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The following is a selection of entries from daily reports over the last week, on issues ranging from jihad and terrorism, the Palestinian Authority, reform, Turkey, Iran, and economics.
The MEMRI Blog: www.thememriblog.org
*Jihad & Terrorism
Islamist Forum Posts Handbook for Making Water-Bottle Rockets
On November 28, 2007, the Islamist forum www.al-faloja.info, hosted by Liquid Web Inc., in Michigan, USA, posted a message by a participant calling himself "Apkarino" on how to make rockets made from water bottles. He suggested that the mujahideen use them as a weapon against their enemies, and explained that when enhanced with detonators, explosive material, and nails, such rockets would be cheap and effective weapons. He provided instructions for constructing such a rocket, as well as links to several U.S. and British sites on the subject – some of them science-oriented sites (e.g., the site of the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington, U.K.) and others sites for rocket hobbyists.
Following is an excerpt from Apkarino's message:
"My brother mujahideen, I present you with an idea that occurred to me while I was browsing an American site. I discovered that [the Americans], for their amusement, make rockets out of PET water bottles, and then hold contests [to see] who can launch his rocket the farthest. The only thing needed in order to turn these rockets into weapons that can be [assembled] by the mujahideen almost for free and used to bombard the apostates is a quantity of explosive [material]. I have translated [the instructions] into Arabic, attached pictures, and added some [comments] of my own, in order to make this an easily [accessible] source for anyone interested [in this matter]…"
To view a video of the launch of a water-bottle rocket taken from one of the sites recommended in the message, see: http://switch3.castup.net/cunet/gm.asp?ClipMediaID=1522601&ak=null
http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/3981.htm
Iraqi Tribes: Unite Against Al-Qaeda
At the "Iraq, Our Main Tribe" conference of Iraqi tribal heads, participants stressed the need to unite their ranks against terrorism.
The gathering, held December 3-5 in the city of Suleimaniya in Iraqi Kurdistan, was attended by tribal leaders from across the country, from Arab, Kurdish, and Turkmen tribes, both Muslim and non-Muslim.
Conference participants said that the tribes must unite against "terrorism and the illegitimate armed groups, and against the terrorist elements infiltrating into Iraq from without, and to expand the framework of activity by the Iraqi tribes' Awakening movement against terrorism, primarily against Al-Qaeda."
The participants also asked the Iraqi government for monetary and logistical assistance for their activity.
Source: Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, London, December 6, 2007
http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/3955.htm
Terror Cell Planned To Target Senior Saudi Clerics
New information on the terror cell that planned assassinations of senior clerics in Saudi Arabia shows that first on the list were Saudi chief mufti and Senior Ulamaa Council head Sheikh Abd Al-'Aziz bin Abdallah Aal Al-Sheikh and council member Sheikh Salah bin Fawzan Al-Fawzan.
It should be noted that two months ago, Mufti Aal Al-Aheikh released a communiqué calling on youth not to go out to wage jihad and to beware of elements exploiting them for corrupt purposes that harm Islam. Sheikh Sheikh Al-Fawzan spoke out against individuals with mistaken thought, calling them ignoramuses who distort the picture of Islam.
Source: 'Okaz, Saudi Arabia, December 6, 2007
http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/3950.htm
Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt General Guide Wants To Step Down
The general guide of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Muhammad Mahdi 'Akef, has expressed his with to step down from his post.
In a television interview, 'Akef said, "I hope that they will release me and relieve me from this post. I will be very glad to return to the movement [as an ordinary member]."
'Akef added that as he approaches 80, he wants to allow other leaders to bear the responsibility of the position, which he called "a heavy yoke in light of my advanced age and the need to deal with a tyrannical regime."
Source: islamonline.com, December 2, 2007
http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/3895.htm
*Palestinian Authority
Al-Zahar: Jerusalem Will Be Capital Of Islamic Caliphate
Members of the Hamas faction in the Palestinian Legislative Council in Gaza and the West Bank have approved the first reading of a bill banning the relinquishing of Jerusalem and considering the act of doing so to be against the law.
