6-26-13 Stryker: It sure looks like Parliament will not return until July 2nd but we wait to see. Regardless I believe that they are all in agreement on everything and Maliki and Barzani have signed all the necessary agreements to make sure it all gets completed. Some laws will be voted in before Ramadan and the rest after according to the news.
6-17-13 Rudaw News: The United States, Britain and their Western allies appear to have taken a collective sigh of relief following the landslide victory of moderate Hassan Rouhani in Iran’s presidential election.
The Western powers are clinging to the sliver of hope that Rouhani, 62, will address Western and regional concerns about Iran’s controversial nuclear program, which has been a serious international headache for years. They also would like to see him improve political and human rights.
But the West is failing to understand Rouhani’s standing and power inside the core establishment: Among the Islamic Republic’s most important institutions, where sensitive issues and policies are handled, Rouhani is a virtual outsider.
Moreover, the West should remember that Rouhani is not the first reformist to be elected president.
Mohammad Khatami, a moderate who enjoyed much greater public support and power than Rouhani, did not make any significant headway in Iranian politics before stepping down after his eight-year term in 2005. All Khatami was able to do was to appease the West for the duration of his presidency.
Iran’s outgoing President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad enjoyed much greater influence than Khatami – and that Rouhani is likely to have – because he was part of the hard-line core of the Islamic Republic.
Unless the West absolutely insists on Iran addressing all important issues of international concern, Rouhani will end up becoming the international face of the Islamic Republic, while the real decisions are elsewhere.
Perhaps the only rational comment on the election came from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who urged continued international pressure on Iran to curb its nuclear program. “The international community must not give in to wishful thinking or temptation and loosen the pressure on Iran for it to stop its nuclear programme,” he told his cabinet.
Iran tends to oscillate between reformists and hardliners, but as long as there are no real elections in the country, Iran remains Iran.
America does not seem to understand this, but Russia does. Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged expanded ties with Iran’s new administration.
As for the Kurds, Iraq and Syria, there is very little hope for change because the centers that make decisions on these issues are not affected by elections.
6-17-13 BGG: Article: “Economic” intends to limit the Governor to discuss steps to lower the dollar”
In short, Dr Shabibi is about to be exonerated and Turki is going to have to answer for what is going on and why he didn’t produce as “advertised”.
6-16-13 (Reuters) – Thousands of Iranians celebrated on the streets into Sunday’s early hours, counting on moderate president-elect Hassan Rohani to follow through on promises of better relations abroad and more freedom at home after routing hardliners at the polls.
A mid-ranking Shi’ite cleric, Rohani is an Islamic Republic insider who has held senior political and military posts since the 1979 revolution and maintained a good rapport throughout with theocratic Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s most powerful man who has the last word on all the big issues.
While no reformer himself, Rohani gained the backing of politically sidelined but still popular reformist leaders. His call for an end to the “era of extremism” won over many voters disgruntled over economic crises and crackdowns on free speech and dissidents that marked Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s presidency.
Rohani’s surprise win however is not expected to quickly resolve the stand-off with the West over Iran’s disputed nuclear ambitions or break its commitment to backing President Bashar al-Assad in Syria’s civil war.
But the new president will run the economy of the sprawling OPEC member state of 75 million people and exert influence when Khamenei decides on national security matters.
His victory goes some way to repairing the legitimacy of the Islamic Republic, punctured four years ago when dozens were killed in protests after an election reformists said was rigged, and may help pragmatic voices muzzled since then to re-emerge.
Thousands of young Iranians took to the streets of the capital Tehran and other big cities as soon as the poll results were announced on Saturday, making sure their voices and expectations of the new president were clearly heard.
The president-elect, known in the West as Iran’s main nuclear negotiator in 2003-05, immediately sought to build bridges on Sunday, expressing approval of the street parties but also having talks with the conservative speaker of parliament.
“With their celebrations last night, the Iranian people showed they are hopeful about the future and God willing, morals and moderation will govern the country,” Rohani told state TV.
Hardliners whose power comes from their unquestioning loyalty to Khamenei both badly miscalculated the public mood and failed to set aside their own factional differences and field a single candidate, analysts said.
Both Khamenei and the powerful hardline Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that controls large swathes of the oil-dependent economy said the election was a victory for all.
Whether Rohani succeeds in ushering in change to Iran, or whether the next four years yield the same stalemate that marked the 1997-2005 presidency of reformist Mohammad Khatami, will hinge on his ability to balance the demands and expectations of the people with the interests and constraints of those who hold the pivotal instruments of power in the Islamic Republic.
ROHANI MAY HAVE ADVANTAGES OVER KHATAMI
Rohani’s reputation as a mediator and someone who has worked within the corridors of power should be an advantage that Khatami, who was director of the national library before he became president, never enjoyed.
“Rohani is the ultimate regime insider. In contrast to Khatami, who held no governmental position when he was catapulted into the presidency, Rohani has never been out of power or Khamenei’s good graces,” said Ali Vaez, Iran analyst at the International Crisis Group.
“Also, Rohani is a centrist politician, with a unique bridge-building ability. He is unlikely to alienate competing power centers, who can stymie his reforms,” he said.
A big test will be whether Rohani pushes for the release from house arrest of Mirhossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi, two reformist leaders held under house arrest since 2011. That demand was a constant chant of Rohani supporters at his campaign rallies and on the streets of Tehran and elsewhere overnight.
