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

[tigergorzow]

Hashd Al-Shaabi Ordered to Prepare for War Against Peshmerga: Commander

 

Basnews English

01/11/2017 - 16:20

Kurdistan

 

 

 

 

ERBIL — The Iranian-controlled Shi’ite militias of Hashd al-Shaabi and Iraq’s army have been ordered to prepare for an assault against Kurdistan Region Peshmerga forces.

Kamal Kirkuki, a Peshmerga commander on Prde frontline, south of Erbil, told BasNews “the Hashd al-Shaabi militias and Iraqi forces have received an order to prepare for a major offensive against Peshmerga.”

“We hope no confrontation takes place, but if it does, Peshmerga is fully ready [to fight back]” Kirkuki said.

Kirkuki argued that no forces are able to enslave the people of Kurdistan, explaining that the Iraqi government will face a severe defeat similar to Saddam Hussein’s loss when he invaded Kuwait in 1990.

The Iranian-backed Shi’ite militias, heavily equipped with US-provided weapons, launched on October 16 a large-scale military assault on Kurdistan Region’s disputed areas. The offensive led to a humanitarian crisis, displacement of over 170,000 people, and destruction of hundreds of civilian houses.

 

http://www.basnews.com/index.php/en/news/kurdistan/389846

[tigergorzow]

Hashd Al-Shaabi Abducts Six PUK Members in Kirkuk

 

Lahur Talabani is trying to free them from the militias

 

Basnews English

01/11/2017 - 15:13

Kurdistan

 

 

 

 

ERBIL — Iranian-backed Shi’ite militias of Hashd al-Shaabi have kidnapped six members of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).

Ali Javanmardi, an independent journalist in Washington DC and Reporter for Voice of America, revealed on Wednesday that a group of PUK members have been abducted by Hashd al-Shaabi militias in Kirkuk city which recently fell to the militia group.

He noted that efforts are under way by the head of PUK’s counter-terrorism forces Lahur Talabani, who is a close ally to the Shi’ite militias, to free the abductees.

A confidential source in Kirkuk confirmed to BasNews that “Hashd al-Shaabi militias kidnapped six PUK members near Baba Gur Gur area,” adding “Lahur Talabani and Bafel Talabani are exerting efforts to rescue them.”

The Iranian-backed Shi’ite militias, heavily equipped with US-provided weapons, launched on October 16 a large-scale military assault on Kurdistan Region’s disputed areas. The offensive led to a humanitarian crisis, displacement of over 160,000 people, and destruction of hundreds of civilian houses.

The militias brutally murdered a Kurdish journalist and another civilian in Kirkuk over the past few days.

The rate of crimes, particularly homicide and abduction, has been on the rise since the Iranian-backed Shi’ite militias have taken control of the city.

A number of PUK officials handed over Kirkuk to Hashd al-Shaabi militias on October 16 under an agreement brokered by Qassem Soleimani, the commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard’s elite Quds Force and the PUK officials, including Lahur and Bafel Talabani.

 

http://www.basnews.com/index.php/en/news/kurdistan/389826

[tigergorzow]

Border crossings will not be co-managed by Baghdad, Erbil – Abadi

November 01 2017 10:40 AM

Haider al-Abadi

 

Border crossings will not be co-management by Erbil and Baghdad contrary to what some Kurdish media have reported earlier, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi revealed Tuesday.  
In his weekly press conference, al-Abadi said that border crossings will remain under the control of the federal government as this is one of its powers in accordance with the constitution.  

We hope we can enter into dialogue with Kurdistan Region soon. We currently focus on the security situation in disputed areas and border control, he noted.

 

Our condition to initiate a dialogue is to cancel not freeze referendum results. No negotiations will be conducted unless Iraq’s unity is maintained. This is our condition in accordance with the constitution, he further stated. 

The Iraqi premier also said that the Iranian Militias in Iraq and Syria (IMIS)’s law does not allow its participation in the upcoming elections as a political party.
He pointed out that IMIS as an institution may not take part in politics, adding that it shall only operate under the command of the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. 

The difference between oil revenue and state expenditure is still enormous. We will not resort to currency floating as it will lead to salaries’ cut and higher prices, he added. 