Former Palestinian foreign minister Mahmoud Al-Zahar said that Jerusalem will be the capital of the state of the Islamic Caliphate in Palestine.
PLC member Fathi Hamad called for the death penalty for anyone giving up one inch of Jerusalem or Palestine.
Source: Al-Ayyam, Palestinian Authority, December 6, 2007
http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/3949.htm
PA Disbands West Bank Charity Committees, Expels All Hamas Members
The Palestinian Authority has disbanded all 92 zakat (charity) committees in the West Bank and reestablished them after expelling all Hamas members from them.
The Palestinian government accused Hamas of using the committees for transferring large sums of money from abroad for funding its military and political activity in Palestinian Authority territory.
Source: Al-Hayat, London, December 5, 2007
http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/3938.htm
Hamas Says No To Red Cross Visit To Gilad Shalit
A spokesman for Hamas's 'Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, Abu Ubeida, denied reports that the brigades had agreed to let the Red Cross visit kidnapped Israeli solder Gilad Shalit.
Ubeida said that Hamas has opposed Red Cross visits to Shalit in the past as well for security reasons.
Source: Al-Quds Al-Arabi, London, December 5, 2007
http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/3937.htm
Report: Syria To Host, Fund Conference Of Annapolis Opponents
Syria has announced to the leaders of the Palestinian factions residing in Syria that it has agreed to host, and fund, a conference of opponents of the Annapolis conference.
The conference is to take place in January 2008.
Source: Al-Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, December 4, 2007
http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/3897.htm
*Reform
Saudi Arabia Calls For Ban On Internet Use For Terrorist Purposes
At the conclusion last night, December 4, of the Information Technology and National Security conference in Saudi Arabia, which was led by Saudi General Intelligence chief Prince Muqren bin Abd Al-Aziz, conference participants called on the U.N. and the various countries to ban the use of the Internet and other technological means for purposes of disseminating terrorism and mistaken thoughts.
Source: 'Okaz, Al-Watan, Saudi Arabia, December 5, 2007
http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/3935.htm
Kuwait Bans Politics In Sermons
Kuwait's Ministry of Religious Endowments and Islamic Affairs has warned imams and preachers against including politics in their sermons, and announced that those who did so would be investigated.
It was also reported that the ministry and the Education Ministry were working together to give pupils a message about the dangers of terrorism and ideological extremism.
Source: Al-Jarida, Kuwait, December 5, 2007
http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/3921.htm
Tunisian Journalist Sentenced To Prison
A Tunisian court sentenced, on December 4, Tunisian journalist Salim Boukhdir to one year in prison, following his conviction for harming morality and after he refused to identify himself to security personnel.
Boukhdir, an independent journalist, works for the London daily Al-Quds Al-Arabi and other media. He recently staged a two-week hunger strike in protest against not being issued a passport for four years.
Source: Al-Quds Al-Arabi, London, December 5, 2007
http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/3919.htm
European Arabs Launch Campaign to Stop Al-Jazeera Broadcasts in Europe
Arabs in Europe have launched a public campaign to stop Al-Jazeera TV broadcasts in Europe. In a petition, they accuse the channel of fostering extremism among European Arab youth and of supporting terrorism. While the petition's initiators have not provided their names, it seems likely that they are Iraqi expatriates; although various Arab news websites, such as Elaph, have reported on the campaign, the petition itself has been posted primarily on Iraqi websites. These sites include the Iraqi news site Sotaliraq; the Iraq of Tomorrow news site; the Al-Najaf News site; the website of Al-Fayhaa TV, a liberal Iraqi station; the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan website;Bahzani, a news and opinion website focusing on the Yazidi community and other Iraqi minorities; the Yezidi Community website; the website of the Gilgamish Center for Kurdish Studies and Research; and the Kurdistan Times e-journal.
