day of the month of Shawwal in the UK and across Europe as well as Scandinavia and the Netherlands.

Continues ..

Egypt and U.S. ~ Cairo reviews U.S. ties with envoy

Related Article ~ June 27-28, 2011 ~ U.S. Egypt Business and Trade Facilitation Initiative ...

August 30, 2011

Cairo reviews U.S. ties with envoy

The U.S. envoy to Cairo relayed a message of economic and political support to the Egyptian government, the country's prime minister said.

Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf welcomed U.S. Ambassador to Egypt Anne Patterson to his office in Cairo. Both leaders discussed efforts aimed at encouraging U.S. investments in Egypt as well as regional affairs.

"The ambassador sent appreciation and thanks message from President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Egypt and its nation," the prime minister's office said in a statement. "(Patterson) expressed U.S. keenness on supporting Egypt political and economically in such significant phase."

Continues ..

Obama "Could" Add 1 Million New Jobs ...

August 30, 2011

Obama: could add 1 million new jobs

President Barack Obama said on Tuesday there were a range of policy options available that could create up to a million new U.S. jobs, in remarks ahead of a major economic speech that he will deliver next week.

Obama must boost growth and bring down unemployment to be confident of winning another White House term in the November 2012 general election. Economists are skeptical he will get Congress to agree to significant new spending on jobs.

"We don't have magic bullets, but what we do have, I think, is the capacity to do some things right now that would make a big difference," Obama said in a interview with popular radio talkshow host Tom Joyner.

The White House says details of the job creation proposals Obama will unveil next week are still being worked out and it has yet to announce an exact date or location for his speech, although Obama hinted at some of the ideas he would put forth.

Continues ..

U.S.- Russian Billion Dollar Oil Deal ~ Exxon, Rosneft tie up in Russian Arctic, U.S.

January 2011 ~ Link ~ Russia and U.S. ~ Russian Rosneft, US Exxon ink deal on Black Sea block work

August 30, 2011

Exxon, Rosneft tie up in Russian Arctic, U.S.

Sochi, Russia - Exxon Mobil Corp and Rosneft signed an agreement to extract oil and gas from the Russian Arctic, in the most significant U.S.-Russian corporate deal since U.S. President Barack Obama began a push to improve ties.

The pact, which includes an option for Rosneft to invest in Gulf of Mexico and Texan properties, ended any hope of Britain's BP reviving its deal with state-owned Rosneft to develop the same Arctic territory. That deal was blocked in May by the billionaire partners in another BP Russian venture.

The pact gives Exxon, the biggest U.S. oil company, access to substantial reserves in Russia, the world's top oil producer. For Rosneft, it's about bringing in one of the few companies capable of drilling in the harsh, deep waters of the Arctic.

Russia has shown greater willingness in the past year to secure foreign partners, even if some deals later fell apart. The Exxon announcement comes only months after the demise of a Rosneft deal with Chevron Corp for a $1 billion investment in an estimated $32 billion Black Sea project.

Continues ..

Iraq's Prime Minister Maliki ~ Will Stand firm on Port Mubarak .. And, He stated that U.S. Troop Withdrawal Will Be Implemented On Time ...

Tuesday, 30 August 2011

Maliki: Port Mubarak if it conflicts with the interests of Iraq, we will stand face

السومرية نيوز/ بغداد Alsumaria News / Baghdad

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Tuesday that Iraq will stand general port if Mubarak was creating conflicts with the interests of Iraq or harm her, as he emphasized that the withdrawal of U.S. troops will be implemented on time, and there will be no base in the country.

A statement issued by the Office of the Prime Minister of Iraq and received "Alsumaria News", a copy of it, the statements of the owners will air a television later, he said that "the establishment of the port if Mubarak was contrary to the interests of Iraq or damage it, we will stand against this damage through the contexts the right and the rights recognized by international organizations, "pointing out that" this case a national issue and not question any minister or official."

On the subject of withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, Maliki told the television station that "the withdrawal of U.S. troops will be implemented on schedule later this year, there will be no base for U.S. forces."

Continues ..

US Iraq pull-out 'to proceed as scheduled' But Post Training Deal has Not yet been announced says PM Maliki ...