 

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/19043/Border-crossings-will-not-be-co-managed-by-Baghdad-Erbil-Abadi

[tigergorzow]

US confirms: Kurds are main allies to Washington

November 01 2017 10:48 AM

US confirms: Kurds are main allies to Washington

 

US State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert confirmed that Kurds are good friends to Washington, US Department of State said.

She said "We are good friends with the Iraqi Government; we are good friends with the Kurds. I’ll once again say that our men and women have fought and died alongside both."

"We want them to come together to have conversations. We believe that the time is now. We would like to see them commit to a timetable for sitting down and having talks."

Nauert also talked about Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the head of Kata’ib Hizballah, whom Treasury designated a terrorist in 2009 for attacking the US and Iraqi troops saying "he is a terrorist."

 

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/19044/US-confirms-Kurds-are-main-allies-to-Washington

[3n1]

58 minutes ago, tigergorzow said:

The Iraqi premier also said that the Iranian Militias in Iraq and Syria (IMIS)’s law does not allow its participation in the upcoming elections as a political party.
He pointed out that IMIS as an institution may not take part in politics, adding that it shall only operate under the command of the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. 

 

 thanks tiger,, its beyond my reasoning why these Iranian militias are still in iraq imo their help is not needed at this point unless imis has other criteria / motives and trying to participate in elections is insanity  ,,  im quite sure this is not a isolated incident, i will describe the crime with a link but a warning its extremely graphic and very disturbing what has occurred with a kurdish photojournalist that lived in kirkuk with his family he ( Arkan Sharif’s ) reported and documented the takeover in kirkuk  he took his family to a neighboring town he then was found by imis and murdered with fear and terror as its goal i realize that a human life and what it represents means different things to different people but abadi has aligned with a terror group from iran and im thinking if he cant even root out maliki and all his destruction he has inflicted on that country he's opened a pandora's box with imis imo , so im not sure if imis has plans to rule the kurdistan region or what but abadi has huge problems facing him now , i hope the best for them as a country and all of us as well, here's the link for the article again disturbing and graphic on so many levels ..... 

http://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/f27f295d-486d-4170-b531-a7681225d843

[Spider]

1 hour ago, tigergorzow said:

The difference between oil revenue and state expenditure is still enormous. We will not resort to currency floating as it will lead to salaries’ cut and higher prices, he added. 

 

That means we have to look also when Baghdad started cutting salaries as one of indicators....

 

[Butifldrm]

Barzani meets with Papier and delegation to Baghdad to lead talks

SECTION: POLITICALNOVEMBER 1, 2017 | 4:03 PM

Barzani meets with Papier and delegation to Baghdad to lead talks

 

 BAGHDAD / Baghdadiya News .. The head of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Nigirvan Barzani, in Erbil with the emir of the Islamic Group Ali Babir.

Barzani is discussing security and political developments with Babir, and recent developments on the attack on the headquarters of the party in Dahuk by unknown.

According to Masar Kurdish, Barzani will also discuss with Babir the preparation of a political delegation to hold talks with Baghdad.

Barzani announced a political initiative for dialogue with Baghdad, including a freeze on the results of the referendum on independence held recently.

The US State Department announced support for the Barzani government and called on political parties in Kurdistan to cooperate to resolve the problems with Baghdad within the framework of dialogue according to the Iraqi constitution. End of 21 / m

 

http://www.albaghdadiyanews.com/?p=72660

[Butifldrm]

Abadi defines the terms of negotiations with Erbil and stresses the imposition of state authority in the region

SECTION: SLIDE NEWSNOVEMBER 1, 2017 | 7:29 PM

 

BAGHDAD / Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Wednesday that the region has asked to negotiate and our conditions are to be negotiated under the Constitution and the unified Iraq and cancel the results of the referendum.

"Our forces are progressing very well, the enemy is collapsing and our victory is not insignificant. The victory that has been achieved is not only for Iraq, but for the whole world. The world believes that Iraq has broken the thorn of terrorism, declared victory and victory over terrorism," he said. Another, because of conflicts and disagreements, was terrorism. "

"There are steps for electoral gains if we take steps to make electoral progress," he said. "There are steps for electoral gains, But we did not do it because it does not serve the Iraqis. "

"We did not want to achieve victory at the expense of anyone, there was no revenge in Kirkuk, and we have maintained the situation there," he said.