To view the full Special Dispatch visit: http://www.memri.org/bin/latestnews.cgi?ID=SD177807
To view MEMRI TV's page devoted to Al-Jazeera: http://www.memritv.org/subject/en/166.htm
http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/3913.htm
Saudi Authorities To Youths Planning To Wage Jihad: Turn Yourselves In Now
In a recent communiqué, the Saudi government called on Saudi youths, in the kingdom and outside it, who are planning to wage jihad in regions of conflict to turn themselves in as soon as possible to Saudi security authorities.
The communiqué stated that their turning themselves in would be taken into consideration in future deliberations.
This appeal is the first of its kind, and indicates that Saudi Arabia is backing down from the previous approach of granting automatic pardon to jihadist youth.
Source: Al-Watan, Saudi Arabia, December 1, 2007
http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/3866.htm
*Other
France, Algeria Initial Agreement For Civilian Nuclear Cooperation
France and Algeria yesterday, December 4, initialed an agreement for cooperation in all areas of civilian nuclear technology.
The agreement, which was the first of its kind between France and an Arab or Muslim country, was signed during French President Nicolas Sarkozy's visit to Algeria. It came despite tensions between the two countries over the French colonialist past and France's rejection of Algeria's demand that it apologize for its "colonialist crimes."
Sarkozy merely issued a statement that colonialism was against the values of the French Republic, and expressed regret over the victims on both sides in Algeria's war of independence.
Source: Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, London, December 5, 2007
http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/3916.htm
The MEMRI Turkey Blog: www.thememriblog.org/turkey
CHP Leader Baykal: AKP Is Transforming Turkey Into An Islamist State
The Turkish government introduced its 2008 budget to the parliament amid strong criticism by the opposition parties.
In his address to the parliament Republican People Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said, “The ruling party (AKP) is transforming Turkey's structure. There are efforts to capture the state and turn it to a different direction. Turkey is no longer the secular republic of Atatürk but as a moderate Islamist state”. “Democracy does not mean establishing a political hegemony by using the authority and the power of the state,” Baykal said, criticizing the AKP for partisan appointments to critical state institutions.
He also referred to the sale of Sabah - ATV media group and criticized its methodology. “It seems that the holding that the prime minister’s son-in-law manages is winning the tender. Such a picture will not befit a democracy,” he said.
Baykal also slammed President Abdullah Gül for approving a controversial law that amends the appointment procedures of judges and prosecutors without even reading it. “I am very sorry to see that the presidency is no longer above politics and cannot monitor, control and guard the interests of the state,” he said.
Baykal also criticized the government's economic policies, underlining that “the government has already given up on the social state, ignoring the poor and the middle class.” He said that Turkey has become a heaven of hot money, the main sources of its economy being hot money and foreign borrowing. He added, “We are stuck on imports rather than production.”
Baykal spoke also about the allegations of corruption by Finance Minister Kemal Unakıtan and his sons.
Source: Hurriyet, Turkish Daily News, Turkey, December 5, 2007
http://www.thememriblog.org/turkey/blog_personal/en/3976.htm
Women Not As Valuable As Cows In Reform Bill
Mainstream Turkish daily Vatan reported that the new social security bill that will be voted in parliament takes an unusual stance toward women.
The Ministry of Agriculture provides aid worth YTL 80 for a cow that has given birth. This amount sometimes even reaches YTL 104 depending on the breed of cow. However, aid for women on maternity leave for is only YTL 58.
The reform bill proposes a cut of 25 percent in pensions for widows. A working widow is to be paid only 50 percent of the retirement benefits she is supposed to receive due to her husband's death, whereas an unemployed widow receives 75 percent of this amount, according to the bill that penalizes working women.