Related Article ~ U.N. concerned about Iraq's strength before U.S. Exit ...
and ..This article is great ~ Melkert Called for Maliki to Visit United Nations Headquarters in New York to display the progress and achievements in Iraq ...

August 31, 2011

US Iraq pull-out to proceed as scheduled, Maliki says

Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki said US forces will leave Iraq as scheduled by year's end, and that there will not be any permanent US bases in the country, a statement from his office said yesterday.

"The agreement on the withdrawal of American forces will be implemented on schedule by the end of the year, and there will not be any bases for US forces here," Maliki told Al Ittijah TV channel in an interview to be broadcast later, it said.

Iraqi leaders have approved negotiations with the United States on a post-2011 training mission, but no deal has yet been announced.

Continues ..

Obama picks labor expert Alan Krueger as top economist (Three Times A Charm) ...

Snip ~ At Treasury, Krueger was assistant secretary for economic policy and chief economist. He is also a veteran of President Bill Clinton's administration, serving as chief economist for the Department of Labor from August 1994 to August 1995.

Snip ~ Obama "Next week I will be laying out a series of steps that Congress can take immediately to put more money in the pockets of working families and middle class families, to make it easier for small businesses to hire people, to put construction crews to work rebuilding our nation's roads and railways and airports," he said.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Obama picks labor expert Krueger as top economist

President Barack Obama, under pressure to spur job growth, said on Monday he had chosen Princeton labor economist Alan Krueger to become the top White House economist and that he will offer a jobs plan next week.

The selection signaled a fresh attempt by Obama to make good on his promise to focus on the U.S. economy and jobs with Americans deeply dissatisfied with his handling of those issues.

Krueger, an expert on unemployment who has argued that raising the minimum wage could help employment rates, would succeed Austan Goolsbee as chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers.

With Krueger at his side in the White House Rose Garden, Obama said he would rely on the economist for "unvarnished recommendations" on how to bring down the 9.1 percent jobless rate and restore growth to the struggling U.S. economy.

Continues ..

Gimme Shelter Radio ~ 11:00 PM, EST., Monday, August 29, 2011 ~ "Right On Course" ...

Gimme Shelter Radio is the nightly live radio program of the private "Gimme Shelter" forum hosted by Phoenix. Show topics cover the global current events impacting us all. The live show airs nightly at 11pm EST. All past shows are on-demand.

Monday, August 29, 2011 .. "Right on Course"

@ Gimme Shelter Radio ~ http://www.blogtalkradio.com/phoenix3333

Link ~ Going Global Headline News For Monday, August 29, 2011 ...

Going Global Headline News For Monday, August 29, 2011 ...

September 9-10-2011 ~ G7 finance ministers and central bank governors, They are expected to focus their meeting on currency issues ...

September 23-25, World Bank and IMF Meeting ~ AND *The International Institute for Finance (Over 1200 bankers, policy maker, to attend IIF Meeting)...

President Bush Looks Back

September 5-6-2011 ~ Iraq and Egypt, Honor of looking at the files of Iraq debt outstanding

Iraqi Dinar ~ Global Reserve Currencies ~ Iraq's Economy Works to Support the Dinar and Attract Global Investment

Iraq reviews oil and natural gas law

Exclusive: Big oil companies may have to give up Iraq gas ...

***Delete 3 Zeros ~ Just Do It ~ Central Bank accused of sabotaging the political forces of the Iraqi economy ...

Iraqi bank sector ripe .. but reluctant for bids ...

Vietnamese Dong ~ Need to Shore Up Confidence in Dong, Economist Le Tham Duong of the Ho Chi Minh City Banking University ...

Iraq ~ Financial representative: the country's economy will grow in the coming period

Japan's Finance Minister ,Yoshihiko Noda, to be New Japan PM ...

October 17th Intro. ~ CME Delays Launch of Yuan Futures Contracts ~ CME now plans to introduce the contracts on Oct. 17th ....

Gimme Shelter Radio ~ 11:00 PM, EST., Sunday, August 28, 2011 "Destination ...Transformation" ...

Going Global Headline News for Sunday, August 28, 2011 ...

President Bush Looks Back

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/national-geographic-channel/promoted-videos-national-geographic-channel/ngc-the-president-looks-back.html

September 5-6-2011 ~ Iraq and Egypt, Honor of looking at the files of Iraq debt outstanding

Related articles ~ Egypt Iraq Debt Forgiveness ~ agreement on the liquidation of the principal amount of orders Zero and .. IRAQ AND EGYPT ~ Links to related articles ...

29/08/2011

Honor of looking at the files of Iraq debt outstanding

القاهرة/ وكالات Cairo / agencies

The Minister of Manpower Ahmed Borai Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf will visit the Iraqi capital Baghdad on 5 and 6 next September, to end the dues of Egyptian workers in Iraq, known as the yellow file transfers.

The Borai that was scheduled to be disbursed remittances yellow to the Egyptians before the Eid al-Fitr after it showed the Iraqi government approval of the disbursement, that there should be negotiations between honor and his Iraqi counterpart Nuri al-Maliki about the benefits and debts public and private sector, in addition to remittances yellow and benefits, including nearly than a billion dollars.

It is noteworthy that the Egyptian Foreign Ministry had received a memorandum of understanding with the Iraqi side made ​​a presentation to end the file transfers yellow due to the Egyptians, the Iraqi government, amounting to $408 million.

http://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=ar&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.uragency.net%2Fur%2Fnews.php%3Fcat%3Dnews%26id%3D4054

Iraq reviews oil and natural gas law

Related article ~ Iraqi Cabinet approves and refers Oil and Gas Law to Parliament ~ The law shall be discussed after Eid festivities ...

Monday, August 29, 2011

Iraq reviews oil and natural gas law

Baghdad, Iraqi leaders need to approve the draft oil and gas law because oil wealth is the "only source" available to rebuild the country, a Shiite lawmaker said.

The Iraqi Cabinet during the weekend approved a draft oil and natural gas law and passed it on to Parliament for endorsement. The agreement would trump existing laws governing the country's oil and gas, a government spokesman said.

Iraq has been without a hydrocarbons law that would spell out who controls what in terms of oil wealth in the country. Despite the political stalemate regarding the law, major oil companies continue to flock to the country, landing nearly a dozen deals in energy-rich Iraq.

Mohammed al-Sayhood, a lawmaker in the Shiite Iraqi National Alliance, told the Voices of Iraq news agency the issue was politicized but important for the country.

"The oil and gas law is important because it is the only source to build Iraqi economy and infrastructure," he was quoted as saying.

Draft measures had been considered since 2007. Iraq is preparing for another round of auctions in January. Lawmakers are set to review the draft after celebrations marking the end of Ramadan conclude.

http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Energy-Resources/2011/08/29/Iraq-reviews-oil-and-natural-gas-law/UPI-93851314619662/#ixzz1WT4zJ9R2

Exclusive: Big oil companies may have to give up Iraq gas ...

Related article ~ Link ~ September 11th ~ Iraq to unveil model contracts for oil/gas exploration September 11 ...


August 29, 2011

Exclusive: Big oil companies may have to give up Iraq gas

Many of the world’s biggest energy companies may have to surrender most of the gas from Iraq’s vast southern oilfields to a processing and export project led by Shell, a final draft contract between Baghdad and Europe’s biggest company, obtained by Reuters, shows.

Oil giants including Royal Dutch Shell, BP, U.S.-based Exxon, China’s CNPC, and Italy’s Eni signed technical service contracts to develop three oilfields in southern Iraq in 2009-2010.

But the oil deals to develop the Zubair, Rumaila and West Qurna 1 fields near Basra oblige the big oil contractors to surrender the gas they do not use for reinjection or power generation to Iraq’s state-run South Gas Co (SGC).

Under the $17-billion gas deal to be ratified by the Iraqi cabinet, Baghdad has pledged to do what it takes to ensure these fields supply the Shell-led Basra Gas Company (BGC) joint venture with all the raw gas and natural gas liquids (LNG) it needs, including for an LNG export plant.

“SGC shall procure that all raw gas produced from the dedicated fields (other than utilized gas but including all NGLs) … shall, on and from commencement of operations, be dedicated solely to the venture,” the contract reads.

“The Ministry shall ensure that SGC fulfils its obligation to supply and make available to BGC all committed volumes and planned volumes of raw gas, including by making available deficit volumes as needed,” said a letter of confirmation from the energy ministry attached to the contract.

Continues ..

***Delete 3 Zeros ~ Just Do It ~ Central Bank accused of sabotaging the political forces of the Iraqi economy ...

Snip ~ "He added that the "delay the project to delete the three zeroes from the Iraqi currency is very wrong and should speed up the process to delete the zeros for the advancement of the economic reality of Iraq." He continued that "if Modified the Iraqi economy after 10 years, it does not come to the welfare of the people and sends a picture of despair in the soul of every Iraqi"

29/08/2011

Central Bank accused of sabotaging the political forces of the Iraqi economy ... Need to

بغداد/ اور نيوز Baghdad / Orr News

The Central Bank of Iraq and the existence of a hidden political forces did not identify to sabotage the economic reality and delay the project to delete the three zeroes.

The deputy governor of the Central Bank of the appearance of Mohammed Saleh said that "political forces behind the sabotage and delay the advancement of the economic reality of Iraq and the project to delete the three zeroes."

He added that the "delay the project to delete the three zeroes from the Iraqi currency is very wrong and should speed up the process to delete the zeros for the advancement of the economic reality of Iraq." He continued that "if Modified the Iraqi economy after 10 years, it does not come to the welfare of the people and sends a picture of despair in the soul of every Iraqi. "

He was economic adviser to the Iraqi government Abdul Hussein Al-Anbuge has revealed to the media, local, of the existence of mafias are trying to breach the local currency during the project restructuring carried out by the CBI.

The main tasks of the Iraqi Central Bank to maintain price stability and the implementation of monetary policy, including exchange rate policies, and management of reserves of foreign currency, and the issuance of currency management, as well as to regulate the banking sector. The Central Bank of Iraq on 22 June he had decided to restructure the local currency in order to the development of the payments system in the country.

http://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=ar&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.uragency.net%2Fur%2Fnews.php%3Fcat%3Dnews%26id%3D4054

Iraqi bank sector ripe .. but reluctant for bids ...

August 29, 2011

Iraqi bank sector ripe but reluctant for bids

Foreign banks are hunting for stakes in private Iraqi banks as the sector appears ripe for investment and consolidation but local banks are reluctant to take partners, fearing a loss of control, banking officials say.

Iraq's financial sector is considered fertile ground for investment as the war-shattered nation rebuilds its vast oilfields and battered infrastructure eight years after the U.S.-led invasion that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein.

But a poor credit culture, lack of a modern banking system and the dominance of state banks have slowed development.

Foreign institutions could take a stake in as many as six Iraqi banks in the next two years, while three others are set to merge, central bank and other officials said.

"We expect during the coming two years we will see increasing movement from foreign banks entering as shareholders of Iraqi banks," said Waleed Eedi, head of the central bank's statistics and research department.

France's Societe Generale (SOGN.PA) and the Bank of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates have shown interest, one banking official said. They could join HSBC, Qatar National Bank and National Bank of Kuwait, who already operate in Iraq.

Continues ..

Vietnamese Dong ~ Need to Shore Up Confidence in Dong, Economist Le Tham Duong of the Ho Chi Minh City Banking University ...

Snip ~ "Analysts said due to a surge in inflation and a wide current account deficit, confidence in the dong has diminished, and there is a strong demand for US dollars and gold. Then came a gold frenzy two weeks ago, prompting the central bank to allow the import of five tons of gold"

August 29, 2011

Shore up confidence in dong: experts

At a time when downward pressure on the dong is increasing, it’s necessary to have plans to prevent confidence in the currency from falling further, economists say, advising the government against sugarcoating the situation.

Economist Le Tham Duong of the Ho Chi Minh City Banking University said the public needs to see the real picture, including both the best and worst case scenarios.

The government should be bolder by announcing its foreign reserves and economic forecasts, allowing people to know exactly what they should expect from the forex market in the next few months, he said.

The State Bank of Vietnam needs to tighten control over dollar credit while other government agencies try to curb imports and public spending, Duong told Thanh Nien.

As it has been clear that there is a rising tension on the dollar exchange rate, the central bank should take immediate actions to regain public confidence before it’s too late, he said. Growing anticipation that exchange rates will fluctuate is not good for the economy, he added.

The Asian Development Bank said in a July report that the only currency in the region depreciating significantly against the US dollar was the Vietnamese dong. Most of the region’s currencies appreciated in the first half of 2011, continuing the trend from last year, the bank said.