He pointed out that "our demand is the spread of federal forces in all regions, and limits exclusive validity of the federal authority and all federal authorities must be exercised within the borders of the region," noting that "the region asked to negotiate and our terms are to be negotiated under the Constitution and Iraq, "He said.

"We do not want a fight with the region, not fear, but it is to preserve the lives of our citizens and we want to live together and not break each other and the Iraqis today stronger in the equation of the region and we rejected any measure to besiege our citizens in the region."

 

http://www.albaghdadiyanews.com/?p=72762

[tigergorzow]

Turkey, Iraq in talks over Kirkuk oil exports via Ceyhan port

November 02 2017 01:18 AM

Turkey, Iraq discuss Kirkuk oil exports via Ceyhan port

Iraq's oil minister announced on Wednesday negotiations with Turkey over exports of oil drilled from Kirkuk through the port of Ceyhan, on Turkey’s eastern Mediterranean coast, Anadolu agency reported.

"Now we are negotiating with the Turkish government on exports of oil from the Kirkuk area via the port of Ceyhan. However, no final agreement has been reached until now," Jabar Ali al-Luaibi told reporters.

There are five oil wells in the oil-rich Kirkuk region, two of which are controlled by the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG).

Unidentified attackers on several occasions blew up the strategic Kirkuk-Ceyhan oil pipeline in Iraq’s northern Kirkuk province.

Iraq is the second-largest crude oil producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) after Saudi Arabia, and holds the world's fifth-largest proven crude oil reserves after Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Canada, and Iran, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

 

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/19087/Turkey-Iraq-in-talks-over-Kirkuk-oil-exports-via-Ceyhan-port

[tigergorzow]

Iraq threatens to resume attacks against Kurds

November 02 2017 01:03 AM

Haider Abadi

Iraqi forces threatened on Wednesday to resume operations to capture northern Kurdish-held territory after accusing authorities there of delaying handing over control of Iraq’s borders with Turkey, Iran and Syria, Reuters reported.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Friday declared a pause in an offensive that began on Oct. 16 to take over areas claimed both by his government and the autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

Abadi ordered economic and military retaliation against the KRG after Iraqi Kurds voted for independence in September in a referendum that Baghdad declared illegal.

He said the truce was meant to allow Iraqi troops to deploy without hindrance in the disputed areas and at the international borders.

Kurdish officials said on Tuesday they were willing to allow Iraqi “oversight” at the border but said the KRG had to remain in control of crossings into the Kurdish region.

The Iraqi Joint Operations Command accused the KRG of using the talks to “buy time” in order to strengthen Kurdish lines.

“During the negotiations, the (Kurdish) region was moving its forces and building new defenses,” the Iraqi statement said. “We will not allow it; the federal forces are mandated to secure (the disputed) areas and borders.”

The Kurdish Peshmerga fighters’ command accused Iraqi forces of massing weapons and threatening force to resolve “domestic political differences.”

Iraq’s entire land border with Turkey is located inside the Kurdish autonomous region, and has been controlled by the Kurds since before the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003.

Iraqis troops on Tuesday set up positions between the Turkish and the Iraqi Kurdish checkpoints at the Habur border crossing between the Turkish town of Silopi and the Iraqi town of Zakho. That meant vehicles crossing the border were subject to three checks.

Control of the border area is of crucial importance for the landlocked Kurdish region. An oil pipeline runs from northern Iraq into Turkey, carrying crude exports which are the Kurds’ in principal source of funds.

 

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/19086/Iraq-threatens-to-resume-attacks-against-Kurds

[tigergorzow]

Iraq's Abadi says any talks with Erbil based on Baghdad terms

November 01 2017 10:23 PM

Iraq's Abadi says any talks with Erbil based on Baghdad terms

Iraqi PM Haider Abadi said Wednesday that any future negotiations with Kurdistan Region will be based on the Baghdad Government terms and under the Iraqi constitution, press reports said.