“This will in my view be the first real test of how sincere this election has been. Then we will know the caliber of Mr Rohani,” said Ali Ansari, professor at St Andrew’s University in Scotland.
“Much depends on the political will of the fractured elite and the willingness of Khamenei to pull back. There is some anxiety that the powers that be, having got their ‘popular election’, will now settle back into their comfort zones.”
Despite similarities between Khatami and Rohani’s upset election victories, political realities “are fundamentally different”, said Yasmin Alem, a U.S.-based Iran expert.
“The supreme leader is more powerful, the Revolutionary Guards are more influential, and the conservatives are more in control. However, Rohani is a crafty statesman and stands a better chance … of navigating Iran’s political minefield.”
Rohani has a tough task ahead of him dealing with Iran’s myriad domestic and foreign policy problems, she said.
“Iranian voters should demonstrate the same maturity and patience they did at the polls, if they want to avoid the disillusionment that followed Khatami’s presidency.”
Rohani himself called for patience soon after his win was announced on Saturday. “The country’s problems won’t be solved overnight and this needs to happen gradually and with consultation with experts,” he told the state news agency IRNA.
But Rohani, whose conciliatory style contrasts with the confrontational populism of Ahmadinejad, said there was a new chance “in the international arena for … those who truly respect democracy and cooperation and free negotiation”.
Post-election revelers were optimistic. “I am hopeful about the future, hopeful that we will have more social freedoms, more stability in Iran, better relations with other countries and hopefully a much better economy,” said Hoda, 26, from Tehran.
As well as chanting “Long live Rohani!” and wishing good riddance to the current president with “Ahmadi, bye bye!”, jubilant crowds did not shy from feting Mousavi, the reformist leader defeated in the election four years ago.
“Mousavi, Mousavi, congratulations on your victory!” the crowds shouted.
Pictures and videos of the celebrations showed more people wearing the green colors of Mousavi’s 2009 campaign than Rohani’s purple. Police stood by and even shared jokes with some people in the throng.
Others had an ironic take on the “death to dictator” chants of the huge 2009 protests at which security forces opened fire, shouting “thank you dictator” for allowing a fair vote now.
6-16-2013 Stryker: Article quote: “Adoption of the control system electronic links between him and the General Authority for Customs”
It sure looks like the tariff law is ready to be activated since the only thing left was the modern computer system (control system) to be set in place…The last tariff articles indicated that the only thing left to do before they could implement the tariff laws was to have a electronic tracking system in place. Well if this system can track money for the Central Bank of Iraq at each border crossing it sure can keep up with the accountability of goods crossing the border as well.
6-16-13 Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) MP Mohamed al-Sayhoud of the State of Law Coalition described the talk about secret agreements between the Premier, Nouri al-Maliki and the President of Kurdistan Region, Masoud Barzani as an attempt to disturb the dialogue to resolve the political crises.
Maliki had visited Erbil on 9th, of current June where he held the Council of Ministers session there and met with the President Masoud Barzani.
Sayhoud stated to Iraqi News (IraqiNews.com) “The dialogue is very crucial to resolve the current political crisis, however whenever a convergence happens among the political sides attempts emerge to doubt the intents and disturb the dialogue process.”
“These accusations over concluding agreements between Maliki and Barzani to form political majority aim at hitting the dialogues,” he stressed.
6-16-13 Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) Head of the Iraqiya Slate, Ayad Allawi, stressed that “Iraq needs real national partnership, especially after the changes happened to its political history.
Allawi said in his personal (Twitter) page “Iraq needs real national power-sharing based on institutions building.”
6-15-13 Al Estiqama / Integrity electronic – Baghdad confirmed Oil Minister Abdul Karim and coffee to work on the development of the manufacturing industry in Iraq through the addition of production units and to improve production in Midland Refineries Company and the two refineries south and north. According to the Ministry of Oil that it “continues to plan for the establishment of four refineries to boost production capacity of oil derivatives and crossing the line of self-sufficiency in production of petroleum products. ” For his part, General Manager of Midland Refineries Company Saad Nuri “The project, which opened in Midland Refineries Company will work to improve production and upgrading بمستوياته, as well as increased energy Alkhoznip to Daura and provide the necessary supplies for the units new production” .
6-15-13 Hub: I have three different high level contacts very close to the situation and all are scratching their head not knowing why this has not popped…they know it’s done, because they see it on the instrumentation they use as a profession…don’t know why it has not happened but know it’s done…so anyway, dinar wise…we are there…don’t know when but now very close.
6-15-13 Zawya Intel: The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry revealed closeness of adopting the Memorandum of Understanding concluded in recent between Iraq and Kuwait over mutual oil fields.
Kuwaiti delegation headed by the Premier, Jaaber al-Hamad al-Sabah had visited Iraq on last Wednesday where several MoUs and agreements were concluded between both countries.
The Kuwaiti FM Undersecretary, Khalid al-Jaarallah said “There is a prepared MoU that will be adopted soon between both countries to start the work at the oil fields.”
Concerning the issue of Mubarak Port, Jaarallah said “W did not discuss this topic during our visit to Iraq and the work at Mubarak port is going as planned,” pointing out that “We wish to start the work and receive the ships soon in this port to invest this vital port which will not only benefit Kuwait, but also help Iraq.”
