Parliamentary power: Kurds did not provide a convincing justification for non-commitment to pay oil money

[Butifldrm]

Declaration
			30 - October - 2017 We are closely following the developments in the Kurdistan region and the attacks on the headquarters of the parties as well as the media and attempts to cause chaos and disturbances in Erbil and Dahuk, which is detrimental to our citizens in the region and the general situation there, and call for adherence to the system and law and calm and not reflected political differences on the Kurdish citizen who was affected As a result of these practices.  We affirm that the federal government is keen to establish conditions in all governorates of Iraq and work for the citizens and protect their interests.   Prime Minister's Media Office    30-Oct-2017   http://pmo.iq/press2017/30-10-201701.htm

[yota691]

Patriotic Union of Kurdistan: the selection of a new governor of Kirkuk will be very close and there are no forms with Baghdad in this regard

31-10-2017 01:13 PM

Readers

 

Baghdad News -

 

 

The leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Rizgar Ali, on Tuesday, that the process of electing a new governor of Kirkuk will be close, stressing that there is no problem with Baghdad in this regard.

 
Ali said in a statement that 'the process of electing a new governor of Kirkuk will be close, indicating that' the political bureau of the party presented a candidate for the post, which is the share of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan '.

 
"We are waiting for the participation of the Democratic Party and the Islamic Union to install a new governor of Kirkuk."

The statement stressed the 'lack of any problems with Baghdad in this regard, to serve Kirkuk and ensure the return of full stability and families that left the province after the recent events'.

[yota691]

Abadi speaks for the first time about the corruption of the Peshmerga and wants a force under his command

11:29 - 31/10/2017

Information / Baghdad ..

Prime Minister Haider Abadi, on Tuesday, the existence of corruption among the ranks of the Peshmerga led to its failure to defend the borders of the Kurdistan region, on charges of the first of its kind, stressing that he wants to become Peshmerga a local force under the control of the federal government. 

"The Peshmerga must become part of the Iraqi government forces or a local force," Abadi said in an interview with the Independent newspaper. He expressed his belief that there is "corruption in the ranks of the Peshmerga, which explains its failure to defend the borders of Kurdistan, 2014 and having to seek help from America and Iran. "

"All the Iraqi borders inside and outside Iraq must remain without exception under the control of the Iraqi government," Abadi said, adding that "this includes the Kurdish oil pipeline that reaches Turkey at a measurement station in Vishkhabur on the Mediterranean Sea."

On the other hand, Abadi stressed that "we are trying to clear the Badia elements of the state organization to the border with Syria," noting that "Iraqi forces have been fighting the organization for three years, that is, since the elements began to threaten Baghdad." Ending / 25

[yota691]

Haider al-Abadi announced two proposals to deal with the Peshmerga forces

31 October, 2017

 

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi revealed that he received information from officials in response to question the real number of Peshmerga forces.

Abadi said in an interview with the British Independent newspaper, two proposals to deal with the Peshmerga forces first make them part of the defense system in Iraq and secondly reduce the number and turn them into a local force to take over the salaries of the fighters of the fighters of the Peshmerga working under the command of the federal government and receive orders from General Command of the Armed Forces.

Abadi stressed that Iraqi government officials at airports and border crossings have full powers

[Butifldrm]

Iraq to end decades-old policy of semi-independent rule in Kurdistan, says PM

Iraq Reborn: In an exclusive interview for Patrick Cockburn's new series on the resurgence of this key Middle Eastern nation, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi reveals how Baghdad will hammer home its twin victories over Isis and the northern Kurds

• Patrick Cockburn Baghdad, Iraq 
• @indyworld 
• 14 hours ago
• 103 comments

2K

Click to follow
The Independent Online

 

Students of the Salahaddin University hold posters of Iraqi Kurdish leader Massud Barzani during a protest in his support in Irbil, the capital of autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan AFP/Getty

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is triumphant as he describes his country’s security forces driving out Isis from its last strongholds in western Iraq. “Our advances have been fantastic,” he said in an interview with The Independent in Baghdad. “We are clearing the deserts of them right up to the border with Syria.” Isis is being eradicated in Iraq three years after its columns were threatening to capture Baghdad.