Continues ..

Iraq ~ Financial representative: the country's economy will grow in the coming period

29/08/2011

Financial representative: the country's economy will grow in the coming period

Baghdad, The Finance Committee in the Iraqi parliament said on Monday that the country's economy will grow in the coming period as a result of the government's decision to grant advances to staff (100) salary at interest rates low.

The Iraqi government represented by the Ministry of Finance has launched a project to grant advances to staff the value of (100) monthly salary that was partially recovered and interest rates low.

Continues ..

Japan's Finance Minister ,Yoshihiko Noda, to be New Japan PM ...

August 29, 2011

Yoshihiko Noda to be new Japan PM

TOKYO, The ruling Democratic Party of Japan Monday elected Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda, 54, as president, paving his way to become the next prime minister.

Noda, who will be the sixth prime minister in five years, defeated front-runner Industry Minister Banri Kaieda in a runoff in the party presidential election, Kyodo News reported. The party president normally becomes the prime minister.

Noda will succeed Naoto Kan, incumbent party chief and prime minister, who resigned Friday under criticism of his government's handling of the nuclear crisis and other disasters set off by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

Continues ..

Fukushima and even Tokyo are confirmed nuclear nightmares!

Fukushima and even Tokyo are confirmed nuclear nightmares!

Radiation Above Chernobyl Evacuation Limits Found In Tokyo

"Nothing good about the nuclear news at the end of August as we have official recognition (finally) of what is going on in Japan and thus what is threatening the rest of the world, especially the northern hemisphere.

It is now being said that the amount of radioactive cesium that has leaked from a tsunami-hit nuclear plant is about equal to 168 of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima at the end of World War II, Japan’s nuclear agency said Friday the 26th.

That’s like dropping one nuclear weapon a day since the beginning of this disaster and this is what they have been calling safe, no problem, don’t worry about it, go home and go to sleep.

Dr. Chris Busby tells us in the above video that he himself went to Japan with very sophisticated equipment and found areas in Tokyo that were 1,000 times higher than the exclusion zone around Chernobyl.

The report said the damaged plant has released 15,000 tera becquerels of cesium-137, which lingers for decades and could cause cancer, compared with the 89 tera becquerels released by the U.S. uranium bomb."

Full Article [link to theintelhub.com]

Nuclear engineer: NRC now says reactors and containments have breached and released plutonium off-site — “Much worse” than if from spent fuel pools [link to enenews.com]

Japan nuke plant radiation leak exceeds Hiroshima [link to news.yahoo.com]

October 17th Intro. ~ CME Delays Launch of Yuan Futures Contracts ~ CME now plans to introduce the contracts on Oct. 17th ....

August 29, 2011

CME Delays Launch of Yuan Futures Contracts

CME Group Inc. has delayed until October the launch of futures contracts designed to harness rising investor interest in trading the Chinese yuan.

Chicago-based CME had planned to introduce two futures linked to the Chinese currency last week, adding to a stable of existing yuan products that have traded for about five years on CME's platform.

The delay came at the request of customer firms, which needed more time to adapt back-office systems to accommodate the structure of the new futures, a spokesman for CME said Monday.

The planned futures aim to reflect the number of Chinese yuan to the U.S. dollar, allowing the exchange group to sync the planned market with the collateral posted against outstanding trades in other CME contracts, which typically come in U.S. dollars.

CME now plans to introduce the contracts on Oct. 17.

Continues ..

Gimme Shelter Radio ~ 11:00 PM, EST., Sunday, August 28, 2011 "Destination ...Transformation" ...

Gimme Shelter Radio is the nightly live radio program of the private "Gimme Shelter" forum hosted by Phoenix. Show topics cover the global current events impacting us all. The live show airs nightly at 11pm EST. All past shows are on-demand.

Sunday, August 28, 2011 "Destination ...Transformation" ...

@ Gimme Shelter Radio ~ http://www.blogtalkradio.com/phoenix3333

Link ~ Going Global Headline News for Sunday, August 28, 2011 ...

Going Global Headline News for Sunday, August 28, 2011 ...

Iraqi Dinar ~ Shabibi ~ Central Bank on the reform of the currency system began to take a serious turn towards the application ...