Source: Vatan, Turkey, December 5, 2007
http://www.thememriblog.org/turkey/blog_personal/en/3974.htm
AKP Government Sells Turkey's Second-Largest Media Group To Calik Holding – Whose General Manager Is Son-In-Law Of PM Erdogan
Turkey's second-biggest media group, Sabah/ATV, was sold yesterday to Calik Holding, the lone bidder after all others pulled out. Initially there were about 10 groups competing; the last consortiums to withdraw were İpek-Sancak with their European partner RTL, and Nurol Holding and its U.S. partner Carlyle Group, leaving Calik the sole bidder to buy Sabah/ATV for $1.1 billion. There were rumors in the media that the prime minister was involved and had had discussions with other contenders, in the weeks prior to the sale. Mainstream media has been accusing AKP for creating a large pro-AKP/Islamist media through acquisitions, while putting pressure on the mainstream media by intimidation. Previously two other large media groups were also seized and sold to parties known to be close to the AKP.
On April 1, 2007, the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF), a governmental organization, confiscated Sabah/ATV group, which consists of three newspapers, two TV channels, a group of magazines, and a distribution company, and organized its sale.
Calik Holding, which is active in textile, construction, finance and energy, grew bigger during the the AKP's rule, especially when it was given – without a tender – the Samsun-Ceyhan (trans-Anatolia) oil pipeline project. It is led by businessman Ahmet Çalık, who is claimed to be "close" to the AKP government. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's 26-year-old son-in-law Berat Albayrak became Calik's general manager in late March.
Source: Hurriyet, Cumhuriyet, Turkey, December 6, 2007
http://www.thememriblog.org/turkey/blog_personal/en/3947.htm
Turkish Daily Sabah: "A Fanatical Imam"
The imam at the funeral held for stewardess Mumine Bulut, who died in the recent plane crash, demanded that her photograph be removed from lapels, as well from next to her coffin.
Imam Abdullah Cihangir said: "It is not acceptable to perform the namaz (Islamic prayer) ceremony with her photos present."
Some Turkish theologians said in reaction that there was no such ban in Koran verses and that it has become a common practice for people attending funerals to wear a photo of the deceased on their lapels.
Another religious authority has justified the imam, saying that displaying photos in funerals was not an Islamic tradition, but a Western one.
Source: Sabah, Turkey, December 3, 2007
http://www.thememriblog.org/turkey/blog_personal/en/3893.htm
Turks See U.S. As Global Threat
A staggering 66 percent of the Turkish population considers the United States to be the largest global threat, according to a public opinion poll conducted in nine countries by Angus Reid Strategies for a leading Canadian magazine. Only 1 percent of Turks see Iran and Iraq as a threat, the same survey revealed.
Source: Turkish Daily News, December 3, 2007
http://www.thememriblog.org/turkey/blog_personal/en/3892.htm
Conspiracy Theories In Turkish Media: Plane Crash Result Of Sabotage?
Turkish media has been reporting on various conspiracy theories related to the recent plane crash in Turkey that killed 57 people, among them six physicists. In yesterday's top story, the Fethullah Gulen-affiliated daily Bugün said that thorium expert Professor Engin Arik, who was a key scientist leading a major energy project aimed at reducing Turkey's energy costs was killed in Friday's plane crash. The daily wrote that she was the most prominent academic in Turkey in nuclear physics and that the accident might have been the result of sabotage to stop Turkey's potential nuclear advance.
Six other nuclear physicists were also on the flight. Bugün also pointed out that in an earlier crash of an Iranian aircraft, 46 nuclear physicists had been killed, and noted that this added to suspicions of sabotage.
Arık was the architect of the ERKE project, which envisaged independence from foreign energy sources. The daily said, "Her work was closely being monitored by the international scientific community."
Source Bugun, Turkey, December 2, 2007
http://www.thememriblog.org/turkey/blog_personal/en/3874.htm
PM Erdogan: Military Authorized To Carry Out Cross-Border Offensive
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced on Friday that on November 28 the government gave full authority to the Turkish Armed Forces to conduct cross-border operations in northern Iraq to crack down the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorists there.
The political and military observers in Ankara believe that the army is planning a surgical strike on certain PKK targets, due to the hard winter conditions in the region.
The prime minister confirmed that the "real time intelligence sharing" with the United States is working. Top U.S. generals visited Ankara last week to discuss the technical details of the intelligence sharing mechanism. Military officials of the two countries agreed on establishing a joint intelligence center to accelerate the process.