 

Addressing a press conference in Baghdad, Abadi stressed that the international community fully supported efforts to preserve a unified Iraq and Baghdad's sovereignty over all Iraqi territories.

 

He also described that the restoration of sovereignty over Iraqi territories is "one of the few achievements which Iraq fulfilled without waging any war.”

Recently, Iraqi forces supported by Iranian Militias in Iraq and Syria (IMIS) have attacked Peshmerga forces in oil-rich Kirkuk.

 

But Iraqi and Kurdish military commanders have recently reached a final agreement regarding the disputed areas. 

 

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/19078/Iraq-s-Abadi-says-any-talks-with-Erbil-based-on-Baghdad-terms

[tigergorzow]

KRSC: Baghdad attempts to control Kurdistan will fail

November 01 2017 08:19 PM

KRSC: Baghdad attempts to control Kurdistan will fail

 

 

Chancellor of Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC), Masrour Barzani on Wednesday said that Baghdad attempts to control Kurdistan will fail.

 

Iraq has resorted to suppressing Kurdish demands for more than a century, but these actions have been never successful.

Baghdad now has to initiate a dialogue with Erbil to find a peaceful solution to the current crisis, he added.

Barzani's remarks came after he met the British Ambassador Frank Baker, KRSC said in a statement on Wednesday.

The two sides discussed the most important developments between Baghdad and Erbil, the statement added.

Baker stressed on the necessity to promote relations between Kurdistan and Britain, wishing Baghdad and Erbil will start dialogue soon and end outstanding issues.

 

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/19071/KRSC-Baghdad-attempts-to-control-Kurdistan-will-fail

[tigergorzow]

Peshmerga Ministry: Iraqi Army’s Accusations “Baseless”

 

Basnews English

02/11/2017 - 00:06

Kurdistan

 

 

 

ERBIL — Kurdistan Region’s Peshmerga Ministry has condemned “in the strongest terms” a recent statement by Iraq’s Joint Operations Command, calling it “baseless”.

“It demonstrates that Iraq is not interested in allowing the technical negotiation team between Erbil and Baghdad to reach an agreement,” reads a press release by Peshmerga Ministry.

In response to Iraqi Army’s statement, the Peshmerga Ministry revealed that senior Kurdish military officials had presented the following proposal to the Iraqi Federal Government earlier on 31st October:

1. Ceasefire in all fronts.
2. Continued coordination and joint security and military mechanisms between Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi Army for the ongoing war against ISIS (Islamic State).
3. Deploy joint forces in all disputed territories until the relevant constitutional articles are implemented. 
4. Begin political negotiations and form committees, including administrative, legal and military, under the auspices of the US-led Global Coalition and in accordance with Iraqi constitution.
5. Deploy combined force of Peshmerga, Iraqi army, and representatives of the US-led Global Coalition in Fishkhabour — as a good-will gesture and trust-building exercise, that ensures a limited and temporary arrangement until an agreement is reached in accordance with the Iraqi constitution.

The Peshmerga ministry has once again welcomed a permanent ceasefire and beginning of constructive political dialogues between Erbil and Baghdad do address the outstanding disputes. It also reiterated that “political dialogue — not threats and baseless accusations, remains the only path to a settlement.”

“The Ministry has emphasised in clear terms the need of continued, unconditional dialogue to reach a settlement. Baghdad has responded with reckless deadlines and threatens war.”

The Peshmerga Ministry also said Baghdad’s accusations against the Kurdish forces are “patently false”, and its recent statement reflects ongoing military aggression and unconstitutional demands.

“The Iraqi Army and Popular Mobilisation Units are armed with heavy weapons, including many American, in a clear violation of the Iraqi Constitution which makes clear armed forces should not be used to settle internal disputes,” reads the statement.

“Peshmerga forces are in defensive positions protecting the dignity of millions of people in the Kurdistan Region. Their heroism is on par with the peoples of Tuz Khurmatu, Daquq, Kirkuk and other disputed territories defending their way life. Peshmerga forces will continue to defend the lives and constitutional and just interests of the people of Kurdistan Region.”

 

http://www.basnews.com/index.php/en/news/kurdistan/389942

[tigergorzow]

US Congressmen Disappointed at State Department’s Policies Towards Kurds, Iraq

 

Basnews English

02/11/2017 - 02:37

Kurdistan

 

 

 

ERBIL — A group of US congressmen held a press conference on Wednesday in Washington D.C. to criticize their country’s foreign policies towards Iraq, which they believe is serving the Iranian militias and neglects the Kurds.

“We are equipping and training the wrong people. It's time we rose above what the State Department has screwed up over and over. Iraq was a military victory lost by politics in the State Department… The State Department is going to lose us Iraq again in one of the worst ways,” Congressman Duncan Hunter said.

Showing a picture to the cameras, he said, “"A picture is worth 1,000 words. There's the M1 Abrams tank with a Hezbollah flag. I don't care what the State Department says, they can't argue with this. At the best, the State Department has been derelict in its duties.”

“It's time that we as Americans choose a side,” the congressman pointed out. “And that side is freedom, and allies, and the Kurds.”

“I don't think Secretary [James] Mattis has seen this picture of a Hezbollah flag on his M1 Abrams tank,” Duncan said, arguing that even President Donald Trump is not being informed by senior officials of his administration about the facts on the ground in Iraq.

“This president has had a tremendously effective instinct in making sure that we did not re-certify the Iranian nuclear deal and I hope now that he listens to his own instincts rather than the D.C.’s establishment when it comes to recognizing the insinuation of the Iranian influence in Iraq,” said. Rep. Trent Franks.

“[Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-] Abadi promised that we would not attack the Kurds weeks ago,” said Franks. “For him to break his word to the whole world does not speak well of his leadership.”

Michael P. Pregent, a foreign policy analyst, said that the Iranian-backed Shi’ite militias of Hashd al-Shaabi are actually working out of the control of Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. “That’s because they don’t answer to him and [Hadi al-] Amiri says it better than anybody else. He said that 'The Hashd al-Shaabi do not answer to PM Abadi, they answer to me, and I answer to Qassam Soleimani”.

 

http://www.basnews.com/index.php/en/news/kurdistan/389950

[Spider]

Iraq’s PM says Kurds refraining from withdrawing their troops

Thu Nov 2, 2017 03:22AM

1. Home
2. Middle East
3. Iraq

 

Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi speaks with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (not seen) in Baghdad, Iraq, on October 23, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

 

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has accused the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) of not remaining committed to an agreement on withdrawing their forces from disputed regions in the north of the country.

 

On Wednesday, Abadi told reporters that the Kurds have “gone back on the accord" concerning the withdrawal of Peshmerga fighters from the disputed areas, notably a border post with Turkey.

 

"If they do not stick to it we will do what we want, and if our forces find themselves under fire, we will show them the strength of the law," he said.

 

On Tuesday, Iraqi government forces announced that they had taken control of the main land crossings with Turkey and the semi-autonomous Kurdish region. Later in the day, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim confirmed that the Iraqi government was in control of the strategic border crossing.

 

Following the announcement, the KRG claimed that they had not relinquished control of a key border crossing with Turkey and that negotiations were ongoing to allow Iraqi “oversight” at the border.

 

PressTV-‘Last Daesh stronghold in Iraq to be freed in days’

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abad says the country’s western Anbar province will be fully liberated from Daesh in “a few days.”

 

On October 12, an Iraqi government spokesman said Baghdad had set a series of conditions that the KRG needed to meet before any talks on the resolution of a referendum crisis could start.

 

The referendum on secession of the Kurdistan region was held on September 25 despite strong opposition from Iraqi authorities, the international community, and Iraq's neighboring countries, especially Turkey and Iran.

 

Read More:

• Daesh militants bribed Kurdish forces to flee Hawijah: Iraqi commanders
• Iraq bans two major Kurdish TV channels over inciting hatred, violence
• Iraqi premier calls on Kurdish people to abide by law after outbreak of riot

 

Iraqi forces threaten to retake Kurdish-held territory

 

Also on Wednesday, Baghdad threatened to restart operations aimed at seizing the northern Kurdish-held territories after claims were made that the Kurds were refraining from relinquishing control of border regions with Turkey, Iran and Syria, Reuters reported.

 

The Iraqi Joint Operations Command said that the KRG was exploiting the situation in order to "buy time" to strengthen Kurdish ranks.

 

"During the negotiations, the (Kurdish) region was moving its forces and building new defenses," the command said in an official statement.

 

"We will not allow it; the federal forces are mandated to secure (the disputed) areas and borders," it added.

 

On Friday, Abadi declared a halt in an offensive that began last month to take over areas claimed both by the Iraqi government and the KRG.

 

http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2017/11/02/540690/iraq-abadi-krg-kurds-krg

[Spider]

NOVEMBER 1, 2017

Iraq to End Decades-Old Policy of Semi-Independent Rule in Kurdistan

by PATRICK COCKBURN

 

FacebookTwitterGoogle+RedditEmail

 

Photo by David Stanley | CC by 2.0

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Iraqi forces enter Kirkuk

 

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.

 

https://www.counterpunch.org/2017/11/01/iraq-to-end-decades-old-policy-of-semi-independent-rule-in-kurdistan/

[yota691]

The Federal Supreme Court issues a statement regarding the claims of the referendum of Kurdistan

- 11/2/2017 1:08:00 AM68 Number of readings

 

 

 

 

Khandan-

The Federal Supreme Court on Thursday issued a statement on its opinion on the constitutionality or unconstitutionality of the referendum in the Kurdistan region. 

"In the proceedings before the Federal Supreme Court (89, 91, 92, 93 / Federal / 2017), prosecutors continued to request that the referendum on 25 September 2017 be unconstitutional," federal court spokesman Ias Samok said in a statement. 

He added that "the Federal Supreme Court has felt that the resolution of these cases is dependent on the communication of the other party in the case, which was addressed to him by the representative of the Kurdistan region in the Council of Ministers, and the last confirmation was on 18/10/2017.

On the other hand, the Court can not express an opinion on the issue of constitutionality or unconstitutionality of the referendum except through the said cases, since giving the opinion in advance and without hearing the other party with the existence of such cases is contrary to the provisions of Article (91 / (5) of the Code of Civil Procedure, and with the established judicial context, the need not to give prior opinion with the existence of proceedings on the same subject.

[drj]

On 10/31/2017 at 9:35 PM, chinadawg said:

So it would appear that 140 is now a non-issue......basically Abadi has also kicked HCL thur the uprights.....so lets see what happens next.

 

It sure looks that way, chinadawg.   Come on Iraq, let’s get this thing DONE!   Time to RV!

[nannab]

It's time to put the referendum business too bed.  My 

[yota691]

Media publishes the draft terms of the Iraqi-Kurdistan Agreement on border crossings

2 November, 2017

 

Local media circulated the draft terms of the Iraqi-Kurdistan agreement on the border crossings and the working state at those crossings.

The provisions of the draft included the redeployment of Iraqi forces in all areas outside the administrative borders of the provinces of the province, as well as securing the area of Vishkhabur of the border forces and federal forces because there is no legal basis for the involvement of any forces except the federal forces and local security forces only if the Peshmerga forces counted part of the armed forces Command and control shall be exclusively by the federal forces in areas where federal forces are redeployed.

[idplzr]

4 minutes ago, yota691 said:

Media publishes the draft terms of the Iraqi-Kurdistan Agreement on border crossings

2 November, 2017

 

Local media circulated the draft terms of the Iraqi-Kurdistan agreement on the border crossings and the working state at those crossings.

The provisions of the draft included the redeployment of Iraqi forces in all areas outside the administrative borders of the provinces of the province, as well as securing the area of Vishkhabur of the border forces and federal forces because there is no legal basis for the involvement of any forces except the federal forces and local security forces only if the Peshmerga forces counted part of the armed forces Command and control shall be exclusively by the federal forces in areas where federal forces are redeployed.

Things are coming together. Go 2017!

[yota691]

Kurdish government delegation to Baghdad next Tuesday

Readers

 

 

Kurdish government delegation to Baghdad next Tuesday

 

02-11-2017 12:49 PM

The Euphrates -

 

MP Bakhtiar Shaways, a member of the Kurdistan National Union bloc in the House of Representatives on the need to end outstanding problems between the regional government and the government of Baghdad.