Watch Now ~ Pre-recorded Interview ~ Sunday, August 28th ~ George W. Bush THE 9/11 INTERVIEW’ ~ World Television Exclusive ...

Bob Chapman On QE3 And Gold And Silver - "September And October Are Going To Be Dreadful"

Takeover alert as Iraq moves to trim banks

Iraq ~ Mosque Attacked ~ Suicide Bomber Kills at least 28 people ...

Iraqi Cabinet approves and refers Oil and Gas Law to Parliament ~ The law shall be discussed after Eid festivities ...

Maliki receives Melkert following end of tour in Iraq

POOF for August 28th ~ Good Night Irene ...

Iraq cabinet approves draft oil law (different source) ...

*** IRAQ'S CABINET APPROVES DELAYED DRAFT OIL LAW ~ SENT TO PARLIAMENT FOR APPROVAL ...

Melkert Called for Maliki to Visit United Nations Headquarters in New York to display the progress and achievements in Iraq ...

Financial Expert: political and security situation behind the reluctance of international banks to partner with Iraq ...

Iraq's Supreme Council Will Question Sadr About His Call for Protests ...

Iraq and Egypt ~ Egyptian Prime Minister is visiting the country early next month ...

Iraqi List Qutaiba Jubouri nominated for the office of the Ministry of Defence ...

CBI ~ Inflation Rate More Than 7% in July ...

Iraq and the UN ~ Iraq's Ministry of Planning: Create an electronic gate in cooperation with the United Nations ...

Iraqi behind the delay in the appointment of ministers and security due to its internal conflicts

Iraq ~ ISX Will Resume September 4th, 2011. After Eid ...

Maliki: Not to Politicize security agencies, and work to provide security for all citizens ...

Iraq ~ CBI Project to delete the three zeroes from the currency ...

Gimme Shelter Radio 11:00 PM. EST., Saturday, August 27, 2011 ~ "Eye of the Storm" ...

Link ~ Going Global News for Saturday, August 27, 2011 ...

Things aren’t always what they seem ...

Iraqi Dinar ~ Shabibi ~ Central Bank on the reform of the currency system began to take a serious turn towards the application ...

Related Articles From Today ~ Iraq ~ CBI Project to delete the three zeroes from the currency ... and .. CBI ~ Inflation Rate More Than 7% in July ...

28/08/2011

Ship and the Sea of ​​the central authorities

It seems that the steps taken by the Central Bank on the reform of the currency system began to take a serious turn towards the application, particularly with regard to lifting the zeros from the Iraqi currency, or what is known as the nominal switch of the old currency (current) and change a new currency (in the near future).

This was confirmed to me slowly, and I follow this file since it was launched, and multiple Tagelath. Recent developments that give signals that the countdown for the project has become the moments of peak recently ..

Is that the recent meeting that brought together the Central Bank Governor; Shabibi, with Mr. Haider Abadi, the Finance Committee of the Council of Representatives, where they discussed what could be called the "touches the final project," and thank him that those discussions touched on the most important thing in this project and its details Kalmttlebatt legal, accounting and procedural preparations, and central printing and transporting and distributing the new currency.

Continues ..

Watch Now ~ Pre-recorded Interview ~ Sunday, August 28th ~ George W. Bush THE 9/11 INTERVIEW’ ~ World Television Exclusive ...

View recorded interview @ http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/national-geographic-channel/full-episodes/
National Geographic Channel to present GEORGE W. BUSH: THE 9/11 INTERVIEW on Sunday, August 28, 2011, at 10 PM ET.

The world premiere documentary reveals exclusive, first-person insight into the man at the epicenter of our government’s decisions in the face of the deadliest terrorist attack launched on American soil. Taped over the course of a two-day interview, President George W. Bush opens up with candid details and personal experiences on the grueling hours and pressure-packed days following the attacks. George W. Bush: The 9/11 Interview also opens a new window into his personal account, with never-before-released archival footage and exclusive materials directly from the George W. Bush Presidential Library.

Continues ...

Takeover alert as Iraq moves to trim banks

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Takeover alert as Iraq moves to trim banks

Iraq wants to reduce its number of local banks by more than a third, creating as many as 15 takeover targets for international lenders seeking to gain a foothold in the country.

The move follows last week's disclosure that Standard Chartered has started discussions about the potential acquisition of a stake in Warka Bank, said the deputy governor of Iraq's central bank.

