31.01.12 Iraq Focus January issue: Table of contents

THE KRG

• Nejervan Barzani set to take over as Kurdish PM: The incoming premier is also a face that the KRG is happy to present to the outside world
• Nejervan to the fore: Relations between the opposition and the ruling parties are still soured
• Wooing the opposition: For all Nejervan's charm, the opposition is clearly not going to settle for half solutions
• The reformist: The Islamist parties also took the opportunity to have a dig
• Policies: The new government is unlikely to bring about any change in relations between Erbil and Baghdad
• New line-up: While who gets what post is still up in the air, what is certain is that the same old faces will be recycled once again

POLITICS & SECURITY

• Iraqiya returns to parliament: Promises, promises; Conference controversies
• Al-Maliki tightens grip on the army: There is talk, too, that Al-Maliki is planning to push the current army chief of staff, a Kurd, Babeker Zibari, out of his post
• Regulating foreign security contractors: The contractors complain that, while their licences have expired, it is proving impossible to renew them

ENERGY INDUSTRY

• Licensing round delayed: Worried about Exxon; With the country embroiled in political turmoil, there is little hope that the law will be passed any time soon
• Nineveh investigates mystery oil exploration: The committee has also appealed to the prime minister
• WesternZagros attacked: In response they have formed a committee to investigate
• New oil terminal to open but Hormuz threat causes alarm: The closure of the strait would effectively cripple the Iraqi economy.