The move of the government pleased the opposition parties except for the Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP).
Source: Hurriyet, Turkish Daily News, December 2, 2007
http://www.thememriblog.org/turkey/blog_personal/en/3864.htm
The MEMRI Iran Blog: www.thememriblog.org/iran
Iranian Gov't Spokesman: U.S. Claims About Iran's Peaceful Nuclear Activities "Lies"; U.S. Officials "Must Pay Price"
Iranian government spokesman Gholam-Hossein Elham said on December 4 that U.S. claims about Iran's peaceful nuclear activities were "mere lies," and that the U.S. should "pay the price" for them.
Elham was commenting on the recent U.S. National Intelligence Estimate on Iran, which states that it does not "assume that Iran intends to acquire nuclear weapons."
He added, "U.S. officials have so far inflicted much damage on the Iranian nation by spreading lies against the country, and by disturbing public opinion. Therefore, they must pay the price for their actions."
Source: IRNA, Iran, December 5, 2007
http://www.thememriblog.org/iran/blog_personal/en/3934.htm
Ahmadinejad: Iran Needs 50,000 Centrifuges
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said that Iran needs 50,000 centrifuges to supply fuel for one year to a power plant.
In a meeting with war veterans in the district of Ilam on December 5, Ahmadinejad said, "When we commissioned 164 series of centrifuges, the ill-wishers told us to stop there and that they would ignore it, but we said we need 50,000 centrifuges to supply fuel for one year to a power plant."
He added that Iran had continued with the industrial production of nuclear fuel against the will of ill-wishers.
Referring to a possible new U.N. Security Council resolution against Iran's peaceful nuclear activities, Ahmadinejad said, "Our nation does not fear such threats."
Source: IRNA, Iran, December 5, 2007
http://www.thememriblog.org/iran/blog_personal/en/3943.htm
Iran Launches Stealth Sub
Iran's second domestically produced submarine, equipped with an anti-sonar system, was launched in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas on December 5, during a ceremony marking Navy Day, the Fars News Agency reported. The Ghadir-class submarine, a light underwater craft with the latest military and electronic equipment, was designed and manufactured in cooperation with Iran's universities over the past decade.
Iranian naval experts believe that its capabilities are the same as those of foreign submarines. The submarine was delivered to the Iranian Navy ahead of military maneuvers planned for February in the Strait of Hormuz.
Next, Iranian experts plan to launch medium-weight submarines.
Source: Baztab, Iran, November 29, 2007
http://www.thememriblog.org/iran/blog_personal/en/3942.htm
From MEMRI TV – Iran Leader's Rep. For Hajj Affairs Rayshahri: Muslims Should Unite And Destroy Idols Of The World, Led By America
To view the clip: http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/1614
http://www.thememriblog.org/iran/blog_personal/en/3909.htm
Iranian Reformist Party Leader Criticizes Ahmadinejad's Insensitivity To Human Rights Violations
Mohsen Armin, speaker of the Iranian reformist party Mojahedin-e Enqelab, has stated that due to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad insensitivity to human rights violations in Iran, no one is taking his claims about the Holocaust seriously.
Armin said that before all this preoccupation with the Holocaust, Ahmadinejad should have permitted investigations into human rights violations in Iran – such as the deaths in prison of medical student Zahra Bani Ameri ("Woman Arrested For Dress Code Violation In Iran Dies In Prison") and of Canadian-Iranian photographer Zahra Kazemi.
Source: Norooz News, Iran, December 2, 2007
http://www.thememriblog.org/iran/blog_personal/en/3898.htm
The MEMRI Economic Blog: www.memrieconomicblog.org
New Syrian-American-British Oil Company
Anglo-American Gulf Sands Company will soon announce the production of crude oil after a successful result from drilling in three areas in Syria. In one area, there were positive results, indicating the possibility of producing 10-15 thousand b/d, which could multiply when the entire field is developed. Gulf Sands will enter into partnership with a Syrian holding company to market the oil. [For the first time in 2006, Syria has become a net importer of oil, mainly oil derivatives.]
Source: al-Sharq al-Awsat, December 6, 2007
http://memrieconomicblog.org/bin/content.cgi?news=293
Kuwait: Inflation Surges to Highest Level in at Least 12 Years
Annual inflation in Kuwait surged to a record high last September, reaching 6.2% due to accelerated costs of housing, food, transport and communication.
The inflation rate is the highest on record, according to central bank statistics that go back to December 1994.
Kuwait, the only Gulf country whose currency is no longer pegged to the dollar, cut interest rates twice last September, before and after an interest cut in the US.
Source: Elaph, London, December 4, 2007
http://memrieconomicblog.org/bin/content.cgi?news=285
Saudi Arabia: Warning Against Speculation on the Appreciation of the Riyal
Saudi Arabia's finance minister warned investors against the betting on the appreciation of the riyal, saying that the kingdom had no plans to change its currency policy.
There was no disagreement on currency policy among the GCC countries, whose rulers met in the Qatari capital Doha, and there is no change in the policy of the kingdom, the Saudi official said, adding that pegging the GCC currencies to the dollar was not discussed at the GCC summit.
Source: al-Wasat, Bahrain, December 5, 2007
http://memrieconomicblog.org/bin/content.cgi?news=283
Iran's 2006 Economic Growth Stood at 6.2%
According to the Central Bank of Iran the country witnessed a 6.2% and 8.5% economic and industrial growth respectively in its last fiscal year (ended March 20, 2007).
The industries and mines sectors had a 1.8% growth compared to previous year's figure.
Source: Mehr News Agency, Iran, December 4, 2007
http://memrieconomicblog.org/bin/content.cgi?news=281
Saudi and Arab Investors Inject $100 Million into Russian Investment Funds
A group of Arab and Saudi investors concluded yesterday with representatives of the Russian Gasprom company an agreement to invest $100 million in a special $1 billion fund under the management of Gasprom for investment in real estate. The Saudi share of the Arab contribution is 70%. Gasprom is also planning a second fund with a capital of $5 billion for investment in the energy sector. [This is the first time that a Russian company focuses its investment activities on the Saudi market.]
Source: al-Watan, Saudi Arabia, December 5, 2007
http://memrieconomicblog.org/bin/content.cgi?news=277
Iraq to Sign $940 Million Power Plant Contract with Chinese Company
An Iraqi delegation has left for Beijing to sign a contract with the Shanghai Company, a Chinese government firm, to construct a 1,300 megawatt thermal power plant at a cost of $940 million. The plant will be constructed within three years.
The company had already started the project's design in 2001, but stopped it due to the 2003 war.
Iraq's electrical production rate is currently about 5,500 megawatts and the country needs 9,000 megawatts.
Source: al-Khaleej, UAE, December 4, 2007
http://memrieconomicblog.org/bin/content.cgi?news=269
Consumer Confidence in Middle East Plunges
Growing costs of living and inflation impacted consumer confidence, which plunged to a record low in recent months due to widening gap in income and spending, according to a recent poll conducted by Bayt.com and market research leader YouGovSiraj.
Consumers are obviously becoming less sure about their expenditure in the face of rising living costs and a slowdown in some of the regional economies. Many consumers, however, are optimistic that the situation will improve in the next few months.
The Bayt.com Consumer Confidence Index (bayt means house or home in Arabic) is a quarterly survey of consumer attitudes. It measures views on the current and future state of regional economies, personal finance, saving, decisions regarding investments, and the employment market. Across the GCC, Middle East and North Africa, 14,000 adult respondents were questioned over a three-month period. The recent figures have been compared with the results set in the April and July surveys.
Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE lead the way in consumer confidence decline with the figures standing at 88.9, 91.6 and 93.4 points respectively, declining from the benchmark 100 points. This indicates an 11.1-point decline in Saudi Arabia, 8.4 in Qatar and 6.6 in the UAE, compared to April 2007.
Qatar, Saudi and UAE residents also showed increased pessimism about their financial future and career growth. The percentage of respondents who felt their financial position would be better in a year's time fell by 13% in Saudi Arabia, 8% in the UAE and 7% in Qatar from the July scores. On the career growth front, the proportion of highly satisfied respondents fell by 8% percent in Qatar and 4% in both Saudi Arabia and UAE. Perceptions on the growth of business also took a downturn.
The research groups stated that without a significant economic change, spending may decline next year throughout the region.
Source: Arab News, December 2, 2007
http://memrieconomicblog.org/bin/content.cgi?news=265
Iraq to Export 2 Million Barrels a Day in 2008
Fallah al-'Amery, the director general of the state oil marketing company (SOMO) said that Iraq will attempt to increase its crude export to 2 million b/d in 2008. Currently, Iraq produces 1.7 million b/d in Basra oil fields, of which 1.5-1.6 million b/d are destined for export and will attempt to increase the export from Basra to 1.7-1.9 million b/d. Iraq also exports 257,000 b/d from Kirkuk oil field to Ceyhan in Turkey.
Al-'Amery conceded that there is still smuggling of crude from the oil fields of Basra to Iran and other neighboring countries, but he thinks the smuggled quantity is not considerable. A new directorate for security is guarding the oil pipelines to stem the thefts of oil.
In a related news item, the Iraqi minister of oil, Dr. Hussein al-Shahrestani, criticized the Kurdish Regional Government for preventing crews from the ministry of oil from developing oil fields within the Kurdish region.
The minister also said exports in 2008 will be the highest in the last 27 years. Iraq will eventually reach its maximum production capacity of 6 m illion b/d although he did not provide a time frame when this objective will be met.
Source: al-Mada, Baghdad, December 4, 2007; al-Rafidayn, December 4, 2007
http://memrieconomicblog.org/bin/content.cgi?news=262
Iran's Oil Reserves at 138 Billion Barrels
Iran's minister of oil said his country's oil reserves are estimated at 138 billion barrels and its natural gas reserves are estimated at 28.3 trillion cubic meters.
Iran is the fourth largest exporter of oil in the world and the second largest in oil reserves. It is also considered to have the largest natural gas reserve, second only to Russia. However, the development of its natural gas fields is impeded by American sanctions.
Source: al-Qabas, Kuwait, December 1, 2007
http://memrieconomicblog.org/bin/content.cgi?news=254
Real Estate Market in Lebanon Defies Economic Logic
Despite the political crisis real estate in Lebanon continues to appreciate in value. Leading this drive is the Solidaire Company, which is owned by the Hariri family and which dominates most of the real estate in the heart of the capital Beirut-- where land for construction is sold at the phenomenal price of $8,000 per square meter.
Experts attribute the rise in the value of the real estate in Lebanon to the flow of Gulf investors with rising liquidity, who buy property as insurance against the event of hostilities in their region.
Source: al-Sharq, Qatar, November 30, 2007
http://memrieconomicblog.org/bin/content.cgi?news=247
Iraq Seeks to Increase Oil Production
A senior official in Iraq's ministry of oil declared that Iraq seeks to increase its production by one million b/d by 2010 through the rehabilitation of producing oil fields with technical assistance from foreign companies. According to him, Iraq is currently producing 2.9 million b/d, and will also invite foreign companies to start drilling in new oil fields. The government's program is to reach production of 4.5 million b/d by 2009.
Source: al-Destour, Jordan, November 30, 2007
http://memrieconomicblog.org/bin/content.cgi?news=246
From MEMRI Urdu/Pashtu Project
Pakistan Army Takes Maulana Fazlullah Headquarters At Imam Dheri, In Pakistan's Swat Valley
Imam Dehri
Imam-Dehri occupation
Liquor taken from Imam Dehri
Army Divisional Commander Maj.-Gen.Naseer Junjuio visits Imam Dehri
Army in Imam Dehri
Tank, Imam Dehri