Once criticised as vacillating and weak, Mr Abadi – who became Prime Minister in August 2014 – is now lauded in Baghdad for leading the Iraqi state to two great successes in the past four months: one was the recapture of Mosul from Isis in July after a nine-month siege; the other was the retaking of Kirkuk in the space of a few hours on 16 October without any resistance from Kurdish Peshmerga.

• READ MORE

Iraq may be coming to the end of 40 years of war

The son of a neurosurgeon in Baghdad, Mr Abadi, 65, spent more than 20 years of his life in exile in Britain before the fall of Saddam Hussein. Trained as an electrical engineer, he gained a PhD from the University of Manchester, before working in different branches of industry. A member of the Shia opposition Dawa party from a young age, two of his brothers were killed by Saddam Hussein’s regime and a third imprisoned. He returned to Iraq in 2003 where he became an MP and a leading figure in the ruling Dawa party.

As the man with the strongest claim to be the architect of the two biggest victories ever won by the Iraqi state, Mr Abadi’s reputation has soared at home and abroad. He is particularly pleased that there were so few casualties when Iraqi forces retook the great swath of territory disputed with the Kurds, which stretches from Syria in the west to Iran in the east. “I gave orders to our security forces that there should be no bloodshed,” he says, explaining that fighting the Peshmerga would make reconciliation difficult between the Kurds and the government.

The Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi (right), pictured here during a meeting with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, has emerged with his reputation buoyed after successes over Isis and the Kurds (AP)

Soft-spoken and conciliatory, Mr Abadi is determined to end the quasi-independence of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) that dates back to Saddam Hussein’s defeat after his invasion of Kuwait in 1991. He says: “All border crossings in and out of Iraq must be under the exclusive control of the federal state.” This includes the Kurdish oil pipeline to Turkey at Faysh Khabour, by which they once hoped would assure their economic independence, as well as the main Turkish-Iraqi land route at Ibrahim Khalil in the north west KRG. This crossing has been Iraqi Kurdistan’s lifeline to the rest of the world for a quarter of a century. Iraqi officials will likewise take over the international side of the airports in the Kurdish cities of Irbil and Sulaimaniyah.  

These administrative changes do not sound dramatic, but they effectively end the semi-independence of the Iraqi Kurds which they had built up over the past 26 years. Kurdish president Masoud Barzani, who is to give up his post on 1 November, put these gains at risk when he held a referendum on Kurdish independence on 25 September.

Mr Abadi is in a strong position because the KRG’s two biggest neighbours, Turkey and Iran, agree with him on re-establishing federal control of the border and Kurdish oil exports. Mr Abadi says the Turks admit that “they made a mistake” in the past in dealing directly with the KRG and not with the central government in Baghdad. He emphasises  that he will not be satisfied with Iraq government officials having a symbolic “spot” at different crossing points on the border, but they must have exclusive control of borders and international flights. Asked if this would include visas, Mr Abadi says: “This is a must.”  

 

He wants the Peshmerga either to become part of the Iraqi government security forces or a small local force. He is curious to know how many Peshmerga there really are, expressing scepticism that there are really 300,000 men under arms as claimed by the Kurdish authorities. He says: “I have been told by many leaders in Kurdistan that there is a small fighting force and the rest stay at home.”

He recalls that when he became Prime Minister in 2014 after Isis unexpectedly captured Mosul, he made inquiries as to why five Iraq divisions had collapsed. He found that the main reason was corruption and in many units half the soldiers were drawing their salaries but were not there. He suspects the Peshmerga operate the same corrupt system, which he says would explain “why they failed to defend the borders of KRG [against Isis] in 2014 and had to seek the help of the US and Iran”.

The number of the Peshmerga may be in dispute, but Mr Abadi is adamant that “I am prepared to pay those Peshmerga under the control of the federal state. If they want to have their local small force – it must not be that large – then they must pay for it.” He says that the KRG must not become “a bottomless well” for federal payments. He would also expect Kurdish government expenditure to be audited in the same way as spending in Baghdad.

If all these changes are implemented then Kurdish autonomy will be much diminished. It is easy to see why Mr Barzani is stepping down to avoid the humiliation of giving up so much of his authority. Resistance by the Kurdish leadership will be difficult since they are divided and discredited by the Kirkuk debacle. But Mr Abadi’s strength is that for the first time since 1980, the Kurds do not have any backers in neighbouring states and the US has done little during the crisis except wring its hands at the sight of its Kurdish and Iraqi government allies falling out. When Mr Barzani unwisely forced Washington to choose between Baghdad and Irbil, the Americans were always going to choose the Iraqi state.

 

Queried about Iranian influence on the Iraqi government. Mr Abadi is exasperated and derisive by turns, particularly about Qasem Soleimani, the director of foreign operations of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC)  whose negotiations with the Kurdish leadership have been reported as playing a decisive role in the retreat of the Peshmerga from Kirkuk.

“He definitely didn’t have any military role on the ground in the crisis [over Kirkuk],” says Mr Abadi. “I can assure you that he had zero impact on what happened in Kirkuk.” Mr Abadi says that it was he himself who called the Kurdish leadership and persuaded them not to fight and to withdraw the Peshmerga from the disputed territories.

 

 

A more substantive allegation is that the Hashd al-Shaabi, the powerful Shia paramilitary units which have fought alongside the Iraqi regular forces, are sectarian and under Iranian influence or control. Asked about his recent meeting with Rex Tillerson, the US Secretary of State, who said the Hashd should “go home” or be dismantled, Mr Abadi said that there was either “a misquotation or misinformation” and Mr Tillerson seemed to be under the impression that the IRGC was fighting in Iraq and did not know that the Hashd were all Iraqis.

He said that Iraq had plenty of foreign advisers from the US, UK, France and elsewhere, including Iran, but the number of Iranian advisers was only 30, well down from 110 a few years ago. As for the Hashd, he said they had to be under government control, well-disciplined and to have no political role, particularly not in the Iraqi general election on 12 May 2018 which he pledged not to postpone.

Mr Abadi is in a strong position because he is one of the first Iraqi leaders whose government has good relations with all Iraq’s neighbours: Turkey, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria. Iraq, a country deeply divided between different sects and ethnic groups, has traditionally been destabilised by domestic opponents of the central government combining with state sponsors abroad who supply money, weapons and a sanctuary. This is not happening for the moment, which is why the Kurdish leadership is so isolated.

Part of Mr Abadi’s success during the Kirkuk crisis stemmed from disastrous miscalculations made by Mr Barzani about the reaction of Baghdad and the rest of the world to the independence referendum. Bur Mr Abadi showed an acute sense of how to exploit his opportunities.Turkey and Saudi Arabia, who once supported or tolerated al-Qaeda type organisations operating in Iraq, now fear them and are frightened of their dispersal as the self-declared Caliphate is destroyed.

“We got the international community on our side,” says Mr Abadi, reflecting on the course of the Kirkuk crisis. “We made it very simple: we said the unity of Iraq is very important for combating terrorism.” The division of Iraq, through the prospect of Kurdish independence,  would open up cracks which Isis would exploit. Mr Abadi certainly knew what buttons to press when it came to getting neighbouring states on his side.  He is patient and strong-minded and the tides that once tore Iraq apart may now be running in his favour.

 

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/kurdistan-iraq-prime-minister-abadi-interview-independence-haider-baghdad-kirkuk-patrick-cockburn-a8028201.html

[Butifldrm]

Middle East

All border crossings, travel to Iraq should be under federal government control: PM

 Mewan Dolamari |

3 hours ago

Share share

 

---

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi. (Photo: Reuters)

 

Iraq Kurdistan Erbil Baghdad Relations 

A+AA-

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – All international borders crossings to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region should be under the direct control of the federal government, Iraq's head of state reiterated on Monday.

“All border crossings in and out of Iraq must be under the exclusive control of the federal state,” the Prime Minister of Iraq, Haider al-Abadi said during an interview with British media outlet The Independent.

He mentioned that it would not satisfy him to have federal government officials at the border gates as a symbolic gesture, only exclusive control of the borders and international flights, including the independent visa process the Kurdistan Region enjoyed thus far. 

Abadi also proposed that Baghdad would pay the salary of Kurdish Peshmerga forces should they fall under the command of the Federal Government of Iraq.

“I am prepared to pay those Peshmerga under the control of the federal state. If they want to have their small local force – it must not be that large – then they must pay for it,” he added.

He addressed the issue of Iranian-backed Shia Hashd al-Shaabi militias anew, claiming they were all Iraqi, and that the US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, was either “misquoted or misinformed” when he remarked Iranian militias should leave Iraq earlier this month.

“We got the international community on our side,” Abadi said, referring to the current attacks on the Shia militia and Iraqi Forces on Kirkuk on October 16. “We made it very simple: we said the unity of Iraq is very important for combating terrorism.”

On Sep. 25, the Kurdistan Region held a referendum on independence in which 93 percent voted in favor of secession from Iraq.

Since then, relations between Erbil and Baghdad have considerably deteriorated and led to the use of military force by Baghdad against the people of Kurdistan as Abadi labeled the vote “unconstitutional and illegal.”

Kurds around the world have criticized the tacit support of the central government's actions against the Kurdistan Region through their silence. Kurdish officials long lamented Baghdad's failure to properly implement the Iraqi Constitution, which enshrines and protects Kurdish rights and the existence of the Kurdistan Region. 

Independence has been a long-awaited dream for Kurds around the world. They have been labeled as the largest stateless nation without a state with a population of over 40 million.

 

Editing by G.H. Renaud

 

http://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/f9f3dbd0-43e6-40bb-96c7-718dbfb6b604

[Butifldrm]

International press organizations condemn Iraq’s move to ban Rudaw

By Rudaw 6 hours ago

-

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region—International press freedom organizations have condemned an order by the Iraqi government’s media commission to ban Rudaw television as well as a recent crackdown on journalists across the country, including the death of a Kurdish cameraman in Kirkuk.

 

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said in a statement on Monday that it “has learned with deep regret the ban imposed on two broadcasters, the assault on dozens of reporters and the killing of a journalist, in an extremely volatile political climate in Iraq.” 

 

“The organisation expressed its strong concerns following the decision last week by the Iraqi media regulator, the Communications and Media Commission (CMC), to shut down the Erbil-based Rudaw TV and K24 TV, a flagrant violation of Iraqi laws and a politically motivated decision.”  

 

Iraq’s Media and Communications Commission sent a directive to the country’s armed forces, intelligence and other government institutions to stop Rudaw television and its crew from broadcasting or carrying out their duties as journalists.

 

Rudaw Media Network described this move by the Iraqi media commission as illegal.

 

“Sending such a paper to army and intelligence agencies shows a premeditated plan against Rudaw Media Network. Therefore, we openly and legally hold the Iraqi government responsible for the safety of all Rudaw employees, and we consider that decision illegal and an intimidation of Rudaw and freedom of press in Iraq.” Rudaw said in a statement.

 

Rudaw called on press organizations to condemn the ban order.

 

The IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger: “Iraq deserves an independent and professional regulatory body not only to regulate the audio visual sector, but also to support broadcasters in navigating through the country’s thorny politics. We call on the authorities to immediately lift the ban on these channels and allow them to resume work.”

 

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) also denounced the Iraqi move to ban Rudaw as well as attacks on journalists from NRT and KNN stations outside the Kurdish parliament in Erbil, calling on KRG and Iraqi authorities to “thoroughly investigate and prosecute the murder of Arkan Sharifi, and must also investigate the attacks on NRT and KNN journalists," said CPJ Middle East and North Africa Coordinator Sherif Mansour in Washington D.C.

 

"Iraqi and Kurdish parties must stop using journalists as political pawns to settle their scores, and the Iraqi media regulator should immediately allow Rudaw TV and Kurdistan 24 to resume broadcasts." Mansour said.