"We are trying to evolve these private banks into real institutions," said Mudher Kasim. "The first step was to segregate shareholders from management and increase the capital requirement to push the banks to consolidate, merge or join up with foreign banks to practice good standards and service."

The central bank has urged lenders to double their capital to 100 billion dinars (Dh313.7 million) this year.

It wants them to further increase capital to 150bn dinars by the end of June next year and 250bn dinars in 2013.

There are 37 banks in Iraq, with the sector dominated by seven state-owned institutions. There are seven foreign banks, with seven more in which foreign banks hold stakes in Iraqi counterparts.

The remainder mainly comprise small private banks owned by affluent Iraqi families.

The central bank wants to reduce the number of banks operating in the country to 22.

Continues ...

Iraq ~ Mosque Attacked ~ Suicide Bomber Kills at least 28 people ...

Sunday, August 28, 2011

At least 28 killed in Iraq suicide attack

Baghdad, At least 28 people were killed, including a member of parliament, and 37 others were wounded when a suicide attack targeted a major Sunni mosque in west Baghdad Sunday night.

The explosion was inside Um al-Qura mosque, the headquarters of the Sunni endowment during the prayers of the last days of Ramadan, when attendance is up. Police confirmed that children were among the casualties.

Khalid al-Fahdawi, a lawmaker from the al-Wasat Coalition (the Middle Coalition), was among the dead.

Police said the suicide bomber used explosives hidden under a splint and tried to be as close as possible to the head of the Sunni endowment, Ahmed Abdul Ghafour al-Samarrai, who was injured in the attack.

In a phone call with one of the Iraqi satellite channels after the attack, al-Samarrai accused al-Qaida of mounting the attack. No group claimed responsibility.

A civilian was killed and 15 other people, including security personnel, were wounded in four other attacks targeted security forces and civilians throughout Baghdad.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/08/28/2379294/at-least-28-killed-in-iraq-suicide.html

Maliki receives Melkert following end of tour in Iraq

Previous Article ~ Melkert Called for Maliki to Visit United Nations Headquarters in New York to display the progress and achievements in Iraq ...

8/28/2011

Maliki receives Melkert following end of tour in Iraq

Iraqi Premier Nouri al-Maliki received today UN Secretary General Special Representative Ed Melkert following the end of his term of office in Iraq.

In a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office, as received by Aswat al-Iraq, Maliki thanked Mr.
Melkert for his efforts exerted in Iraq.

"Your work is the base for anyone who assumes your office," Maliki said in the statement.

Melkert, according to the statement, invited Premier Maliki to visit the international organization in New York."

http://en.aswataliraq.info/Default1.aspx?page=article_page&id=144558&l=1

POOF for August 28th ~ Good Night Irene ...

Beatles Here Comes The Sun Lyrics

Songwriters: LENNON/HARRISON/MCCARTNEY

Here comes the sun, do do do do
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's all right

Little darling
It's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling
It feels like years since it's been here

Here comes the sun, do do do do
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's all right

Little darling
The smiles returning to the faces
Little darling
It seems like years since it's been here

Here comes the sun, do do do do
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's all right

Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes

Little darling
I feel that ice is slowly melting
Little darling
It seems like years since it's been clear

Here comes the sun, do do do do
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's all right
Here comes the sun, do do do do
Here comes the sun
It's all right
It's all right

Greetings and Salutations

Peace be with you all, didn't expect to be writing this sunday. The fat lady sang her butt off, then the lights blew out....Mr Putin filed a law suit in the Hague, convinced the us was holding everything up, probably reading too many us message boards. The suit was dismissed and he was told, what you're after would only be delayed further by entertaining this suit, he relented.

Then we had the coming of Irene causing the man in charge to pull his troops off the east coast until the storm passed. Because this all has to be done at once, they weren't going to deliver to the west, while east coast lenders were held back, wouldn't be fair would it?

Just like mr putin he has to wait for his screens to turn green, just like the other 100+ countries with grey screens.

Continues ...

U.N. concerned about Iraq's strength before U.S. Exit ...

This is Great ~ Melkert Called for Maliki to Visit United Nations Headquarters in New York to display the progress and achievements in Iraq ...

