Iraqi ministry casts doubt on oil law

[babylonsister]

http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latestnews/index.php?id=9279

February 25th, 2007 7:06 pm
Iraqi ministry casts doubt on oil law

By Bushra Juhl / Associated Press

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The Oil Ministry cast doubt Sunday on statements indicating the Kurds had agreed to support a draft oil law that would divide revenues among all Iraqi factions and meet a key U.S. benchmark in Iraq.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's government had promised to enact a new oil law by the end of 2006 but missed the deadline due to objections from the Kurds. Many of Iraq's vast oil reserves can be found in the Kurdish north and the Shiite south, and the Kurds wanted a greater role in awarding contracts and administering the revenues.

Massoud Barzani, president of the self-governing Kurdish administration in the north, said Saturday that he and President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, had discussed the latest draft law by telephone with al-Maliki and "the results were good."

Barzani made the comments in a joint press conference with Talabani after a meeting with U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad in the northern Kurdish city of Sulaimaniyah.

"We reached a final agreement," Barzani said, without elaborating. "We accept the draft."

An Oil Ministry spokesman, however, stressed that the draft law still needed to be discussed at the Cabinet level.

more...

[Kagemusha]

1. ...Talibani being rushed to hospital in Jordan is a kink at any rate

And not one I think anyone planned, but the oil law stuff's probably part of what stressed the guy out so bad.

[merh]

2. Did you see this article published in the New Zealand Herald

Allies pressure Iraq to hand over oil
5:00AM Monday February 26, 2007

LONDON - Baghdad is under pressure from Britain and the United States to pass an oil law which would hand long-term control of Iraq's energy assets to foreign multinationals, according to campaigners.
Iraqi trades unions have called for the country's oil reserves - the second-largest in the world - to be kept in public hands. But a leaked draft of the oil law shows that the Government would sign away the right to exploit its untapped fields in so-called exploration contracts, which could be extended for more than 30 years.
British Foreign Office Minister Kim Howells has admitted that the Government has discussed the wording of the Iraqi law with Britain's oil giants.
In a written answer to a parliamentary question, from Labour's Alan Simpson, Howells said: "These exchanges have included discussion of Iraq's evolving hydrocarbons legislation where British international oil companies have valuable perspectives to offer based on their experience in other countries."
The talks had covered "the range of contract types which Iraq is considering".
Hasan Jumah Awwad al-Asadi, leader of the country's oil workers' union, warned this month: "History will not forgive those who play recklessly with the wealth and destiny of a people."
With much of the country on the brink of civil war, and a fractious Government in Baghdad, campaigners say Iraq is in a poor position to negotiate with foreign oil firms. The law, which is being discussed by the Iraqi Cabinet before being put to the Parliament, says the untapped oil would remain state-owned but that contracts would be drawn up giving private sector firms the exclusive right to extract it.
"There is this fine line, that the wording is seeking to draw, that allows companies to claim that the oil is still Iraqi oil, whereas the extraction rights belong to the oil companies," says Kamil Mahdi, an Iraqi economist at Exeter University.
He criticised the United States and Britain, saying: "The whole idea of the law is due to external pressure. The law is no protection against corruption, or against weakness of government. It's not a recipe for stability."
Oil production in Iraq has slipped to below two million barrels a day - less than before the invasion - and Britain and the US argue that Iraq urgently needs foreign investment to boost output. But Ewa Jasiewicz, of campaign group Platform, said all the other Gulf states had kept production in government hands.
- OBSERVER

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/2/story.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10425776

I am worried that rival forms of extremists will battle for power, obviously creating incredible damage if they do so; that they will topple modern governments, that they will be in a position to use oil as a tool to blackmail the West. ~ George W. Bush - November 1, 2006.

[babylonsister]

3. Hello, merh! Hadn't seen that one, but did post this today:

Makes me wonder who to believe.

OT, I hope you're doing well! :hug: I met intheflow in DC last month, and she spoke very highly of you. I wish I had met you; maybe next time!



Iraq poised to hand control of oil fields to foreign firms

http://www.opednews.com/maxwrite/linkframe.php?linkpg=h...


Iraq poised to hand control of oil fields to foreign firms


Baghdad under pressure from Britain to pass a law giving multinationals rights to the country's reserves

Heather Stewart, economics correspondent
Sunday February 25, 2007
The Observer

Baghdad is under pressure from Britain and the US to pass an oil law which would hand long-term control of Iraq's energy assets to foreign multinationals, according to campaigners.

Iraqi trades unions have called for the country's oil reserves - the second-largest in the world - to be kept in public hands. But a leaked draft of the oil law, seen by The Observer, would see the government sign away the right to exploit its untapped fields in so-called exploration contracts, which could then be extended for more than 30 years.

Foreign Office minister Kim Howells has admitted that the government has discussed the wording of the Iraqi law with Britain's oil giants.

In a written answer to a parliamentary question, from Labour's Alan Simpson, Howells said: 'These exchanges have included discussion of Iraq's evolving hydrocarbons legislation where British international oil companies have valuable perspectives to offer based on their experience in other countries.' The talks had covered 'the range of contract types which Iraq is considering'.

Control of oil is an explosive political issue in Iraq. Hasan Jumah Awwad al-Asadi, leader of the country's oil workers' union formed after the invasion in 2003, warned this month: 'History will not forgive those who play recklessly with the wealth and destiny of a people.'

With much of the country on the brink of civil war, and a fractious government in Baghdad, campaigners say Iraq is in a poor position to negotiate with foreign oil firms. 'Iraq is under occupation and its people are facing relentless insecurity and crippling poverty. Yet, with the support of our government, multinationals are poised to take control of Iraq's oil wealth,' said Ruth Tanner, senior campaigner at War On Want.

more...

[merh]

4. I hadn't seen the one from the Observer.

But don't you know, the righties swear OIL has NOTHING TO DO with this war.

Friggin idiots lie to themselves.

intheflow spoke highly of me??? How much had she been drinking :rofl:

I'm just a little ole hard head, she is the one making a difference. She is awesome.

One day I hope to make it to a meet up, not a Peace March - a Peace Celebration!

:hi:

thanks for asking about things here, I'm just plugging along. Hope you are well :hug: