Iraq to Join Global Transparency Effort
With EITI announcement, Iraqi leaders make historic investment in national and regional stability
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW YORK—The Revenue Watch Institute today congratulated the Government of Iraq as it formally announced that it would join the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), taking a historic step toward the efficient and open management of its oil industry.
 |
|
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki at the launch of the Iraqi Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative in Baghdad. |
Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki announced Iraq's EITI participation Sunday at a launch event in Baghdad attended by government leaders, members of Iraqi civil society and international groups, including the Revenue Watch Institute and the World Bank.
Iraq controls the world's second largest oil reserves and relies on oil for 90 percent of government revenue. By committing to the voluntary global initiative it has established itself as the Middle East's most important champion of the principles of transparency and accountability in the management of oil and gas resources.
Karin Lissakers, director of Revenue Watch, said that Iraq's decision will have a direct impact on the country's economy and on national and regional stability.
"A successful EITI process will bolster a prosperous and unified Iraq," said Lissakers. "Oil minister Hussain al-Shahristani and his colleagues deserve warm congratulations for this investment in the future of Iraq, its citizens and the entire region."
Lissakers added that the EITI standard of government partnership with citizens in revenue management will be a powerful tool in Iraq's struggle for political stability. "This commitment to the EITI is a commitment to government collaboration with an independent civil society, which in turn builds public trust in government," she said. "Iraq's history of conflict, regional division and corruption makes civil society's involvement in the EITI process especially important."
CONTACT:
Jed Miller, +1 917 257-0670, jmiller@revenuewatch.org
LEARN MORE
- Iraq: Counting Backward (The New York Times)
- Questions About Fairness May Delay Iraq-Shell Gas Deal
- To Succeed, an Iraqi National Oil Company Needs an Iraqi Oil Law
- OVERVIEW: Iraq
A version of this press release was originally published on January 11, 2009.
U.S. Said to Allow Drilling Without Needed Permits - The New York Times
Australia Gas Deal Renews Tension - Financial Times
Charged With Fraud, Nigeria's Ruling Party Leader Resigns - Reuters
Western Senators Propose Ban on Pacific Drilling - The New York Times
To Limit Corruption around Mining in Africa, Follow the Money - The Globe and Mail
Court Backs Oil Project - The New York Times
Transparency Increases, But There Is Still a Long Way to Go - The Phnom Penh Post
IMF Develops Project to Help Africa Deal with Illicit Trade - African Manager
Three-day Conference on Africa's Natural Resources Starts in Tanzania - Standard Times Press
After Oil Rig Blast, BP Refused to Share Underwater Spill Footage - ABC News
Finger-Pointing, but Few Answers at Hearings on Drilling - The New York Times
Complaints Over U.N. Prize Sponsored by Equatorial Guinea's Obiang - Reuters
Guide: Community-Company Grievance Resolution for Australian Mining Industry - Oxfam Australia (pdf)
Cote D'Ivoire: President for Life, and Then Some - The New York Times
In Midst of Massive Spill, Oil Industry Fighting Transparency and Accountability - Oxfam America
Leaked Oil Contracts in DRC Threaten Resource Wars and $10 Billion Rip-Off by British Company - Carbon Web
Contracts Confidential: Ending Secret Deals in the Extractive Industries
Contract transparency is sorely needed to improve the management of natural resource wealth. In a new report from RWI, authors Peter Rosenblum and Susan Maples delve into government and private sector objections to contract disclosure and make conclusions about what information may legitimately and reasonably be kept confidential, and how civil society institutions can better confront the challenge of secret deals.
Learn more about the report ...
NEW TRANSLATION: Revenue Redistribution at the Local Level
Many resource-rich countries are attempting to compensate their producing regions through shares of resource revenues to be spent at the local level. In "Extractive Industries Revenues Distribution at the Sub-National Level," development economics consultant Matteo Morgandi presents a comparative analysis of international legislation for distribution of extractive revenues from across all levels of government. Prepared at the request of the Peruvian National Congress, the report studies the legislative practices of seven resource-rich countries to identify potential and address challenges. Please note that this report is now also available in Vietnamese.
Learn more ...