 

MP Bakhtiar Shaways, a member of the Kurdistan National Union bloc in the House of Representatives, is scheduled to meet a delegation from the Government of Kurdistan with the federal government to develop solutions to the outstanding problems between the parties. Noting that it is necessary to propose solutions from the Kurdish side on the issue of sending the budget of the province of Baghdad and solve the problems of Kirkuk.

 

Shaways, the House of Representatives set the proportion of the budget by 13% and will be discussed this ratio with the federal side, next Tuesday, noting the need to visit the Kurdish delegation to Baghdad before that date.

[yota691]

Federal Court: We can not say that the referendum is unconstitutional without hearing the other party

 

 Since 2017-11-02 at 13:22 (Baghdad time)

Baghdad - Mawazine News

The Federal Supreme Court announced Thursday that the court will not be able to express an opinion that the referendum is unconstitutional without hearing the other party.

In a statement received by Mawazine News, federal court spokesman Iyad al-Samuk said that "the plaintiffs in the Federal Supreme Court filed a petition (89, 91, 92, 93 / federal / 2017) / 2017 ".

He added: "I have notified the Federal Supreme Court that the resolution of these cases is dependent on the notification of the other party in the case, which was addressed to him by the representative of the Kurdistan region in the Council of Ministers, and the most recent confirmation was on 18/10/2017.

He pointed out that "the court can not express an opinion on the subject of constitutional or unconstitutional referendum, except through the said cases, since giving the opinion in advance and without hearing the other party with the existence of such cases, contrary to the provisions of Article (91/5) of the law Civil proceedings and the established judicial context on the need not to give a prior opinion with the existence of proceedings on the same subject. "

[yota691]

Kurdistan issued a statement on the statements of Baghdad on the decline of Arbil, an agreement concluded with the army

 

 Since 2017-11-02 at 09:16 (Baghdad time)

Baghdad Mawazine News

The Kurdistan Regional Government issued a statement on Thursday, in which it responded to the statements of Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, in which he talked about Erbil's retreat from an agreement with the Iraqi army, denying any agreement with Baghdad.

The government of the province in a statement received / Mawazin News / a copy of it, "The Prime Minister Haider Abadi said yesterday, that Erbil has withdrawn from an agreement concluded between the delegation of the Iraqi army and the Ministry of Peshmerga," adding that "did not sign any agreement between us, Draft agreement by the government military delegation ".

"The day after the meeting of the government and regional delegations, another paper was sent, somewhat different from the first draft by the military delegation, and we had an answer to the drafts," she said.

"We have repeatedly stated our readiness to conduct negotiations with the federal government and on the basis of the constitution, but the response is usually denied by Baghdad," the government said, warning that "pushing the current situation into combat could lead to disaster for Iraqis and all its components."

"We are with peace from the position of faith in our right, and the framework in the Iraqi constitution, and to reach a comprehensive agreement," she said, calling for "constructive and frank dialogue to build a secure future for all the Iraqi people."

"We call on the great references, all the Iraqi parties, civil society organizations and all the forces that believe in the constitution, security and peace to stand against the attempts that seek to create strife between the Arabs and the Kurds and to reject the solution of problems through violence and fighting."

The Joint Operations Command has reported, earlier on Wednesday, the retreat of the Kurdish delegation for the draft agreed upon with the federal government, pointing out that the region is moving its forces and build defenses to block the deployment of federal forces.

[yota691]

The region presents a proposal "Iraqi Kurdistan" with the participation of the United States

 

 Since 2017-11-02 at 11:02 (Baghdad time)

Baghdad - Mawazine News

The Kurdistan Region, on Thursday, a proposal for the spread of "Kurdistan Iraqi" joint strategic crossing with Turkey, with the participation of observers from the coalition led by the United States of America.

"This deployment was a goodwill gesture and a confidence-building exercise that ensures limited and temporary arrangements until agreement is reached in accordance with the Iraqi constitution," the defense department said in a statement read by Mawazine News.

And reached the federal forces and the Kurdish Peshmerga earlier, an agreement on the deployment of central federal forces at the strategic crossing Vishkhabur with Syria in the north of the country.