Sunday, august 28, 2011

U.N. concerned about Iraq strength before U.S. exit

Baghdad, The U.N.’s outgoing top diplomat in Iraq on Sunday said the government in Baghdad must determine whether its security forces are strong enough to thwart violence before requiring U.S. troops to leave at the end of the year.

In his last interview after two years in Baghdad, U.N. envoy Ad Melkert said Iraqi security forces have made “clear improvements,” but he declined to say if he thinks they are ready to protect the country without help from the American military.

“It’s up to the government, really, to assess if it is enough to deal with the risks that are still around,” Mr. Melkert said in a wide-ranging interview with the Associated Press on the eve of his departure Monday.

“Obviously, security remains a very important issue.”

The U.S. and Iraqi governments are negotiating how many American troops might stay, and what role they would play, in a mission that already has lasted more than eight years. A 2008 security agreement between Baghdad and Washington requires all U.S. troops to be out of Iraq by Dec. 31, but the country’s shaky security situation and vulnerability to Iranian influence has prompted politicians on both sides to buck widespread public disapproval and reconsider the deadline.

Violence has dropped dramatically across Iraq from just a few years ago, but deadly attacks still occur nearly every day. A pair of bombs killed two people on Sunday and wounded five in Shiite Muslim neighborhoods in Baghdad, including one that was hidden on a civilian’s car.

Chief among the U.N.’s concerns about security are tensions between Arabs and Kurds over disputed land in Iraq’s north.

Some analysts have predicted that the tensions could lead to civil war if the years-long dispute isn’t settled and security forces are unable to contain violence there.

To keep tensions from boiling over, Mr. Melkert said, joint Arab-Kurdish security forces in the swath of disputed lands must continue to work together if the Americans leave. The joint force was designed by the U.S. military, which fears it will dissolve without their hands-on guidance.

Mr. Melkert said he believes the joint force will remain intact, calling it “extremely important” during efforts to parcel out the swath of disputed territory in Ninevah, Tamim and Diyala provinces, with the city of Kirkuk at the center.

“You cannot eternally have disputed areas, because sooner or later there will be interests to abuse the unresolved nature of the situation,” Mr. Melkert said. “But it needs to be done, of course, in a more stable environment, and I believe these joint coordination centers, joint checkpoints, can play an important role in providing that stability.”

Last year, soon-to-be Army chief Gen. Ray Odierno, who then was commanding U.S. forces in Iraq, suggested that U.N. peacekeepers could continue to mentor the Arab-Kurd forces if American troops leave.

Mr. Melkert all but ruled that out. “There’s certainly no talk of any U.N. peacekeeping efforts,” he said.

In an interview after Mr. Melkert’s comments, Brig. Gen. Sherko Fatih, commander of Iraqi army troops in Kirkuk, cited “harsh arguments and friction” between Arab and Kurdish soldiers that led him to ask to close joint checkpoints there. He said his request was denied.

“Neither are independent, and the trust is not there between them,” Gen. Fatih said of the ethnically split troops. “Therefore, the U.S. withdrawal will have fearful consequences.”

A senior spokesman for the Kurdish forces known as “peshmerga” said American advisers largely stopped overseeing the joint troops three months ago. He predicted the Kurdish-Arab force would remain in place in at least 22 checkpoints across the disputed lands.

“These checkpoints will keep on its joint work even after the departure of U.S troops,” peshmerga spokesman Jabbar Yawar said.

A decision on whether U.S. troops will remain is not expected for several weeks at least, and the American military already is starting to pack up to leave. About 46,000 U.S. troops currently are in Iraq. The White House has offered to keep up to 10,000 there.

Mr. Melkert also met Sunday with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who issued a statement praising the envoy’s work. Mr. al-Maliki said Mr. Melkert affirmed U.N. support of Baghdad’s push to transfer several thousand Iranian exiles who live in a remote desert camp out of the country by the end of the year.

The residents of Camp Ashraf are a resistance group to Tehran’s clerical regime. They have been a thorn in Mr. al-Maliki’s side as he tried to bolster ties with Iran.

The Ashraf residents do not want to leave, however, and it’s not known where they could go. It’s not clear if they are considered refugees with a protected status under international treaties.

Mr. Melkert did not discuss Camp Ashraf during an interview.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/aug/28/un-concerned-about-iraq-strength-us-exit