 

Arkan Sharifi, 58, a cameraman for KTV and a school principal was stabbed to death in front of his family in the town of Daquq south of Kirkuk by unknown attackers.

 

http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/31102017

[yota691]

U.S. State Department urges Kurdish parties to work for united Iraq

Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-31 00:09:16|Editor: Mu Xuequan

 

 

 

 

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- U.S. State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert on Monday called on Iraqi Kurdish parties to support the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and work to realize a "strong KRG within a united and federal Iraq."

A strong KRG is essential to the Iraqi long-term stability and to the enduring defeat of Islamic State, said Nauert, urging all Kurdish parties to support the KRG to resolve pending issues over the remainder of its term and prepare for elections in 2018.

She also hailed the decision of President of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani not to seek another term.

"President Barzani is a historic figure and courageous leader of his people," she said. "This decision represents an act of statesmanship during a difficult period."

The United States also welcomes the recent decision from Iraqi Prime Minister Gaider al-Abadi to begin a new dialogue with the KRG, she noted. "It is time for all parties to look to the future and focus on peaceful resolution of disputes."

[yota691]

U.S. Consulate Erbil‏ @USConGenErbil    20h20 hours ago

 

Statement by U.S. Department of State Spokesperson Heather Nauert on Political Transition in #Iraqi #Kurdistan Region

 

[yota691]

FIRST TIME IN 26 YEARS IRAQ CONTROLS IBRAHIM KHALIL BORDER-CROSSING BETWEEN IRAQ AND TURKEY

By

 News Desk

 -

October 31, 2017

 

After almost 26 years of Kurdistan Regional Government control of the Ibrahim Khalil border-crossing the Iraqi Federal government establishes authority over it. The border crossing became an infamous piece in the smuggling network developed by the Kurdish government and the Saddam regime which both profited millions weekly. However after the downfall of the Saddam regime the crossing remained purely in the Kurdish government’s control and while smuggling networks were no longer as lucrative there was still a large income stemming from the control.

The Iraqi Federal government formed in 2005 after the fall of Saddam has in it’s constitution, one written up jointly between all Iraqi denominations, that the Federal government is responsible for borders and foreign entry into Iraq. This was previously under the cooperation of the Kurdistan Regional Government. However recent years have shown a poor track record of the KRG in transparency on tariffs and where the money goes. A key problem with oil revenues generated by the KRG independent of the Iraqi government. Salaries for Kurdish residents in the KRG have been delayed for upwards of 6 months and the United States was the principal donor for the Peshmerga salaries. Many have asked where the money from oil and border tariffs goes and fingers have pointed routinely to the ruling Barzani family.

With the Iraqi government now assuming control over the border-crossing there is an expected decrease in tariffs, the Army Chief of Staff not only visited the border-crossing but also the Iraqi Military College in the Kurdish province of Zakho. This new found Federal control over the borders and oil infrastructure is in line with the Iraqi Prime Minister’s promise to take over the KRG in paying Kurdish employee salaries with the funds. After several years of neglect from the Kurdish government the Kurdish citizens of Iraq may look towards the Federal government for more initiatives which have been muddied with the corruption and nepotism of the Kurdish government.

[yota691]

IRAQI FLAG RAISED IN KEY BORDER TOWN BETWEEN SYRIA AND TURKEY AFTER KDP PESHMERGA WITHDRAW

By

 News Desk

 -

October 30, 2017

Residents of Faysh Khabor take shelter in Churches where NGOs are distributing aid and shelter as the city faced clashes.

Today the Iraqi flag was raised in the township of Faysh Khabor as well as the Ibrahim Khalil border crossing which was previously held by the KDP Barzani Peshmerga. The town has called for Iraqi Federal forces citing issues with the Kurdish Peshmerga, not representing the towns Assyrian background and otherwise increasing tensions for the townspeople with the introduction of Syrian, Iranian and Turkish Kurdish fighters. The raising of the Iraqi flag today was after several days of negotiations after clashes in which the Peshmerga tried to reign in foreign Kurdish fighters from attacking Iraqi Federal forces which are mandated to control the border. No power-sharing agreements were formed as some media have reported, borders are completely under the authority of the Federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government has agreed to reign in foreign Kurdish fighters which have instigated clashes between the Iraqi Federal forces and Kurdish Peshmerga.

This comes as part of a broader deal where the Kurdistan Region of Iraq will hand over border entry points to the Federal government to ensure entry into Iraq is regulated by the Central government which according to the Constitution is the sole arbiter of foreign entries into the state. Tensions are expected to decrease considerably after Federal forces take control of border posts and Kurdish citizens are eagerly awaiting salaries to be paid by the Federal government after 3 years of neglect from the Kurdistan Regional Government which has widely been seen as a corrupt entity with no transparency on the oil production and wealth. Many Kurdish residents accuse the Barzani family that rules the KRG of stealing funds, with salaries missed and backlogs extending many months for public servants. This renewed hope for salaries and stable economy has come near the time that ISIS ends it’s territorial chapter in Iraq.

[yota691]

The Government of Iraq receives the administration of the border crossing "Khabur" with Turkey

The Turkish side of the crossing leading to the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq

 

 31 October 2017 03:29 PM

Direct : Turkish Prime Minister said that the central Iraqi government took control of the "Habor" border crossing with Ankara, according to (Reuters)

The crossing is located in the province of Dohuk, located on the Iraqi-Turkish border, within the territory of the Kurdistan region of Iraq, and the authorities of the region to manage traffic through that border gate, until Baghdad demanded the extradition and airports after the referendum.

Ali Yildirim said on Tuesday that Turkey had agreed to open another border crossing with Iraq on the way to the city of Tal Afar, west of Mosul, which is home to a majority of Iraqi Turkmen.

The Turkish president, received yesterday in Ankara, a delegation of Turkmen representatives of Iraq, according to the statement of the Turkish presidency, but there were no reports on the talks that took place between them.

Yesterday, the head of the General Staff of the Iranian armed forces, that Tehran will remove the border restrictions with the Kurdistan region of Iraq in the coming days after the closure after the referendum, according to (Reuters).

[DropItLikeItsHot]

Music to my ears! Sounds like a move on Article 140.... Any thoughts other DV Members

 

21 minutes ago, yota691 said:

Tensions are expected to decrease considerably after Federal forces take control of border posts and Kurdish citizens are eagerly awaiting salaries to be paid by the Federal government after 3 years of neglect from the Kurdistan Regional Government which has widely been seen as a corrupt entity with no transparency on the oil production and wealth. Many Kurdish residents accuse the Barzani family that rules the KRG of stealing funds, with salaries missed and backlogs extending many months for public servants. This renewed hope for salaries and stable economy has come near the time that ISIS ends it’s territorial chapter in Iraq.

 

[Spider]

 

 

What happened to this agreement? Isn't it already repeated agreement?

[SnowGlobe7]

good question spider

 

I always think of this scene when I see your name

 

 

[Spider]

Ha ha

[SnowGlobe7]

oops I am making someone mad today...another neg for me

[Spider]

It's not my vote.... So, no comment. Tq.

[pokerplayer]

16 minutes ago, SnowGlobe7 said:

oops I am making someone mad today...another neg for me

 

 

Got yer back gal pal, evened you out.

 

   pp

[ChuckFinley]

24 minutes ago, SnowGlobe7 said:

oops I am making someone mad today...another neg for me

 

8 minutes ago, pokerplayer said:

 

 

Got yer back gal pal, evened you out.

 

   pp

Been having the same thing for about 2 months now. No love for Chuck or the SnowGlobe7.  

[Shedagal]

6 minutes ago, ChuckFinley said:

 

Been having the same thing for about 2 months now. No love for Chuck or the SnowGlobe7.  

I noticed that yesterday - who would neg Chuck or Snow?  Must be a cold heart!!

[SnowGlobe7]

awwww look at us making someone jealous...lol

 

 

 

[ChuckFinley]

Just now, SnowGlobe7 said:

awwww look at us making someone jealous...lol

 

 

 

Must be getting close to the end. . 

[SnowGlobe7]

.... and a new beginning

 

 

[ChuckFinley]

For sure.